When you’re happy, you smile. When you smile, people around you feel comfortable. They feel like you are someone they can trust, relax around, and be themselves with. Unfortunately, your smile could be telling people a lot of things about you that you are not aware of. Therefore, it’s understandable why cosmetic dentistry is so popular. People visit our cosmetic dentist because they want the perfect smile that will give them the best opportunity for success in life. While there is a host of tools that cosmetic dentists have at their disposal to give you that perfect smile, the most popular include:
· Porcelain crowns
· Porcelain veneers
· Porcelain fixed bridges
· Dental implants
What is a Porcelain Crown?
A porcelain crown is designed to replace the exterior of your tooth. It is used to repair the appearance of your tooth, as well as restore its natural function. Crowns are the best option for you if tooth decay or damage has destroyed the majority of your tooth.
They are also a good option if you tend to clench your teeth or if you tend to grind your teeth. Clenching and grinding your teeth can damage your tooth structure, leading to the tooth needing to be replaced with a crown.
One of the best things about a crown is that it offers the best of aesthetics and functionality. Your crown can be designed to look exactly like the tooth that is being repaired or it can be designed to look even better.
Unlike porcelain veneers, which are designed to be thin and to only provide a cosmetic cover, a porcelain crown is made from a thicker material. It has the strength to stand up to the pressure caused by chewing.
A porcelain crown is secured in your mouth using a light-sensitive resin. This resin forms a bond between the original tooth and the crown. A light that is specifically designed for dental work is used to make the resin hard and adhere to your tooth.
Porcelain crowns are very strong, but they do lack the flexibility of your natural teeth. So, there are certain foods that you may need to avoid. If you have the habit of clenching your jaw, you may need to use a mouth guard to prevent damage.
What is a Porcelain Veneer?
A porcelain veneer is made from a very thin piece of porcelain. Its purpose is to serve as a veneer, or as a cover, over your natural tooth. Its goal is to improve the coloration, the shape, or the perceived spacing of your teeth.
Porcelain veneers are made of multiple thin layers of ceramic. They are used to replace damaged tooth enamel. To properly apply the veneer, our cosmetic dentist will first need to remove some of your tooth enamel. This allows the veneer to sit on your tooth and create the most natural function and the most natural appearance.
The bond between your natural tooth and the veneer is essential. It is not only what gives your teeth a natural appearance, but it is also needed so that your tooth and the veneer function properly. To this end, a light-sensitive resin is used as a bond between the veneer and your original tooth. A hardening light is used to cure it.
Porcelain veneers are an excellent option if your original tooth has an off color, an awkward shape, or unattractive contours. They are also a good option for repairing fractured teeth, as well as correcting minor bite problems. If your superficial dental stains do not respond to teeth whitening procedures, then veneers may be a good option for you.
What is a Porcelain Fixed Bridge?
Porcelain is very unique in that it has the ability to not only appear like your original teeth, but it also has the ability to function like your original teeth. If you have one tooth or a couple of teeth that no longer function, a porcelain bridge can be used to make your teeth look natural, as well as serve as a strong material that you can use to bite and eat food.
Porcelain’s beauty comes from the fact that it not only can replace missing teeth, but it can also repair teeth that are less-than-perfect. This can give your mouth an overall flawless appearance.
When specialists install a porcelain fixed bridge, they will need to use your surrounding teeth as a foundation. In this way, your surrounding teeth create a literal bridge, providing support to the porcelain tooth that is replacing the tooth that is missing.
To this end, dental professionals are going to need to reconstruct the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or missing teeth. They will need to make them smaller, so that the foundation parts of the bridge can be attached.
It is surprisingly easy to maintain a porcelain bridge. You need to treat the bridge in the same way that you would your healthy, normal teeth. You need to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, as well as floss frequently. Shortly after the bridge is in place, our dentist will review the handiwork to make sure that your mouth is reacting to the treatment as it should.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is adhered to your jaw. Its purpose is to replace the tooth root that was lost due to decay, injury, or trauma. Dental implants are a great option for individuals who are missing one tooth or multiple teeth.
Dental implants come in two styles. There is the implant that is put in the bone. This is the most common type of dental implant and uses a combination of screws and other tools that are inserted into the jaw bone. The screws are made of titanium. This is because titanium has the unique ability to eventually fuse with your bone. The implant is designed to hold one or more artificial teeth, depending on the type of work that needs to be done.
The second option are dental implants that are adhered to the jaw bone. These dental implants sit on top of the jaw, and the post that holds the artificial teeth in place protrudes through the gums. This option is best for individuals who can’t wear dentures and who might be suffering from bone loss in their jaw.
Dental implant surgery is not for everyone. For you to be a good candidate for this procedure, you need to be healthy. You want to have healthy gums. You need to have a sufficient amount of bone in your jaw to be able to support the implant. In order to get the most out of your dental implant procedure, you’re going to have to work closely with our dentist, who is going to provide you with instructions prior to the implant surgery, as well as instructions that you will need to follow once the procedure has been completed.
As you are likely aware, in order to keep your teeth healthy, you need to brush and floss regularly. The same maintenance will be required once you get a dental implant. Dental implants are basically like your own teeth and will require constant care for them to be clean and for them to be free of plaque. Once the implants have been installed, our dentist is going to work with you to help you keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Should I Visit a Cosmetic Dentist?
If you are concerned about the appearance of your teeth or if you feel that the appearance of your teeth is affecting your social life, your personal life, or your professional life, then a visit to our cosmetic dentist may be right for you.
Our cosmetic dentist is not solely focused on improving your oral health. She is also focused on making you look better. Thanks to advances in technology, our dentist is able to carry out a wide array of complicated procedures in a safe and efficient way.
In addition to visiting our cosmetic dentist for some of the procedures that we’ve mentioned above, she may be able to help you with things like teeth whitening, Invisalign®, as well as correcting other problems with the appearance of your smile.
Even if you do not currently have problems with your smile, taking advantage of cosmetic dentistry services is the best way to keep it that way. Our dentist understands the steps that can lead to major cosmetic issues and can help you to prevent these from happening.
Remember, our experienced cosmetic dentist has been trained to scrutinize your teeth. She will look at your teeth in greater detail than a generic dentist will. This means that she has the ability to see problems that other dentists might miss, and in the long-run. this is going to be good for your teeth.
Your smile says a lot about you. Make sure that it is saying what you want it to. Whether you need a porcelain crown, porcelain veneers, a fixed porcelain bridge, or dental implants, talk to Dr. Latha Subramanian, DDS in Mountain View and have her explain the cosmetic dentistry options that are available to you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started!
