Cosmetic Dental Options

by Dorothy Dunnawaye

No longer are the advantages of cosmetic treatments only available to the wealthy and advantaged people. Cosmetic Dental Options - surgeries, procedures and products are one of the biggest industries in the world thanks to the rapidly growing demand for beauty and eternal youth. One such available service is cosmetic dentistry.

Not so long ago the only Cosmetic Dental Options were painful, almost evasive oral surgery that required a long procedure and recovery times. It was also prohibitively expensive. Mostly, the only Cosmetic Dental Options were some types of tooth replacement or orthodontic treatments that could last for years.

Revolutionary improvements in technology have created new materials and machines allowing for better, more effective, less painful dentistry treatments thus changing the practice of dentistry and substantially increasing the accessibility of cosmetic dental options for the public.

Here are the newest trends and Cosmetic Dental Options:

Veneers are still a popular choice to improve one’s smile; however, it is a tad invasive because the process includes reshaping the teeth by grinding down the tooth to force the veneer to bond to it. Regular veneers have to be replaced about every ten years.

One of the newest trends in cosmetic dental treatment is new type of veneer called Lumineers. This type of veneer is very different from the regular type in that the veneers are much thinner (almost as thin as a contact lens) and super translucent than traditional ones and as a result, they are much easier to bond to the tooth. It is the latest in the new and exciting no tooth-reduction porcelain veneer products and no pain is involved since the procedure does not require drilling or shots. They also last much longer than traditional veneers – up to 20 years.

The extremely thin porcelain technology that makes these veneers so effective actually preserves your natural tooth structure. Veneers can correct a wide variety of dental problems such as:

• Discoloration and unsightly stains

• Gaps

• Broken, chipped teeth

• Misshaped teeth including spaced, crooked, and fanged teeth

Veneers effectively cover up many dental flaws giving a natural, perfect smile.

Tooth whitening is one of the most common and basic ways to change the look of your teeth and improving your smile. One of the methods used is the at-home whitening systems which uses about 10 to 20% carbamine peroxide. Trays that are made from the patient’s impressions are worn during sleep. This type of treatment takes anywhere from two to six weeks.

Many opt for the more effective (and more expensive) in-office whitening treatments which use high intensity light with hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth. This type of treatment can be done in about an hour. One popular option is called Zoom! Which runs about $500 to $1000 for a one hour treatment. Other laser options such as Rembrandt and Britesmile work the same way and can all whiten teeth up to 10 shades lighter.

More and more adults are seeking out orthodontic treatment – the good new is that one needn’t get a full mouth of train tracks installed to get that perfect smile. The newest trend in adult braces is a type of invisible retainer called Invisalign. This treatment is especially effective for mild to moderate crowding utilizes a series of retainers that are computer generated or lab constructed that are worn sequentially (about one every couple of weeks) until the desired correction is achieved.

The main benefit to this kind of dental treatment is primarily the fact that it is invisible, can be taken out at any time for eating, drinking and cleaning, and is just as effective as the traditional type of braces. Surprisingly enough, Invisalign braces are not exorbitantly expensive, they cost approximately 15% to 30% more than traditional metal braces. Costs will vary according to the type and length of orthodontic treatment.

Crowns, bridges, dental implants, and tooth bonding remain common medical and cosmetic dentistry procedures that can also vastly improve your smile. These existing treatments have been around for quite some time therefore it is widely available in almost all dentist offices. For the newer treatments it may be necessary to call around your local dental offices to find out if they offer them.