Cosmetic Dentistry

It has become easier to get a bright white, even-toothed smile in Cincinnati. Recent developments now available and employed by Cincinnati cosmetic dentists ensure that even the most demanding of dental conditions can be transformed into the perfect smile.

Most people looking to improve the appearance of their teeth begin with basic, and necessary, dental treatments such as cleaning and regular check-ups. To perk up and invigorate their smiles patients need to find a cosmetic dental specialist or a dentist that offers corrective treatment.

A host of alternatives are available for the patient looking for cosmetic dentistry, including: tooth whitening, fillings and crowns, inlays and onlays, veneers, composite bonding, and even full mouth restoration. A patient’s ideal treatment plan may require straightening or alignment of the teeth, which would be performed by an orthodontist.

The purpose of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the appearance of the teeth and the mouth, which may require different materials than those available in a standard dental office. But, Cincinnati cosmetic dentists will sometimes include standard filling placement in their available services. Fillings have become an important part of cosmetic restoration because materials have improved to allow the replacement of older and easily seen amalgam fillings with porcelain or composite materials that match the color of the tooth, and because many people with decayed teeth seek inlays or onlays that use the same composites as are used to "fill" the tooth.

Inlays and onlays are frequently referred to as "indirect" fillings because they are not molded into place, but created in a laboratory environment and then attached to the tooth. They are used to treat tooth decay in areas where traditional fillings are not viable. They are also quite useful in fortifying and restoring function to teeth damaged by decay or earlier dental procedures. The restoration position and extent of coverage required will determine whether an inlay or only is used.

Composite bonding is a procedure commonly used for both filling and repairing teeth.

Composite bonding, though, is not always the ideal treatment modality for restoring damaged teeth. Minor problems like chips and cracks are effectively addressed by composite bonding, but more major defects need more complex treatments like veneers and crowns.

Veneers are patient-specific and made from a tough ceramic substance to protect chipped, cracked and otherwise damaged teeth, and to remedy irregular alignment and big gaps between teeth. Veneers are, in effect, an all-purpose solution for most cosmetic dentistry issues. People opt for veneers more frequently than other cosmetic treatments because they provide a durable, painless and natural looking answer to most cosmetic dental issues.

Sometimes a tooth may be so greatly damaged that that a veneer is not sufficient, and the remaining solution is placement of a crown. Crowns and caps provide function for even the most heavily damaged teeth by encasing the properly prepared remains of a tooth. Cincinnati-area dentists will discuss all possible tooth restoration processes with their patients usually leaning towards the treatment plan that will require the least amount of destruction to the existing tooth material.

Porcelain, gold and a combination of porcelain and metal are the main materials used in crown fabrication. The dentist will ultimately decide on a material that best suits a patient’s individual preferences, tooth and space availability, and desired aesthetics.

The strongest, most durable and visually appealing crowns are those made from porcelain fused to metal.

When little space is available porcelain-only crowns are the best option. For those with a heavy bite, though, such crowns have been known to fracture.

Finally, gold crowns are usually selected for those with such habits as teeth grinding (bruxism) because gold is less abrasive to opposing surfaces, and it is usually applied to the larger teeth towards the back of the mouth. Because gold is shiny, however, these types of crowns are usually avoided for aesthetic purposes.

Smile makeovers and full-mouth restorations are available treatment options for circumstances requiring the restoration of several cosmetically compromised teeth. Smile makeovers attempt to achieve a more beautiful appearance of the teeth utilizing different cosmetic dental procedures and materials like whitening, veneers or crowns.

Full-mouth reconstruction is a more comprehensive process, and involves a complete appraisal of the patient’s needs before a smile makeover is done. While looking to improve the appearance of the teeth, a Cincinnati cosmetic dentist may diagnose functional problems with the teeth and bone structure as well as the bite position or muscles around the mouth. In these cases, gum disease treatment, the use of braces, implants and soft and/or hard tissue grafts may be included in the overall treatment plan.

Advancement in cosmetic dentistry in Cincinnati offers many potential treatment plans for patients to choose from, so patients must investigate all these options and related potential outcomes with their dentist is a must before deciding and proceeding with treatment.