Boost Your Self- Assurance Adopting Cosmetic Dentistry

Synopsis 1. Cosmetic Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry 2. Cosmetic Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry 3. Invisalign – Orthodontic treatment to brighten your smile Invisalign – Orthodontic treatment to brighten your smile 4. Invisalign – Orthodontics at work Invisalign – Orthodontics at work 5. A Lost Tooth -Replace it with a Dental Crown A Lost Tooth -Replace it with a Dental Crown

Cosmetic Dentistry Cosmetic dentistry plays an important role in the oral sciences area. There are strict laid down guide lines for the bonding and veneering of teeth which procedures are often performed to enhance appearances. Chipped and/or discoloured healthy teeth can be veneered to make them look more like the original teeth and possibly to match adjacent teeth. Bonding can also be used to fix chipped teeth without veneering at considerably less cost. Dental surgeons can perform these tasks however, you may be referred to a prosthodontist, a qualified surgeon who, through post graduate studies, only performs tooth restoration and appearances. Bonding is carried out by the adding of a composite resin to the teeth of the same colour and density as the original tooth. This relatively simple process for a dental surgeon will restore a chipped or broken tooth to its original form. If the tooth is discoloured due to damage to the root for example, the dental surgeon may, at his discretion, suggest veneering the entire tooth to restore the colour to that of the adjoining teeth. This process is relatively painless and can restore the entire aesthetic look of the teeth. There is also tooth whitening to be considered which requires the making of a mold and applying a solution to it and worn at night.

Cosmetic Dentistry Having the teeth whitened or bleached is a fairly lengthy process. This process is performed without removing any layers or surfaces of the teeth and is therefore less invasive. Sometimes called a 'home treatment' as you apply the chemical at home in the evening prior to retiring. After consultation, the dental surgeon first has a mold or protective tray made for the upper and lower gums. This involves taking impressions of the teeth and gums which he sends away for the plastic 'trays' to be made. This can take up to a week or more. When the trays are ready another visit is required to check that they indeed fit correctly and fit snugly around the gums. The trays need to fit very well as the mixture or compound to be placed in the trays becomes active when applied to the teeth. The ‘active ingredient' to be placed in these trays is normally hydrogen peroxide or in some cases, carbamide peroxide. A chemical reaction takes place when these trays are worn filled with the compound. This is usually at night before you retire for the night. You are able to remove these trays in the morning washing the mouth thoroughly to rinse any traces of the hydrogen peroxide away. This active compound is gradually broken down broken down in the eight to ten hours depending on the length of you sleep or before you remove the trays in the morning. The chemical process is fairly simple as the oxygen gets into the actual enamel on your teeth. This action whitens or bleaches the teeth gradually. This process must be repeated every 24 hours. The treatment can take up to three and in some cases four weeks as the teeth gradually become lighter, all stains being removed. This procedure can last for up to three or four years depending if you smoke which definitely stains the teeth or in some cases tea can stain after a period.

Invisalign – Orthodontic treatment to brighten your smile Overcrowded or badly spaced teeth need treatment at the earliest possible opportunity. Why is this? Because, treatment or re- aligning of teeth is much easier if treatment is performed at an early age. Whilst still growing into adulthood teeth settle more firmly in the gum socket and are therefore, more difficult to move. Also, the process takes more time than if done whilst these teeth have firmly seated themselves. This does not necessarily mean that we are too old to have treatment. Orthodontic treatment is given to adults as it is given to children. Adults may need remedial treatment for a problem that is causing pain for example which must be treated. So, let us consider these facts. Invisalign, a treatment performed by orthodontic specialists has many lasting and cosmetic effects and often allows us to be more forthcoming in our approach to say a job application, for example. It allows others to see us differently, to see we care about our looks. Not only are we concerned with looks but misaligned teeth can cause discomfort and which may last for the rest of our lives. We do need to take care of ourselves and hope our parents do likewise.

Invisalign – Orthodontics at work How do we go about getting this treatment? Firstly, a visit to the all dreaded dental surgeon is on the cards. Most of us have a trusted family dentist who will see that some form or remedial work needs to be carried out. You may have gaps in your teeth or crowded front teeth, all needing treatment of some kind. Your dental surgeon will set up an appointment with a specialist, an orthodontist, who specializes in Invisalign design and implementation. He might explain that we should not be put off by the thought of the all ugly braces returning as this past technology has long been superseded. As everybody's mouth is different, so a treatment plan for everyone is different. Visiting the orthodontist to have Invisalign treatment would be unlike any past treatment you may have heard of. This new, revolutionary type of oral remedy far surpasses the old. Initially you will need a scan similar to an MRI body scan but a full 3D facial scan. This will reveal to the specialist exactly what needs to be repositioned or realigned. Once that data is assimilated in a computer by specialized program, a mold is made and with today's technology, it will be 3D printed by sending a file to a computerized milling or molding machine for processing. The product, now a 3D print of your mouth, is normally called an aligner. It is made from a specialized plastic called Bisphenol - A with a phthalate plasticizer. This is a clear material which is why it has the nickname 'the braces you can hardly see' and is comfortable to wear.

A Lost Tooth -Replace it with a Dental Crown A local anaesthetic will be administered and the dental surgeon will concern himself with filling and sealing the tooth roots after first removing the nerves. Impressions are then taken so that the dental mechanics at the laboratory can make a plaster cast of your entire gums and teeth. A porcelain crown is an exact replacement for a tooth. The plaster molds of your complete jaw and teeth will be sent back to the dental surgeon with a strip of wax attached. This is in order for you to bite and leave and impression on it. This is a very important procedure as you must have a correct bite. Once this is done it is sent back to the dental laboratory together with an exact colour swatch of your teeth. This is in order to ensure the crown colour matches the rest of the teeth. After a week the plaster molds will be received back by the dental surgeon. In the place where the broken or decayed tooth was located, will be a white metal/porcelain crown, usually a composite material of platinum and porcelain. This is not the final product as it has to be baked (fired in an oven) at a temperature of around 950oC. There may be a post in the crown which will fit down into the socket the dental surgeon had provided for added strength. At the first fitting of this crown it will not be cemented in place but fitted to make sure the bite is correct. It is possible that it will need a little grinding so that it fits in with the rest of the teeth. After this is accomplished it is returned once again to the dental laboratory for baking in the oven. Finally, the finished product is returned to the dental surgeon and is securely cemented in place with an extremely strong two-part adhesive and the job is done. You will not be able to tell the difference in this crown from your own tooth, a complete replacement.

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