A beautiful smile is not an impossible goal. In fact, Cosmetic Dentistry has a variety of procedures that can improve any smile, even those of people with missing teeth. One of the most common procedures is very well known, teeth whitening, and it is also one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of a smile. The whitening process takes about half an hour in the office with the final results showing up over the next 7 to 10 days. This is not to imply that the teeth will not have a whiter appearance right away. Whiter teeth are immediately visible as soon as the dentist removes the cleaning agent.
Another easy process is bonding and shaping. Roseville Cosmetic Dentistry uses this process to cover chipped or misshapen teeth. It works by placing a tooth colored putty over the area to be repaired and allowing it to cure. One the resin has hardened, the dentist will begin shaping it so it fits in with the existing teeth. This works well for minor problems provided that they do not require a lot of resin.
Sometimes, the teeth are severely stained or have issues that are difficult to repair quickly such as small gaps or misalignment. These problems are usually handled with dental veneers. A veneer is simply a quality material placed over something of lesser quality. In the case of Roseville Cosmetic Dentistry, this material is a porcelain shell that has been shaped to resemble smooth, even teeth. Veneers can cover a variety of problems, but they are not a repair like a cap or crown.
For patients that have missing teeth the dentist may recommend the implant or a dental appliance such as a bridge or denture. Implants use an inert material like titanium as an anchor. Implants work because of a process known as osseointegration. That is, the bone tissue will adhere to the implant and this helps secure the device. This is necessary for strength, but it does require enough bone mass to hold the anchor securely.
Once the implanted anchor has healed, the dentist will create a crown to cover it. Alternately, they may need to fabricate a custom prosthetic to attach to the anchor. This is done for appliances such as bridges and dentures and may be the best way to secure these devices. This is a boon for denture wearers who hate the feel of denture adhesives.
