The Top Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure Today
For anyone who wants to look their best, cosmetic dentistry is rapidly becoming as important as a trip to the hairdresser or beautician, thanks to the gleaming white smiles of A-list celebrities. Cosmetic dentists deal with any dental procedure that's designed to improve the aesthetics of your teeth and mouth, and the list of tricks in their tool kits are staggering. A cosmetic dentist can make your teeth straighter, improve your bite and remove gaps between your teeth, do away with cracks and chips in damaged teeth and even apply new, tooth-like resin to worn tooth surfaces, all of which makes them quite popular in celebrity circles.
The number-one cosmetic procedure carried out by dentists? You guessed it: teeth whitening.
It's no wonder teeth whitening has gained such popularity among both women and men. First, it is low cost. It is minimally invasive, and it requires only a small investment of time. So how does teeth whitening work, and what are your options if you decide to take the plunge?
How does teeth whitening work?
Remember those perfect white teeth from your childhood photos? All teeth start out white, with a glossy coating of beautiful enamel covering the core ingredient of everyone's teeth, dentin. As you put your teeth to work, the enamel wears away and the yellow dentin underneath becomes visible. Tiny cracks develop in the enamel, and these gradually attract debris and stains.
Teeth whitening works to clean away the organic fragments in these cracks and remove the stains on the surface of your teeth, leaving you with a fresh new smile.
In the chair versus at home
You have three basic options if you choose to have your teeth whitened:
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Whitening strips or gel from the supermarket or chemist, which are economical but offer only mild results.
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In-office treatment. Using a peroxide gel of fairly high concentration, in-office whitening can be achieved in one or two sessions. Your dentist will paint your gums with a protective solution, then apply consecutive coats of the bleaching agent for up to an hour in total.
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A take-home kit prepared by your dentist. Lauded as producing the best results, take-home kits apply a lower strength peroxide via a mouth guard which is left on your teeth for longer periods—sometimes even overnight.
Does it really work?
The short answer is yes. Teeth whitening is not permanent like other cosmetic dentistry solutions such as veneers; however, you can expect an improvement in the whiteness and brightness of your smile that is moderate to substantial.
So next time you're in the market for a celebrity refresh, give your cosmetic dentist a call.
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