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Improve Your Smile

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Improve Your Smile

Living with a smile that you don’t like or crooked teeth is more of a choice today than a life sentence. Thanks to cosmetic dentistry, it is possible to improve your smile regardless of how damaged your teeth are. The procedure includes teeth whitening and shaping. It can also be used to close spaces between your teeth and also replace missing teeth. The best thing is that dentists today have an impressive arsenal of tools and techniques that they use to improve the look of a smile.

Although cosmetic dentistry has gained immense popularity around the world, it is good to do some research before undergoing any cosmetic procedure. The objective should be to understand the benefits as well as the risks that come with various procedures. You need to make sure that you are clear on the costs, the experience of your preferred dentist and any special maintenance that may be needed. Here is a look at the top procedures used to improve your smile, their benefits, and risks.

Are you looking for new teeth-in-a-day to transform your loose teeth or old dentures into a confidence-boosting smile? If so, Dr. Adam Chapnick, a renowned cosmetic dentist in Toronto, is here for you. We will make sure your self-esteem remains high as you improve your social connections. The immediately functional Toronto cosmetic dentistry we provide will get you talking, smiling, and laughing without any worries.

Teeth Whitening

Some people are afraid to smile because of their discolored or stained teeth. Teeth become discolored or stained over time more so due to smoking, using certain medications and consuming beverages and foods like tea and coffee. The dentist can use chemicals to bleach your teeth in any of two ways. The bleaching can be done in his office or you can be provided with a system that you use at home for teeth whitening.

To achieve the best results, the dentist will first create a custom mouthpiece tray that fits your teeth. This tray guarantees that the bleaching chemicals reach the teeth perfectly. While whitening the teeth at home seems convenient, it takes much longer to achieve the desired results.

It can take 2 to 4 weeks or even longer, to whiten your teeth at home. The duration depends on how much your teeth are stained/discolored and the strength of the peroxide that the dentist gave you. In-office teeth whitening, on the other hand, can be done within a few visits for 1 to 2 hours per visit.

Even after teeth whitening, you should note that your teeth can still get discolored or stained again. This is more so if you continue to expose them to the substances that caused them to be stained in the first place. Additionally, even when using the teeth whitening products, you still need to practice daily oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day. You also need to rinse with antiseptic mouthwash every day.

Bonding

This procedure is used when the patient’s teeth have excess spaces between them. It is also ideal for broken, chipped, cracked and stained teeth. Bonding materials can be used by your dentist to protect exposed root or fill small cavities.

The best thing about bonding is that it can be done within a single visit. The dentist will apply an etching solution then add tooth-colored materials to the surface of the affected teeth. Bonding will last several years. The downside, however, is that it is more likely to become stained or get chipped than any other type of restorations.

VENEERS

These are custom porcelain shells that are used to cover the front side of a tooth in order to change its shape and/or color. Unlike bonding, the veneers last much longer and offer a better appearance. The veneers are used on teeth that:

  • Are slightly crooked
  • Are poorly shaped
  • Are permanently stained
  • Have become worn or chipped
  • Have spaces between them

The dentist will take impressions of your affected teeth then buff the teeth prior to cementing the veneer. The cement is hardened using a beam of light. Once the cement is hardened, it secures the veneers permanently on your teeth.

Due to the fact that the porcelain veneers are made in the lab, the procedure may not be done in a single day. You may need a second visit to have the custom veneers inserted.

Crowns

The crowns are often referred to as caps. They cover a tooth completely thus restoring normal appearance and shape. A crown may be needed for the following reasons:

  • To protect weak teeth
  • Cover discolored or misshapen teeth
  • Cover dental implants
  • Hold the dental bridge in place
  • Restore worn or broken teeth
  • Cover teeth that had root canal procedure performed
  • Cover teeth with large fillings

Crowns can be made of porcelain fused to metal, ceramic or resin materials. Due to the fact that crowns are quite expensive, dentists recommend them when other procedures cannot produce pleasing results.

It is possible for your dentist to make in-office same-day crown or a temporary crown. There are also offices that are able to mill a custom crown within a day.

When getting ready for the procedure, your dentist will first make molds of your teeth or take digital impressions. If the crown will not be ready on the same day, you will be provided with a temporary crown before the custom one is ready. If you take good care of them, permanent crowns will last for years.

Enamel Shaping & Contouring

This is a procedure that involves the removal or contouring of the dental enamel. It helps improve teeth’s appearance. It is common for a cosmetic dentist to combine bonding with this procedure to achieve the best results. Enamel shaping and contouring is used to alter the shape, length and position of teeth. As a result, it can be used to correct the following issues:

  • Irregular teeth
  • Chipped teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Overlapping teeth
  • Minor bite problems

Persons with normal, healthy teeth are good candidates for this procedure. You must, however, have enough bone between the teeth to support the procedure.

BRACES

This is probably the most popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry. Persons of all ages can benefit from braces. They not only improve the look of the teeth that are crowded or crooked but also improve irregular bite as well as correct jaw joint disorders and jaw positioning. Braces work by applying pressure on the affected teeth. They gradually move the teeth to the right position over a period of months.

To place the braces, the dentist will bond brackets made of ceramic, plastic or metal to your teeth. Wires are then placed through the brackets to guide teeth into the correct position. To hide the braces, lingual braces can be placed to the back of the teeth.

You will need to visit the dentist several times for the braces to be tightened. You can expect some discomfort for a couple of days. Oral hygiene will become very important when wearing braces.

The risks of using braces are quite minimal. The risk is, however, greater for people that have allergies to latex or metal or ones with periodontal disease. Root shortening is also a common risk if the teeth are forced to move too quickly.

The alternative for correcting minor spacing includes wearing clear, customized appliances that are known as aligners. The aligners will have to be shaped and replaced every 2 weeks in order to move the teeth progressively. The good thing about aligners is that you can remove them when eating, flossing and brushing.

There are two phases to treating your teeth problem with braces: wear the braces and use a retainer to hold the teeth in the new position. Retainers can either be removable or permanently bonded behind the teeth.

We are a Family-Friendly Practice

At our dental office, we provide family dentistry services. Toronto and Barrie dentist, Dr. Adam Chapnick, works with every child to build trust and comfort throughout the entire dental visit process.

Implants

This procedure calls for an involved and expensive cosmetic dentistry procedure. The good thing is that the results are long-term when it comes to the replacement of missing teeth. Implants are the alternative to bridges and removable dentures. Implants are surgically inserted into your jawbone. The implants have three parts:

  • Titanium metal. This is the part that fuses with your jawbone
  • Abutment. This fits over the part that sticks out from the gums
  • Crown. This is a special restorative, dentists create for a natural, tooth-like appearance

Implants are used to replace a missing tooth. If you have bone loss as a result of lost teeth or periodontal disease, the surgeon will first graft bone so that the implant has something to be secured to. There are several steps involved in having implants.

  • Comprehensive exam: x-rays and consultation
  • Surgical implantation of titanium screws
  • Taking impressions of both the lower and upper jaws
  • Creating models for the creation of the crowns or dentures
  • Placement of the crown
  • Follow-up exams

There are several other procedures that can be used to improve your smile. The procedures can help with an uneven gum line, exposed roots, indentations in the jawbone or gums and teeth that look too long or too short. Always ask your dentist for the best option for correcting your teeth and improving your smile. 

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Additional Articles About Aesthetic Cosmetic Dentistry

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