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Porcelain Veneers
Instead of resin fillings, affected teeth can be fitted with porcelain veneers. A veneer is only around half a millimeter thick and is glued to the front of the tooth. To make sure the thickness of the tooth remains the same, the equivalent depth of enamel will need to be ground away first. Porcelain veneers last longer than resin fillings, but can be damaged or chipped by habits such as fingernail chewing.
Crowns
Crowns are caps that are permanently bonded to a damaged tooth. They can be covered in a thin layer of tooth-colored porcelain to mask the repair and match the look of existing teeth.
Bridges (Dental Implant)
A missing tooth can be replaced with a dental implant rather
than a partial denture. A small titanium screw is fixed into the jaw and the
crown or tooth is fitted. In time, the screw becomes fused with the bone of
the jaw. Implants are successful in around 90 to 95 per cent of cases. Those
that replace the front teeth in the lower jaw have a near perfect success rate.
This is a specialized field of cosmetic dentistry that will require specialist
attention.
Tooth Contouring and Re-Shaping
Tooth contouring and Re-Shaping are cosmetic dentistry techniques that aim to change the size or shape of the teeth so that slightly damaged or out of proportion teeth are brought back into alignment with the rest. Reshaping can also be used to correct minor problems with bite and function.
Cosmetic Dentist
A cosmetic dentist is a person who performs cosmetic dental procedures. Cosmetic dentistry is simply general dentistry with an added dimension—besides all the functional requirements, the dentist must pay close attention to the appearance of the dental work.
The cosmetic dentist referral pages help you identify a cosmetic dentist in your area. Most of these sites provide information about cosmetic dentistry in addition to referrals to an expert cosmetic dentist. Unlike many other medical specialists, dentists are not required to have any advanced education or training to practice cosmetic dentistry. In fact, the requirements for practicing cosmetic dentistry vary from state to state. As a result, some cosmetic dentists may not have undergone much advanced training.
Unfortunately, cosmetic dentistry is not generally taught in dental schools as part of the normal curriculum. To be assured you are receiving quality care; ask your family dentist or doctor for a recommendation. Search for a dentist who has post-graduate education and training in cosmetic or restorative dentistry from a reputable institution. Check membership in professional associations, such as the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and others. Look at ‘before and after’ photos of his patients' smiles.
We thank you for visiting our directory, and wish you well in whatever endeavor brought you here. We are constantly adding new information and resources to our site, both general and state specific in nature, so check back often. |
