Create Your Own Stunning Smile With Cosmetic Dentists Scottsdale
May 6, 2011Not too many years ago, people expected to lose their most of their teeth as they grew older. Those with misshapen or stained teeth simply lived with them, but no longer. Dentistry today can seemingly work miracles, and affordable, painless solutions to dental problems are widely available. The imperfections that can ruin a smile are routinely reshaped, straightened, and professionally whitened by cosmetic dentists Scottsdale.
By far, the most common choice for patients is tooth whitening. Nearly all of us experience tooth staining at some point, and the culprit is often coffee, tea or tobacco. Over-the-counter bleaching products are widely available, but are not necessarily a good choice for everyone. The dentist, however, makes a custom-fit mold, and then creates trays for both lower and upper teeth.
Whitening gel is then applied to the forms and worn for several hours. The process begins in the office, but is usually completed in the comfort of a patient’s home. The bleaching agents in the solution work with the enamel, lightening it to the desired shade. Many times, the result is a spectacularly improved smile, without the previous discolorations. If the teeth are too stained to bleach, however, many patients opt for veneers.
A veneer covers the entire surface of a tooth with porcelain or composites, and are attached directly to teeth. They not only cover stains, but often are used to hide instances of mildly misaligned front teeth. Veneers are excellent for reshaping badly formed teeth, hiding cracks, chips, and other undesirable features. They last for a decade or more, and can be created in conjunction with dental bonding.
Dental bonding is a process similar to veneers in some ways. It works well to fill in large gaps between teeth, or to rebuild cracked or broken-off portions of healthy teeth. The dentist pre-treats the affected area, and then methodically rebuilds it with a composite-based resin, often drying and hardening the work with a laser tool. The final product is often indistinguishable from the other teeth.
Replacing teeth that are missing for one reason or another is extremely important. While not strictly cosmetic, installing modern bridges and crowns can hide any visual flaws while restoring normal function. Bridges, for example, create a strong bond on either side of a replacement tooth, and can sometimes eliminate the need for dentures or other dental work. While visible to the dentist, they are not obvious to others.
In addition, cosmetic dentists Scottsdale can correct conditions caused by chronic gum disease, and also work with braces for long-term straightening. Most people today can opt for braces that are nearly invisible, in stark contrast to the strange metal contraptions from many years ago. While each case is individual, there are many treatments available today for unsightly teeth, and correcting those problems can lead to better oral, physical and even mental health.
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