One of the challenges of cosmetic dentistry is to make the smile beautiful but natural. Similar to undergoing plastic surgery, we want improvement in our appearance but want the outcome to seem as if we were blessed by Mother Nature for a youthful look. Fortunately, the dental materials and techniques that dentists have at their disposal enable them to achieve that outcome.
Natural Look
Bonding is one way by which dentists can change a tooth’s appearance. It can be used when a tooth is chipped, fractured or needs a change of color. It is achieved by the use of a composite, which is a type of plastic that comes in many shades and allows the practitioner to match or change the existing color of the tooth.
Recently, a number of dental manufacturers have produced a chameleon-like material that takes on the color of the natural tooth which is important when a tooth has broken and it needs to appear as if nothing has happened to it; this improved technology has made it much easier to get a natural look, despite the injury. And when you just need to change a tooth’s color, whether by malformation or as a result of root canal treatment and/or the lack of blood supply, bonding might be used to cover the entire surface of a tooth, not unlike the use of a primer in painting that masks the under shade of a piece of wood or drywall to prepare it for a new paint color.
Veneers and crowns, made of porcelain, can also be used to change a tooth’s shape or color. Much like a wood veneer or Formica, this reflective material can be used very successfully to hide a tooth’s imperfections.
With minimal to no tooth preparation, the porcelain restoration masks the surface of the tooth, and with artistic staining, can mimic the natural look of the tooth. Even when the tooth or teeth are out of alignment, carefully done recontouring allows for a repositioning of the teeth, resulting in a look that historically could only be achieved by the use of braces or aligners.
These improvements allow the cosmetic dentist to make both major and minor changes in the look of a patient’s smile in a relatively short period of time, providing that the appropriate options and planning have been evaluated. This is often done through the use of a digital simulation and wax prototype, making the outcome more predictable and satisfying. In this manner, the cosmetic dentist can achieve a great result, giving the patient the smile they have always wanted, naturally.
Dr. Steve Marsh focuses on cosmetic dental procedures and general dentistry. Visit ClevelandSmiles to learn more.
