Cosmetic dentistry is oral health care that focuses on improving the appearance of our patients’ mouth, teeth, gums, and overall smile. Common procedures include teeth whitening, veneers, fillings, braces, and implants.
- Is teeth whitening considered cosmetic dentistry?
- What are dental veneers?
- What is dental bonding?
- Are dental crowns considered cosmetic dentistry?
- What does it cost to fix a chipped tooth?
- What are cosmetic dental braces?
- What are dental inlays and onlays?
- Are dental bridges cosmetic dentistry?
- Are dentures a cosmetic dental treatment?
Is teeth whitening considered cosmetic dentistry?
Yes. Teeth whitening is one of the easiest and most affordable ways our patients can improve their smiles. Teeth can be bleached with in-office products, whitening toothpastes, rinses, and several products available in the drugstore which cost between $5 and $40.
What are dental veneers?
Dental veneers are custom-made shells that are wafer-thin, tooth-colored porcelain or resin that cover the front surface of the teeth. After removing about a half-millimeter of enamel from the tooth surface, these thin shells are bonded to the front of the teeth, changing the tooth’s color, shape, size, or length.
Are porcelain veneers a cosmetic dental service?
Yes. Veneers are a purely cosmetic procedure. Porcelain veneers can permanently resolve many cosmetic dental issues, and is a premier cosmetic dental makeover. If patients have chipped, gapped, stained or misaligned teeth, veneers usually prove the best remedy in terms of longevity and costs. The ultra-thin porcelain can be form-fitted to each individual problem tooth. This will reshape the tooth and improve its appearance. The solution is just as strong as the patients’ natural teeth. Veneers can resist discoloration and chipping. With a minimum of two visits, patients can permanently change their smile.
What is dental bonding?
Dental bonding is a tooth-colored, putty-like resin which is a durable plastic material that is applied to the tooth and then hardened with an ultraviolet or laser light, bonding the material to the tooth. Dentists then sculpt, shape, and polish the material. Bonding can repair decayed, chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth; it is also a good cosmetic alternative to, or replacement for, amalgam or silver fillings. Bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes, and costs between $100 and $400 per tooth.
Are dental crowns considered cosmetic dentistry?
Dental crowns, also called caps, fit over and replace the entire decayed or damaged tooth above the gum line, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns keep a weak tooth from breaking or hold a cracked tooth together; they can be used cosmetically to cover misshapen or severely discolored teeth. Crowns can be made from metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin, or ceramic.
What does it cost to fix a chipped tooth?
The cost to fix a chipped tooth is between $174 and $408 depending on the complexity of the task. A chipped tooth is simply missing some enamel and Archer Dental will repair the damage with a white composite filling material. If the repair is to a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, your dentist will likely use a procedure called bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin. Bonding is a simple procedure that typically does not require numbing the tooth. To bond a tooth, the dentist first etches its surface with a liquid or gel to roughen it and make the bonding material stick to it. Next, the dentist applies an adhesive material to the tooth followed by a tooth-colored resin. After shaping the bonding material to look like a natural tooth, the dentist uses an ultraviolet light to harden the material. Patients will need to replace bonding about every five to ten years.
What are cosmetic dental braces?
Dental braces are considered cosmetic when they are more concealed or conversely deliberately accessorized. All orthodontic braces straighten crooked or misaligned teeth by applying continuous pressure over a period of time. The forces slowly move teeth in a specific direction. There are a number of different style cosmetic braces available and some use clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires so they’re less noticeable. Others adopt garish colours such as hot pink or powder blue, as the example to the left illustrates, to accessorize their dental devices. Clear aligners such as Invisalign or SureCure are very discreet and can work to correct a wide range of orthodontic issues.
What are dental inlays and onlays?
Inlays and onlays, also called indirect fillings, are made from gold, porcelain, or composite materials and fill decayed or damaged teeth. Dental fillings are molded into place during an office visit; however, inlays and onlays are created in a dental laboratory and bonded into place by your dentist. The filling is called an “inlay” when the material is bonded within the center of a tooth; it is called an “onlay” when the filling includes one or more points of the tooth or covers the biting surface. Inlays and onlays preserve as much healthy tooth as possible and are alternatives to crowns.
Is getting dental implants cosmetic dentistry?
Getting dental implants can be deemed either medically essential or cosmetic and the difference may determine payment options. Dental implants are titanium replacement tooth roots inserted into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw and providing a foundation for a replacement tooth. The question becomes significant when dealing with insurance coverage which will pay for medically essential dental implants but not cosmetic implants. The dentist or other medical professionals will determine whether the dental implant is a cosmetic appliance.
Are dental bridges cosmetic dentistry?
Dental bridges are a mainstay of cosmetic dentistry and used to fill spaces between teeth. The restorations ‘bridge’ spaces created by missing teeth right next to each other with artificial teeth called pontics. These artificial teeth create the appearance of a full set of teeth and restore the function of the patient’s lost teeth. A dental bridge is made of crowns for the teeth on either side of a gap with false teeth in between.
Are dentures a cosmetic dental treatment?
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and is both a medical device and a cosmetic dental treatment. Full dentures are used when a person is missing all their natural teeth, while partial dentures replace only a few missing teeth here or there to eliminate gaps and improve chewing.
Archer Dental has other
Cosmetic Dental Procedures available to Patients
Gum Lifts
A gum lift raises and shapes the gum line, and involves the restructuring of the tissue and/or underlying bones to create the appearance of lengthier more symmetrical teeth.
A Bright, White Smile
Everyone loves a bright white smile. Archer Dental offers a variety of services to improve our patients’ appearance. A lot of people are happy with the sparkle they receive from brushing twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpastes, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular cleanings at your dentist’s office.
Bite reclamation
For those patients that have had many years of excessive wear to their teeth, possibly due to grinding or acid reflux, Bite Reclamation might be your answer. By opening up a patient’s bite, a qualified professional can reclaim the vertical dimension of your smile.
Cosmetic Dentistry Consultants
If patients wish to go beyond the options listed on this webpage, and have perhaps already researched other procedures, Archer Dental is willing to study new treatments and advise accordingly.
Archer Dental is your cosmetic dentist clinic in Toronto
With so many options out there, make sure you talk to your dentist, ask the questions and find out ways you can make your smile just as bright and vibrant as you are. If you’re looking for a Cosmetic Dentist in Toronto, come see one of our skilled and friendly dentists at Archer Dental. We’re ready to listen and we want you to be proud of your smile.