Cosmetic Dentistry Coquitlam
Don’t we all want a perfect smile? While few fortunate people have one naturally, almost anyone can get one with the help of their dentist. In addition to orthodontic treatment, which can straighten your teeth, recent advances in dental materials and techniques offer near-perfect teeth that are just as strong as the originals. Sunrise Dental Clinic is a comprehensive oral care clinic that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health
Things your dentists at Sunrise Dental Clinic can do to improve your smile include:
* Bleaching to make teeth whiter
* Repairing chips or rough spots with fillings that match your teeth
* Filling cavities with tooth-coloured materials
* Reshaping tooth to match the others teeth
* Closing gaps between teeth
* Covering broken teeth with porcelain crowns or veneers
* Covering stained teeth with Porcelain veneers
Today, looking younger and healthier are concerns that are shared by people, young and old, across the globe. This of course includes brighter teeth, greater smiles and improvement of the overall mouth and teeth health. Of late more and more people are concerned about having their teeth straight and free of stains, chips or other obvious flaws.
Popular TV shows about makeovers encourage this point of view. Print and TV advertisements for whitening agents have become very common. Many articles are written about bleaching agents and smile makeovers. As a result, people often want their teeth to be perfectly uniform and dazzlingly white
Sunrise Dental clinic has responded to consumer demand. We offer many such services, including:
* Porcelain veneers and crowns
* Bleaching or whitening teeth
* Bonding tooth coloured materials
* Replacing amalgam (silver) fillings with white fillings
According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, about $2.75 billion a year is spent on cosmetic procedures. Virtually all dentists perform some types of cosmetic services. Most cosmetic procedures are not covered by dental insurance. However, procedures done to repair a cavity or replace a defective filling, crown or other tooth restoration may be covered. More and more people want a “smile makeover.” Your smile is just as important as having nice clothes or attractive hair. Older restorative materials such as gold or amalgam are durable and strong but are not tooth-coloured. Newer techniques and materials allow for the placement of tooth-coloured fillings.
Dentists have been doing cosmetic work for decades. But the materials that were used had serious drawbacks. For example, the early composite (plastic) resins tended to stain, chip and change color over time. New composite resins (tooth-coloured fillings) are much better. Porcelain veneers cover the entire front of the tooth. They are another option when the color and shape of the teeth need improvement. Composites are not as strong as gold or amalgam, but they have been much improved over the years. Newer composites are long-lasting and stronger
When a tooth has minor chips or a small fracture, many people choose to live with it. Others decide to have a veneer or a crown (also called a cap) made and placed in the mouth over the tooth. However, it’s often possible to “patch” minor flaws, chips or broken teeth with bonding composite resin. This can be smoothed and colour-matched to the adjacent teeth.
Here are some of the cosmetic options for your beautiful smile.
Stained or discoloured teeth — The enamel that covers the teeth is usually the part that gets stained. The underlying tooth structure also can get yellow over time. Bleaching is one option for healthy and white teeth.
Chips or rough spots — Chips can be filled with a tooth-coloured material called composite resin. The material is chosen to match the color of your teeth. Once it’s smoothed and polished, it will look virtually the same as the rest of the teeth.
Cavities or cracks — Traditionally, amalgam fillings work fine in the back of the mouth. However, most people don’t want to reveal a “metal mouth” when they smile. Silver amalgam also contains mercury. This can be toxic to the nervous system. Many dentists and patients prefer not to use silver amalgam. An alternative is to use tooth-coloured fillings. These fillings are made of a resin material similar to that used to repair chips or cracks. Some white fillings (direct composites) are pressed into the cavity and cured (hardened) with a special high-intensity blue light. Others are made in a laboratory and then cemented in place. These include special composites and porcelain fillings called inlays and on lays.
Uneven teeth — It’s not uncommon for a tooth to be slightly longer than the rest or have a different shape than its neighbouring teeth. With a procedure called re-contouring, your dentist at Sunrise Dental clinic can reshape the tooth to match the rest.
Gaps between the teeth — Small gaps can be closed by applying composite material between the teeth. For large gaps or other surface flaws, your dentist may recommend veneers. Veneers are among the most costly cosmetic procedures. They are permanently bonded to the fronts of the teeth. Veneers are made from ultra-thin shells of porcelain that are matched to your tooth colour. Your dentist at Sunrise Dental Clinic also may refer you to an orthodontist to correct your gaps. Some people like or don’t mind a gap. Others are very aware of it and want it closed. You and your dentist can determine the best treatment option. Like: bonding, veneers or braces.
Broken or crooked teeth — For badly broken or structurally weak teeth, you may need a crown. Crowns on front teeth are made of tooth-coloured porcelain. It can appear very life-like. The crown may be all porcelain, or, more typically, porcelain with metal inside that fits over the tooth. Both types of crowns offer excellent results.
Cosmetic procedures vary in technique and cost. Before you start a treatment plan, please consult with your dentist at Sunrise Dental Clinic and consider all the options and make an educated decision.
