Dentistry has come a long way from the days of signs with outsized teeth and tongs to pull them out when they have gone rotten. People frequent their dentists today not so much for the elimination of pain and bad oral hygiene, but also to preserve one’s self-image. A healthy set of teeth displayed in a smile is and always has been a social plus for anyone, and advances in cosmetic dentistry found in London and elsewhere have made this goal possible for all.
There are now several methods in use to ensure that perfect smile. These range from makeover involving whitening of teeth to computer-aided technology to help restore teeth to a pristine state. Whitening is perhaps the most common and the one method that can be done at home, either through gels or strips that can be obtained over the counter. If that does not work, dentists can improve unsightly or damaged teeth with the use of veneers, an artificial piece that fits over the affected tooth. For some, veneers are a quick fix to a problem that whitening would take time to repair.
One of the more recent developments in cosmetic dentistry is Waterlase, which harnesses laser technology to dental treatments. It performs the same function as the drill, only using heat in tooth and gum treatments. Dentists are favoring Waterlase because the heat can eliminate infection as well as heal incisions quickly, thus preventing blood loss during the procedure. Throughout its use, the patient’s mouth is protected by a spray of water.
Gum contouring also makes use of a laser, although a scalpel is still used as the dentist cuts away excess or soft gum tissue that affects the appearance of your teeth. Too much gum tissue makes the teeth look smaller in addition to causing other appearance issues. Like Waterlase, some dentists prefer a laser over a scalpel because it is painless, kills infection and stems blood loss.
Ceramic reconstruction, also known as CEREC, is a new approach to creating veneers or crowns from ceramic thanks to digital x-rays and three-dimensional imaging that create a replica of the patient’s teeth. Viewing this re-creation on a computer screen allows the dentist a greater degree of accuracy in designing veneers for patients. While this technology currently is not in use by most practitioners, its use is expected to become widespread in the next few decades, making the process of dental reconstruction easier and more pleasing to the patient. Another plus, experts say, is that the process can limit visits to the dentist’s office to as single appointment if necessary.
These and other methods help supplant such traditional means of improving the look of your teeth and smile. A patient in need of reconstructive surgery for their teeth has a variety of options to choose as dentistry continues to meet the demands of an image-conscious society.
