Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures 60061

Today's Restorative Dentistry

There's a bright new trend in cosmetic dental offices these days: more people are scheduling appointments because they want to, not because they have to.

Restorative dentistry just isn't the same anymore.

In the past 15 years we've seen the development of materials and procedures we could only dream about before. And if you know someone who hasn't been to the dentist in a while, tell them they'll be pleasantly surprised by what they find.

Pain control

Dental medicine has come a long way from the days when whiskey was the anesthetic of choice. Today's dentistry is virtually painless. Technology, stress control techniques, and some very sophisticated approaches to anesthesia have all contributed to painless treatment - from cleaning to cavity preparation to root canal treatment.

Cosmetic dentistry

A new discipline has grown up around restorative dentistry procedures. But, does it show in a smile?

• Tooth whitening is a simple, inexpensive way to lighten stains and discolorations on teeth without altering the natural structure.
• Dental bonding has come of age with the refinement of bonding resins. There's no limit to the cosmetic "magic' we can work on a smile - close gaps, reshape teeth, lengthen here, brighten there.
• Tooth-colored filling materials are getting prettier - and stronger - every day
• Dental Implants - Though people are keeping their teeth longer and longer, part of the older population still has to deal with missing teeth. For those denture wearers who've always hoped for something better, dental implants can be a kind of dental rebirth.

The future of dentistry looms exciting, too. Cosmetic laser dentistry, fiber optics, computer-aided design - all are finding applications in dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry - it's a whole new ball game.

Considering Porcelain Veneers?

Maybe you've thought about cosmetic dental work - but felt a little vain to consider it.

Or the appearance of your teeth never bothered you much, because your dental health is pretty good.

But fixing a small functional problem can sometimes yield wonderful, unanticipated dividends. Mary, for instance, had a few dental imperfections most of us could live with. But she was hampered from time to time by a lispy "s" sound.

Mary had gapped teeth, a diastema, which caused a slight but noticeable speech defect. She also showed evidence of life in the fast lane, too: teeth worn down, probably from nervous clenching of the jaw muscles or grinding teeth.

In Mary's case - and every case is different - porcelain veneers saved the day. Her cosmetic dentist began with a functional and esthetic evaluation to determine what shape and contour would best solve Mary's diastema problem. More tooth length was proposed, to give her a more youthful, proportioned appearance, too.

Impressions were taken, and sent off to the lab for fabrication. On the next visit, her teeth were cleaned and etched chemically, the dental veneers were cemented into place, and "cured" with a special light to seal them.

Mary's speech problem evaporated. Dentistry fixed that. But cosmetic dentistry did more than perfect her speech.

WHEN FUNCTION = BEAUTY

Like an acrylic fingernail, veneers cover the front surface of the teeth. Porcelain dental veneers are strong and, by the way, look great.

As an architect of more that 60 years, I have learned that only the beautiful is practical. And universally, anything that is truly practical, functional, and useful is beautiful.
-Frank Lloyd Wright