Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the look of your teeth.
It includes straightening, whitening and re-shaping the teeth.
It considers your teeth as part of your overall cosmetic appearance.

Here is a brief description of some of the techniques:

Dentistry and Cosmetics

Healthy teeth and gums - are the first priority. You should solve any basic dental problems before proceeding with cosmetic dental work.

Treatment plan - should be provided in written form by your dentist. To give you a clear understanding of the cost and time for the work.

An investment - as the costs of cosmetic dentistry can be considerable and are rarely covered by insurance. You may want to spread your work over time or do it in stages. You should protect your investment with proper dental care afterwards.

Personal and individual - treatment plan should be based on your appearance and desires. As all of our smiles are different. Open discussion with your dentist is essential in order to achieve your goals.

Techniques for a Beautiful Smile:

Tooth whitening - brightens teeth by removing stain and discoloration. Done fastest using the in-office system or slower with the at-home system. Whitening toothpaste can help to maintain brightness. Your dentist or hygienist will help you pick the best color (teeth should not be overwhite).

Incisal sculpting - to polish and reshape rough or sharp edges of worn teeth. Its like polishing your fingernails.

Resin composite - bonded to the front of the teeth, to change the shapes of twisted and chipped teeth. See examples here.

Veneers - can rectify chipped damaged or discolored teeth.They are thin porcelain sheets, custom made at the lab and cemented to the front of your teeth.

Crowns - cover the tooth and may be done to restore teeth and also for cosmetic purposes. They may be made of various materials, including metal, gold, metal/ceramic and full ceramic. For cosmetic purposes the best crowns are full ceramic and have colour and translucency like natural teeth.

White fillings - look more natural than grey amalgam fillings. They are always advisable for fillings located toward the front of the mouth or on teeth that are particularly visible.

Orthodontics (braces) - to align crooked, crowded or misplaced teeth. The braces put gentle pressure on specific teeth to move them into the right place. The braces come in metal or the less visible white ceramic. Tooth decay or gum disease may have to be treated before the braces can be installed. The treatment may take between 6 months and 2 years. The braces need to be adjusted by the orthodontist every 4-8 weeks.

Cover receding gums - can result in black triangles of space show up between the teeth or the darker top part of teeth being visible. This can be filled in with white resin fillings, covered with porcelain veneers, or the gum line lowered by a surgical gum grafts.