Esthetic Dentistry - What it is, Types, and What to Expect

Are you wanting to improve the look and functionality of your smile? Having a smile you can show off to the world can improve your self-image and allow you to show how you truly feel to others. Damage, decay, discoloration, and misalignment are common issues that many may face with their teeth, keeping people from showing their smiles. But, with esthetic dentistry services, you can get the smile you’ve always wanted – flawless, white, and fully-functional. But, what is esthetic dentistry, what are the types to consider, and what should patients expect with these types of cosmetic dental services?

What is Esthetic Dentistry?

Esthetic dentistry is any cosmetic dental service that works to enhance appearance. These services are aimed to fix dental issues that affect the appearance of a smile including chipped teeth, yellowing of the teeth, gapping or misalignment of the teeth, missing teeth, and more. Each person may have different concerns with the appearance of their smiles and a cosmetic dentist will work with a patient’s expectations to find the best esthetic dental service that works for them.

Some of the various esthetic dental services include:

Professional Teeth Whitening

DIY teeth whitening may not provide individuals who want a brighter smile with the long-lasting results they want. Furthermore, at-home teeth whitening methods can actually promote further damage to tooth enamel (for example abrasives like charcoal pastes)- leading to dental issues that will need addressing in the future. However, professional teeth whitening services provided by aesthetic dentists allow patients to experience a safe and effective way to whiten their smiles. Choosing to get your teeth whitened at the dentist can allow you to able to showcase your smile more often – improving your overall self-image and confidence.

Dental Veneers

Veneers are a great way to improve the look of your teeth which are natural-looking and fully functional. They can help to address cosmetic issues that patients may have with their smile including:

  • broken teeth
  • discolored teeth
  • misaligned teeth
  • gapping of the teeth
  • worn teeth
  • and more

As veneers are typically constructed of porcelain material, they are a long-lasting solution to cosmetic dental issues and can promote benefits including:

  • stain resistance
  • whitening of your smile
  • natural-looking
  • easy and fast transition to a better-looking smile

What to Expect from Dental Veneers?

People who are considering dental veneers as an esthetic dentistry service can benefit from understanding what to expect from the treatment process. Some of the things you can expect from the dental veneer process include:

A Treatment Plan: Your esthetic dentist will work with you to customize a treatment plan catering to what it is you hope to correct. This could be as simple as a single veneer to a full arch of 8-12 veneers depending on what must be corrected. Often times the decision is yours on how many teeth will be needed to correct your concerns.

Preparing for Veneers: Before veneers can be bonded to teeth, the natural teeth must sometimes be reshaped and adjusted beforehand. This involves reshaping any areas where the teeth stick out excessively in order to make room for a minimum thickness of porcelain. If reshaping is not performed, the porcelain veneers may look bulky or unnatural. Once the perfectly measured shape and appearance of the remaining tooth are achieved, impressions and photos will be sent to the lab and you will receive your new temporary smile while the lab fabricates your veneers.

Bonding of Veneers: This is the application of the veneers to the natural teeth using bonding cement. This allows veneers to be applied long-term and remain completely functional after the application.

INVISALIGN – Correcting Misaligned Teeth

Another popular esthetic dental service that many people utilize to realign their teeth is Invisalign. This is the use of clear dental aligners in order to move the teeth into position. Benefits of using Invisalign as a method of aligning the teeth include:

  • clear aligners are less noticeable
  • can take less time to align teeth than other methods
  • can be less costly than other methods of alignment
  • are removable – meaning you can eat whatever you want
  • they are more comfortable than other methods of achieving tooth movement

What to Expect With Invisalign Clear Aligners

It can be helpful to understand what goes into getting Invisalign for a straighter smile. This way, you can understand the commitment, what to expect with results, and what goes into the process. Some things to know about the Invisalign process include:

Assessment: Meeting with your dentist to determine a treatment plan can help you understand if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. And, help you understand more about the process and what to expect. During this initial free orthodontic consult, we can assess how long the treatment is expected to take as well as the total costs as well as what is included in that treatment. (Most Invisalign cases include retainers, whitening, and any needed adjustments through treatment.)

Creation of Aligners: Your dentist will take a 3D iTero scan of your teeth and send these to the lab to digitally design your case and create your aligners.

Delivering your Aligners: After receiving your aligners, they will be delivered to you at the office. This process often includes adding attachments and any necessary reshaping or adjustments that your specific case might require. You will watch a quick video and the assistant and/or doctor will go over wearing your aligners and answer any specific questions you may have.

Refining Alignment: You may need additional aligners after your smile starts to straighten during the process. This involves having your dentist remeasure your teeth and have new aligners created.

Learn More About Esthetic Dentistry Services

Are you ready to take control of the appearance of your teeth and make adjustments so that you’re more confident in your smile? Esthetic dentistry services available from Riverbend Family Dentistry can help you get the smile you’ve always wanted. Learn more about our cosmetic dentistry services on our website and contact us today to make your initial consultation.