Dentists offer various cosmetic dental services, so there are plenty of options available depending on your budget and what is suitable for your mouth. It is worth your time to research your options and speak to your dentist.
Many patients are considering treatment that can straighten their smile. Here are eight common services available and the basics of each procedure.
Teeth whitening or bleaching is a cosmetic dental service that can brighten a patient’s smile. It is not available for everyone, however, so some patients may consider getting veneers instead.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells fabricated from porcelain or composite resin that are bonded to the fronts of patient’s teeth. While costly, veneers can treat slightly crooked teeth, discoloration, chips, or small gaps. Veneers last about 10 years.
Bonding is one of the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental services available. Dentists can bond a tooth-colored composite resin to a stained, broken, or chipped tooth. This procedure can also protect tooth roots exposed by receding gums.
Also known as inlays and onlays, indirect fillings can serve as a replacement for traditional fillings. After a dental lab fabricates the indirect filling from a mold of the patient’s tooth, the dentist will fit and bond it into place. It is an alternative to a crown that can preserve as much of the remaining healthy tooth as possible.
Implants are made from titanium and surgically placed into the patient’s jawbone. Designed to replace missing teeth, implants act as the tooth roots and anchor artificial teeth like crowns, bridges, or dentures.
A crown is a custom-made cap that a dentist will fit over a patient’s whole tooth. Crowns are fabricated from acrylic or porcelain, then bonded to metal to increase their durability. They can treat teeth with poor shape, decay, breakage, chips, or small gaps.
Tooth shaping is a quick and painless procedure wherein the dentist reshapes a tooth by filing off some of the enamel. It is also known as enamel shaping or contouring.
Orthodontic treatments, such as clear aligners or braces, can address crooked teeth, gaps, or an awkward bite. These treatments will slowly straighten a patient’s smile over time.
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Everyone deserves a smile that they can be proud to show the world. If you have crooked teeth, discoloration, or cracks, a cosmetic dentist may be able to help.
Do not put off the first step to a brighter smile. Get in touch with our Santa Barbara clinic to explore treatment options.
Request an appointment or call Julie A. Hemingway, D.D.S. at 805-409-2358 for an appointment in our Santa Barbara office.
Cosmetic dental services can help improve the color of your teeth. Teeth start white, but they pick up stains as a person's life goes on. Some of these stains come from the coloring agents in the foods and beverages that we consume, while habits like using tobacco products cause others.Teeth can also become discolored as…
If you suffer from uneven teeth, cosmetic dental services can help straighten your bite and improve your confidence in your smile. Straight teeth improve more than just appearance; they can also improve overall dental health as pieces of food get stuck more easily between crooked teeth. In addition, straight teeth are easier to clean with…
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