Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance and aesthetics of your smile. Common cosmetic dental procedures include teeth whitening, dental bonding and veneers.
Cosmetic dentistry might be an option if you have:
Over time, dark-colored foods and drinks (like coffee, tea and berries) can stain your teeth. Professional teeth whitening can dramatically and safely lighten the shade of your teeth and brighten your smile. Many dentists offer both in-office and at-home teeth whitening. In-office whitening takes about one hour to complete. At-home whitening usually takes a couple of weeks.
Dental bonding involves the application of tooth-colored composite resin. Your dentist uses this material to cover up and conceal cracks, craze lines (hairline cracks), discoloration and other cosmetic imperfections. Dental bonding can change the shape of a tooth to make it longer, wider or more uniform.
Made of medical grade ceramic, porcelain veneers are thin, strong shells that adhere to the front surfaces of your teeth. Like dental bonding, veneers can conceal a wide range of cosmetic flaws, including chips, cracks and discoloration.
This procedure removes small amounts of enamel to change the shape of your teeth. Because you only have so much natural enamel, there’s a limit to how much tooth structure your dentist can remove. Your dentist can complete tooth contouring during a single office visit.