Aside from those seeking preventative care, patients seeking cosmetic dental options are those most frequently seen by dentists. Whether they’re just asking to learn a bit more about the options available or are ready to commit, there’s often a degree of concern. This concern is based on the idea that cosmetic dentistry can be uncomfortable or involve invasive surgical procedures. The good news is that most cosmetic dental treatments are conservative. This means they don’t involve surgical approaches or long recovery times.
Essential Facts Regarding Conservative Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental whitening, cosmetic bonding, and clear aligners are the most commonly requested forms of cosmetic dentistry. Some types of cosmetic dentistry, such as clear aligners, also have a therapeutic element to them. Each of these procedures is able to provide aesthetic improvement to the smile without impacting healthy tissue. This is a critical point as every part of your oral cavity is an intrinsic element in the oral health system. Every tooth serves as a support and brace for the teeth nearest to it, for instance. Extraction or unnecessary destruction of healthy tissue can impact its ability to support its neighboring teeth.
This is why minimally invasive or conservative cosmetic dentistry is such an important approach. They leave more of the healthy dental tissue in place so it can continue supporting your whole mouth’s health. They’re also better for the patient and dentist alike. They take less time to complete, have shorter recovery times, and have less incidence of complications. We’ll tell you a little bit more about the three procedures listed above.
- Teeth Whitening – Brightening the enamel on our teeth is one way of immediately impacting our appearance. This treatment is generally quite gentle and doesn’t take long to accomplish. Even professional whitening is often done in under 30 minutes. The lightning effect is achieved by using a peroxide solution to break down proteins in the enamel. A special light is sometimes used to boost the effectiveness of this solution.
- Clear Aligners – Clear aligners are the answer to the traditional bracket and wire braces that have been popular for many years. These aligners come in the form of special plastic trays that are designed to gently apply pressure to your teeth. This causes the teeth to shift into a straight alignment, eliminating gaps and improving oral health care results.
- Dental Bonding – This is a restorative treatment that can improve the overall appearance of your smile. This is accomplished by filling gaps and chips to produce a straighter, more pleasant appearance. This bonding material can be colored to match your natural enamel tone, so it’s hard to tell you’ve had work done.
Each of these approaches involves no removal of tissue or other damaging processes. However, they’re perfectly capable of providing significant improvement to your appearance.
Additional Cosmetic Dental Procedures Your Dentist Offers
Less conservative approaches are also appropriate for addressing certain aesthetic concerns. Enamel sculpting is a procedure that’s done to reduce teeth that appear overly large. Gingival sculpting does the same for excessive gums. If you want to learn more about these and other cosmetic dental procedures, reach out to your dentist today.
