5 Common Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

If your teeth are broken, discolored, worn, chipped, cracked, misaligned, or have gaps between them, modern Fremont cosmetic dentistry can help. A "East Bay Dental" offers you an excellent cosmetic dentistry operation that enhances the appearance of your smile. The following information will guide you to understand more about the various cosmetic dentistry procedures available clearly.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry

• Teeth Whitening

One of the most cost-effective and straightforward ways to improve your smile is to whiten your teeth. Teeth can be bleached in no time by visiting your dentist's office within-office products, or you can bleach your teeth at home with a kit consisting of mold and gels purchased from your dentist. These at home bleaches need to be done under dentist's instructions and supervision . There are also whitening toothpaste, rinses, and white strips available over the counter in retail locations for at-home whitening convenience. 

• Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are custom-made, wafer-thin porcelain or resin shells that cover the front surfaces of the natural teeth. These thin shells are bonded or cemented (in medical terms) to the front surfaces of the teeth after about a half-millimeter of enamel is directly removed from the tooth surface; this helps to modify their color, shape, size, or length. Also, Veneers are commonly referred to as "Hollywood teeth." 

• Dental Bonding

In case of dental bonding a tooth-colored, putty-like resin is applied to the tooth and solidified with ultraviolet or laser light, this process allows the substance to cling to the tooth. Your dentist will then trim, shape, and polish the tooth. Dental bonding is nothing but a cosmetic alternative to or replacement for amalgam or silver fillings and can be used to address damaged, chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth. 

• Dental Crown

Above our gum line, a dental crown, also known as a cap, covers and restores the shape, size, strength, and appearance of a broken or decayed tooth. Crowns protect a weak tooth from fracturing effectively or hold a damaged tooth together and conceal misshapen or discolored teeth cosmetically. 

• Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and Onlays are most commonly termed as indirect fillings that help replace decayed or broken teeth with simple gold, porcelain, or composite materials. They are manufactured in a dental laboratory very minutely and cemented by your dentist. They are glued into place by your dentist. This type of dental filling is molded into place during an office visit. An inlay is a restoration that lies within the cusps or the chewable surfaces of the teeth.

In contrast, when the filling encompasses one or more points of the tooth and helps cover the biting surface, it is called an "Onlay." Inlays and Onlays are an excellent alternative to crowns since they preserve as many healthy teeth as possible.