Which Cosmetic Treatments Can Dentists Perform?

Some types of cosmetic dental treatments are carried out by specially trained practitioners. Dental braces that pull your teeth into position over time fall into this category, for example. That said, your dentist will be able to provide you with a range of cosmetic treatments if you want them. What are the most common ones available? Read on to find out.

Dental Veneers

To begin with, dentists often fit veneers over their patients' teeth to help improve the appearance of a smile. Dental veneers are glued onto your current set of teeth to offer a more even look without gaps, crooked teeth or chipped teeth being visible. A special dental adhesive is used that is tasteless when it is applied. Dental veneers can last for a very long time, but you still need to brush frequently to save them from staining.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Although home teeth bleaching kits are available from pharmacies, having your dentist undertake this sort of work for you is often more effective. When you try to whiten your teeth yourself, it can take several treatments and sometimes lead to uneven results. If you go to your dentist for a teeth whitening treatment, then he or she will apply just the right amount of bleaching to whiten your teeth in one go. Equally, they can apply more intensity on certain teeth — the most discoloured ones — so that the end results are more uniform.

Dental Crowns

A cosmetic treatment that also helps to protect teeth, dental crowns help to improve the appearance of worn-down or partially decayed teeth. A crown is also known as a cap because it sits on top and around the sides of a tooth, thereby encasing it. When you open your mouth a crown will look indistinguishable from a natural, healthy-looking tooth, while lowering the remaining enamel beneath to exposure to sugars and other foodstuffs, like vinegar, that attack teeth when eaten.

Composite Bonding

This sort of cosmetic dental treatment is a little like having veneers fitted. In the case of composite bonding, however, thin layers of resin are used on specific teeth, not the entire set of incisors, as tends to be the case with dental veneers. Ask your dentist about composite bonding if you have just one or two discoloured teeth you'd like to improve the appearance of. This method can also help to cover up cracked teeth.

For more information, talk to a dentist.