Cosmetic Dentistry refers to any dental  procedure that improves  appearance of teeth gums and bite.

Here are some types of Cosmetic Dentistry Options:

WHITENING/BLEACHING

Almost everyone wish to have white teeth. Whitening or Bleaching has become very popular in Cosmetic Dentistry.

Whitening: Any process that will make teeth appear whiter. It can be achieved with a bleaching or non-bleaching product. Whitening options range from in-office procedures to whitening toothpastes.

(Source: “Glossary”.Mouthhealthy.American Dental Association.  https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/glossary#W)

Bleaching: The process of lightening the teeth to remove stains. The process usually involves a chemical oxidizing agent and sometimes uses heat.

(Source: “Glossary”.Mouthhealthy.American Dental Association.  https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/glossary#W)

There are in-office products that are professionally applied the dentist (in-Office),  dentist prescribed for home use(Take home) and over the counter (OTC) whitening packs.  It is always best to consult a dentist and do research on the products from reliable health information sites especially for OTCs.

In a Dental Clinic Set-up, the patient will be assessed if whitening/bleaching is indicated or otherwise. The general protocol for assessment is observed. Patients, expectations of the result is important  and should be realistic. The patient should know that the outcome of lightening of teeth will depend on the initial shade of the patient’s teeth and the type of whitening procedure. Patient’s medical and dental history is taken to highlight allergies, tooth sensitivity , cancer or other diseases (to name a few). During the dental examination, dental caries, existing status of composite restorations and fixed dentures are also noted.   These are significant because patients will be advised that only natural teeth are affected by bleaching (not restorations or caries) and bleaching may not benefit the patient if there are contraindications. If the patient is recommended for the procedure He/She will be given pre operative instructions and Aftercare instructions to make sure that contemplated outcome is achieved.(Always Seek Professional Help)

VENEERS

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastics cemented over the front of  the teeth improve color or shape. Most especially for porcelain veneers, it can resist stains coffee or nicotine.

The procedure would involve a very minimal reduction on the front part of the teeth to accommodate the placement of Veneer(s). Just like crowns/bridges, this involves impression taking to make a mold of the teeth and laboratory to fabricate custom-made veneers. The patient has the liberty to choose the shade of the veneers.  Once ready the patient will come back to the clinic for veneer to be cemented over the tooth.

(Always Seek Professional Help)