Students in dental hygienist school and those taking dental assistant training, are preparing for careers which will help improve the oral health of patients by preventing setbacks like gum disease and cavities. There is, however, another form of tooth and mouth care that dental assistants may find career options in: cosmetic dentistry.
With this type of dental work, the focus is shifted from tooth health and functionality to appearance. While cosmetic dentistry isna��t an official branch of dentistry, it is widely offered, predominantly to more affluent customers and famously to many celebrities.
There are several different types of cosmetic dentistry treatments. Here are the top four:
Tooth Whitening
Probably the most common cosmetic dental procedure is teeth whitening or bleaching. This treatment involves coating the teeth with chemicals to cover up any unsightly stains. The procedure generally takes a couple of hours in a dental office, but dental professionals can also give patients a whitening kit to use at home, which may be more convenient, but generally takes several more weeks to get the same effect.
One potential drawback to this procedure is that it is not necessarily permanent. Patients also need to stop the bad habits that made their teeth darker in the first place such as smoking, coffee and improper brushing techniques. If they dona��t, their artificial pearly whites will lose their shine until the procedure is done again.
Veneers
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry procedures celebrities like, veneers would take the Oscar. Stars like George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte and Miley Cyrus all have them, but what exactly are they?
Veneers are generally porcelain (though sometimes plastic) shells specifically designed to cover the front of a particular patienta��s teeth, altering their colour and shape. This is a two-step process. First, there is an impression done of the patienta��s teeth. With porcelain veneers, the impression is then sent to a laboratory where the veneer is manufactured and shipped back to the dental office. The patient will need to make two visits for the process to be complete.
Once the veneer is ready, the dentist buffs the teeth and cements them in place. The dentist uses a laser to harden the cement and completely secure the veneer.
When braces and tooth whitening isna��t enough, veneers are an ideal solution for chipped, misshapen, crooked and permanently stained teeth.
Contouring and Reshaping
Tooth contouring or reshaping involves altering the length, shape or position of a patienta��s teeth. Patients with overall healthy teeth can use this procedure to slightly alter the appearance of their mouth. It is also an effective way to fix crooked, chipped or irregularly shaped teeth.
Bonding
Bonding is a tooth-coloured putty-like material which can be used to fill small cavities and repair chipped teeth. In cosmetic dentistry, bonding is commonly used to alter the colour and shape of teeth. While bonding can last for several years, it is known to chip, meaning that a patient may have to return to the dentist on a regular basis to getting their bonding re-applied.
Are you interested in pursuing a career path in cosmetic dentistry?A�
