What You Should Know About the Under-the-Radar Treatments in Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is most well recognized in popular society through whitening, veneers, and Invisalign. Most well-known and most popular, these treatments barely break the surface of the work that cosmetic dentists can now perform. If you’ve ever considered what else is available to help bring your smile to the next level, there are several lesser-known but extremely valuable treatments available to you by consulting with a cosmetic dentist West Hollywood.

How Gum Contouring Can Enhance Your Smile

Gum contouring is among the lesser advertised cosmetic dentistry procedures that has the potential to completely transform your smile. Referred to as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting, this treatment is best for individuals with a “gummy smile” or irregular gum lines.

Not only will it be great for the teeth, but for the overall health as well. It will also make it even easier to brush along this gum line and thus stave off gum disease by getting rid of excess gum tissue off of a tooth. It’s a one-office appointment with a long-term reward that is most often paired up with other types of cosmetic improvement as part of a complete smile makeover.

Is Dental Bonding Reserved for Chips and Cracks?

Bonding has existed for quite a while as a quick solution for tiny cracks or chips, but that’s just half the story. This minimally painful, inexpensive treatment also involves bonding a tooth-colored resin to the tooth and shaping it. It may be done to close small gaps, reduce rough edges, and even reduce teeth that are too long.

Even though veneers imply the removal of enamel, bonding does not require that, and the tooth remains intact. One can achieve it in one sitting, and correctly done, it can be just as advanced in results as expensive treatments.

What Is Tooth Recontouring?

Tooth recontouring reshapes teeth. When teeth are being recontoured by dentists, they are reshaping the enamel, the hard outer covering of the tooth. They remove some enamel, especially when a tooth is unevenly shaped; or add some to create a more symmetrical tooth. Recontouring a tooth isn’t quite like grinding down a tooth, but more like taking away or putting in plaster on a sculpture.

The treatment is often performed under anesthesia and, in some cases, can be done very quickly.

How Does Tooth-Colored Filling Replacement Improve Your Smile?

Silver amalgam fillings are attractive, but they discolor your tooth shade and take away from your smile. Rebacking old fillings with tooth-colored composite material is a simple cosmetic upgrade that is far too often overlooked. Not only are the new materials safer to apply and more cosmetic, they actually bond to the tooth itself for additional strength.

The shade of tooth-colored fillings exactly matches your own enamel so that no one will even notice that they are there. That one small distinction alone can make a huge big difference in the overall appearance of your teeth, especially if the fillings are in very noticeable locations such as the front or sides of your mouth.

Are Inlays and Onlays Better than Fillings or Crowns?

Inlays and onlays are ordered when the tooth is too compromised to be fixed with a good ol’ filling but too well-preserved that a whole crown will be needed. An inlay is placed between the cusps of a tooth, and an onlay covers one or more.

In composite resin or porcelain, inlays and onlays are esthetically colored to match the tooth and resist stains and be durable. It has a lower cost, is stronger than a basic filling and good for patients not willing to make aesthetic sacrifices for longevity.

Can Cosmetic Dentistry Relieve Tooth Sensitivity?

Yes, even sensitivity can be cured by cosmetic dentistry if worn-out teeth or tooth roots expose sensitive areas. Bonding and sealants can cover sensitive areas so that cold and hot foods and drinks and acidic food will no longer touch the tooth. Gum grafting can be suggested by the West Hollywood cosmetic dentist if receded gums are the reason behind the toothache.

These procedures alleviate pain while improving the appearance of your teeth and gums. If sensitivity has kept you from hot or cold drinks, cosmetic dentistry can deliver effective relief.

How Do Digital Smile Design Services Enhance Personalization?

Digital smile design is the most futuristic and least used of all of the cosmetic dentistry treatments. The technology provides the cosmetic dentist in West Hollywood the ability to use computer modeling and 3D imaging to design your perfect smile prior to having any work done. It permits a very highly customized degree of fine-tuning by considering your facial, bite, and personality traits when creating your new smile.

By previewing online, you can see what the final product is going to be like and what adjustments you are going to have to make before treatment even begins. This customized process habituates patients to what they have signed up for and enables the completed result to be perfect for their unique individualized look.

What Is Cosmetic Botox’s Role in Dentistry?

A few cosmetic dentists have recently begun to provide Botox to correct dental issues, including fixing a gummy smile, lip asymmetry, or tension brought about by TMJ disorders. Botox, when combined with conventional dental treatment, can balance and harmonize the smile.

Botox is applied to dental aesthetics to relax specific mouth and jaw muscles. Everyone knows about eliminating lines as its application, but to dentistry, it translates to an additional benefit in the form of a broader smile, decreased grinding teeth, and even diminishing the visibility of a gummy lip line.

Conclusion

More exotic cosmetic dentistry can take your appearance and self-assurance to a whole new dimension. From subtle enhancements such as bonding and teeth reshaping to the latest advances in digital smile design, there’s an unlimited universe beyond prevention. If the problem is a “gummy smile,” irregularly spaced teeth, or even simply a curiosity about the subtle change, state-of-the-art cosmetic dentistry offers patient-tailored, state-of-the-art answers with exquisite esthetics, completely in line with optimal health.