A cosmetic dentist is a dental practitioner practicing the art of cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry aims at improving the appearance of your teeth and subsequently, your smile. While most of the treatments that come under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry are elective, some also come under emergency dentistry as well as restorative.
A cosmetic dentist works with teeth that are chipped, broken, stained, discolored, misaligned, misshapen, or have gaps between them. One of the main aims of cosmetic dentistry is a “smile makeover”, i.e. improving your smile via a series of treatments.
What Kind Of Treatments Does A Cosmetic Dentist Provide?
At Norwood Dental, the cosmetic dentistry team provides the following treatments –
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is not only the most basic, but also the most commonly requested procedure by patients. The process involves drenching the natural teeth with a concentrated bleaching agent, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. After curing the agent with a UV light and washing it off, it reveals brighter, whiter teeth.
The whitening procedure done in an office setting by a cosmetic dentist guarantees desirable whitening results along with effective stain removal. They are also much safer than store-bought options for teeth whitening (toothpaste, dental floss, oral strips, oral rinses, etc.)
Aside from performing the treatment in a dental chair, your dentist can also give you custom-made take-home kits so you can bleach your teeth in the comfort of your home.
Composite Fillings
If your teeth are experiencing decay, your dentist might recommend getting a filling. If the extent of decay has gone beyond the scope of saving, an extraction will be recommended. But in cases of fillings, the decayed part of the tooth is removed and the tooth is cleaned out. Composite is a tooth-colored, putty-like resin. It is applied to the tooth and cured using UV or laser light.
Once it sets, the dentist trims, shapes, and polishes it. The fact that composite is tooth-colored makes it a better alternative to amalgam or silver fillings.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns, also known as caps, are prostheses that fit over a decayed and damaged tooth above the gum line. They cover the entire tooth and restore its size, shape, strength, and appearance. Additionally, they also prevent a weak tooth from breaking, hold a chipped tooth together, and can be used cosmetically to cover severely discolored or misshapen teeth.
Crowns are made up of the following materials – metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin, or ceramic. The type of crown recommended depends on the tooth that requires the crown and the dentist’s discretion. Norwood Dental also offers same-day dental crowns. Get in touch with our dental office to know more!
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a tooth replacement option. They are made up of dental crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap left behind a missing tooth. The procedure for fitting a bridge involves cutting down healthy teeth, which is why it is slowly becoming obsolete.
Depending on the situation and condition of your teeth, your cosmetic dentist will recommend one of the following – a cantilever dental bridge, a Maryland dental bridge, or a traditional dental bridge.
Dentures
Although dentures come under prosthetic dentistry, the treatment is also provided by a cosmetic dentist. Dentures are prosthetic apparatus for replacing missing teeth. These are mostly used in patients who experience extensive tooth loss and are essentially edentulous (toothless).
Missing teeth tend to put pressure on the remaining teeth, causing further tooth loss. In patients with several missing teeth but who also have an affinity to lose more soon, the cosmetic dentist might recommend extracting the remaining teeth and fitting them with a full denture.
Two types are dentures are available – full and partial. Patients who have more than half of their teeth missing are candidates for a full denture. On the other hand, dentists advice partial dentures or dental implants for patients with less than half of their teeth missing.
Dental Implants
Dentists consider dental implants as the “gold standard” of tooth replacement. The process of fitting an implant involves drilling some space in the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth to insert a titanium post.
This top off with an abutment that bears the tooth replacement – a dental crown, a bridge, or a denture.
While the entire procedure for a dental implant can be immensely tedious and exhaustive, the pros of an implant outweigh the effort. Dental implants have a 98% success rate and with proper maintenance and care, can last a lifetime.
Dental implants completely negate the need for cutting down a healthy tooth (as in the case of bridges). They are not a fantastic restorative option but also a conservative one. The structure of an implant mimics your natural tooth, making them not only stable but also structurally and functionally fantastic.
Does Norwood Dental Offer Dental Emergency Services?
A dental emergency is when you’re in a situation where you cannot wait to make a regular appointment with your dentist. Some of the situations that warrant an emergency dentist are –
- Sharp, uncontrollable, and intense pain
- Severe, abnormal, and uncontrollable bleeding
- Swelling can be a sign of oral infection and can worsen very quickly
- Loose teeth
- Avulsed tooth (tooth that has come out from the socket)
Certain cases might seem like an emergency but are non-urgent. Please remember that most dental emergencies can be taken care of and triaged with a visit to an establishment practicing emergency dentistry (like Norwood Dental). Listed below are the non-urgent cases of a dental emergency –
- Broken or chipped tooth (without pain)
- Lost filling or crown
- Mild toothache that isn’t unbearable
- Bleeding when you floss
If you think you have a dental emergency, schedule a visit with your cosmetic dentist at Norwood Dental. Give us a call at (952) 467-3518 to book an appointment right away. Norwood Dental offers same-day emergency dental appointments to ensure proper care of your dental tissues as soon as possible.