What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Many cosmetic procedures are elective rather than essential. However, many of these treatments provide more than just restorative benefits.

Cosmetic dentistry covers a broad range of dental procedures. But it involves any dental process that improves the appearance, not necessarily the function, of the teeth, gums, and bite. The primary focus of cosmetic dentistry is aesthetics, such as the color, position, shape, size, and alignment of the teeth.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry

There are many dental procedures that fall under cosmetic dentistry. Some of these include:

• Teeth whitening – Having your teeth whitened is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to improve your smile. Professional whitening delivers optimum results in a relatively short time and is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments.

• Dental veneers – Dental veneers are extremely thin, custom-made shells of porcelain or resin that cover the front surface of the teeth. To apply veneers, a dentist will remove about a half-millimeter of tooth enamel from the existing tooth and will bond, or cement, the veneer to the front of the tooth. Veneers can change the color, shape, size, or length of your front teeth.

• Dental bonding – Bonding is a dental procedure that can repair chipped, cracked, decayed, or misshapen teeth. A dentist applies a tooth-colored, putty-like resin to the tooth, and it is then hardened with an ultra-violet or laser light.

• Dental crowns – Also known as a cap, a crown is fitted over and replaces a tooth that is decayed or damaged above the gum line. This process restores a tooth’s shape, size, appearance, and strength. A crown can keep a weak tooth from breaking or can hold a cracked tooth together. A crown is made from either metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, or resin.

• Inlays and Onlays – Also known as indirect fillings, inlays and onlays can be made from porcelain, gold, or composite materials and fill damaged or decayed teeth. Fillings are molded into place at the dentist’s office, but they are created in a dental lab and then bonded into place by your dentist. It is called an inlay when the material is bonded within the center of the tooth. It is an onlay when the filling includes one or more locations of the tooth, or when it covers a biting surface.

• Dental implants – A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that provides a permanent base for fixed, replacement teeth. Dental implants are an effective and long-term solution for a person who has a missing tooth. They fit, feel, and function just as your natural teeth.

There are as many reasons to have a cosmetic dental procedure as there are types. Many cosmetic procedures are elective rather than essential. However, many of these treatments provide more than just restorative benefits.

Sedation and Cosmetic Dentistry

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St Louis. We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.