Achieving a better smile comes down to a lot more than just looking younger for many people. A nice, bright, straight smile can also do a lot for a person's self-esteem, which enhances anyone's overall health. The American Journal of Preventative Health recently found a significant connection between the prevalence of heart disease and tooth loss. This reported resulted in a recommendation that maintaining good oral health is an important step in preventing heart disease along with other life threatening health issues.
If you want to improve your smile, a cosmetic dentist has many options available to help. This article looks at three different cosmetic procedures that can offer you the smile of your dreams.
Bonding
Also called tooth bonding and composite bonding, a cosmetic dentist uses dental bonding to fix misaligned teeth, replace silver amalgam fillings, and repair discolored or cracked teeth. A cosmetic dentist can complete this painless procedure in a single office visit, depending on the repairs needed.
After filing the teeth to create a rough surface so the composite resin adheres to the enamel, a cosmetic dentist applies the bonding to the teeth and allows it to harden before shaping and smoothing it to form. Dental bonding is durable, long lasting, and flexible, meaning it expands and contracts with the tooth.
Veneers
Custom made by a dental laboratory and installed on each individual tooth, veneers offer a great way to get a perfect smile. Usually made of durable porcelain, veneers look like a natural tooth. Completing a veneer procedure typically takes three office visits, but they last a long time.
The first step of the process involves removing a layer of enamel from the front of each tooth receiving a veneer to ensure the veneers look natural and not as if they were just glued on top of your natural teeth. After removing the enamel, the cosmetic dentist applies temporary veneers while waiting to receive the permanent veneers from a dental laboratory. Once the permanent veneers are ready, the cosmetic dentist removes the temporary veneers and places the permanent veneers. This painless procedure will leave you with a stunning smile.
Crowns
If you have damaged or decayed teeth, metal, ceramic, or porcelain crowns fused with metal may be the best choice to improve your smile. Crowns add strength to a tooth and can save a natural tooth in need of extraction. Dentists also use crowns to fill in the gap after a tooth extraction as part of a bridge.
A cosmetic dentist can usually complete a crown procedure in two office visits. After removing the damage or decay, the dentist places a temporary shell onto the tooth receiving the crown while a dental laboratory prepares the permanent crown from a mold. When the permanent crown is finished, the cosmetic dentist removes the temporary crown and places the permanent crown, giving you an attractive natural smile.
The link between heart disease and oral health shows just how important it is to take care of your teeth. Good oral health will enhance your physical health while increasing your self-esteem. Whether you visit a San Antonio cosmetic dentist or a dental professional anywhere else, investing in your oral health is an investment that provides results for a lifetime.
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