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What Are The Most Popular Cosmetic Dental Procedures? A Closer Look

Greenway Village Dental

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Now that pandemic restrictions have eased up, more and more people are looking toward cosmetic dental procedures to boost confidence and update their looks.

Whether you want to feel more confident when you're out on the social scene, or when you're giving a presentation at work, cosmetic dental procedures can make all the difference in your life.

Keep reading to learn about the most popular cosmetic dental procedures you can get from your dentist in Clemmons, NC, and how they can help you achieve the smile you're dreaming of!

What Is a Cosmetic Dentist?

Cosmetic dentists are dental professionals that typically offer general dental services, but also offer services that focus on improving the cosmetic appearance of your gums, teeth, and overall smile.

Cosmetic dentists will work with you to develop a treatment plan to get your smile where it needs to be. Many people see a cosmetic dentist for dental problems such as:

  • Crooked teeth
  • Cracked teeth
  • Discolored teeth
  • Tooth decay

Cosmetic dentistry not only improves your smile and confidence but also alleviates difficulties with speaking and eating that damaged teeth can cause.

Common Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Today, there are a lot of cosmetic dental procedures you can choose from to improve your look, depending on what dental problems you're experiencing. Many people opt to have more than one cosmetic dental procedure at a time. 

Some of the most common procedures include:

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin shells that are permanently bonded to the front of your teeth to improve their overall appearance. Veneers are commonly used to treat chipped, discolored, or broken teeth.

You can get one veneer but most people get between 6 to 8 veneers for their top front row of teeth. You can even get a full set of veneers for both your top and bottom teeth. Traditional veneers are a great investment as they can last up to 10 years or more.

Types of Veneers

Traditional veneers are either made from porcelain or composite resin and require a lot of prep work to ensure they fit correctly. Overall, you'll find that porcelain veneers are stronger than composite veneers and are also more stain-resistant.

Porcelain Veneers

For porcelain veneers, your dentist will grind down your teeth and then take an impression of your teeth to create a mold. From there, custom porcelain veneers are created in a laboratory

Once your veneers are ready, your dentist will cement them into place. Many times you'll have temporary veneers in place until the permanent ones are ready.

Composite Veneers

With composite resin veneers, your dentist etches the surface of your tooth, then applies a thin layer of composite material. Additional layers can be applied to achieve the look you want. The procedure is completed by hardening the composite material under a LED curing light.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening at your dentist's office is a relatively inexpensive cosmetic dental procedure that can brighten up your smile dramatically in just one visit.

The bleach your dentist uses is much stronger than what you can get over-the-counter. Professional teeth whitening systems contain up to 45% peroxide-based bleaching agents, while bleaching kits you use at home contain much less.

During this procedure, your dentist will protect your cheeks, tongue, and lips from the whitening gel by using gauze. A barrier is typically also placed along the gumline to protect it further. 

The whitening gel is placed on your teeth for 30 to 60 minutes and can be reapplied during the treatment process. Some people may need further teeth whitening sessions, depending on the results they want to achieve.

Tooth Bonding

Tooth bonding is a great option if you have problems with chipped or cracked teeth. It's a less expensive option than other cosmetic dental procedures like veneers or crowns and uses composite resin to mold and shape damaged teeth

You may need anesthesia for this procedure if you have chipped teeth that are near your nerves. The first step is ensuring the composite resin closely matches the natural color of your teeth.

During the tooth bonding procedure, your dentist will roughen up the surface of your tooth and apply a liquid that will help the composite resin bond properly.

Next, the composite resin is applied to your teeth to repair the damage. The entire procedure usually takes about an hour, depending on how much damage you have. Tooth bonding also doesn't have any major risks involved and you don't need to do anything to prepare for the procedure.

Gum Contouring

If you have an uneven gum line that affects your smile, gum contouring may be a great option for you. Gum contouring is a procedure that reshapes your gumline by removing extra gum tissue that is around your teeth.

Before the procedure begins, you'll get local anesthesia to numb your gums. Your dentist will use either a laser or scalpel to remove the excess gum tissue and reshape your gum line to expose your teeth more.

Sometimes your dentist will need to use sutures to hold the gum tissue in place while it heals. Gum contouring can typically be done in one visit and takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. 

Gum contouring involves little to no downtime, but you'll need at least a week to heal depending on how much contouring you've had done.

Your Cosmetic Dentist in Clemmons, NC

Now that you know more about what cosmetic dental procedures you can choose from, you can get to work on updating your smile.

If you're looking for a dentist in Clemmons NC, it's time to turn to Rice & Associates for your cosmetic dental needs. We will treat you like family and will work hard to give you the beautiful smile you're looking for.

We also offer a variety of other dental services including crowns and bridges, root canals, and dental implants in Clemmons, NC. Make sure you contact us today to schedule an appointment so you can brighten your smile tomorrow!

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