cosmetic care
Porcelain Veneers
Do you have broken or chipped tooth? Or maybe you have discolored teeth due to a recent root canal therapy or years of drinking coffee or smoking? Porcelain veneers can help you quickly regain that picturesque smile without the need for a surgery.
Veneers are wafer-thin teeth-shaped shields that go on top of your teeth to conceal chipped and discolored teeth, close gaps in between teeth as well as hide irregularly shaped and uneven teeth. They’re colored like natural teeth, so your smile will have a natural appearance to it after the veneers are in place. They’re also stain resistant, so you won’t have to worry about your coffee staining the front of your teeth for a while. Their durability means won’t have to worry about them chipping while you eat.
Before the veneers are placed in front of your teeth, you will need to do a consultation with the dentist to see if they’re an appropriate solution for you. If they are, the dentist may need to take an X-ray of your teeth as well as take impressions of your teeth. Before the impression is taken, the dentist will need to trim off half a millimeter of your enamel. This impression is then sent to the dental laboratory and after 2-4 weeks, the dentist will then receive the veneers from the laborator. Temporary veneers may also be placed if there is a need.
Teeth Whitening
Discoloration of teeth is inevitable with the amount of chemicals our teeth are exposed to on a daily basis, that’s why it’s important for us to brush, floss and use mouthwash regularly to slow down the process of discoloration and prevent bacteria from damaging the teeth. Regular everyday oral care, unfortunately, cannot lighten the shade of color of our teeth.
That’s why there’s teeth whitening. Teeth whitening comes in various forms, but the most common one is professional bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is the active ingredient and before it is applied, a rubber dam is placed on the gums to protect them. The active ingredient is then applied on the teeth and a mouthguard is placed on the teeth to allow the active ingredient to break down and allow oxygen to enter the enamel, causing the teeth to whiten.
There’s also laser whitening, also known as power whitening. A rubber dam is placed on the gums and a bleaching product is applied on the teeth. A laser is shone onto the whitening product to activate the chemical. The laser speeds up the whitening process, which means you achieve lighter teeth color faster than professional bleaching.
Gum Contouring
Some of us are born with gums that cover a considerable portion of teeth, making them appear small, and this can be cause for concern for some. A lot of those born with gummy smiles often aren’t too confident with smiling.
Gum contouring can help solve this, as this procedure aims to reduce the amount of gum covering your teeth to a height exposes enough of your teeth and get rid of that gummy smile. If the opposite is true for you and you have a bit too much teeth exposed and not enough gum covering them, your dental professionals can also reshape your gums to cover your teeth to an appropriate amount.
Gum contouring can also be a medical procedure, in cases where gum inconsistencies cause pockets in between teeth to become breeding grounds for bacteria and places for plaque buildup. This procedure is called Periodontal Gum Contouring and is aimed at reducing the risk periodontal disease and to lessen the areas in your mouth that can become home to bacteria.
Composite Bonding
If want to close the gaps in between teeth or you just want your teeth to have a more visually pleasing appearance without having to break the bank, then composite bonding might just be for you. It’s a very affordable cosmetic solution and can be finished in one appointment. It’s non-invasive and doesn’t require anesthesia during the procedure, and only a very small portion of your natural teeth need to be removed.
The best candidates for composite bonding are those who aren’t heavy smokers or heavy coffee drinkers and don’t have pre existing oral disease or decayed teeth. Bonded teeth can last 5-8 years. To keep the bonds in mint condition, you may need to use a nightguard and to refrain from smoking and to minimize eating and drinking food that cause staining, such as coke.
