subject: Smile With Confidence! [print this page] The technological advancements in modern dentistry have opened up a world of options that will enable you to smile with confidence! Today, there are numerous techniques available to treat teeth that are discoloured, chipped, deformed or missing. Some of the common procedures used by dentists include Bleaching, Bonding, Crowns, Veneers, and Reshaping and Contouring.
Bleaching
Bleaching is one of the most popular chemical processes used to whiten teeth. Bleaching helps to get rid of teeth discolouration caused by certain medications, consumption of coffee and tea and use of cigarettes. Bleaching could be performed in the dentists office or under dental supervision at home. The dentist creates a custom mouthpiece so as to make sure the right amount of whitening solution is used and that the teeth of the patient are properly exposed.
Bonding
In the dental procedure of bonding, a tooth-coloured material is used to fill gaps or change the colour of teeth. Bonding is used as a tooth-colored filling for the treatment of small cavities and broken , slightly decayed or chipped teeth. It can also be used to bridge gaps between teeth or cover the whole exterior surface of a tooth to change its color and shape.
Veneers
Veneers are, in fact, thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of the teeth. They are placed over the front teeth so to change their colour or shape. Veneers are used on teeth which have uneven exteriors or that are chipped, discolored, badly shaped, unevenly spaced or deformed. It is an alternative treatment to crowns, that are highly expensive.
Crowns or caps, are used in cases where other dental treatment processes will not be effective. Among all the cosmetic restorations, crowns have the longest life expectancy. At the sametime, they are also the most time consuming.
Contouring and Reshaping
Tooth reshaping and contouring is a dental procedure used to rectify crooked, chipped, cracked or overlapping teeth. Tooth reshaping and dental contouring is mainly used to change the length, shape or position of your teeth. In most cases, the procedure of bonding will be combined with tooth reshaping.
