Cosmetic dentistry is any type of dental work that improves the overall appearance and sometimes function of a persons teeth. Although cosmetic dentistry is not formally recognized by the American Dental Association, it is a very popular choice for those looking to improve their appearance. Most notably Prosthodontics and Orthodontics are teachings of cosmetic dentistry, but do not specifically fall under that description. Prosthodontics is a specialty that relates to people with various clinical conditions that cause missing or otherwise deficient teeth needing diagnosis, treatment planning, and maintenance of comfort, appearance, health, and oral function. Orthodontics is the area of dentistry that concerns the prevention and correction of irregularities of the teeth on a more skeletal level. Your Knoxville dentist will likely be skilled in both areas.
There are several common types of cosmetic dentistry procedures. Most often used would be whitening, also known as teeth bleaching. Teeth whitening products are now available over the counter, but when lightening discolored teeth a dentist-supervised treatment is still the recommended method. Tooth reshaping, known as contouring, is one of the few cosmetic dental treatments that can be done instantly. This process reshapes crooked, chipped, cracked, and even overlapped teeth. This is most often done in only one session. In some cases this option can replace braces. Veneers are also a popular, yet more expensive, cosmetic option. They consist of a custom made ultra-thin porcelain laminate that is bonded to the patient’s teeth. Veneers can close caps and covers discolored teeth that do not respond well to whitening options.
There are options that can be more involved, that even can require some recovery time. Knoxville dental experts skilled in gum lifts explain it as the process of raising and reshaping the gum line. This involves reshaping the tissue and even the underlying bones to create the appearance of longer and more symmetrical teeth. If you feel any of these options are right for you, contact your local dentist for further information.
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