A smile can be the most attractive part of the face. Thanks to advances in dentistry, patients no longer have to put up with imperfections such as rotated, chipped, discoloured or misshapen teeth. There are solutions that help you smile with confidence.
Sometimes even small corrections to a smile can make a big difference to how you and the people around you see it. Let us look at some of the possible procedures for a cosmetic change to your smile.
Whitening.
Teeth whitening is a professional dental procedure that can be done in the dental clinic or at home, following your dentist's instructions. In-clinic whitening involves several successive applications of a whitening agent, activated with a special lamp. The concentration of the active ingredient in the gel is much higher than in products intended for home whitening. This often causes short-lived, sharp tooth sensitivity during the procedure. The colour takes 2 to 4 weeks to stabilise, after which the change can be measured most accurately with a shade guide.
Home whitening starts with a visit to the clinic to record your starting shade, take impressions of your teeth and make custom-made trays. Some whitening systems do not need trays. Your dentist gives you instructions on how to use the whitening gel, how often to apply it and how long to leave it on. With this method, reaching the result you want takes longer – from 1 to 4 weeks. The advantages are greater control over the colour and a lower concentration of the active ingredient in the product.
Direct composite restorations (veneers)
The wide range of composites (light-cured composites) on the market makes it possible to recreate the colour, shape, translucency and lustre of natural teeth perfectly. Direct composite restorations can correct chipped tooth surfaces and small rotations, change the colour of teeth that are not suitable for whitening, and hide stains, cracks and defects on the tooth surface. The shape of the teeth can be changed completely, and teeth that have been shortened by wear can be lengthened. The composite material is bonded directly to the tooth surface, or after minimal preparation – smoothing and removing a little enamel. The bond between the material and the tooth surface is strong enough, and the aesthetic result is excellent. After a certain time, depending on your eating and other habits, the composite changes colour slightly, which can easily be corrected with extra polishing at the dental clinic.
Indirect restorations
This method can be used in the same cases as direct restorations. The veneers can be made of composite or ceramic. The composite is shaped in the dental laboratory from an impression of the teeth taken beforehand. The laboratory stage makes the procedure more expensive. The advantages are less time in the dental chair and greater precision, which is achieved in the laboratory. A laboratory-made composite restoration is not possible or necessary in every case. Your dentist will make this assessment.
Ceramic veneers give the best possible aesthetic result. The ceramic is made in the dental laboratory and then glazed to make the surface as smooth as possible. Unlike composite, it does not discolour. It is very hard, which makes it brittle – it can chip, most often near the gum line. In that case a new veneer is made. This is a disadvantage of ceramic compared with composite, which can be repaired directly in the mouth.
Selective (targeted) reshaping
The teeth are reshaped in specific areas to slightly correct their shape or size. Only enamel is removed, so it does not cause tooth sensitivity.
Orthodontic treatment
In adults, orthodontic treatment is most often carried out with braces. Braces correct rotated or misplaced teeth, as well as problems with the dental arch or the bite. Braces can be metal, composite, ceramic or sapphire. Apart from metal braces, they are all tooth-coloured. They are bonded to the front or back surface of the teeth (depending on the treatment system chosen) and are removed by your orthodontist at the end of treatment. Treatment takes at least a year. To keep the result, additional appliances or other ways of holding the teeth in their new position are used after the braces are removed. These appliances are not worn permanently, but for some time after treatment, as your orthodontist advises.
When teeth are in the wrong position, they wear down incorrectly and unevenly. After the teeth have been aligned with braces, the biting edges of the front teeth often need to be corrected for the best aesthetic result. This can be done with direct or indirect methods.
This article is for information only and does not replace an examination by a dentist.
