What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth. It can correct problems like discolouration, alignment, tooth loss, and chipped or broken teeth.

Whether there’s been an accident that left you with tooth damage or you just want to feel more pride in your smile, Bright Smiles Dentistry on the Sunshine Coast provides a wide range of specialist dental services. Whitening, veneers, bonding and dental crowns are often used to achieve the desired outcome.

Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Whitening

Your dentist can whiten your teeth in the office using a special highly concentrated gel that quickly whitens your teeth. Another option is to purchase a whitening kit containing a teeth mould and whitening gel from your dentist so you can do the treatments at home.

Professional teeth whitening is effective. However, it won’t last forever. You can expect to see the results for anywhere from six months to three years.

Veneers

Dental Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain or ceramic the colour of healthy teeth. After removing a portion of enamel, your dentist will bond the veneers to the surface of your teeth, changing their colour, size and shape.

Depending on the materials used, veneers can last up to 15 years, if done properly.

Bonding

Dental bonding is often used to repair tooth damage, improve the shape or as a filling. It starts with resin in a soft, malleable state. Your dentist will apply it to your teeth and then cure it using ultraviolet light. In its hardened state, your dentist will shape, smooth and polish it.

Depending on the location of the bonded tooth and how well you take care of it, bonding can last four to eight years.

Dental Crown

A dental crown fits over the entire tooth, concealing any discolouration and imperfections, and can hold together a broken tooth. It simultaneously improves the tooth’s appearance and protects it from further damage.

If done properly, a dental crown can last up to 15 years.

Can It Be Corrected?

Cosmetic dental work is much more fixable than some other cosmetic procedures. Sometimes you just can’t undo what you did. But that isn’t the case here — most of the time.

If it’s time to update your veneers and it was done properly the first time, they can be removed and redone fairly easily. However, if the procedure was done badly, it can be quite difficult and expensive to correct. If you ever find yourself in this situation, make sure you discuss everything with your dentist so there aren’t any surprises in the end.

Before any kind of dental procedure, know what you’re getting yourself into and make sure it’s being done by a dentist you trust.