People regularly visit dental professionals to maintain teeth health, but another common reason is cosmetic purposes. Cosmetic dentistry involves improving the appearance of their teeth by adjusting factors like size, color, shape, location, and more. These cosmetic dental procedures are growing in popularity worldwide, and a report from Markets N Research highlights that the market for cosmetic dentistry is projected to surpass $59.6 billion—or roughly RM270 billion—by 2028.
The demand for cosmetic dentistry to improve aesthetic appeal is also driven by the prevalence of dental disease, which can damage the appearance of one’s teeth. Yet dental health issues and other related problems are not only detrimental to the state of your teeth. They can also damage self-image and confidence, as many may find it difficult to interact with others or feel good about themselves when they feel conscious of their smile.
By undergoing cosmetic dentistry procedures, you can enhance how your teeth look, enhance and maintain dental health, and boost your confidence. Here are four such ways you can improve your teeth’s appearance:
Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening or bleaching is a cosmetic procedure for those who want to fix teeth discoloration, and it’s high in demand since it’s non-invasive. This procedure can be beneficial for those whose teeth have stained or become yellowish due to factors like tobacco consumption, aging, mouth injury, medications, and the like.
During a teeth whitening procedure, a dental professional applies a strong bleaching gel to your teeth. This gel is left to sit for around 20 minutes, after which the entire process is repeated as needed. Sometimes, teeth whitening may involve the use of a laser alongside bleaching gel to whiten the teeth, and you can check if your dentist offers the service.
Of course, not everyone can afford to have their teeth whitened by professionals regularly, especially since it can take multiple sessions to reach your desired color. Fortunately, Pretty Me finds that there are plenty of whitening products on the market for those who suffer from common teeth discoloration and stains, including toothpaste, mouthwash, whitening strips, hydrogen peroxide gel, home teeth whitening kits, and blue light devices.
In particular, products like the Crest 3D Whitestrips provide a similar method to professional treatments. While they don’t deliver results as quickly as professional treatments do, they can effectively address years of stains with daily use. Using whitening toothpaste or whitening pens daily can also help speed up the whitening process.
While this procedure may not correct other dental issues, teeth whitening can help improve the appearance of your teeth without painful or lengthy processes. What’s more, you can easily have your teeth whitened as long as you don’t have any active cavities or are currently having some dental work done.
Teeth bonding
Broken and chipped teeth aren’t uncommon issues, but they may damage your self-image and lead to other dental problems when not treated.
To fix chipping, discoloration, gaps, or cracking, dental professionals use a process known as teeth bonding. This involves using a tooth-colored composite resin that is molded to fit the shape of your teeth, fill in cracks and gaps, or cover up stains.
When it hardens, this resin fills in the broken portions and restores its color, making the tooth look bright and whole again. There are two types of teeth bonding: direct and indirect. The former is the more common procedure of the two. Here, your dentist will directly place and dry the resin onto your teeth, molding and finishing it to create a natural-looking appearance.
Meanwhile, indirect teeth bonding involves creating a restoration outside the office, meaning your dentist will require an impression of your teeth to craft and customize the bond and then apply it in another session.
Overall, teeth bonding is a low-risk, minimally-invasive procedure that can help fix subtle flaws in your teeth and give them a more pleasant look. To help its effects last longer, check with your dentist to see if you experience bruxism, a term that refers to teeth grinding or clenching. Wearing a mouthguard at night can prevent bruxism from breaking down the composite bonded to your teeth.
Tooth contouring
You qualify for tooth contouring if you have chipped or crooked teeth or teeth with misaligned lengths. This procedure, also known as tooth reshaping, involves removing part of the tooth’s enamel to reshape and change its appearance. A professional can trim the length of longer teeth or shape uneven ones to align them. This can make them look more uniform, enhance their appearance, and improve your bite.
Since tooth contouring only involves the outer part of the teeth and not the sensitive inner portion, it’s a painless procedure you can quickly recover from. VeryWell Health adds that other than improving the appearance of your teeth, this procedure can adjust their overall anatomy to prevent tartar build-up, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Ultimately, tooth contouring allows you to be more confident about your smile and keeps your teeth healthier for longer. Just remember that your teeth will be more sensitive due to the partial removal of enamel, so consider using non-abrasive toothpaste and avoiding sugary drinks after the procedure.
Veneers
In cases where one’s natural teeth have conditions too severe for some of the procedures mentioned above, some may consider getting veneers.
Insights from Business Wire explain that veneers are tooth-like shells made of composite or porcelain resin installed on the front of the person’s teeth. They’ve grown in popularity since they can easily hide discoloration, chips, crookedness, and more, giving your teeth a more uniform and enhanced appearance.
They may sometimes be mistaken for dental crowns, which also involve tooth-shaped shells placed over the natural tooth, but they have significant differences. Unlike crowns, natural teeth don’t need to be shaved down when using veneers; only a tiny part of the enamel in front of the tooth is removed to install them.
Crowns involve filing down the enamel so that the shell can encase the entire tooth. Since veneers are only placed on top of the teeth and don’t fully cover them, this procedure lets the person keep most of their natural teeth underneath, preventing sensitivity or decay when the enamel is removed.
With the proper care, veneers can last a long time and won’t need much maintenance, thanks to their durability. Veneers are also specifically made for each patient, ensuring they best suit your smile. To better care for your veneers in the long term, try not to bite directly into hard foods and have regular dental checkups for further maintenance.
Teeth straightening
Fixing crooked and misaligned teeth have long been a common procedure. Those with severe tooth movement often wear metal braces to bring back teeth to their initial positions or straighten them out. However, there are also more advancements to address a small to medium amount of tooth movement and conditions such as teeth overcrowding, mild overbites or underbites, tooth gaps, and minor tooth rotation.
Some may choose to go through a procedure in order to obtain cosmetic braces or invisible braces to fix these problems. These are clear aligners that provide a less visible way to adjust the alignment of your teeth compared to traditional braces with metal wires and brackets. A dental professional will need to take a digital scan of your teeth to create a 3D model, showing how the straightening process will play out with the aligners.
A patient will typically need to visit regularly to monitor progress and get new trays. Healthline points out that one popular brand of cosmetic braces is Invisalign, which provides a clear tray in the shape of your teeth that shifts your teeth gradually over time. With daily wear, the invisible braces can be worn for an average 12 to 18 months and show results in around six months of wearing them.
Wearing clear braces like Invisalign are usually done for more cosmetic purposes to fix minor and mild tooth issues that can cause self-consciousness. As the procedure progresses, be sure to practice proper oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly to see if you need new alignment trays as your teeth straighten out.
Regular professional cleanings
Other than undergoing these cosmetic dental procedures to improve the appearance of your teeth, getting them regularly cleaned by a professional can also greatly enhance how they look.
Dentists can spot cavities or other tooth issues during routine cleanings, allowing them to help you fix any problems that can affect how your teeth look. They may also be able to catch gum disease and tooth decay before they can evolve into worse problems that can further damage your teeth’s appearance and health.
Without proper cleanings, plaque can build up on your teeth and turn into tartar, which is difficult to remove. This build-up can also become an aesthetic and health concern, leading to diseases and decay if not addressed. Before you consider undergoing more cosmetic dental procedures, starting with regular cleanings and check-ups to remove tartar and prevent build-up may be helpful.
For comprehensive services such as cleanings and preventative care, Stellar Dental can help you keep your teeth free of tartar, improving your teeth’s appearance and health. You can be assured of high-quality care from skilled professionals who want to help restore confidence in your smile.
Conclusion
Cosmetic dentistry can help improve your teeth in many ways. While the main purpose of going through these procedures is to improve how your teeth look, addressing aesthetic issues can also help you improve your dental wellness and provide you with more motivation to care for your teeth. With the help of cosmetic dentistry for maintaining the appearance and health of your teeth, you’ll feel more self-assured in yourself, making it easier to flash a winning smile.
Specially written for STELLARDENTAL.my
By: Raynera Juliette
