06 Oct Everything You Need to Know About Cosmetic Dentistry
While many people visit the dentist for routine dental exams or because they have dental pain that needs to be addressed, one area of dentistry that is often overlooked is cosmetic dentistry. When you visit a cosmetic dentist in the Okanagan, they can help to improve the appearance of your teeth, gums, mouth, and overall smile through several different procedures such as implants, veneers, and teeth whitening. Cosmetic dentistry is becoming more and more popular, and while it may not be an essential dental procedure, it can be a great way to improve your smile and boost your self-confidence.
We’ve highlighted some of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures to help fill you in on everything you need to know about cosmetic dentistry in the Okanagan.
Cosmetic Dentist in the Okanagan: Teeth Whitening
One of the most basic and typically least-expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures is teeth whitening. We all know that things like food, drinks, smoking, and medications can cause our teeth to become stained, so many people turn to teeth whitening to help brighten their smile. While there are lots of different over-the-counter teeth whitening products, such as toothpastes and whitening strips, having your teeth professionally whitened by your dentist will likely give you better results.
Before whitening your teeth, your dentist will clean your teeth, removing any tartar, plaque, and any other debris before proceeding with the whitening process.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are a paper-thin shell of tooth-coloured porcelain that are custom made to fit over the front surface of your teeth. Veneers are a more costly form of cosmetic dentistry but can make a huge impact. Before the veneers are attached to the teeth, your dentist will first remove some of the enamel from the surface of your natural teeth to give the veneers something to bond to. Though they can be expensive, dental veneers can fix several different cosmetic issues including damaged enamel, gaps between teeth, and crooked teeth. Because of their extremely realistic appearance, dental veneers can be a great way to improve the look of your teeth and leave you with a bright, beautiful smile.
Dental Implants
In some instances, more intensive cosmetic dentistry might be required to repair things like severe tooth decay or the loss of a tooth altogether. In these cases, dental implants may be used to replace teeth. To have a dental implant fitted, your dentist will first attach a screw to the jaw to provide support before inserting the implant into the bone socket of the missing tooth. Over time, bone and tissue will fuse to the implant which will secure it inside of the mouth. Once properly attached, your dental implant will blend into the surrounding teeth, giving you a bright smile you can be proud of.
Whether you’re looking to improve the appearance of your teeth with professional tooth whitening or veneers or require something a bit more intense such as dental implants, cosmetic dentistry is a great way to help improve the look of your smile.