Cosmetic Dentistry in Edmonton
Cosmetic Dentistry Services in Edmonton
Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry that is interested in improving the appearance of the teeth moreso than their function. While cosmetic dentistry is a speciality, many general dentists offer cosmetic services such as crowns, veneers, bridges, bonding and shaping. If you have a chip in your tooth or concerns about its size, shape, colour or position, your dentist may recommend tooth shaping! This procedure allows teeth to be shortened, rounded or narrowed by removing some of the tooth’s enamel. This can offer the illusion of symmetry in many cases where orthodontics is not the preferred course of action.
Teeth Bonding
Bonding may be used to correct small signs of decay, or to improve the appearance of the tooth’s surface. Bonding is applied to the teeth, formed and shaped before being cured and polished and can be made in a custom shade of white to match the neighbouring teeth.
Professional Teeth Whitening
If you are happy with the size and shape of your teeth but would like to improve their colouration, talk to your dentist about professional teeth whitening. Peroxide-based tooth whiteners are more effective at clinical doses, and your dentist may also outfit you with a rehydrating gel and gum barrier to decrease the likelihood of any post-whitening sensitivity.
Veneers
If your teeth have gaps, discolouration or if their shape leaves a little to be desired, veneers might be the thing for you. They are made of egg-shell thin laminate shells which are cemented into place over the existing teeth offering a natural appearance. Dentists use wax mock-ups of patient arches to allow them to study and revise veneers until they look just right in terms of colour, shape and size. Temporary veneers are often applied to ensure that you are happy with your new look before adhering them permanently. To ensure that veneers bond well to natural teeth, it is necessary to file their surface by approximately one millimeter.
Dental Bridges
If you have a missing tooth, you may choose to replace the tooth to improve the appearance of the dental arch, or your dentist may recommend taking measures to maintain the space and avoid drifting of other teeth. In this case, a bridge will both improve the appearance of the arch by replacing the gap with a pontic (a false tooth) as well as maintain the space and prevent drifting.
A bridge is an appliance which is cemented onto two teeth along an arch. It holds one or more false teeth between them which are colour-matched to your natural teeth and nearly indistinguishable from their natural adjacents. Although bridges and pontics are not at risk of decaying, it is critical that bridges be cleaned and well maintained to avoid harbouring bacteria in and around the appliance.
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Dental Implants
If you’ve lost one or more teeth or if you are at risk of bone resorption with long-term use of dentures, you may be a candidate for dental implants. A dental implant uses a pontic (false tooth) in place of the one that was lost, and anchors it into the jawbone using a titanium rod that serves as a false root system. Getting implants is a two-part process. First, the titanium rod is installed in the mouth and time is given to allow the implant to begin to effectively fuse to the bone. Following that, the pontic can be connected to the false root using an abutment.
Dental implants are a long-term solution to tooth loss that requires an investment in your health. If you are interested in dental implants, talk to your dentist about how many would be required and the expected cost. Implants can be placed individually or there may be several required, but one dental implant can support several pontics safely. All-on-four implants refers to one implant placed in each quadrant of the dental arches which support a full set of pontics.
Invisalign®
Have you always wanted to straighten your teeth but didn’t want to go through the hassle and appearance of metal braces? Invisalign® is the first invisible aligner system that utilizes gentle but consistent pressure on the teeth to coax them into alignment. Say goodbye to appointments for adjustments and dental wax to prevent injury – Invisalign® treatment is comfortable and its low profile means nothing for your cheeks and tongue to get injured on.
Contact Our Dental Clinic for Consultation
If you would like to improve the appearance of your smile and don’t know where to start, contact our dental clinic in South Edmonton to book a consultation. With a variety of services to offer, we partner with you to determine what course of action is best for your unique needs. You deserve to love your smile, and we want to help make it happen!
If you have questions about these or other services offered by our general dentists, contact our clinic today!
