Popular Cosmetic Dental Treatments (And What They Can Be Used To Treat)

The main goal of cosmetic dentistry is not just to restore and heal the patient’s, but also to give the teeth and the smile a perfect, shiny, and impeccable look. In many cases, tooth damage has both health and aesthetic implications, thus making some cosmetic dentistry procedures restorative as well.

Here are some of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments which can actually help with adverse oral conditions.

Teeth Whitening

This is a very fast and inexpensive procedure which doesn’t require much equipment, so it can be carried out in the patient’s home and lasts only several minutes. Note that not all whitening methods are good for your oral health. Some chemicals used in the process can be very aggressive and damage the tooth enamel. However, appropriate whitening techniques will help you remove or prevent dental caries.

Composite Tooth Bonding

These are a solution for chipped teeth. When a tooth is chipped the internal soft tissues forming the pulp may be exposed to the air, which is very harmful and speeds up tissue deterioration that leads to tooth loss. Having composite bonding placed on the damaged area will fix and prevent further issues.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are an orthodontic product which support the proper alignment of a patient’s teeth. In this sense “clear” means transparent and harder to spot, in contrast to traditional braces with visible metallic parts. Modern clear aligners are custom 3D printed and are next to invisible, so most people won’t be able to notice you’re wearing them. The subtlety of the treatment has made it very popular among teenagers and young adults.

Porcelain Veneers and Crowns

These treatments are attached to the surface of  damaged teeth. Whether it’s a veneer or a crown depends on the level of damage, or how bad the condition is. A crown is added straight to the pulp or dentin, while a veneer is basically just an additional coating which corrects health or aesthetic issues. Crowns are more serious, complex and made of thicker porcelain.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are a set of multiple bound crowns which are used to treat one or more missing teeth. Healthy teeth on the either side of the empty space are the base for bridgework. These healthy teeth are prepared by removing a part of enamel, so these become abutments to the bridgework. This is a cheaper, yet less effective alternative to dental implant surgeries.

Popular Cosmetic Dental Treatments

For anyone, having the perfect smile can do a lot to raise their self-confidence and self-esteem. This is where cosmetic dentistry comes in. This type of dentistry involves any dental procedure that improves the look of your smile.

Common types of cosmetic dentistry

When it comes to the perfect smile, there are a number of popular treatments available for your smile makeover.

Teeth Whitening – is the most popular cosmetic treatment. Eating, drinking, smoking or poor oral hygiene can result in the staining of teeth. To remove the stains involves treatments that requires the use of bleach or use of lasers to whiten teeth and enhance the appearance of your smile.

Teeth Straightening – is another treatment that can be used to improve the appearance or function of a person’s teeth. This treatment involves applying gentle pressure to your teeth by wearing a brace. The outcome is that it moves the teeth back into the right place. There are different types of braces available. Some of these can be taken out – Invisalign for example.

Bonding – is a process to repair teeth that are broken, chipped or discoloured. It involves applying enamel-like dental compound onto the surface of the tooth which is then shaped, hardened and polished. The result is that it blends in with the rest of the tooth’s surface.

Bridges – are false teeth designed to fill in the gaps left by missing teeth. Two crowns that are on either side of the denture are used to hold it in place. Such treatment comes with risk and requires a commitment from the wearer to good oral hygiene.

Veneers – are custom-made porcelain laminates that are fused directly onto your teeth. They can help fix teeth that are chipped or discoloured. They can also contribute to straightening out teeth that are a little crooked.

Implants – are different to bridges. They replace teeth that are missing. Treatment involves surgically placing the implant in the jawbone and is permanent. Implants act as the anchor for an artificial tooth such as crowns, bridges and dentures.

What are the benefits?

Cosmetic dentistry treatments have advantages. Apart from improving self-confidence and self-esteem, other benefits include improving:

  • Appearance of teeth and gums.
  • A person’s bite.
  • Colour of teeth.
  • Shape and position of teeth.

Depending on the individual there may be other benefits that are specific to them.

A new design system for cosmetic dentistry

Digital Smile Design – A pioneeting new system

The way that a cosmetic dentist may design a patient’s smile has fundamentally changed. Technology has refined the process of creating a smile that works best for each patient. Dr. Jameel Gardee is proud to one of the first dentists in Scotland to offer a new system called Digital Smile Design (DSD). By using software that displays static images and videos, Dr. Gardee can help patients to attain the smiles of their dreams. This innovative system relies on a multipurpose concept that enables a dental team to integrate various aspects of dentistry, in order to produce the desired results for patients. Many patients today want more than teeth that are healthy and functional. Cosmetic dentistry has provided a new world of possibilities for dentists and patients, and the DSD system helps everyone involved to explore those possibilities.

How (DSD) Helps Dentists and Patients to Overcome Common Challenges

The DSD system was developed to help dentists overcome some of the daily challenges they may face on a regular basis. One of these challenges is to improve the design of a smile by complementing a person’s natural facial structure. Making changes to a smile requires much attention to detail, and DSD serves as an invaluable tool during that process. DSD can help a dentist to improve the efficiency of achieving a patient’s goals and visual treatments like veneers and dental implants.

Another challenge of cosmetic dentistry is implementing organized communication in regard to the enhancement or reconstruction process. The members of a dental team must communicate with each other effectively, and the DSD system provides a way to do that. This means that a team may maximize its resources, ultimately saving time and money on the part of both the team and its patients.

Communicating with patients is another benefit that the DSD system affords. By communicating more effectively with patients, a dentist may convey what is possible for them in relation to the services they wish to receive. When patients are better able to understand the process of cosmetic dentistry as a whole and how it relates to their needs, they can make more informed decisions about treatment.

The Main Benefits of DSD

Perhaps the top benefit of DSD for patients is that the system helps them to attain the smiles they truly wish to have. All smiles are unique, and the system enables advanced customization for every patient. Dentists are able to use the system to provide patients with the smiles that look the best and the most natural for them. Because focus is placed on health, hygiene, and cosmetic appeal, patients are ultimately given more comprehensive treatment overall.

The DSD process benefits both dental professionals and their patients. The system makes the process of dentistry easier to implement and more efficient than methods that have been used previously. With the help of Digital Smile Design and Dr. Jameel Gardee, patients can get the beautiful, healthy smiles they want.

Source: http://www.digitalsmiledesign.com/doctors/us/home

The magic of dental veneers

For many years now, dental veneers have been used to create the ultimate smile makeover. It is possible to transform crooked, stained, damaged or badly worn teeth into a brand-new straight white smile using dental veneers.

 

So what exactly are dental veneers?

Many dentists describe dental veneers as being the same for your teeth as false fingernails are for your hands. Veneers can be porcelain, ceramic, or made from composite bonding material. Veneers are wafer thin laminates or shells of tooth-coloured material and are cemented to the front surface of teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance.

What treatments or problems are veneers used for?

Here are some of the reasons why patients ought for treatment with dental veneers:

Stained teeth

Badly stained teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening or prophyflex treatments can be greatly improved by dental veneers.  In this case the veneers are used to simply cover any existing stains on your teeth. This is a very quick and relatively inexpensive procedure.

Damaged teeth

Teeth that have become badly worn through excessive grinding or indeed teeth that have been damaged by the continued and excessive consumption of carbonated drinks over a number of years can be hidden using veneers.  Also teeth that have been chipped or broken can also benefit from veneers. A small chip on a tooth can be quickly repaired using composite bonding also known as composite veneers. A single damaged tooth can also be easily repaired with a porcelain veneer that has the same characteristics and colouring as your natural teeth.

Gaps

Spaces or gaps (known in dentistry as diastimas) between your teeth can easily be closed using dental veneers giving you a more uniform looking smile.

Crooked teeth

Veneers are not the ideal treatment for crooked teeth. In order to keep your natural teeth structure then orthodontics or Invisalign braces will probably be a better solution. However, such treatments can take up to a year or indeed longer. If however you teeth and not severely crooked then veneers placed over their front surface will give a straight and perfectly aligned looking smile. For this type of treatment, many people refer to veneers as “instant orthodontics” as you get a similar end result in a fraction of the time.

So which are better – composite veneers or porcelain veneers?

The most popular type of veneers is porcelain. Porcelain veneers offer a more durable alternative which is stronger than its composite counterpart. Composite veneers do not last as long as porcelain veneers and are prone to staining. Porcelain veneers also offer a more natural looking, translucent appearance. Whilst composite veneers cost less than porcelain veneers, they do not last as long and need replacing more often so,as a result, they could end up costing you more in the long run. Composite veneers are ideal for small chips, as this treatment preserves more of your natural tooth structure.

Dental Implants Information

Your dental implant questions answered

Each and every single year, millions of us take advantage of cosmetic dentistry procedures to completely overhaul and upgrade their smile.

And while there are all kinds of different procedures out there to help individuals do exactly that, a significant amount of people are opting to take advantage of dental implants do not only boost the overall appearance of their smile but also repair and restore the health of their teeth as well.

One of those rare cosmetic dentistry procedures that aren’t just an aesthetic solution, but instead a structural and health-based one as well, these are considered to be “wonder solutions” for a lot of people looking to boost their smile but also one that millions and millions of dentists absolutely love as well.

If you’re thinking about taking advantage of dental implants but aren’t sure of what they are, what their advantages and disadvantages are over other options, what the procedure is like to have them implanted, and how much they’re going to cost (amongst other questions), hopefully you’ll pay close attention to all of the details included below.

You’ll get answers to each and every one of those questions as well as a bunch more!

As always, if you are seriously interested in having each and every one of your dental implant questions tackled, if you’re going to want to speak with a dentist or dental professional in your area that can give you personalized answers for your specific situation.

In the meantime, though, check out all of the details we have for you below!

What exactly are dental implants?

Dental implants have been around for more than two decades, though they’ve never been quite as effective or as well made as they have been in the last five years.

Essentially a tooth replacement solution, dental implants are rock solid, incredibly durable, and provide for a ridiculously strong and reliable platform for full teeth to be affixed.

A lot of people believe that dental implants are false teeth themselves, and while they are a critical part of the false teeth or replacement teeth solution, the implants themselves are simply threaded metal rods or knobs that are implanted directly into an individual’s jaw.

Then, after a block of time has passed to allow for proper healing and any adjustments have been made, false teeth will be permanently affixed to that base, creating a completely seamless replacement that looks a lot better than any other option on the market today.

The beautiful thing about dental implants is that they offer such a picture-perfect replacement aesthetically, but there’s also a number of other serious benefits and advantages that they bring to the table.

What are the advantages of getting dental implants?

Obviously, we’ve already touched upon the fact that dental implants are far and away the most “lifelike” of all the tooth replacement solutions on the planet right now. They look EXACTLY like your teeth, and it’s going to be absolutely impossible for anyone (and we mean ANYONE) to know that you’ve had dental implants installed unless they are carefully examining your mouth with dental instruments.

And even then it’s not a surefire thing!

That’s how great they are at hiding a tooth or teeth replacement procedure!

At the same time though, here are a couple of other major benefits and significant advantages that dental implants afford you:

You won’t ever have to worry about any speech problems caused by “new teeth” your mouth isn’t used to because of poor fit

You’re going to be a lot more comfortable with dental implants because they fit in the same footprint as your old tooth or teeth, taking up no extra space

They’re going to give you full confidence when you’re chewing and eating because they are basically a 1:1 to through placement

They’ll boost your self-esteem dramatically, as they will immediately increase the aesthetics and appearance of your smile (especially since you can customize your smile with these replacements)

They’ll last for decades – or even longer – with proper care and regular cleaning

They’ll never pop out of your mouth accidentally, and you’ll never have to worry about losing them, because they are permanently affixed just like you are traditional teeth are

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

When you combine those advantages with the fact that dental implants also help to protect the teeth that are still in your head and support the overall structure of your jaw, you’re talking about a winning solution here.

Honestly, you’d have to be at least a little bit crazy not to take advantage of legitimate dental implant solutions if you ever need to upgrade your smile, replaced teeth that are on their way out, or fill in the gaps of teeth that have already been removed.

This kind of dental procedure is just head and shoulders above all others.

Are there any disadvantages to dental implants?

There are a couple of drawbacks to moving forward with dental implantation procedures, but none of them deal breakers in any way whatsoever.

Sometimes (not always, but sometimes) a dental implant procedure won’t “seat” the way it’s supposed to, and will require a removal and replacement before a permanent tooth can be affixed. This can increase the amount of time that you are dealing with a “flapper” – or removable tooth that fills in the gap while your post is healing, but other than that it’s not really a big deal.

Also, dental implants can get a little bit pricey – but only really if you’re going with the older and more outdated “full post” solutions. Today, micro dental implants cut the cost of this procedure dramatically, while at the same time ridiculously shortening your recovery period.

If you decide to go with dental implants, make sure that you ask your dental professional if you’re going to be able to take advantage of micro implants.

What exactly does this process of dental implantation involve?

Well, each dental implantation procedure will be different on a case-by-case basis (for obvious reasons), but the general path and process of implantation is relatively similar and straightforward across the board.

First of all, any teeth that need to be removed will be removed, and then those injuries will be allowed to heal for a block of time. Once the healing process is well underway, your jaw will be tested and inspected to make sure that it can support full size dental implants or micro implants, and once that is taken care of you’ll begin the process of actual implementation.

Drills will be brought in, small holes will be made in your jaw, and these implant posts will be “screwed in” to those holes so that it creates a locked in and seamless kind of solution. These posts will now act as the root of your teeth, and then (after a recovery period of a couple of weeks or so) you’ll have a permanent tooth installed on top of that post.

How much should I expect to pay for dental implants?

It’s absolutely impossible to predict with any accuracy exactly how much you’re going to have to pay for dental implants.

This kind of procedure varies widely from region to region, but also from office to office within the same regions.

If you’re looking to have this work done, you’re going to want to make sure that you speak to a number of cosmetic dental professionals in your area (as well as dental surgeons) to get a feel for the “going rate”, and then try to negotiate for the best deal.

As a general rule of thumb though, you can (and probably should) expect to spend anywhere between £1500 and £4000 or so per dental implant.

How do I find a certified professional to handle my dental implantation?

The best way to find a top-of-the-line professional in your area (or anywhere that you’re willing to travel) to perform this kind of dental work on you is to take advantage of all the power and leverage the Internet has to offer, specifically looking for leading cosmetic dentistry experts and dental surgeons that have a track record for successful procedures.

Spend a couple of hours researching different practices, looking at before and after shots, and really getting a feel for the options out there. Then, and only then, will you know whether or not you’ve made the right decision.

Is there anything else I need to know about this dental procedure?

At the end of the day, there are a lot of different options to help you dramatically improve your smile.

Make sure that you’re working with dental professionals you trust, respect, and have a lot of confidence in, and don’t be shy about outlining your expectations ahead of time to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

It also might be a good idea to lock up financing ahead of time (if you’ve needed), as financing through a dental office can get very, very pricey when the interest starts to add up.

All-On-4 Dental Implants Explained

What Are All on 4 Implants?

Getting a better smile has never been easier, no matter what kinds of problems you may be suffering from. That’s because medical technology has made more options available than ever before. So if you’ve wanted an improved smile in the past, but thought you weren’t a candidate, think again. Today, with the help of Dr David Cashel, an experienced Glasgow dental implantologist, let’s explore how All-on-4 implants could help you smile with more confidence.

How They Work

All-on-4 implants work like dentures, except that they provide a permanent solution. The teeth screw into your jaw, thereby assuring they’ll never pop out, a problem many denture wearers have to worry about regularly. Despite the fact that they screw into actual bone, they are a great solution for those who don’t have jaws that could otherwise receive implants. That’s because bone can be transplanted that then makes this area available once more.

Only four implants made from titanium are needed to then establish an entire custom bridge for the rest of the teeth. These “pillars” work to support all the other teeth you need for a full, beautiful smile.

A Permanent Solution

Again, one of the great things about using All-on-4 implants is that they provide permanent teeth that will always stay in place. This also means you can get back to brushing as you normally did prior to your dental concerns arising. No more dental glue, no more denture solution at night. Just use a toothbrush like your normally would and your new smile will beam just as bright as any other.

Comfortable Implants

Another big advantage is the fact that these dentures will not press down or otherwise rub up against your gums. Many people who wear dentures constantly complain about the way this application causes pain in their mouth. Ultimately, they find themselves having to choose between the smile they always wanted and constant discomfort. Unfortunately, this irritation is common to other solutions too.

But because of the way All-on-4 implants are installed, your gums feel no pain and after a little while, you’ll hardly know they’re there at all.

Won’t Interfere with Eating

For those who have worn dentures, mealtime can be more of a challenge than something to enjoy. Dentures can shift, allowing food to become stuck and trapped. They can also make it difficult to chew. Many people find that their dental work interferes with their ability to grasp the full taste of their food as well.

This doesn’t occur with All-on-4 implants though. In fact, you’ll experience the taste and even the temperature of your food just like everyone else does. Obviously, you never have to worry about food getting stuck below these permanent implants either.

They’re Not Just Good for Your Smile

With All-on-4 implants installed, you’ll have a hard time not constantly smiling throughout the day. But the nice thing is that the way these dentures are applied will also help your overall facial features too. They’ll be restored to the normal shape they had prior to losing any of your teeth. This will only serve to boost your confidence even more.

They’ll Prevent Bone Deterioration

Like we mentioned earlier, All-on-4 implants are a great way to get your smile back, even if you’ve had significant damage done to your jawbone over the years. Once they’re in, though, they’ll also help ensure that further deterioration doesn’t occur. You’ll find that these dentures actually go a long way toward protecting your jawbone more than other options ever could.

If you could use a whole new smile, then All-on-4 implants are definitely worth looking into. Not only do they look great when installed, but you’ll get to enjoy all the above options and many more.

 

The Major Benefits of Modern Cosmetic Dentistry

Understanding the big benefits of cosmetic dentistry

Cosmetic dental procedures are becoming more and more popular each day, for a variety of different reasons.

Unless you were blessed with absolutely incredible genetics (as well as a near fanatical sense of diligence when it came to cleaning and maintaining your teeth), the odds are pretty good that your smile is looking at least a little bit worn out.

But you would be nowhere near alone.

In fact, studies published by number of men’s and women’s magazines over the last 10 years have reported that anywhere between 70% and 90% of people out there would love nothing more than to brighten and whitening their smile – understanding that it’s one of the key things to boost attractiveness through the roof.

This demand has led the cosmetic dentistry industry to absolutely explode in the last two decades, and modern medicine, science, and technology has all combined to create a brand-new world of cosmetic dental solutions.

Because it is cheaper than ever before, more available than ever before, and more reliable and durable than ever before we are really looking at a perfect storm of conditions here that are helping to get millions and millions of people the cosmetic dentistry they’ve always wanted.

But are there any clear-cut benefits to actually having your teeth worked on?

Or is everything pretty superficial and more focused on how you feel, rather than how everyone else interacts with you (and your new pearly whites)?

You’d probably be pretty surprised at the answer to those questions, which is why you are going to love of the information included in this quick guide!

The immediate transformation of your smile is the biggest benefit of them all

Cosmetic dental braces

There is a major link between what we see in the mirror and our emotions, our physical well-being, and our ability to navigate our day to day lives – far more of a link than most people would ever care to admit.

Psychologists and researchers have always understood that the way we feel about our bodies and our attractiveness level dictates a lot of the choices that we make on a day to day basis, which in turn will have a major impact on how we feel, whether or not we are excited or depressed, and the types of activities or lifestyle decisions that we choose to move forward with.

Now, obviously, just upgrading your smile probably isn’t enough to completely change the way you look at the world for good – but it’s going to have a larger impact than you could have ever imagined.

People that are coming out of cosmetic dental offices all over the world find that they are more positive, are more engaged, and are willing to take more risks to pursue the things that are most important in their lives – and a lot of it starts with their smile!

It’s an amazing link between what we see in the mirror and how our brains choose to navigate all of the information that we process on a second to second basis, but the link is undeniable and it will have a transformative impact on your life immediately (as well as over time).

There’s nothing like a brand-new smile to lift you up when you’re feeling down! Visit the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry for more information on currenttreatments.

You’ll find that you are far more confident and outgoing when you have a perfect smile

A healthy, pearly white, and picture-perfect smile is unanimously seen as one of the most attractive traits for men and for women.

Because we all understand this (consciously as well as on a deeply unconscious and primal level), just about all of us are constantly and consistently judging the quality of our smile as well as the quality of everyone else’s smile that we come across.

If we feel that our smiles are lacking in any way, shape, or form, it’s enough to cause our confidence to go into a nosedive – a nosedive that is really difficult to pull out of until we get our smile back on track.

Sometimes, it’s enough to simply white our teeth a bit to get right back on the wagon, but other times we need to take advantage of more advanced cosmetic dentistry (more expensive cosmetic dentistry).

At the same time, that might be one of the best investments you ever decide to take advantage of.

When your confidence goes through the roof and you become more outgoing, you’re going to find social interactions to become ridiculously easier to navigate without any other changes whatsoever.

Studies suggest that more attractive people are paid more and are more successful at work

It’s not exactly the easiest thing to hear, but it’s something that we all understand at least on a subconscious level. Attractive people just get better treatment on a daily basis, and especially at work.

Well, if you are able to upgrade your smile, you are going to shoot up the “attractiveness scale” almost overnight – which might also have a major (and transformative) impact on your pay scale, as well.

Now, this isn’t to say that your teeth are the only thing holding you back from that big raise or that big promotion. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But when you get your teeth to a near picture-perfect level (as far as appearance is concerned), it just might be the “tipping point” veterans you a bit of extra recognition at the office.

Deciding to take advantage of cosmetic dentistry can land you a pretty plush vacation

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t exactly the least expensive procedure you could decide to take advantage of, which is why so many are looking at having the work performed in other countries – especially those in subtropical or tropical regions.

These dentists have access to the same tools, technology, skills, and know how that the rest of the world enjoys, but they also have significantly lower costs of living which allow them to offer their services at a pretty steep discount.

There’s nothing quite like flying out to an island paradise, staying for a week (or two), and having your smile upgraded all for a significantly less price than what you would have paid for a bit of cosmetic dentistry around the corner.

The benefits of cosmetic dentistry cannot be ignored!

Cosmetic Dental Braces in Demand

An interesting trend seems to be developing for cosmetic dental braces . Dr David Cashel has reported an upsurge in the number of clients visiting his practice and actually asking for dental braces using the brand name of the company involved.

Gone are the days when clunky bits of scaffolding attached to teeth turned patients into embarrassed mutes. Today’s range of cosmetic braces work much more quickly than before, are much less intrusive than before, are easier and less painful to put in place, are much more comfortable for the patient to wear and are practically invisible to other people.  This is why they are often described as “invisible braces”.

Dr Cashel, of Cashel Daisley Dental, advises people to take their dentists’ advice on the correct treatment for straightening teeth. Looking for Invisalign in Glasgow may seem like a solution to a patient’s problem, but there may well be other more efficient ways to get the job done and straighten your teeth using a different product. With so many different manufacturers and products in the marketplace, the sensible thing to do is have a consultation with a dental expert and be advised as to the best way forward.

Also, try to understand that any timings the dentist gives you are a best estimate. Cosmetic dental braces like Invisalign and Inman Aligners are state of the art products, but they require discipline from the wearer. You need to commit yourself to follow the treatment regime properly or the original timings estimated by your dentist may prove to be over optimistic.