Five Cosmetic Dental Surgery Procedures And What You Need To Know About Them
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Only a few years ago, there wasn't much you could do about your smile. Brushing your teeth kept them as white as possible, mercury filled in those annoying cavities, and metal braces that looked like... |
Only a few years ago, there wasn't much you could do about your smile. Brushing your teeth kept them as white as possible, mercury filled in those annoying cavities, and metal braces that looked like storm-trooper masks provided a slight straightening effect. Today, everything has changed. Whether you embrace cosmetic dental surgery for whiter teeth or implants, your dentist has a way to keep your smile beautiful.
Cosmetic Dental Surgery Procedure #1: Whitening Teeth
From the moment our permanent teeth come in, nature is against them. Smoke, smog, and discoloration in food and drinks all serve to turn them from white to yellow to brown. Your dentist can help reverse this process in two ways. Regular tooth whitening treatments can be taken at home or given at the dentist's office. You bite down on a tray with bleach made especially to fit your teeth until your teeth attain the shade of white you want.
Laser treatments are conducted in one visit with the dentist. You bite down on a container of soft gel while the laser activates crystals in the gel to penetrate and whiten the enamel of your teeth. Laser teeth whitening is dramatic and expensive: over $1000 per treatment.
Cosmetic Dental Surgery Procedure #2: Veneers
Veneers are "covers" that are attached to the front teeth to give them a pretty appearance (e.g., white, straight, no chips or cracks, etc.) Veneers may be made from porcelain (at a cost of $900 – $2500 per tooth) or they may be made from a plastic combination (at a cost of $250 per tooth). Dentists usually recommend placing temporary veneers over the front teeth first to make sure the color and shape are as flattering as possible. Permanent veneers can last from 10-15 years.
Cosmetic Dental Surgery Procedure #3: Implants
Dental implants are used to disguise missing teeth. They are grafted onto bone that is already present in the gum. If no viable bone is present, the dentist may need to perform a bone graft using donated bone or bone from another part of the body. Completing a dental implant takes several visits, and some patients report discomfort or pain for which dentists may need to use local anesthetics. The cost for each implant is $1250 – $3000. For this reason dentures–removable replacements for missing teeth–may be more practical at a cost of $500 – $2500 per arch.
Cosmetic Dental Surgery Procedure #4: Contouring and Reshaping
Contouring and reshaping are procedures used to correct slight imperfections in teeth. They might, for instance, be used to scrape away a rough spot or file down a chip. Aided by x-rays and by the patient's own observations, the dentist uses a scraper, a sanding drill, and a laser to improve the patient's appearance. Since these procedures do not go beyond the enamel of the tooth, anesthetic is rarely required. The cost for contouring and reshaping is between $50 – $350 per tooth.
Cosmetic Dental Surgery Procedure #5: Gum Surgery
The longer we live, the more problems we may have with our gums. Some of us have "gummy smiles" as our gums encroach upon our teeth. Others have the opposite problem of "long tooth" as our gums fade away. Dentists can operate to remove excess gum and bone material in the first case and remove tissues from the roof of the mouth and graft them to the gums in the second place. Costs vary widely depending on the extent of the problem and which procedure is needed.
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