1. Veneers
A veneer--a fake tooth made from ultra-thin laminate adhered directly to a tooth--can make your mouth look brand-new. Veneers are a great option for closing gaps or disguising discolored teeth. Even if you're just not happy with the shape of your teeth, you can make your teeth wider and longer. Visit The Consumer's Guide To Dentistry website for more information about veneers and the other cosmetic dental procedures mentioned here (www.yourdentistryguide.com).
2. Bonding
Bonding is an option for chipped or cracked teeth, and is a process whereby the dentist applies a polymer material to the tooth and then sculpts it to the ideal shape. The bonding material is porous and will pick up stains over time, and, being less strong than the material used to make veneers, will need to be replaced after 5 to 7 years. This procedure, however, is less expensive than the veneer procedure.
3. Implants
Implant are a cosmetic procedure that replaces a missing tooth. An implant is anchored to the patient's jaw, as opposed to removable dentures or bridges, and the ceramic material that is used around the implant is as natural-looking as possible. An implant is more than cosmetic, though: If a tooth is lost, the patient can experience dental problems such as shifting teeth and compromised gum health. This can affect the way you chew, and the way your top and bottom teeth fit together. You can also start losing other teeth because you don't have an opposing tooth to support the lost tooth, and that's what leads to gum problems and losing more teeth.
4. Whiten Up
Tooth whitening, both at home and under the supervision of a dentist, has grown greatly in popularity. Because of this, dentists have had to re-key their materials and the way they select colors, since teeth are expected to be whiter today than what people used to expect in the past. The lightest natural shade is no longer white enough for many patients today. Now what was considered a natural light shade, by some people's standards, isn't white enough anymore.
5. Get the Natural Look
If you receive veneers, bonding or implants, you'll want to be sure to whiten your teeth before those procedures are done. Otherwise, the result can be teeth that don't match in color. Once your teeth are whitened, your dentist can then choose the material that best matches your teeth, to complete your cosmetic procedure.
