Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a person’s teeth, mouth and smile. While usually considered elective, cosmetic dentistry often offers restorative benefits and can greatly improve a person’s quality of life.
How a person perceives his or her appearance has a tremendous influence on self-esteem, which in turn has a tremendous influence on how a person engages in society — professionally and personally.
Broken, crooked, missing or stained teeth can have devastating effects on a person’s confidence. Cosmetic dentistry is able to make the necessary corrections, allowing patients to exude their authentic confidence and beauty.
Common Cosmetic Dental Treatments
Metal-free Crowns
A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. Traditional crowns are created by placing a porcelain cap over a metal cover. Newer metal-free crowns are made of a much harder porcelain material which creates a improved cosmetic appearance.
Veneers
Veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made porcelain laminates that are bonded directly to the teeth. Veneers are frequently used to close gaps between teeth as well as to disguise discolored teeth that have not responded well to teeth whitening procedures.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dental procedure. While many whitening options are now available, including over-the-counter whitening products, dentist-supervised treatments are the quickest and most effective procedures for lightening discolored teeth. At Highland Park Dental, we feature Zoom Whitening which provide a new smile is less than two hours.
Teeth Straightening – Invisalign
Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created specific to each patient. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you simply wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements we plan out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You simply pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete and you achieve the confident smile that you’ve always wanted. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth.
Metal-free Implants
Dental implants are artificial root replacements used as part of a prosthetic in compensation of tooth loss. Dental implants significantly improve a person’s quality of life and enhance a person’s physical appearance and thereby their emotional well-being.
Metal-free Bridges
Dental bridges, or pontics, are cosmetically necessary when a person loses their natural teeth. Bridges are fused between porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding the bridge in place are attached onto the teeth on each side of the false tooth, creating a fixed bridge. A cantilever bridge is used when the person only has natural teeth on one side of the open space. Bridges offer the restorative benefits of reducing the risk of gum disease, can assist in correcting some bite issues and can even improver speech. Bridges do require a serious commitment to thorough and routine oral hygiene practices.
Contouring
Contouring, also referred to as dental reshaping, corrects crooked teeth, chipped teeth, cracked teeth and overlapping teeth. This procedure often produces subtle yet significant results. Contouring is used to effect only a few millimeters of reduction and/or a few millimeters of tooth-coloring laminate. Contouring is also used for subtle tooth reshaping to alter the length or position of teeth.
Gum Lift
A gum lift involves reshaping the tissue and/or underlying bones of the mouth in order to raise the gum line, creating the appearance of longer, more symmetrical teeth. Excessive gum tissue — a condition known as hyperplastic gingival tissue – may result from braces, medications and/or inflammation.
Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is often used to repair chipped, broken, discolored or decayed teeth. Dental composite has the appearance of enamel and dentin. This material is applied into a cavity or directly onto the surface of a tooth.
Bite Reclamation – Full Mouth Rehabilitation
Bite reclamations are often cosmetically necessary for patients whose teeth have been vertically altered due to excessive wear as a result of grinding or acid reflux. A bite reclamation procedure opens up the patient’s bite, reclaiming the vertical dimension of the teeth and sometimes even removing unwanted wrinkles.
