Porcelain Veneers and Teeth Whitening Techniques to Give You the Perfect Smile

Cosmetic dentistry is becoming one of the most common techniques used in improving a person’s image. It involves everything from orthodontics to tooth colored fillings but the easiest and most common dental cosmetic procedures include teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.

Cosmetic dentistry includes any procedure that improves the appearance of the smile. These procedures can be involved but the majority of them are easy and affordable. The most common cosmetic procedures done are teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.

Teeth Whitening Techniques

When teeth first come in they are bright and white but over time, food and drink darken and stain their color. Teeth whitening procedures are used to remove stains and even bleach the enamel to be whiter than it was before. There are many ways of whitening teeth and all options should be considered before deciding which one is best for you:

Teeth Whitening Toothpastes: These toothpastes contain mild abrasives to help remove stains. They are useful for removing stains, but will not actually whiten the base color of your teeth because they don’t have the bleaching agents in them. Some individuals report some tooth sensitivity when using teeth whitening toothpastes, but the occurrence is low.

In-Office Bleaching: This gives the best result in a short amount of time. The procedure is done at a dental office in about an hour and a half. It can be a bit more expensive but the immediate results greatly help to make it worth the cost.

At-Home Bleaching: This option involves the use of special trays and gels either bought over the counter or from a dentist. However, the trays and gels provided by a dentist are far more effective because they are a higher concentration. They will cause less irritation as well because the trays will be custom made.

Teeth Whitening Strips: There are countless products of this type in all drug stores and grocery stores. They are somewhat inexpensive and are very easy to use but only some of them work. Ask your dentist which one he recommends.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are another great cosmetic procedure that in contrast to teeth whitening offers a more permanent result. They involve very little or no anesthesia, and can be done with almost no drilling.

The veneer itself is a thin shell of porcelain that is placed over your natural tooth to mask staining, gaps, crooked teeth and other defects. It is designed by taking an impression of the natural teeth. The impression is then sent to a dental technician who then fashions it to match the other teeth. It is then cemented to the natural tooth, covering any defects it may have.

Veneers will do much more than just give your teeth a whiter shade. They can close gaps in teeth that orthodontics can’t fix. Sometimes the shape of a tooth will prevent it from contacting the teeth next to it, giving it an unpleasing appearance. Veneers will reshape the tooth and close the gaps or they can be used to resurface teeth and make them appear straighter. They can last a long time and when properly placed and cared for, veneers can last up to 30 years.

Cosmetic dental procedures are becoming more common each day and it’s hard to find someone who isn’t satisfied with their decision to improve their smile. Cosmetic dentistry is a perfect solution for those who want to change any major or minor problem with their smile and should be discussed with your dentist.