Cosmetic dental procedures help you live the dream of having the best smile. It is usually used when one has chipped, misshapen, misaligned, stained teeth or gaps between them. The results from these procedures could be temporary, with a limited lifetime, or with permanent alteration of teeth.
A cosmetic dentist in St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids guides you through various procedures when you approach them in this regard. Based on the issue you are facing, type of teeth, and other factors, they would suggest you go for one from the list below.
- Teeth Whitening
It is the most popular and easiest of all cosmetic dental procedures. Our teeth are stained from the food and drinks we consume, medication, and habits like smoking. This is the most affordable method if you intend to brighten your smile. When done at the dentist’s office, he/she uses a bleaching agent to bring these desired results. It is worth also considering the at-home options wherein you can get a specific gel used for the same from the dentist’s place and do it by yourself. However, products like whitening toothpaste and strips are available at retail stores that promise a similar result. The effect lasts for a few months, based on your oral care.
- Dental Veneer
If you have chipped or broken teeth, or your teeth stains cannot be bleached, a method to lengthen or whiten your teeth is by opting for a dental veneer. In this procedure, thin porcelain shells are made in the lab that would match your teeth and then cemented into the front of your teeth. This procedure is done only for the teeth visible when you smile, considering if it is a healthy option for your teeth, as it is not that way for all.
- Enamel Bonding
Repairing chipped, decayed, or misshapen teeth can be done using an enamel-like composite bonded to the teeth using a laser and then trimmed or shaped as the dentist needs. It is also one of the easiest and most affordable cosmetic dental procedures. This simply requires the teeth to be straight and not crowded. It lasts for several years based on the care taken. But, it can rip off from habits like chewing on ice or pen.
- Cosmetic Contouring
Used to treat conditions like small chips or slight unevenness, this method removes a fairly small amount of enamel from parts of your teeth with such minor defects. It can be done in a single visit to the doctor, taking about thirty minutes for the procedure.
- Laser Gum Contouring
At times our smile is affected by excessive gum visibility, called a gummy smile. This can be rectified by removing the excess gum tissues using diode lasers and reshaping it to a more balanced gum line. It could cause a little pain for the next few days but gives a permanent result.
