Modern dentistry can seemingly work miracles. Not too many years ago, people expected to gradually lose all their teeth, and those with stained or misshapen smiles often simply lived with them. Today, however, painless and affordable solutions to most routine work are widely available. Cosmetic dentists Scottsdale routinely whiten, straighten, reshape or cover up the imperfections that can ruin your smile.

The most common aesthetic procedure is whitening. The majority of adults have experienced some tooth staining caused by tea, coffee, and especially tobacco. There are many brands of whitening bleach available over the counter today, but consistently good results come from the personal attention of a dentist. He or she begins by taking a full tooth impression, and a laboratory creates both lower and upper tooth trays.

Whitening gel is then applied to the forms and worn for several hours. The process begins in the office, but is usually completed in the comfort of a patient’s home. The bleaching agents in the solution work with the enamel, lightening it to the desired shade. Many times, the result is a spectacularly improved smile, without the previous discolorations. If the teeth are too stained to bleach, however, many patients opt for veneers.

Tooth veneers are thin layers made of porcelain or plastic composites, and covers the entire surface of a tooth. Not only are they used to cover staining, but in some cases are used to improve the looks of slightly crooked front teeth, and sometimes to hide broken or chipped surfaces. Veneers are durable, often lasting for a decade or more, and can be replaced if necessary.

Dental bonding is a process similar to veneers in some ways. It works well to fill in large gaps between teeth, or to rebuild cracked or broken-off portions of healthy teeth. The dentist pre-treats the affected area, and then methodically rebuilds it with a composite-based resin, often drying and hardening the work with a laser tool. The final product is often indistinguishable from the other teeth.

Bridges and crowns are part of normal dental work, but can become cosmetic in nature when they affect the front teeth. A new crown can not only strengthen an existing tooth, but also is carefully color coordinated to appear almost absolutely normal. For those with missing front teeth, modern bridgework is also designed to be nearly undetectable, and can make full dentures unnecessary.

Cosmetic dentists Scottsdale also work with long-term treatments where braces are involved, or where gum disease may have taken a toll. Today, there are braces today which are nearly invisible, making them much easier to live with during the straightening process. With the wide variety of treatments now available, making teeth attractive as well as functional is important, both for oral health and personal well-being.

cosmetic dentists Scottsdale