1. Six of the most common cosmetic dental procedures are:
2. Dental bonding. No, your teeth aren't making friends, but
they are getting closer. This procedure fills gaps between
teeth, and also covers stains and any chips. How do they
do it? The process involves applying a composite resin to
each tooth. This resin can come in different shades to
match your teeth, and the dentist uses it to cover the
discolored area until it matches. Then a high-intensity light
or chemical is used to dry the resin. All of this process
takes just one visit to the dentist, and it costs much less
than other restoration techniques.
3. Tooth contouring and reshaping: Annoyed by your
overlap, or pit or groove in the enamel of your teeth?
Tooth contouring and reshaping may be the procedure for
you. It's not very expensive, and it doesn't require
surgery or cutting. This procedure involves your dentist
using a polishing tool to take away some of the enamel to
reform the shape of the tooth. With only one follow-up
visit after the procedure, this one is a quickly-
done, inexpensive procedure. Experienced dentists will
check your teeth with an x-ray before performing the
procedure to ensure that they are strong enough to lose a
small piece of enamel.
4. Mouth guards and night guards: Mouth guards aren't just
for athletes. Even when you are sleeping, your teeth can
be at risk for cracking when some people grind or chomp
their teeth together subconsciously. By placing a mouth
guard over your teeth, your teeth are protected from
impact. The mouth guard disperses the shock throughout
your mouth instead of allowing it to be concentrated in
one place. You can get a customized one like a set of non-
metal braces, that is fitted to your teeth and mouth size.
5. Halitosis or bad breath: The breakdown of food particles
by the bacteria present under plaque, in the crevices on
the tongue, and between teeth leads to the generation of
volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) that cause bad breath.
Periodontal disease is also a cause of halitosis. Dentists
determine the amount of VSC being generated by using a
halimeter. Treatment usually involves following a
prescribed oral hygiene routine that may include the use
of irrigators, artificial saliva, tongue scrapers, etc.
6. Tooth whitening: This treatment is useful for removing
stains that appear due to the consumption to tea, coffee,
cigarettes, and wine. Whitening is carried out using
bleaching gel, which is usually hydrogen or carbamide
peroxide. The time required for results to appear depends
upon the source of the stain and varies from a few hours
to a few weeks.
7. Crowns and bridges: Teeth that need repair after an
accident or excessive decay can be treated by using a
crown, which is an artificial replacement for the upper
portion of the tooth. A bridge involves placing an alternate
tooth that is held in place using two crowns that are
bonded on adjacent teeth. To compare the pain, I would
say it falls in between a minor cavity and mouthpain.