Cosmetic Dentistry is the form of dental work used to improve the aesthetics of a person’s mouth. Very often, the processes involved are collectively referred to as a smile markover. These processes include gum contouring, fillings, veneers and teeth whitening.
These days, more and more dentists are also offering facial rejuvenation in the form of botox or dermal fillers though for this article we will concentrate on more traditional, though contemporary, forms of smile makeovers.
Teeth Whitening
Over time, even with the most stringent personal dental care, it is likely a person’s teeth will become discoloured and stained from things such as coffee, red wine and smoking.
There are generally two options for teeth whitening available at your dentist – the first is tray whitening where you will have the treatment applied over a course of 4-6 weeks. The second is laser whitening whereby the results are immediate and work is complete in one session.
In addition to this, it is actually possible to purchase home whitening kits and apply the treatment yourself at home, whilst this maybe cost effective there are risks involved and we would always recommend that a dentist supervises your treatment.
Veneers
Following on from teeth whitening which covers the shade of your teeth, veneers concentrate on the look and feel of a set of teeth. Made from ceramic or porcelain, the veneer is applied to the front of the tooth as a shell to improve it’s look – similar in many ways to false fingernails.
Veneers are applied when a person finds they have damaged their teeth, have gaps appearing, they are crooked or when teeth whitening fails to have an effect.
White Fillings
If you had a filling 20 years ago, it would’ve been created with a silver amalgam which whilst functional was unsightly and once a person had more than one filling in their mouth, it would be an issue for them to open their mouth or smile.
These days you can get white, tooth coloured fillings that are far more discreet and have become a popular choice despite being less durable than silver amalgam. Note, as these are classed as cosmetic dentistry you will not be able to get these on the NHS for free.
Gum Contouring
Many people find they have what is referred to as a “gummy smile” – this is when your gums hang low over your teeth which in turn makes them look short. Your dentist will be able to remedy this via a process called Gum Contouring and Reshaping where they will use a scalpel and/or last to cut at excess gum.
High Street Dental Practice are a private dental practice situated in East Grinstead, West Sussex. A range of cosmetic dental services are available.
Tags: cosmetic dentistry, health, teeth whitening, tooth whitening, Veneers, White Fillings