Keeping a beautiful smile can require more effort than most people realize and one reason for this is the possible cosmetic treatments that can make teeth truly shine. For example, Dental Services Kalamazoo MI can provide dental whitening to improve appearance or remove stains. Whitening the teeth involves coating the teeth with a peroxide solution and adding water to start a chemical reaction. After the peroxide has set on the teeth for about a half hour, it may be removed with water. Peroxide is chosen because it is reasonably harmless when the right solution is used.
Another useful procedure provided with Dental Services Kalamazoo MI is the application of veneers. A veneer is usually a thin porcelain shell that is custom crafted for each patient. However, this doesn’t always mean a long wait for the cover to created. Some dental offices have specific equipment that allows creating a veneer on site. This solution provides a faster turn around because the installation of the veneer should be handled in a single visit.
More useful dental procedures include those that restore a damaged tooth. These include the simple drill and fill process required to halt a cavity or the more invasive root canal. Thankfully, the latter option is only required when clearing the damaged dentin will expose the root pulp. This is the portion of the tooth that supplies blood and holds the nerve that signals the tooth has a problem. If the procedure is a root canal, then the dentist will need to protect the shell with a tough, porcelain crown.
Of course, there are times when a tooth cannot be repaired properly and must be extracted. This is usually a procedure of last resort because once the tooth is lost, there are few ways to replace it. For a single tooth, the main choice is an implant. This is an artificial tooth with a very tough shell or crown. The process begins by placing an inert material in the jawbone, typically titanium or plastic. The dentist must be careful that the bone mass is strong enough to handle the extra stress of biting and chewing. Low jawbone densities may require the use of bone grafts to ensure the jaw has the necessary strength. Visit the website at Website to learn more.