We have to admit that a beautiful, glamorous smile makes an excellent impression. But is it possible to achieve that great smile and if so how?
Some of the solutions that cosmetic dentistry is offering today are teeth whitening, facings, onlays-inlays and the orthodontic treatment resulting into a perfect smile.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain Veneers are very thin semi-translucent shells of porcelain that are permanently bonded to your teeth.
Porcelain Veneers are a cosmetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions such as:
1. Diastemas (spaces between teeth)
2. Broken or chipped teeth
3. Stained fillings
4. Stained or discolored teeth due to coffee drinking, smoking and age
5. Misshapen teeth
Advantages
1. Only a small amount of tooth structure is removed during the procedure and a healthy, vital, natural look is achieved with little or no discomfort
2. They are more resistant to stains and chipping
3. Finally very rarely are they unglued.
Procedure
The making and placement of porcelain veneers requires two separate appointments-preparation of the tooth and then bonding of the veneers to the teeth.
Preparation-First Visit:
At this appointment the teeth will be prepared, an impression will be taken and temporaries will then be placed so that you will be able to continue with your normal daily activities without any inconvenience to yourself.
Bonding of the Veneers-Second and last visit:
During the veneering appointment, your teeth are conditioned with a solution to create a perfectly clean surface for optimal bonding strength. The veneers are then bonded into place individually using composite material to achieve the highest quality aesthetics with a vibrant natural and healthy look.
What are they?
An inlay is a restoration that fits within a cusp of a tooth, whereas an onlay is a restoration that replaces a cusp or cusps of a tooth. Both are made of metal or porcelain, outside the mouth in a lab. They are usually cemented or bonded into place and they restore portions of a tooth that might be fixed instead with amalgam (silver) or tooth-colored filling material.
Advantages
Excellent aesthetic result, long-life material, there is no discoloration of the tooth (something that is frequent in the amalgam fillings) and finally it is very healthy for the tooth since there is no removal of tooth during their preparation.
Bleaching
One of the techniques used in aesthetic dentistry is tooth whitening or bleaching.
Some factors that cause tooth discoloration are:
1. Genetic factors
2. Coffee
3. Smoking
4. The use of tetracycline (an antibiotic) in childhood
5. The age (as we get older our teeth become more yellow)
On the other hand, whitening toothpastes and scaling from the dentist can only achieve the removal of plaque and stains, not the change in the color of the tooth.
Dentistry has the ability to whiten most teeth; this can be accomplished in one of two different ways:
- In office bleaching (with or without the use of laser)
- 2. At home while you sleep
In office bleaching the procedure usually requires two visits.
The teeth are isolated and a powerful bleaching agent is placed on the teeth.
After ten minutes the patient can rinse and in a week’s time this can be repeated.
In case of laser bleaching and we do exactly the procedure as above with the only difference that we use the laser system additionally.
Bleaching at home is a different procedure. A chemical gel preparation containing carbamide peroxide is placed on the teeth for a few nights in a special tray while you sleep (usually a week is more than enough).
A change of two to five shades can be established in a few days.
Unfortunately, no change can be achieved in the color of fillings, crowns or bridges.
Lastly it is emphasized that the bleaching procedure can give a great smile with security and without complications and great expense.
