Thanks to the recent advances in dental materials and techniques, your dentist can help you attain the smile you've always wanted. The contour, color and alignment of your teeth can be changed by such cosmetic techniques as bleaching, bonding, veneers and inlays.
Below, you will find brief explanations of the procedures, with before photographs on the left and after photographs on the right.
Bleaching lightens stains or discoloration. It can be performed on teeth
that have undergone root canal treatment and on living teeth, as well. The treatment can
be done in your dentist's office or at home using custom fabricated trays and bleaching
material provided by your dentist. It is very important to only use at home bleaching
products under the supervision of your dentist.
Bonding restores chipped, cracked, miscolored or misaligned teeth by
rebuilding the surface with a composite material.
Porcelain laminate veneers are custom fabricated tooth-shaped porcelain
facings, that are bonded onto your tooth, to correct or camouflage discoloration, damage
or misalignment
Inlays and onlays are tooth-colored restorations that are used on the
chewing surfaced of the back teeth. They can be placed instead of silver fillings or to
replace existing silver fillings.
Orthodontics can correct crowded misaligned teeth and other bite problems
in children and adults
The brightness of your smile may be adversely affected by certain foods and beverages that stain your teeth, such as:
| ·Tobacco Products | ·Curry |
| ·Coffee | ·Soy |
| ·Tea | ·Minerals in well water |
| ·Red Wine | ·Cola Drinks |
| ·Colored Juices | ·Chocolate |
Most stains can be removed or reduced by professional cleaning. To keep a healthy, bright smile, daily care is a must. Regular brushing, flossing and visits to your dentist will minimize your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
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Copyright © 1996 by Kurt A. Butzin, DDS, Saginaw, MI, USA
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