Under cosmetic dentistry other associated procedures are:
- Veneers
- Crowns
- Implants
- Whitening
Veneers:Dental Veneers, also referred to as Porcelain Veneers or Dental Porcelain Laminates, are thin, custom made shells of tooth colored materials. Veneers are designed to cover the front surface of teeth to change or improve their appearance. Veneers are used to fix a number of dental issues, including discoloration, worn down teeth, chipped or broken teeth, misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth, and teeth with gaps between them.
Crowns: Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas.
Implants: Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed permanent teeth, or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
Whitening: Over time, teeth can become stained or discolored, especially after smoking, taking certain medications, or consuming foods and beverages such as coffee and tea. Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. Tooth whitening involves the use of peroxide-based materials to whiten teeth.