July is Cosmetic Dentistry Month on Cosmetic Town

The mouth, including the smile and condition of the teeth, are one of the first things that someone notices when they meet another person. Many people are afraid to greet others with a big smile because they do not like the look of their teeth because they might be crooked or missing because of bad oral hygiene or trauma to the mouth. Cosmetic dentistry can fix these issues. In general, cosmetic dentistry refers to dental work that is performed to improve the appearance, and sometimes the functionality, of the teeth or gums of a patient when it comes to their shape, size, color alignment and overall appearance.

Cosmetic Town Shines the Spotlight on Cosmetic Dentistry

Patients looking to make a change in the appearance of their mouth have multiple options available to them. Cosmetic Town is shining its spotlight on cosmetic dentistry in the month of July to give patients the help they need when looking for the best cosmetic dentistry option to help them achieve the results they desire. Our July spotlight on cosmetic dentistry includes:

• Lists of the best cosmetic dentists in some of the biggest cities across the country as determined by the Cosmetic Town intelligent system. The list of cities includes:

1. Los Angeles
2. New York
3. Chicago
4. Miami
5. Houston

• In-depth articles that explain how certain cosmetic dentistry procedures work as well as the ideal patients for these treatments
• Exclusive video interviews with some of the top cosmetic dentists in the United States as they share their knowledge and insights about cosmetic dentistry
• A look at how social media is influencing cosmetic dentistry

Each week, we will share information that patients are able to use to make an informed and intelligent decision before undergoing cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic Dentistry Options for Patients

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, patients have multiple options to help them achieve the look they desire. Some of the most popular cosmetic dentistry options include:

• Dental Veneers – Dental veneers are custom created pieces of tooth-colored porcelain that cover the front area of the teeth. They are wafer-thin and are placed on the teeth after the dentist removes around a half-millimeter of enamel from the surface of the tooth. Once they are ready to be placed, they are cemented to the front of the teeth. The purpose of dental veneers is to change the shape, color, length or size of the teeth.
• Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening lightens the shade of the teeth of the teeth to provide a brighter smile with whiter teeth. Teeth whitening can be performed in the office of a doctor using teeth bleaching products or in the home of a patient using teeth whitening products such as gels and molds made for take home use from a dentist. In addition,  teeth whitening products are available for purchase, over the counter, at retail stores and these products include whitening toothpaste, whitening strips and rinses that lighten the teeth,
• Dental Crown – A dental crown fits over a damaged tooth, above the gum line, in order to replace the damaged tooth along with covering the look of a tooth that is discolored or misshaped. A dental crown can be made of multiple materials including resin, metal and ceramic. They also restore the strength, look and shape of the damaged tooth. In addition, a dental crown can prevent a weak tooth from breaking as well as keep a cracked tooth together.
• Dental Bonding – The dental bonding process involves a putty-like resin being applied to a damaged tooth. The resin is then bonded to the tooth using a laser light or ultraviolet light. Once the resin is bonded to the tooth, the dentist will trim and shape it to match the look of the teeth around it. Dental bonding is performed to repair teeth that are cracked, chipped or misshaped.
• Dental Implants – A dental implant is a titanium replacement placed in the area of the mouth where a tooth is missing, The dental implant is placed in the bone socket of the missing tooth and, as the jawbone heals, it grows around the dental implant so it is anchored in the jaw to provide a foundation for a cosmetic dentistry tooth that will replace the missing tooth.
• Inlays and Onlays – Inlays and onlays, AKA indirect fillings, are created from composite materials to treat damaged teeth. These dental fillings are molded into place while a patient is visiting the office of a dentist. The molds are then shipped to a dental lab to be manufactured. Once they are returned to the office of the dentist, they are bonded into place by the dentist. An inlay is when the material is bonded in the center of the tooth while an onlay is when the filling covers the biting surface or another part of the tooth.

Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation for Patients

Before a patient decides to have any type of cosmetic dentistry treatment, it is important to have a consultation appointment with a board-certified cosmetic dentist. The cosmetic dentist will examine the current condition of the teeth in order to determine the best cosmetic dentistry option to achieve the desired results. Once the cosmetic dentistry procedure is performed, patients will be able to enjoy long-lasting results that are also natural in appearance.

MA