Cosmetic dentistry is an oral care method focusing on improving the appearance of one’s mouth. How it does this varies from procedure to procedure, depending on what the problem specifically is. Although elective in nature, these procedures can have incredibly beneficial effects on the functionality and health of your mouth. If you are seeking out a cosmetic dentist in Miami, FL, here are the most common cosmetic dental procedures available to you.
#1. Onlays and Inlays
Also known as indirect fillings, this procedure is used when a tooth has come under a minor to moderate degree of deterioration, or there isn’t enough structure under the tooth to support a more traditional filling. An inlay or onlay are a type of covering meant to be placed over the decaying tooth to keep it together. An inlay is a partial form, similar to a patch, placed on the affected surface. An onlay, on the other hand, is used when the entire tooth has begun to decay, covering the entire tooth altogether.
#2. Composite bonding
This is when the dentist uses a material, whose color resembles that of tooth enamel, to repair damaged, decayed, or discolored teeth. The tooth decay is drilled out, and the composite is then applied onto the surface of the tooth. The dentist then sculpts the composite, taking off any unnecessary bits until the composite fits squarely into the area where the decay once was, finishing by curing the composite with high-intensity light. This not only gets rid of excessive tooth decay, it also helps serve the illusion of a healthy tooth, while covering up the damage.
#3. Dental implants
Dental implants are what’s used to replace outright lost or irreparably damaged teeth. A small titanium screw is inserted into the jawbone at the site of the lost tooth. This serves as the support for when the crown is inserted. The implants are specifically designed to be completely indiscernible from the surrounding teeth. These implants not only help to make your teeth look completely whole and healthy, but in fact actually help the structure of your jawbone by adding to the support of the rest of your teeth. This makes these implants incredibly important for people who have lost some teeth but want to keep their jawline structurally sound.
Cosmetic procedures for the teeth not only help your smile look better, and your teeth appear healthier, but can actually make your teeth healthier than they were previously. If your teeth are actively decaying, don’t wait another minute, talk to your dentist and find out which cosmetic procedure is best for you.
