Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.
There are many reasons why someone may choose to pursue cosmetic dentistry, but it can be challenging to
Periodontal disease is a common dental problem affecting millions of people worldwide. If left untreated,
There's no denying the allure of a bright, white smile. It exudes confidence, enhances appearance, and ca
A full mouth reconstruction is a dental procedure that aims to restore the function, aesthetics, and heal
Many adults in the United States experience untreated cavities or tooth decay, indicating a dental health
Although a smile makeover and a full mouth restoration involve many of the same dental procedures, such as dental implants, veneers, gum bleaching, crowns and more, full mouth restorations go much further.
Furthermore, smile makeovers are typically elective because these patients only need dental procedures to improve the appearance of their smiles. In contrast, full mouth restorations are something patients need in order to improve the quality of their lives. This is because full restoration candidates may find it hard to eat certain foods because of missing teeth, painful gum disease, jaw pain, loose teeth and more. They may also have speech problems that could be corrected with a full restoration.
Smile Makeover Procedures
Depending on the condition of a patient's teeth, a smile makeover may be completed with just one type of cosmetic procedure. Even in cases where several different procedures are required, smile makeovers can be completed with just one day, or in a few visits over a period of weeks.
Common cosmetic dentistry procedures used for smile makeovers include:
One, or several, of these procedures may be used on a few teeth or on several teeth. Before getting started, your dentist will examine your teeth, mouth and gums to make sure they are healthy enough for these procedures.
Full Mouth Restoration Procedures
Full mouth restorations can include all the procedures used in typical smile makeovers, plus the following:
Full mouth restoration patients typically require a team of dental specialists working together for the best results. This team can include the following specialists: a prosthodontist, a periodontist, an orthodontist and an oral surgeon.
The prosthodontist specializes in replacing missing or damaged teeth. This dental professional will work with the patient to determine whether veneers, dental implants, dentures, caps or crowns are needed.
The periodontist will make sure the patient's gums are healthy before the cosmetic procedures are started. These specialists can also provide improve the appearance of the gums by shaping, replacing or bleaching gum tissue.
The endodontist will try to save teeth by performing root canals to remove infections in the pulp of damaged teeth. If successful, these teeth are then restored by the prosthodontist with a porcelain crown. The orthodontist will make sure existing teeth are in alignment before they are covered by veneers, crowns or caps. Oral surgeons will be needed if jaw surgery is required.
For more information about these and other dental procedures, contact a clinic like Health Centered Dentistry.
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