Top 5 cosmetic dental procedures

Dentistry can be about far more than simply fixing your teeth – it can also be about giving you the perfect smile. Dr Adam Thorne is an expert in cosmetic dentistry, and we asked him about what he sees as the most effective cosmetic dental procedures.

The top 5 cosmetic dental procedures are:

1. Teeth whitening 

This is a great treatment – it is conservative and gives most people a brighter, fresher-looking, more youthful smile. Treatments can be in the chair, at home with tailor-made trays, or a combination of the two. It won’t whiten anything artificial such as veneers or fillings but can be maintained long term. 

2. Orthodontics

There are several orthodontic options available to straighten your teeth, ranging from conventional braces (with wires and brackets), which may be tooth-coloured or on the inside of the teeth (known as lingual braces), to clear orthodontic aligners, such as Invisalign®. Orthodontics is well-accepted among adults now and as a conservative option for straighter, healthier teeth. Treatment times are individual and depend on how far the teeth have to move for a great-looking smile.

Top ways to straighten your teeth

3. Veneers 

Veneers are a quick and effective way of gaining a natural-looking, beautiful smile. Thin yet sturdy layers of porcelain are placed over the front of the teeth to recreate their natural appearance and to provide protection to the surface of the teeth. Veneers are often the perfect answer for patients seeking to alter the size, shape, or colour of their teeth, or slightly change their position.

4. Bonding 

Direct composite bonding is used to restore a smile by adding to the existing teeth, rather than reducing – in fact, little to no tooth reduction is needed. It can often be completed in one visit and is therefore less expensive than veneers and crowns and can be last a long time if maintained properly. Tooth bonding is used in several different ways, but is probably most useful for repairing chipped teeth. Bonding materials (high-density, modern plastics called composite resin), in the hands of a skilled dentist, can be made to look and function like natural teeth.

5. Implants to replace missing teeth 

A dental implant is a titanium screw that is inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Like the tooth root it replaces, it is then used for support, albeit for false teeth, rather than natural ones. If you take good care of them, and the bone they are placed in is healthy and strong, you can expect them to last for a long time. 

Learn more about cosmetic dentistry

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