Cosmetic dentistry has been booming lately and there have never been more options available so where do you begin? Maybe you’re a bride-to-be seeking to achieve your ideal smile in the run-up to your wedding. Perhaps you’ve just had it with one particular crooked tooth. So where do you start?
How can you choose the best cosmetic dental procedure for you when there are so many options? Here are some of the most common procedures; from composite bonding to veneers which should help you determine which would be your best option.
Cosmetic dentistry – what is it?
Cosmetic dentistry is a type of professional dental therapy that aims to make your teeth look better. It’s frequently optional rather than necessary, so you will have to pay for any procedures you arrange.
Which Of The Available Cosmetic Dental Treatments Are The Most Popular?
How Composite Bonding Works
In order to improve the overall contour of your smile, composite bonding is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. Composite bonding may be an excellent solution for you if you have teeth with uneven or chipped edges. It also works for teeth that you’d want to lengthen.
Composite bonding is frequently used in combination with other treatments. It is a particularly popular option following orthodontic procedures like Invisalign or teeth whitening.
Composite veneers are similar to composite bonding in that they cover the entire tooth and produce a bigger change in the tooth’s appearance.
What is involved?
A resin compound (composite) is applied to the tooth in both composite bonding and composite veneers. A curing light is used to fuse this after it has been manually shaped to look as natural as possible.
What is the duration of the procedure?
As long as your teeth are straight, this procedure doesn’t require you to prepare your natural teeth. One sitting is normally sufficient for composite bonding. Your smile can be drastically changed in just a few hours.
What is the cost?
The cost varies based on the dentist and dental office you go to. You should budget between £200 and £600 each tooth.
How long does it last?
Composite treatment normally lasts 5-7 years with adequate care. It may stain with time and chip, but it is simple to fix, depending on your diet. A thorough hygiene session can effectively remove stains and restore the luster to your composite.
Veneers – An Overview
Veneers are a coating of material that is placed over the tooth surface. Much like a fake nail on top of a real nail.
Veneers can be created from a variety of materials, such as porcelain or composite. They’re a fantastic choice for anyone who want a complete makeover. Veneers can be customized to match your unique smile. Whether that means helping to straighten the teeth’s arch, make them appear longer, or give them slightly different curves.
Depending on the outcome you want, you can choose different color and brightness shades when using veneers.
What is involved?
When it comes to veneers it’s all about the planning. Choosing the proper shape, color, and texture with the patient takes time. The porcelain veneers must look and feel as natural as is possible.
Patients can be given a mock-up of what their porcelain veneers might look like before the porcelain veneers are actually created.
What are some widespread fallacies?
The idea that you must have your teeth shaved down before veneer treatment is a common myth in cosmetic dentistry. There shouldn’t be any severe filing down of your natural teeth involved. Veneers can sometimes require a little shaping or preparation to the teeth before fitting your final smile however; especially with porcelain.
Another assumption is that many veneers appear false or glaringly white. Once again, this is untrue. Veneers are extremely natural looking in their color and shape and can be customized to fit your unique smile and preferences. You are free to choose the shade, style, and shape of your veneers based on your preferences.
How much time does the procedure take?
Porcelain veneers are created in a lab by technicians working closely with dentists. Patients should anticipate a porcelain veneer smile makeover to take 6 to 8 weeks from start to completion.
What is the price?
Veneers range in cost from £200 to £1000 per tooth, depending on the material chosen and the dentist’s skill and experience. Porcelain veneers can start from around £850 per tooth. They’ll last 10+ years with proper care and hygiene.
Teeth Whitening
While there are several at-home teeth whitening options, professional teeth whitening is the way to go if you want results that last. Teeth whitening can be a terrific approach to make a tiny modification to the smile, providing a significant impact. A patient can expect a brighter, whiter smile after just a few weeks of whitening.
What exactly does it involve?
To create the whitening trays, scans of the patient’s teeth are taken. The patient is then given tubes of whitening gel once the trays are produced The patients then place a very small drop down the bottom of the trays and wear them every night for about 2 weeks.
What is the price?
Although prices can vary, you should budget about £250 for professional teeth whitening.
Orthodontics and invisible aligners explained
Braces may be the answer if you’re worried about your crooked or crowded teeth. Nowadays, there are many discrete choices available, such as invisible aligners from companies like Invisilign.
Invisible aligners place pressure on the teeth, forcing them to slowly migrate to their correct position.
To get a complete and accurate picture of your oral cavity, the majority of consultations should start with x-rays and an oral examination. The information required to diagnose your condition should then be available to your medical team. They will then advise you on the best course of action.
After your aligners are prepared, you will either receive a direct delivery or arrange to pick them up. Even during mealtimes, you’ll have to wear them constantly. Your teeth are likely to have migrated as anticipated if you’ve wore your aligners as directed for the minimal amount of time advised. At this point you can switch to the following set of aligners. Your invisible aligners will typically need to be changed every one to two weeks.
You will proceed to the third and last stage, retainers, once the therapy is finished. To assist maintain the benefits of your treatment, you must wear your retainers at night. You won’t need to wear braces once more because of this.
How much time does the procedure require?
The duration of invisible aligner cosmetic dentistry treatment can vary from patient to patient. It can occasionally be finished within six months or less.
What is the price?
Treatments with invisible aligners might cost as much as £2,000, depending on how long or involved your procedure is.