Month: October 2021

In simple terms, we can define dental aesthetics as a procedure to enhance the overall appearance of the teeth. The primary purpose of dental aesthetics is to keep the teeth aligned, improve their structure, and beautify their color and shape so that you can smile confidently. Dental aesthetics is both a preventive and a restorative measure as it can be utilized to correct missing teeth and other similar problems. But, it is noteworthy to highlight that aesthetic dentistry is not the same as cosmetic dentistry. 

The former is any method used for enhancing your smile through treatments that would be necessary. On the contrary, the latter entails correcting the existing or old dental works such as veneers, crowns, bridges, and so forth, which may not be particularly pleasant to the eyes. Now that we have discussed the basics of dental aesthetics let us observe the various procedures for dental aesthetics.

Dental Aesthetics Procedures

Dental aesthetics include a throng of procedures, and the most common ones are:

• Whitening: It is a widely used dental aesthetic procedure. The method entails bleaching your teeth for removing external teeth stains. Some teeth yellowing is a consequence of internal problems such as a dying tooth or enamel erosion, and aesthetic dentistry corrects such anomalies. Laser teeth whitening is a modern dental whitening procedure in which gums are covered with rubber, and hydrogen peroxide bleach is applied to the teeth. Thereafter, a flash of the argon laser is projected onto the teeth to hasten the whitening process. Laser teeth whitening is six times more effective than conventional teeth whitening.

• Reshaping: It is related to the reshaping of a misaligned tooth that requires the removal of some part of the enamel. Reshaping can be used to correct chips and cracks on the teeth. It can also tweak the position, shape, or length of the teeth. Another crucial usage of teeth is the correction of an overbite or underbite.

• Gum Lifts: It is an aesthetic dental procedure that entails raising and then sculpting the gum line so that your smile does not look either too gummy or toothy. The process reshapes the gingival tissue and the underlying bones to fashion a more symmetrical and seamless smile. 

• Teeth Straightening: It is a standard dental aesthetic procedure in which teeth are gradually straightened with retainers or braces. Straightening helps in fixing overlapping, crowded, or widely-spaced teeth. Nowadays, Invisalign is also preferred by many people as they are invisible to the naked eye.  

• Bonding: It is an aesthetic dental procedure that is usually performed after other dental treatments. The composite resin bonding process is when enamel-like dental composite materials are applied to the teeth’ surface and then sculpted into shape, hardened, and polished. 

Therefore, we can assert that dental aesthetics is necessary to make people more confident and infuse self-esteem. It has made the lives of many people easier by enabling them to smile broader and brighter. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

Similar to teeth, the gum lines of human beings are diverse and variegated. Some gum lines are high, some are low, and some may even be uneven. The cosmetic dental procedure of reshaping the gum line is known as gum contouring or crown lengthening. The method entails removing any excess gum tissue that may be covering a tooth or teeth. On the contrary, in cases of gum recession, the gum tissue is restored. The procedure of crown lengthening or gingival sculpting is performed by a dental expert who reshapes and re-sculptures the gum line. It is noteworthy to highlight that many a time, gum contouring is an elective and a cosmetic procedure, but there may be situations wherein it becomes an absolute necessity. Now that we have talked about the fundamentals of gum contouring let us dive further into the medical contextualization of the procedure.  

When Does Gum Contouring Become Necessary?
As mentioned earlier, gum contouring or gingival sculpting is mainly motivated by cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. But, there may be times when it becomes mandatory and vital for the overall oral health of a person. In cases of periodontal diseases like periodontitis, gum contouring may emerge as a viable treatment. But, the first option that dental experts take to is non-invasive or non-surgical techniques such as medications, dental cleanings, and likewise. The various steps included in gum contouring are:

• Numbing of the gum area by using local anesthesia
• An expert removes the excess gum tissue by using a soft tissue laser or a scalpel. The reasoning is to re-sculpt or re-fashion the gum line so that more of the tooth is exposed.
• In cases of gum recession, the dental expert adds more gum tissue in the target area by extracting tissue from other parts of the mouth. A surgical procedure secures the tissues.
• Gum contouring or crown lengthening usually takes 1 to 2 hours to complete.

Let us move forward toward the post-surgical care associated with gum contouring.

Aftermath of Gum Contouring
Although gum contouring is a minimally invasive dental procedure, the healing time may extend from days to even weeks. Therefore, you might have to limit or restrict some of your daily activities depending on how you feel. You should consume soft and tender foods for at least 2 to 3 days after the procedure. Food items like soup, protein shakes, juices, etc., should be your go-to. Similarly, you should keep monitoring your gums and rush to the doctor if there is even a minuscule sign of infection. At times, your dentist may suggest antibiotic mouth rinses or mouthwashes for alleviating the risks of disease. Make sure that you rigorously follow the instructions given by your dentist. The common signs of infection after gum contouring include intense pain, swelling, and discharge from the gums.

We can safely say that gum contouring or gingival sculpting is usually a cosmetic dental procedure that may become a necessity in cases of periodontal conditions. 

Schedule your appointment with Cypress dentist today and get the treatment on time!

We all desire to possess teeth that are white and sparkling. For the same, we are also willing to go through any extent to keep them in an immaculate condition. Research reveals that Americans spend nearly USD 11 million per year on teeth whitening. So, the whopping figures are lucid evidence of the generic population’s whiter and brighter teeth. But, it is a challenging feat to keep teeth white. The process can be expensive and laborious. In case you are looking for tips to help you whiten your teeth, you are at the right place. We have curated a list that will offer some insights into keeping teeth healthy, solid, and white.

Top 3 tips to keep teeth white

There may be several reasons for the yellowing of teeth. Consumption of specific types of food can stain the enamel, and the consequent plaque accumulation can result in the teeth looking dull and tinted. Moreover, aging also plays a crucial role because our teeth naturally lose their brightness with time. It is also essential to highlight that teeth may appear yellow because of enamel erosion and the dentin getting revealed. As the dentin underneath our enamel has a natural yellow color, the teeth get a yellow appearance. Now, moving ahead, let us examine the top three tips that can help to keep our pearly whites glistening.

1. At home teeth whitening kits: Instead of opting for a professional teeth whitening procedure that can burn a hole in your pocket, you can opt for an at-home teeth whitening kit. These kits have concentrations of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide – types of bleaches that can assist in the removal of wretched extrinsic teeth stains. You can use a peroxide-based gel on your teeth’ surface or go for a tray system wherein the gel molds to your teeth.
2. Brush with baking soda: For those who are unaware, baking soda is a multi-faceted ingredient that has benefits for teeth whitening, as well. The mildly abrasive properties of baking soda can help in the removal of external teeth stains. Furthermore, as baking soda is an alkaline, it prevents the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth. It is noteworthy that using baking soda to brush your teeth will not show you overnight results. But, with some weeks of usage, you will start seeing the difference.
3. Discarding specific food items: It is common knowledge that tea, coffee, red wine, soda, and dark berries are the antithesis of teeth whitening. But, you don’t have to avoid them altogether. All you need to do is limit their intake and avoid contact with teeth. To drink beverages like soda, you can opt for a straw so that there is no direct interaction of the drink with your teeth. Also, you should brush your teeth after 30 minutes of consuming such staining food items. You should also limit your sugar intake to prevent the build-up of bacteria. 

Therefore, we can safely assert that keeping our teeth white and sparkly is not very difficult. A little effort goes a long way. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!