Cosmetic dentistry consists of various professional procedures that concentrate on enhancing the aesthetics of teeth. Some of these techniques also provide restorative benefits such as fixing dental problems.

When it comes to maintaining your oral health dentist visits once every six months is recommended by the Dentist. This will help keep your mouth and teeth disease free, and in overall good health. But what if you don't like the colour or position of your teeth and to improve your smile? For that, you would visit a cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist primary job is improving the aesthetics of your smile. This could include treatments, which would make changes to tooth alignment, tooth colour, position, and size.

Common cosmetic dentistry procedures

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is the most popular, least expensive and most straightforward of all the cosmetic dentistry procedures. As the name implies, teeth whitening techniques correct the discoloration in teeth.

In the teeth whitening procedure, teeth are thoroughly cleaned to eliminate plaque, tartar and food debris from the tooth's crevices. Depending on the quantity of discoloration, cosmetic dentists also use bleaching agents for teeth whitening.

Dental veneers

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted from dental porcelain or composite that cover the front teeth. These ultra-thin shells cover the visible flaws associated with size, color, shape or length of the teeth. The thin veneer is fixed to the tooth with the assistance of cementing material. Dental veneers last for an estimated 20 years without staining, and they blend seamlessly with the other teeth.

Bonding

Bonding is using a putty-like resin substance that is applied to cracked, discolored, misshapen or chipped teeth. It is created to look exactly like the natural teeth. Dental bonding is a painless treatment that is completed within 30 to 60 minutes but lasts for 10 years with good care. The tooth enamel-like resin is put on the damaged tooth, hardened with an ultraviolet or laser light and shaped and polished to match the other teeth.

Dental crowns

A dental crown is a cap-like structure placed over a damaged tooth. Dental crowns cover teeth that are decayed, damaged, severely discolored, misshapen, cracked or chipped. They restore the size, shape, strength and appearance of the teeth. Dental crowns are made of dental porcelain, ceramic, composite or porcelain fused to metal. With appropriate care, they tend to last for approximately 30 years.

Most people will manage to get through life just fine without having the entire world pick apart or judge their smiling mugs in photographs, but celebrities bank on it (literally). That doesn't mean cosmetic dentistry is something reserved only for celebrities.

It doesn't matter if you're a fireman, astronaut, teacher, stock trader, landscaper or hairdresser; cosmetic dentistry can erase years off your smile.