Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist Info

While regular dental checkups, exams and cleanings are critical to keeping your teeth, gums and mouth healthy, many people visit the dentist to improve their overall appearance. Los Angeles Cosmetic dentistry is a rapidly growing area of dentistry, and involves more than simple teeth whitening. Crooked or missing teeth, discolored gums, and chips and cracks in the teeth can be treated and repaired by expert Los Angeles cosmetic dentists who have been trained in advanced dental technology and dental aesthetics.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures:
There is a wide range of cosmetic dentistry procedures that treat a variety of dental problems. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth and gums, chances are likely that a cosmetic dentist can help you improve your smile. Several types of common cosmetic dentistry procedures include:

Whitening/bleaching: Reverses the stains and discoloration caused by food, tobacco and age.

Crowns: Natural-looking synthetic caps placed on top of a tooth or dental implant and designed to match the look, feel and function of real teeth.

Gum grafts: Corrects gum recession and covers exposed roots by implanting small pieces of tissues taken from other areas of the mouth.

Los Angeles Dental implants: Synthetic structures used to replace the root of the tooth in cases of missing teeth.
Veneers: Thin laminates that cover stains, correct discolored or chipped teeth, and close gaps between teeth.

Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry:
Misshapen, chipped or missing teeth can not only affect your appearance, but also impacts the normal, everyday functions of your mouth, teeth and jaw. The ability to move your mouth and chew properly is important to overall health, and so cosmetic dentistry is crucial to eating the right foods and keeping your body and mouth healthy.

People that choose cosmetic dentistry for aesthetic reasons are also boosting their self esteem. A smile can say a lot about a person, which is why many people want to repair damaged smiles to show who they truly are. An improved smile can give people the confidence they need to find a job, improve their love life, or just lead a happier life in general.

Los Angeles Dentist

How Can My Dentist in Los Angeles Improve My Smile?

 

From subtle changes to major repairs, your dentist can perform a variety of procedures to improve your smile. There are many techniques and options to treat teeth that are discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing. Your dentist can reshape your teeth, close spaces, restore worn or short teeth or alter the length of your teeth. Common procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers and reshaping and contouring.

 

These improvements are not always just cosmetic. Many of these treatments can improve oral problems, such as your bite. A cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles should give you a free consultation to review the best treatments and therepy.

 

Bonding

 

Bonding is tooth-colored material used to fill in gaps or change the color of teeth. Requiring a single office visit, bonding lasts several years. Bonding is more susceptible to staining or chipping than other forms of restoration. When teeth are chipped or slightly decayed, bonded composite resins may be the material of choice. Bonding also is used as a tooth-colored filling for small cavities. Additionally, it can be used to close spaces between teeth or cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color and shape.

 

Crowns

 

Crowns, also known as caps, cover a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and appearance. Due to their cost, they are used in cases where other procedures will not be effective. Crowns have the longest life expectancy of all cosmetic restorations, but are the most time-consuming.

 

Los Angeles Veneers

 

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the color or shape of your teeth. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers are used to treat some of the same problems as bonding.

 

This treatment is an alternative to crowns, which are more expensive. The procedure requires your Los Angeles dentist to take an impression of your tooth. Before the custom-made veneer is cemented directly onto the tooth, your dentist will lightly buff the tooth to compensate for the added thickness of the veneer. Once the cement is between the veneer and your tooth, a light beam is used to harden it. Porcelain veneers require more than one visit because they are fabricated in a laboratory. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding.

 

 

Which procedure is right for me?

Your Los Angeles dentist can answer any questions you may have about techniques used to improve your smile. The condition of your teeth and desired result you want often dictates the best procedure. If you are considering a treatment, there are a few questions you can ask your dentist before deciding if a particular procedure is right for you.

 

• What will the changes look like?
• What should I expect through the course of treatment?
• What type of maintenance will be required?

Dental Implants Los Angeles

Is there another way I can have a tooth replaced other than a bridge?

Yes. Dental implants can provide artificial teeth that look natural and feel secure. Dental implants can also be used to attach full or partial dentures. Implants, however, are not an option for everyone. Because implants require surgery, patients must be in good health, have healthy gums, have adequate bone to support the implant and be committed to meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits. If you are considering implants, a thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine if you would be a good candidate.

What is involved in placing dental implants?

First, surgery is performed to place the anchor. Surgery can take up to several hours, and up to six months may be required for the bone to grow around the anchor and firmly hold it in place. Some implants require a second surgery in which a post is attached to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. With other implants, the anchor and post are already attached and are placed at the same time.

After the gums have had several weeks to heal, the next step is begun. The artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor. Because several fittings may be required, this step can take one to two months to complete.

Implant surgery can be done either in a dental implant office or in a hospital, depending upon a number of factors. A local or general anesthetic may be used. Usually pain medications and, when necessary, antibiotics are prescribed. Your dentist will give you instructions on diet and oral hygiene.