What Is Considered Cosmetic Dentistry?

People with dental imperfections like chips, stains, misalignments, gaps, and decay are often dissatisfied with their smiles. A 2015 survey by the ADA showed that about 33% of young people with dental or oral imperfections are reluctant to smile.

Dental issues can also affect your bite and speech functions and increase your risk of oral infections like gum disease, thrush, and tooth decay. Correcting these imperfections will not only improve your smile but can also improve your oral function and keep your mouth healthy. That’s why cosmetic dentistry comes in.

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dental care is a branch of dentistry that specializes in correcting dental flaws to improve a patient’s smile. The treatment can incorporate various dental procedures and techniques to change the appearance of your teeth, gums, and mouth for a more beautiful smile.

What does cosmetic dentistry include?

• • Initial consultation

Since everyone has different dental imperfections, your dentist will customize cosmetic treatments according to your specific condition and needs. Our Mississauga dentist will begin your treatment by examining your teeth, gums, and mouth for issues like gaps, chips, stains, and misalignments. They will ask you how you would like your smile to look. If you don’t have ideas, they can show examples of different treatments and how they can transform your smile.

• • Designing a treatment plan

Based on your condition and cosmetic needs, the dentist will design a customized treatment plan that suits your cosmetic needs. If you have existing oral issues like cavities or gum infections, the dentist will begin by addressing them before the cosmetic procedures.

Your cosmetic treatment can involve:

• Add dental materials to the teeth, gums, or jaw, like dental bonding, veneers, crowns, and gum & bone grafts.
• Removal or modifying the teeth or gums: These procedures can include enameloplasty and gingivectomy.
• Neither removing nor adding any materials like teeth whitening and gum depigmentation.
• Orthodontic treatments to correct an imperfect bite and improve your facial appearance

Some cosmetic treatments offer both cosmetic and restorative benefits. For instance, correcting teeth misalignments with traditional braces gives you a straighter and more beautiful smile. It can also improve your bite function, speech, and oral health.

• • Getting your treatment

Cosmetic dental treatments focus on creating a more aligned, balanced, and aesthetically pleasing smile. Standard cosmetic procedures that you can expect include:

• • Dental implants

Dental implants are long-term artificial replacements for missing teeth if you’ve lost one or more teeth, whether from decay, trauma, aging, or gum disease. Implants are fixed into the jawbone to mimic the roots of your natural teeth.

They fuse with the bone in the process of osseointegration. Then, they place an artificial tooth (crown, bridge, or denture) on the implant. The dental implant gives you a complete and bright set of teeth. They also improve your oral function, speech, health, and self-esteem.

• • Teeth whitening

Years of consuming dark-colored drinks and foods like coffee, berries, sauces, tea, soda, and wine can make your teeth look dull or stained. Professional teeth whitening can lighten your teeth shade up to 7 shades lighter, giving you the beautiful dazzling that you’ve always desired.

• • Dental bonding

For minor dental flaws like chips, gaps, and stains, your dentist can apply a tooth-colored composite resin material to the teeth to change the color, size, and shape of your tooth. It leaves you with a uniform, beautiful, and youthful smile. You can complete dental bonding in a single appointment.

• • Dental veneers

Teeth veneers are thin custom-made shells made of porcelain or composite resin placed on the front of teeth to change their size, shape, and color. Veneers can correct minor dental imperfections like chips, stains, gaps, and misshapen.

• • Dental crowns

If your tooth is severely damaged, placing a crown over your tooth helps camouflage any dental imperfections and gives a brighter, healthier, and more functional smile.

• • Tooth extraction

If your teeth are overcrowded or misaligned, your dentist can recommend tooth extraction to give you a natural smile or allow for an effective orthodontic treatment. In cases of severe damage, you can consider teeth replacement treatments like implants and bridges once you remove the tooth.

Are you interested in cosmetic dentistry in Mississauga?

If you have dental imperfections that make you feel self-conscious or embarrassed about your smile, Mississauga cosmetic dentistry can give you a beautiful smile you deserve. Contact Dr. Jeff Levman and Dr. Ilana Wurman to begin your treatment today.