Cosmetic dentistry is sometimes known as aesthetic dentistry, and involves any sort of dental work aimed at improving the way teeth look, whether in colour, position, shape, size, or alignment. This is also sometimes known as a smile makeover, and is often used to fix obvious flaws to boost confidence.
While not exactly a formal specialisation for dentists, the demand for cosmetic dentistry has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years, especially in Singapore.
Given how teeth can reflect a person’s health, it is no wonder that a growing number of people are turning to cosmetic dentistry. The smile is often the most striking feature of a face, and shelling out top dollar for a winning smile might soon be the norm in a few years’ time.
Read on to find out more about the different types of cosmetic dentistry!
Teeth Whitening
One of the simplest and most obvious ways to improve one’s smile, teeth whitening is also the most common procedure in cosmetic dentistry. They can be bleached with products at your regular dentist, who will usually have them on-hand.
If you don’t mind going the DIY route, tooth-whitening products such as whitening toothpaste and whitestrips are also available over the counter at retail shops or drugstores.
Dental Veneers
An option for people who are willing to pay for quality, dental veneers are ultra-thin custom-made porcelain or resin laminates that are applied and bonded directly to the teeth over the front surface.
They can be used to close gaps or enhance the shape or change the colour of teeth that do not respond to whitening products. Applying the dental veneer means having to remove the top half-millimeter of enamel from the surface of the tooth that the veneer will be applied on.
After that, these mini shells are bonded to the front of the tooth. In most cases, dentists will produce mock-ups of the post-veneer smile to visualise the necessary changes to the teeth according to the customer’s wishes.
Dental Implants
Have you ever lost an adult tooth? If so, you might already have a dental implant. They are prosthetic replacements for missing teeth, with titanium roots and a denture (or dental crown).
During the procedure, titanium replacement tooth roots are inserted into the bone socket of the missing tooth so that when the jawbone heals, it grows around the titanium implant, securing it in place and keeping the replacement tooth firmly where it belongs.
Dental Crown
A dental crown is a type of cap that fits over a damaged tooth above the gum line. This procedure restores the appearance and strength of the tooth, and can be used to hold a cracked tooth together or even keep a weak tooth from breaking.
In cosmetic dentistry, they can be used to “fix” misshapen or discoloured teeth that do not respond to whitening products. Crowns are made of various types of materials, ranging from porcelain to metal to resin.
Modern cosmetic dentistry might be able to fix any flaws you find with your smile, but prevention is often better than cure. Instilling good dental habits from a young age and visiting your bedok dental clinic once every six months can mean nipping a future tooth problem in the bud.