Restorative dentistry procedures are more popular than ever. From teeth whitening to dental implants, few are immune to the allure of cosmetic dentistry procedures. Dentists around the world are continually flooded with requests from patients looking to improve their smiles. Here, we’ll provide an overview of the two restorative dentistry procedures dentists perform most often.
Teeth Whitening
There are plenty of at home whitening treatments like trays, strips, and gels that can be used to produce results over the course of many months. In office teeth whitening, however, can provide even better results in only hours. Treatments can performed by any dentist with the appropriate equipment, which includes a powerful ultraviolet laser lamp at between 350 and 400 NM wavelength. The treatment only 45 minutes and can make teeth up to eight shades whiter. A concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to the teeth which are then zapped with the UV lamp for three 15 minute intervals. The cost is usually around $300, but the results are immediate and long lasting.
Dental Implants
Dental implants have become incredibly popular in the last decade. While dentures used to be the only option for patients missing some or all of their teeth, this is no longer the case. Dentures are impermanent and often cause difficulty eating and speaking as they move around in the mouth. Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanent and function just like actual teeth. There are two major types of dental implants.
Dental implants are essentially tooth root implants, small titanium posts, which are placed into the bone sockets of the missing teeth. Mini implants, those less than 2 mm, can be placed, as can standard implants. After placement, patients wait the patient waits for the jawbone to heal, growing around the implanted post and anchoring it securely into the jaw, for six to 12 weeks. Once the implants have bonded to the jawbone, small connector posts called abutments are attached to the posts where they securely hold the new teeth. The dentist makes impressions of the patient’s teeth, creates a model of his or her bite, and bases the new tooth on that model. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to each abutment.
Restorative dentistry procedures have the capacity to bring beauty to any face. If you’re not in love with your smile, visit your dentist today. There’s a way to fix it.
