Maybe you would like a more ideal smile without having a major production made of it. Luckily, cosmetic dentistry can give your teeth a better shape and shine without a complicated operation or lots of downtime. Read on to learn how you can achieve a more beautiful smile in as little as one appointment and in a minimally invasive manner.
Dental Bonding
If you have a chip, a crack, or a small gap in your teeth, your dentist can probably perform dental bonding to resolve the issue. The procedure is quite simple: they apply a color-matched composite resin to the affected tooth before shaping it to match the rest of the structure’s contours. They then use a UV light to cure the resin, thereby filling in the crack, chip, or gap. These procedures are commonly done during routine dental visits.
Teeth Whitening
Over the years, dyes and other molecules can cause stains by getting stuck in the enamel. Teeth whitening procedures from a dentist are far superior to any kit you can buy in the store. Dentists typically offer this service using hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide through a take-home kit or an in-office procedure. Both of these can whiten teeth by eight to ten shades by removing stains in the surface of the tooth.
These take-home kits include dental trays custom-fitted to the patient’s teeth. The patient applies the whitening agent to the trays and wears them for one hour a day for two weeks.
During in-office procedures, the dentist will use small barriers to protect the soft tissues in the mouth while applying the whitening agent. A light is directed on the treated teeth for about a half hour to activate the whitening effect. This may be followed by additional coats or a fluoride treatment. This is typically done in one appointment that lasts about an hour.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are the secret behind many Hollywood smiles. They are used to treat small or misshapen teeth, to resolve stains that do not respond to whitening treatments, to close gaps between teeth, or to cover up chips and cracks. Dental veneers are thin shells typically made of porcelain that mimic the shape, color, and luster of natural teeth.
The procedure is typically done in two appointments. After a tiny amount of enamel is removed from the tooth being treated, the dentist cements a temporary veneer upon it. This amount is very small and nothing the patient should worry about. This serves as a practice veneer while the permanent one is being manufactured. During the second appointment, the temporary veneer is removed and the permanent one is cemented into place, covering up imperfections and presenting the face of a perfect tooth in the smile.
If you’re worried about undergoing complicated procedures to improve your smile, these procedures can do the job in a small amount of time with minimal side effects. With proper hygiene and upkeep, they can give you a beautiful smile that lasts for decades.
About the Author
Dr. Bikram Singh earned his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 2002. During this time, he was among five students selected for the Honors Program for Medically Complex Patients. His practice provides services including general, emergency, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry like veneers, bonding, and whitening. If you are interested in improving your smile without extensive procedures or major downtime, contact him online or at (919) 460-5454.