Cosmetic Dentistry vs. Regular Dental Treatments: Dental cosmetics aim to better teeth’s look and smiles’ overall appeal. By contrast, basic dental procedures mostly tackle health problems inside the oral cavity, like gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay.
Crowns
In cosmetic dentistry, crowns are tooth-shaped caps made of materials like porcelain or ceramic. They cover a damaged or discolored tooth, restoring its shape, size, and appearance. Crowns improve tooth aesthetics and offer strength and protection.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made beauties for your teeth. Designed to mimic the appearance of natural tooth enamel, their light-reflecting properties are ideal for a smile makeover. With the skill of our dentists and the artistry of a dental laboratory, these thin shells are made to fit snugly over the front of each tooth, and they’re bonded on for good.
When a finished veneer is placed on a tooth, the instant change is incredible. And the change can last a very long time.
Benefits and Limitations of Crowns and Veneers
Aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting, cosmetic crowns and veneers can deliver great results. However, they do require some tooth preparation and are considered an irreversible procedure. However, if your teeth are in poor shape or not in alignment, a cosmetic crown or veneer may not be able to improve them enough.
Customization of Crowns and Veneers
The shape, size, and color of the custom-made dental crowns and veneers used in cosmetic dentistry are as unique to each patient as their natural teeth. That is because in the hands of an expert cosmetic dentist with an experienced artistic eye, these dental restorations are literally handcrafted to mimic not only the color, but also the unique characteristics of the natural teeth.
Longevity and Reversibility
If a patient takes good care of their teeth after a cosmetic procedure, like having crowns or veneers placed, they can last a decade or more before they need to be replaced. However, these are not really permanent treatments, since they will obviously wear out over time just like our bodies do. Avoiding bad habits such as nail biting, ice chewing and eating harder food can increase the longevity of these restorations.
Getting Crowns or Veneers
The process starts with a consultation where we will discuss desired results and determine if they are achievable. After that, we create a model using wax to plan for the desired outcome. Next, we prepare the tooth by removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth, so the restoration has room to fit and look natural. We take an impression of the tooth (along with its adjacent and opposing teeth) using a tray with a putty-like material. Then, that impression is sent to our lab where they fabricate the restoration(s) and send it back to us.
Addressing Aesthetic and Functional Issues
One of the effects of cosmetic dentistry is to make both the look and the function of a tooth better. This aspect of the dental arts can help with appearance aesthetic issues like tooth discoloration. It can also help with performance issues like a tooth that is causing speech problems. By their very nature, the results of cosmetic dentistry are being noticed right away.
Post-Treatment Care
To preserve crowns and veneers, one must maintain proper oral hygiene. This involves brushing and flossing every day and following up with regular dental check-ups. Biting on hard objects or using one’s teeth as tools should be avoided as to not damage any dental work in the process..
Dental Wax-Up Model
A dental wax-up model can go by several different names, including diagnostic wax-up and wax mock-up. However, these all describe the same thing: a physical model that closely resembles a patient’s current or desired dentition.
Essentially, the dentist creates this model out of dental wax or another material similar to it, allowing the dentist (and, in turn, the patient) to better understand the appearance of the proposed treatment. The dental wax-up serves as a simulation of the work that the dentist hopes to perform, which the dentist can allow the patient to see at least semi-realistic outcomes before they decide for or against the proposed treatment.