ANALYZE YOUR SMILE
Take this simple quiz to know if you are a candidate for cosmetic dentistry.
In a slight smile with your teeth parted, do the tips of your teeth show?
Your teeth should show slightly when you smile slightly or talk
When you smile slightly does your smile line appear in a shallow U-Shape i.e. are your front two teeth slightly longer than your other teeth?
Your smile line is a youthful smile line if it is as mentioned above. Your front two teeth i.e. the central incisors should be slightly longer than the adjacent incisors. Next the canine or corner teeth should be V-Shaped and of the same length as the central incisor.
Are your front two teeth too long?
The front teeth should be about 2mm longer than the adjacent lateral incisors. They are too long if they are longer than this.
Do you have spaces between your front teeth?
If you have spacing or diastema between your front teeth, have it checked, particularly if it hasn´t always been there. Such spaces can grow larger, indicating a physical problem such as gum disease or a bad habits such as tongue thrusting. If no such problem exists and you don´t like the space, it can be closed with bonding or laminating / veneering procedure or orthodontic appliances depending upon the size of the space.
Do your front teeth protrude or stick out?
Protrusion of teeth causes an unappealing smile. This problem can be corrected with cosmetic contouring combined with laminating procedures.
Are your front teeth crowded or overlapping?
If yes it can be corrected either by orthodontics repositioning or cosmetic contouring and veneering.
Are you happy with the color of your teeth? Do you have stains on your teeth?
If yes, your smile could be made attractive. Stains may be gotten rid of by bleaching, when they are on the external surface. Intrinsic stains can be corrected by veneering or capping.
Do your front teeth have fillings whose shade does not match the natural tooth color?
Tooth colored fillings in the front teeth that matched perfectly when they were placed may not look as good after a few years. Certain food can stain these fillings as can habits like smoking and drinking coffee and tea. You may need more frequent professional cleaning or replacement.
Are your lower six front teeth even in appearance?
Uneven lower teeth with one or more teeth longer than others can be a distraction when you speak. Through cosmetic contouring, the teeth can often be reshaped to appear even.
Do the necks of your teeth indicate erosion or ditched in 'V' that can be seen or felt with your finger nails?
These deformities can progress rapidly, resulting in tooth discoloration and sensitivity. However they usually can be corrected easily and esthetically with composite resin bonding. The primary advantage, however is that such tooth repair prevents further erosion and possible damage to the nerve.
Are your gums pink and 'knife edged' or are they red and swollen?
Gums should be pink and knife edged and not red and puffy. If red and puffy then you are suffering from gum disease and a cleaning appointment may help.
Gums should be pink and knife edged and not red and puffy. If red and puffy then you are suffering from gum disease and a cleaning appointment may help.
If not, you need to see your dentist and also brush and floss regularly.
Do I have a masculine or feminine smile?
Feminine type smile
There is no anthropological basis for masculinity or femininity in teeth. However, we tend to think of teeth that are nicely curved as softening the smile and we perceive this as a more feminine look. Note, also, the slight openings at the biting edges between the teeth. These are called incisal embrasures & help make the teeth look distinct instead of join together.
Masculine type smile
This is a fine example of a masculine smile with a medium lip line. The teeth are more angular, and the central incisors provide a bolder or stronger look in relation to the lateral incisors. They are squarer, less rounded, and slightly more textured than in the above photograph. A more youthful smile line is created when the central incisors are slightly darker than the other teeth due to the thickness of the teeth.
FIVE TREATMENTS FOR STAINED TEETH
Luckily, patients with stained teeth-even those that are severely discolored-can be treated successfully. Cosmetic dentistry afford these patient the opportunity to have the beautiful, natural smiles they desire with minimum of time, discomfort & cost
Treatment of stained teeth depends on both the cause and the degree of discoloration. Each treatment alternative has advantages. There are five ways to treat stained teeth.
The simplest method of stain removal, eliminates many food stains, the majority of which can be attributed to coffee or tea. However, excessive staining from beverages or tobacco products may require more aggressive treatment.
It utilizes a strong oxidizing agent to lighten the teeth, is a relatively conservative and often highly effective way to brighten the smile. Bleaching is frequently used on mild-to-moderate tetracycline and fluoride stains, as well as on those stains that result from damage to the tooth. Your dentist may recommend either in-office or home bleaching or a combination of both, depending on the nature and the severity of the discoloration.
Involves the application of a plastic material to the existing tooth. The composite resin bonding technique is used frequently to cover stains in a conservative and esthetically pleasing manner. This process can be particularly effective in masking tetracycline stains, white or brown spots, stains due to excessive wear and in lightening teeth that have become discolored by amalgam, the blend of metals found in silver fillings.
It is an extension for bonding technique. It consists of applying a thin veneer of pre-formed porcelain, composite resin or plastic to the teeth in much the same way as an artificial fingernail is affixed to a natural nail. In the case of porcelain, both the enamel and the inside of the porcelain veneer are etched to increase adhesion. Composite resin and plastic laminates are chemically sealed to the teeth.
It is a longer lasting, although less conservative treatment alternative that requires reducing the tooth and covering the remainder with a custom - made restoration. Although it is always preferable to preserve the structure of the natural tooth, it isn´t always feasible. For example, in cases where tetracycline stains are extremely dark or where amalgam stains have caused severe discoloration, crowning may be the only acceptable treatment alternative. Despite the drawbacks, crowns can be finely sculptured works of art that serve both to improve tooth shape and function while enhancing your smile.