Commonly Performed Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

If you have considered going to a cosmetic dentist in Philadelphia, you may wonder what type of procedures are done and how it differs from orthodontics. Essentially, cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of teeth. Although orthodontia also improves appearance by bringing teeth and bite into alignment, cosmetic dentistry addresses issues such as color and shape.

Select a practice that provides cosmetic dentistry procedures that are holistic in nature to give you improved appearance via means that are as natural as possible. Tooth whitening is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures. Patients can have their teeth bleached via a carefully designed plan that involves the use of a custom mouthpiece.

When teeth are misshapen or have gaps that don't necessarily need orthodontia, patients can have veneers or bonding applied to surfaces. Veneers are thin pieces of plastic or porcelain used primarily on front teeth to eliminate rough surfaces. These are also useful for chipped, discolored or unevenly spaced teeth. Bonding is similar to veneers, but uses more tooth-colored material to resolve the imperfections. Contouring and reshaping of teeth often occurs in conjunction with bonding when patients want to make subtle changes to their smile.

The permanency of cosmetic procedures depends on how well you take care of your teeth. Remember that bleaching needs repeating every several years to keep teeth white. On the other hand, veneers and bonding can last indefinitely, but may experience chipping as they age.