Facial esthetics is gaining more and more popularity as we get increasingly concerned about our beauty. Our teeth play a major role in beautifying our smile and overall aesthetics. A smile is the best make up anyone can wear. This article will brief you about the various treatment options a dentist can offer you to adorn your smile.
In today’s life, a good amount of patients visit the dentist’s office with esthetic concerns. Among them, the most common ones are discolored tooth, malpositioned tooth, discolored or pigmented gums, receded gums, gummy smile, etc. Not only the higher profile patients but also the middle-class patients seem to have a growing esthetic demand.
Cosmetic dentistry is in its developing stage in our country. In the initial stages of cosmetic dentistry in India, most of the treatments were not affordable by the middle class or even the upper-middle-class people. The procedures were thought to be complex by most of the patients, and it was one of the commonest reasons for them to deny getting it treated too. In today’s dental practice, these treatments have become the simplest and affordable ones.
Teeth Whitening:
One of the most common cosmetic treatments in dentistry is teeth whitening if you want a brighter smile, although not recommended unless there is noticeable discoloration of the teeth. When it comes to teeth whitening, you have got two options:
- In-office teeth bleaching.
- At home bleaching.
Both teeth whitening options use peroxide-based bleaching agents. At-home systems contain from 3 % to 20 % peroxide (carbamide or hydrogen peroxides). In-office systems contain 15 % to 43 % peroxide. Laser treatment is also available in specialized dental clinics for teeth whitening, which is commonly referred to as power bleaching.
Dental Veneers:
A tooth discolored due to caries or severe fluorosis in the front region can cause an unpleasant smile. Without getting a full crown placed on the tooth, a veneer can cover the visible part of the tooth maintaining the natural tooth structure on all other sides. Cosmetic dentistry gives utmost importance to color matching of the natural tooth and the veneer or crown.
Braces:
Majority of the population is now aware of the correction of malpositioned teeth which is called as fixed orthodontic treatment. This is done by the dentist specialized in Orthodontics. The duration of treatment varies from patient to patient. On an average, the braces will have to be worn for one and a half to two years. There are invisible braces called as Invisalign, which will help you not have the “metal blocks on your teeth “ looks and with relatively lesser treatment time. Your dentist will give you all the options to make your treatment time more comfortable.
Gingival Depigmentation:
Pigmented gums are most commonly seen in individuals with dark skin complexion. It is also seen in smokers. The treatment of dark gums is called gingival depigmentation or gum bleaching. It is performed by a periodontist (dentist specialized in gum diseases and surgeries of the gum and supporting structures of the teeth). The most reliable treatment option is depigmentation with a laser. This treatment could be a little expensive than the previously mentioned ones, but the results are promising. Laser treatment is less painful than the conventional treatments and simple to execute.
Gingival Grafts:
Receded gums are mostly due to improper brushing techniques or sometimes other factors within the oral cavity or even poor oral hygiene. A periodontist also does the treatment for this. The procedures are relatively time-consuming as it requires grafting (harvesting tissue from other parts of the mouth and placing it over the receded areas) to be done. The outcomes of the procedures may vary from person to person and has to be discussed in detail with the dentist.
Gingivectomy:
Gummy smile can reduce your confidence while smiling. What a dentist describes as an unposed smile or a non-social smile can cause a gummy smile in some individuals. There are a variety of treatments for this from gingivectomy (removing the excess gums) to Botox (botulinum toxin for reducing the excessive upper lip movement that causes undesirable display of gums). Most of these treatments are available in all of the major cities across the country.
Smile Designing:
Smile designing artistically creates straighter, whiter, and beautiful natural looking smile. Specialized smile designing clinics are also available in metropolitan cities, which could do wonders to fully restore your dental health and appearance regardless of the original state of your existing teeth.
