While traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing, diagnosing and treating oral disease, the goal of cosmetic dentistry is to focus on improving the appearance of a person's teeth, mouth and smile. In other words restorative, general and/or family dental practices address dental problems that require necessary treatment, whereas cosmetic dentistry provides elective — or desired — treatments or services.
Cosmetic Dentistry is general dentistry and much more! It also has the added dimension of art.
While there are functional requirements to be considered, when considering your smile the Nosehill Dental team must pay close attention to the appearance of the final dental work. Doing this requires special materials. Ceramic and composite technology has advanced to the point where beautiful AND durable dental work can be provided to each patient by using the latest in digital dental technology. Since so much extra training is involved in digital dentistry and how to use these highly advanced materials properly, (only dentists like the Nosehill Dental team) who are truly passionate about the appearance of their work take the time away from the office and spend the money for the extra training required to learn and practice these techniques.
What Are The Benefits?
Cosmetic dentistry may also provide restorative benefits. For example, dental fillings are a common procedure used to treat decayed teeth. Previously, most dental fillings were composed primarily of gold, amalgam and other materials that left visible dark spots on the teeth. Today, dental fillings fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry.
You can now select fillings made of porcelain or composite materials that closely match the color and feel of your existing teeth, thus maintaining the natural appearance of your teeth and smile.
Many people are choosing to have their older fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored fillings to enhance their oral appearance.
One of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry is that the final results are easy to predict. So whether you decide to have a gap filled, a chip repaired or a stain concealed, you're unlikely to have unpleasant surprises later.
Nosehill Dental Centre has many methods for repairing, restoring or otherwise changing the appearance of your teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry offers many options for people who are unhappy with their smile. If you are one of these people, we encourage you to watch the movies about Cosmetic Dentistry above to learn about the various ways available to us to beautify your smile.
Are you unhappy with your smile? Do you want to change your smile to improve the colour, shape or length of your teeth? Or change the appearance of your gums or lips to give your overall smile a more appealing look?
According to a recent survey, it was revealed that:
At Nosehill Dental Centre, a smile makeover involves one or more cosmetic, dental or facial rejuvenation procedures to improve the aesthetics of your smile. While a smile makeover to one person could mean something completely different to another, it is a very individual choice. For example, some people want the perfectly white Hollywood smile makeover, or the celebrity smile with pearly white porcelain veneers. Other people may just want a simple improvement, such as the replacement of amalgam fillings with composite and teeth whitening. Whatever the reasons for your dissatisfaction with your smile, there are many different ways in which you can improve your smile using modern cosmetic dentistry:
The end result of a smile makeover for many people is a smile to be proud of, one that is straight, white and perfectly aligned.
So What is Reconstructive Dentistry?
Reconstructive dentistry refers to any restorative dentistry procedure that involves replacing or repairing broken or missing teeth, bones, or tissue. Procedures and types of dentistry that are classified as reconstructive dentistry include full mouth reconstruction, dental implant restorations, TMJ treatment, dental bridge placement, dental crown placement, inlays and onlays, and replacing old metal fillings. A general dentist can perform many of these procedures, but you should speak with the dentist prior to treatment to view samples of the doctor's restorative dentistry results and previous full mouth reconstructions.
Full Mouth Reconstruction
If severe dental problems are causing you discomfort, you may be a good candidate for a full mouth reconstruction. A well-qualified general dentist can combine the aesthetics of cosmetic dentistry with the science of neuromuscular dentistry to perform a full mouth reconstruction. Orthodontic appliances can be used to help properly position your jaw. Once the jaw is properly aligned, relieving some of the pain caused by the TMJ syndrome, cosmetic and restorative dentistry procedures (porcelain veneers, dental crowns, bridgework, dental implants, and onlays) are completed. The result is an attractive, pain-free new smile.
Severe Dental Problems – Repairing Worn Teeth
Dental problems such as damaged and worn teeth not only detract from your mouth visually, but they also can affect the alignment of your teeth. The procedures used by a general dentist when repairing worn teeth will depend on the extent of your teeth's damage. Generally a crown can be placed over your damaged tooth to strengthen and reinforce the tooth. If there is a gap between your natural teeth, a dental bridge may be used to cover the gap. If you no longer have a natural tooth to which your dentist can secure a crown, a dental implant may be placed in your jaw to create the crown's foundation.
TMJ Syndrome
TMJ syndrome is a disorder that affects your jaw's temporomandibular joint, causing pain in your head and neck and a possible popping of your jaw when you chew. Most cases of TMJ syndrome are temporary and can be treated at home with over-the-counter pain medicines, compresses, and jaw exercises. If your dental problems persist, a general dentist will give you a treatment regime similar to the home-care treatment. They may then give you a bite plate or splint to ease the muscle tension. If these therapies do not work, your general dentist may have to perform more comprehensive procedures to relieve the discomfort.
Full Mouth Reconstruction vs. Smile Makeover - Which to Choose?
So how does full mouth reconstruction differ from smile makeover? A smile makeover is something that you elect to have performed, while a full mouth reconstruction is something that you need.
As the makers of dental materials respond to increasing consumer demands for beautiful, natural-looking dentistry, it is becoming hard to draw a line between purely "cosmetic" (such as elective) dentistry and "restorative" (necessary) dentistry. For example, it is now possible for your dentist to treat tooth decay with a tooth-like filling material that looks natural.
If you need full mouth reconstruction, the materials available today make it possible for your dentist to provide you with durable, functional and clinically sound treatments that also look natural.
It is also important to note that a smile makeover – though performed primarily to improve the esthetic appearance of the smile – requires the use of clinically proven dental materials and treatment techniques, as well as exceptional knowledge, training and skill on the part of the dentist. Many of the same techniques and equipment used for full mouth reconstruction are also used to ensure the success and long-term stability of smile makeover treatments.
Many people have discolored teeth and these people know how self-conscious they feel when they are in company. Many suffer in silence and just put up with the fact that their teeth are not perfect though they never look into the vast array of options available for effective treatment. Personal health has always been of paramount importance for many people who may have to interact with friends, work colleagues, customers and associates in different capacities every day of their lives. For these people it is essential to look good and take care of their appearance.
Teeth discoloration is very common and the reasons for the problem can go as far back as childhood in some cases. The most common causes are through smoking or chewing tobacco though this is now thankfully on the decline as more and more people kick the smoking habit. Drinking excessive tea, coffee or cola drinks is another common cause of teeth discoloration and it is the tannin inside the ingredients that does the damage. Taking antibiotics as a child, trauma, poor dental hygiene and general ageing are some of the other main sources of the problem.
For your convenience and budget, we have two methods of whitening available to you. The first is an in-office procedure called Laser Whitening. The Second is the use of a Take Home Kit that you can conveniently use at home..
Laser Teeth Whitening is one of many available dental remedies designed to revitalize the color of your teeth. Whitening strips, gels, and toothpastes are treatments that are available that you can use from home. However, laser teeth whitening is arguably the quickest, safest, and effective method of teeth whitening. In this treatment, a special laser whitening gel is applied to the teeth in which a high intensity laser is used to penetrate the whitening materials.
This action will in effect bleach the teeth. This procedure takes up to approximately two hours to be completed and is performed in a cosmetic dentist's office. It is a safe treatment that specifically focuses on the affected teeth and therefore will not affect the gum tissue in any way.
The only possible side effect to laser tooth whitening is that the patient experiences slight sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli for approximately two to three days following the treatment.
Take Home Whitening is the second method involves preparing custom trays done by taking a simple impression of your mouth. Our lab will create trays that you will take home and use at your convenience. There are several advantages to using this system. We custom fit the trays to you so there is never any risk of ingesting the whitening agents. Additionally, our whitening agents are more powerful than you can purchase over-the counter and therefore, the results will be more dramatic. By allowing you to use this whitening package at home and at your convenience we allow you to have control over how white your tooth colour will become.
We know your smile is important. It's one of the first things you notice when you meet someone. A whiter, brighter smile is beautiful - it can help you feel better about yourself and make a memorable impression
Your lifestyle and the aging process can stain and darken your teeth. Many things we do on a regular basis can contribute to stained teeth, such as drinking coffee, tea, cola and red wine or smoking.
Whitening can get your smile looking its best. Non-professional procedures and clinically unproven teeth whitening tips can often lead to unsatisfactory results, you should look for a whitening procedure that is:
With proper aftercare, whitened teeth can stay bright for a few years! To keep your smile bright as long as possible, try these easy tips:
In the past, the only way to correct dental imperfections was to cover the tooth with a crown. Today, in most cases there are several alternatives: crown, composite resin bonding or porcelain veneer or even cosmetic contouring or orthodontics.
So what is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or plastic that is bonded to a tooth to improve its color and shape. A veneer generally covers only the front and top of a tooth. Veneers can be used to close spaces between teeth, lengthen small or mishapen teeth, or whiten stained or dark teeth.
When teeth are chipped or beginning to wear, veneers can protect them from damage and restore their original appearance.
What are veneers used for?
Veneers can be the ultimate smile makeover treatment!
Having a dazzling, balanced smile is possible, thanks to porcelain veneers. Since veneers fit over the front of teeth, they transform the smile by completely concealing imperfections.
Veneers can be the solution for numerous aesthetic flaws
Porcelain veneers camouflage numerous cosmetic problems, making them an option for a wide range of patients. Chips, cracks, discoloration, and misalignment are among the flaws veneers can cover.
Veneers can be an alternative to orthodontic treatment
Many people are dissatisfied with their smile's alignment, but they avoid seeking treatment because they don't want traditional braces. Porcelain dental veneers can even be specially fitted to reshape crooked teeth that may otherwise require orthodontics.
Compatible with other dental treatments
Although porcelain veneers are often all that is needed for a smile makeover, they are also compatible with other dental treatments. For example, they can be placed in combination with teeth whitening, a full-mouth reconstruction, TMJ treatment, or neuromuscular dentistry to completely repair and enhance a patient's smile.
How do we restore teeth with veneers?
It can take two or more appointments to restore teeth with veneers. During the first appointment, we shape and roughen the teeth. We then take impressions of your teeth, which we use to make precise working models of your mouth. It's on these models that we artistically craft veneers to fit the prepared teeth.
During the second appointment, we clean and polish the prepared teeth. Then we use an adhesive to bond the veneers to the teeth. A harmless, high-intensity light hardens the adhesive. Once in place, veneers virtually become part of your teeth! You can use them like you would your own teeth because the bond is extremely strong. The final result is beautiful and natural-looking teeth.
Follow Up Care
It can take time for you to get used to the appearance and feel of your new teeth. You won't have to change the way you floss or brush, however. But you should not:
Doing any of these things can cause the veneers to come off, break or chip. Your Nosehill Centre Dentist will ask you to come back in a few weeks and they will check the veneers for any problems.
Dental Implants are small, titanium, screw-shaped threaded cylinders that are placed into the bone in the upper (Maxillary) and/or lower (Mandibular) arches of the mouth. They are used to replace one or many missing teeth, or to stabilize dentures. Titanium is an inert metal that is capable of creating a very tight bond with bone. Titanium is used in other operations such as knee or hip replacements -- so it is a proven surgical component.
The implant acts like the root of a natural tooth, and bone actually forms around a special coating on the implant to hold the implant firmly in place. This process is referred to as osseointegration. A crown, with the look, feel, and function of a natural tooth is then affixed to an abutment which is connected to the implant. The 'abutment' is simply a small connecting piece between the implant and the crown.
In cases where there are multiple missing teeth, or where the patient has previously had dentures, multiple implants are placed in the mouth to allow for implant-supported crowns or bridges, ball abutment retained overdentures, and/or bar-supported overdentures.
The success rate for dental implants is very high; and, with proper care, good dental hygiene, and a healthy life style, it is rare that implants will fail. Over the past 30 years, hundreds of thousands of implants have been placed. Many of the 'original' implants are still functioning without problems. Technology and procedures have advanced significantly since the first implants were placed. The success rate is now in the 95%+ range. Some reasons for failed implants can be attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle (smoking), or to poor dental hygiene.
What are the benefits of Dental Implants?
Crowns are dental restorations otherwise known as "caps" which are coverings that fit over teeth.
Crowns may be necessary because of broken down old fillings, fractured, chipped or sensitive teeth. Crowns are also used to improve the appearance of natural teeth that are malformed, malpositioned or discolored.
Crowns are made of natural looking porcelain and are made to improve your overall smile or to blend in with your own teeth. Sometimes an underlying metal shell is used under the porcelain if additional strength is needed.
Some of the indications for requiring a crown are:
Crowns can be made from different materials which include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown. You and your dentist will decide which type is appropriate, depending upon the strength requirements and esthetic concerns of the tooth involved.
A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.
There are different types of bridges, depending on how they are fabricated and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth. Conventionally, bridges are made using the indirect method of restoration however, bridges can be fabricated directly in the mouth using such materials as composite resin or now can be fabricated with the porcelain (for a natural looking smile).
A bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a preparation pattern determined by the location of the teeth and by the material from which the bridge is fabricated. In other words, the abutment teeth are reduced in size to accommodate the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth in a correct alignment and contact with the opposing teeth.
Another type of dental bridge, called a cantilever bridge, is used to replace a missing tooth in an area of the mouth that receives less physical stress. For example, a cantilever bridge may be used to replace a missing front tooth. This type of dental bridge is used when just one side of the empty space caused by an absent tooth has remaining healthy teeth. With a cantilever bridge, the false tooth is anchored to one or more natural teeth.
A dental bridge can definitely improve the smile of an individual with a missing tooth. However, dental bridges have more to offer than just aesthetic appeal. They can prevent the surrounding teeth from drifting out of position and fill spaces that would otherwise leave surrounding teeth susceptible to tooth decay. They may even be helpful in lowering susceptibility to gum disease.
The best candidate for a dental bridge is a person with one or more missing teeth and good dental hygiene. An individual with a dental bridge will need to brush and floss daily and limit sugar and starch intake. Hard and sticky snacks should be avoided as well. Dental visits, including professional cleanings, should take place every six months. With proper dental hygiene, a dental bridge can last (on average) from eight to 10 years.
While this is a tried and true method used in dentistry for years and it was the standard of dental care for decades. However, now we also offer a second choice for replacing a missing tooth with dental implants.
This is now the most advanced state of the art technique for tooth replacement. Implants are becoming the new standard due to their high success rate and conservative treatment with no damage to adjacent tooth structures.
Please look at both methods before you decide. We will be happy to help you decide which one is right for you.
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