1. What is aesthetic dentistry?
  2. Aesthetic dentistry: procedures
  3. Who should consider aesthetic dentistry?
  4. Aesthetic dentistry – contraindications

 

Aesthetic (cosmetic) dentistry aims to make the patient's teeth more attractive. This includes teeth whitening or use of veneers. Due to the methods of modern aesthetic dentistry, everyone can enjoy a bright smile.

 

1. What is aesthetic dentistry?

Aesthetic dentistry is one of the branches of dentistry that deals with improving the appearance of teeth and making the smile more attractive.

Most frequently, nice teeth are considered healthy. Consequently, aesthetic dentists derive knowledge and therapeutic methods from numerous fields of dentistry such as orthodontics, prosthetics, conservative treatment, periodontology, and endodontics.

However, smile is not just about teeth. The whole picture also includes gums, lips, face shape and symmetry, and even silhouette. It turns out that the relations between individual elements are described by specific rules. This makes cosmetic dentistry a very unusual field, combining medicine with art and philosophy. When choosing the right methods to achieve the effect of a dazzling smile, the doctor should take into account:

  • the golden ratio rule, which guarantees attractive tooth spacing;
  • white-red aesthetics, describing the relationship between teeth, gums and lips;
  • face oval when choosing the shape of artificial dentition.

2. Aesthetic dentistry: procedures

Teeth whitening is a standard procedure that brings the patient closer to the desired smile. The causes of the unattractive colour of the teeth may be as follows:

  • excessive build-up of plaque and tartar;
  • diet;
  • smoking;
  • genetic defects;
  • use of certain medications (e.g. tetracyclines);
  • endodontic treatment.

Depending on the underlying discoloration and the effect the patient would like to achieve, the different techniques can be used. Teeth whitening is traditionally divided into office treatment and home treatment.

Outpatient teeth whitening ensures the comfort that the whole procedure takes place in a dental chair under and is supervised by specialists. It saves time and does not require the patient to perform any actions at home. In this type of procedure, doctors use pastes or gels with a high concentration of whitening substances. To enhance the effect, teeth are sometimes irradiated with cold light. You can enjoy a snow-white smile after just one treatment. The effect usually lasts for 1-3 years.

Teeth whitening can also be carried out at home. The patient leaves the office, equipped with special caps with active gel. Just put them on your teeth for the night, and the effects will be visible after 14 days of therapy. Due to its specific character, home therapy lasts longer than the office treatment – but it is cheaper.

After the teeth whitening procedure (regardless of its method( the patient may complain of the short-term ailments, ranging from discomfort and hypersensitivity to pain. Unpleasant symptoms tend to disappear in a day or two.

It is worth noting that teeth whitening products available in drugstores or supermarkets are much less effective than therapies carried out by professionals. Before starting any treatment, the doctor should perform an oral inspection and, on its basis, choose the appropriate method of therapy. If necessary, the dentist will also remove tartar – this will further enhance the whitening effect. Drugstore ways of getting rid of discolorations can be left to maintain the results of a professional procedure after prior consultation with the dentist.

Aesthetic dentistry successfully uses many benefits of prosthetics. Veneers will be a great idea if we dream of a beautiful smile, but our teeth are slightly damaged, broken, chipped or discoloured.

Veneers are thin pads stuck permanently to the front surface of the teeth. They are usually made of porcelain or composite. The veneer materials have a colour and structure strikingly similar to natural teeth and do not stand out from them. They perfectly mask all the shortcomings of a smile and ensure an immediate effect.

If the destruction of the teeth does not allow the placement of veneers, it is worth considering dental crowns or implants.

3. Who should consider aesthetic dentistry?

Aesthetic dentistry should be of interest not only to all individuals who have lost their teeth and want to rebuild their smile, but also to those who have congenital teeth pathologies or accident victims.

The impeccable appearance of the teeth attracts attention and makes any person much more good-looking.

4. Aesthetic dentistry – contraindications

Unfortunately, we cannot say that everyone can undergo aesthetic dentistry treatment. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should opt out. Important contraindications are also as follows:

  • general serious health problems;
  • hypersensitivity or allergy to the products and materials used in aesthetic dentistry procedures;
  • teeth defects (which should be treated first).

Aesthetic dentists may refuse to perform any procedures in children up to 16 years of age and in situations where patients' expectations as to the effects of the procedure fail to match the reality.

 

A beautiful smile is the basis of well-being and mental comfort. Straight, white and even teeth help in making social contacts. Even if now the inside of the mouth does not look glamorous, nothing is lost! Aesthetic dentistry uses techniques such as teeth whitening, tartar removing (scaling) or veneers. It can really work wonders.

 

 

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