Cosmetic Dentistry

If oral health issues are making you afraid to smile, consider the exceptional cosmetic dentistry options from Dental Care of Westminster. Fast, effective, and safe, cosmetic dentistry treatments are a minimally invasive option for improving your smile. Our office offers several family and cosmetic dentistry treatments for improving the shape, size, color, position, alignment, and overall appearance of your teeth. Contact Dental Care of Westminster at 410-848-4000 for more information!

WHAT IS COSMETIC DENTISTRY?

Unlike restorative dentistry, which focuses on correcting and treating underlying issues with teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry addresses improving the appearance of your teeth, gums, and bite.

Unlike corrective and restorative procedures, cosmetic dentistry encompasses services that are primarily meant to improve the appearance and aesthetic quality of your smile. After all, even the healthiest teeth can suffer the effects of age, lifestyle, and misalignment.

The cosmetic services we offer here at Dental Care of Westminster can correct problems with your teeth’s shape, size, alignment, and color so that your smile will look as good as it feels!

Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry

Over the last few decades, cosmetic dentistry has become increasingly commonplace as more and more Americans look for a healthier, prettier smile. In recent years, advanced technologies and decreasing cost has helped make treatment affordable for a diverse range of budgets.

Top 5 Reasons People Get Cosmetic Dentistry

1. STAINED TEETH
   Deeply discolored teeth may be the most common problem in cosmetic dentistry. Over time, teeth can become discolored from consuming drinks like red wine and coffee. Discoloration can also happen from medication, aging, smoking cigarettes, or chewing tobacco.
2. MISSING TEETH
   When you lose a tooth, you lose more than a smile. If it is not replaced quickly, bite functionality significantly decreases and the jawbone will begin to shrink away from disuse, causing a sunken look in the face that makes an individual appear much older.
3. CHIPPED TEETH
   As we age, our teeth become vulnerable. Even without pain or obvious problems, a cracked or broken tooth should be taken seriously! The tooth is now susceptible to decay, is more likely to further crack or break, and you risk losing your tooth completely (whether naturally or via extraction).
4. GAPPED TEETH
   Tooth gaps can trap food particles, which may cause plaque and tartar to easily form in those cracks. Filling in problematic gaps in your teeth can help you improve your oral health, and in cases where a gap is unwanted, it will likely even help boost your confidence and self-esteem!
5. CROOKED TEETH
   The quickest route to a beautiful smile is fixing crooked teeth. Crooked teeth are hard to keep clean, leading to many problems. Teeth misalignment may occur naturally, or as a result of not wearing a retainer prescribed by your dentist.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Additional action is sometimes required to fix these problems. Dental Care of Westminster offers a variety of cosmetic dentistry options to get your smile back on track!

Veneers

Veneers are thin shells directly bonded to the front of the tooth, designed to cover a variety of dental obstructions. Veneers tend to last longer than bonding, so consider a veneer if your bonding needs ongoing maintenance. Veneers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so be sure to ask your dentist about which material will benefit you the most:

• Porcelain- Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain adhered to the outer surface of the tooth that mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth. They are both stain-resistant and gum-tolerant. Once bonded to a healthy tooth, porcelain is extremely durable.
• Composite Resin- Composite veneers are veneers that are not quite as durable as porcelain but are more easily replaced and repaired. The resin is added to your teeth as a liquid before being cured and polished. While porcelain veneers are not reversible, composite veneers are.
• Lumineers- Lumineers® are minimally invasive porcelain veneers made of a thin laminate layer applied seamlessly over your existing teeth. This typically requires no shots, drilling, and less preparation than traditional veneers. Like composite veneers, they can last between 10 and 20 years but may be removed if needed.

Cosmetic Bonding

If damage to a tooth is minor, you may be able to fix it with cosmetic bonding. A simpler form of cosmetic dentistry, dental bonding is often performed without the use of an anesthetic (except for a filling procedure) and usually requires only one visit to a dentist.

Cosmetic Dental Glossary:

Here is a helpful glossary of terms related to cosmetic dentistry.

Aesthetics: Also, esthetics. Having to do with a beautiful appearance. Refers to cosmetic dentistry.

Bite: Refers to how the upper and lower teeth fit together. Also known as occlusion.

Bonding: Using composite resin material to remedy chips or cracks in a tooth.

Braces: Generally composed of wires and brackets that use tension to realign permanent teeth for better occlusion, esthetics, and/or spacing. Clear aligners, such as Invisalign® are increasingly popular alternatives.

Composite Resin: Dental material containing small glass or ceramic particles used in bonding and veneers, typically applied as a liquid and cured with a light or chemical catalyst.

Cosmetic Dentistry: Procedures that correct imperfections in the appearance of a smile. Also called esthetic or aesthetic dentistry, and includes teeth whitening, veneers, etc.

Crown: Can refer to the portion of a tooth that extends above the gum line, or a lab-made restoration known as a cap or a false tooth placed over a patient’s existing tooth or a dental implant.

Enamel:  A white, hard protective tissue making up the outer layer of the tooth that extends above the gum line.

Filling: A variety of materials that can be used to replace cavities caused by tooth decay.

Gingiva: Mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth. Also known as gums.

Impression: A soft mold of one’s teeth and gums used to fabricate oral prosthetics.

Instant Orthodontics: Applying veneers to correct misaligned front teeth for cosmetic reasons.

Laminate: Lab-made veneer (usually porcelain) bonded to the front of a tooth, typically used in Lumineers.

Lumineers®: A type of veneer that uses laminate material without requiring the grinding down of a tooth to ensure proper fit.

Malocclusion: Teeth misalignment that affects bite.

Orthodontics: Dental specialty that concerns teeth alignment.

Porcelain: A ceramic material made by heating clay-like materials to high temperatures. In dentistry, porcelain is commonly used in dental veneers.

Smile Makeover: A treatment plan that includes various cosmetic and esthetic restorative procedures to improve a smile’s appearance.

Teeth Tomorrow®: Full mouth permanent dental implants made of Prettau® Zirconia.

Teeth Whitening: Bleaching teeth with chemicals. Can be done in an hour with a light, or in two weeks with daily worn trays.

Veneer: Cosmetic dental treatment involving porcelain, laminate, or plastic wafers bonded to front teeth to mask imperfections.

To find more information on choosing the right cosmetic dentistry treatment for you, call Dental Care of Westminster in Westminster, Maryland today at 410-848-4000.