Smile Makeup

Overview

Today, dentists have a wide array of procedures for cosmetic dentistry. From teeth whitening to replacing teeth, shaping teeth and closing gaps, the techniques are many to improve your look and perfect your smile. Consult with your dentist which procedure would be the best for you. Before you undergo any of the smile makeup cosmetic procedures, you should know about the risks and benefits associated with it.

After all, a cosmetic dentist is well experienced in restorative dentistry. He is aware of the concept of smile makeup and the procedures involved in it. Prior to getting any cosmetic procedure, you should talk to your dentist and divulge details on what you want to change in your smile. Certain aesthetic problems like discoloured or missing teeth point to health issues that should be resolved first.

Cosmetic dentistry treatments not just help to improve your smile but restore function and maintenance of your oral health. The types of treatments involved in cosmetic dentistry are:

Porcelain Bridgework- The procedure is required to fill missing tooth/teeth with porcelain bridgework.

Teeth whitening- Regarded as the most demanding cosmetic procedure, teeth whitening can be done both at home and at the office to remove stains and discolouration from your teeth.

Composite bonding- A type of tooth-coloured composite resin is matched to the colour of your teeth to improve your appearance.

Porcelain crowns- Porcelain crowns are used to cover heavily damaged teeth.

Teeth Veneers- Veneers are thin, hard shells matched to the colour of your teeth to correct dental imperfections.

Orthodontic alignment- Orthodontic aligners are mostly used these days over braces to straighten uneven teeth.

Tooth reshaping and contouring- Laser or drilling procedure is required to reshape teeth.

Gum surgery- This type of surgery is performed to reshape gum tissues in order to bring out a more levelled appearance.

Cosmetic dentists are able to evaluate your oral condition and reasons of smile imperfections, and suggest you the right treatment.

Before the Treatment

Cosmetic dental surgery is an elective procedure, but the preparations before undergoing the surgery are the same. Some feel intimidated prior to the surgery, but a few preparations and aftercare of cosmetic smile makeup help you to deal with situation confidently. Have a look at the preparations before a cosmetic dental surgery the night before.

Before the Treatment

Whichever treatment is selected for you to ensure a perfect smile makeup, you should follow these tips:

• Try to avoid eating or drinking at least 12 hours before the surgery. The idea is to prevent complications like vomiting and nausea while you are sedated. However, for certain surgeries, your dentist may allow you to eat a couple of hours before the surgery.
• Tell your dentist about the medications you are taking every day and about any health concerns. The information helps your dentist understand whether it would be right to carry out the surgery and that the medicines taken won’t interfere with the medications given post surgery.
• Sugar and diabetic patients should talk to their dentist to get a clear idea about the types of meals that can be taken before the surgery and at what intervals. Needless to say, patients with high sugar levels are constantly monitored before and during the procedure.
• Start taking only the prescribed medicines from the morning before the procedure.
• Stop smoking few days before the surgery as suggested by your doctor. Also, avoid alcoholic beverages on the day of the surgery.

Once you are ready for the procedure, you go for it. Nonetheless, the treatments for smile make up vary from person to person depending upon his oral health and other dental condition. Each procedure is performed in different ways that have been discussed here.

How it is performed

• Teeth whitening: Teeth discolouration and stain is caused due to smoking, certain medications and drinking too much of black-coloured liquids. Teeth whitening techniques practiced at home or office helps to rectify your smile.
• Generally, it requires 1-2 visits to the clinic to get whitening done, whereas at home you are given a mouthpiece to wear. A kind of whitening solution is put into the mouthpiece so that when you wear, the solution gets attached to your teeth. It may take several weeks and even months to attain the desired teeth colour.
• Teeth Veneers: Veneers are a great way of correcting an imperfect smile. The process helps to fill gaps between teeth, repair worn or chipped teeth, removed permanent stains and correct crooked and poorly shaped teeth.
• Made out of custom shells, teeth veneers are used to cover the front of the teeth. Before placing veneers in your mouth, the dentist takes an impression of your teeth and creates veneers at the laboratory. He polishes the tooth or teeth before placing the veneer. Finally, the veneer is cemented into place by shining light to harden it.
• Teeth shaping and contouring: The process involves contouring teeth enamel to enhance the look of your teeth. Generally, teeth shaping and contouring is combined with bonding to achieve the desire result. The dentist alters the shape, length and position of teeth in the procedure.
• Bonding: It is done to cover excess space in between teeth or to correct broken, chipped and stained teeth. The dentist uses bonding materials to fill cavities and offer protection to exposed roots. He uses an etching solution and a tooth-coloured material for bonding with the teeth to improve its appearance.
• Crowns: Crowns or caps are used to cover a weak tooth, badly discoloured tooth, restore worn tooth, cover dental implants and hold dental bridges in place. A crown is made of porcelain, metal ceramic or resin materials, or a combination of all.

A dental crown procedure involves preparing the tooth for the crown, making moulds of the same tooth and creating a digital impression. In the final step, the crown is permanently placed on the tooth.

Braces are also worn to correct crookedly aligned teeth and teeth whiteners are used to improve the colour of the teeth for a brighter and more beautiful smile.

Recovery

Most mild dental surgeries require 1-2 weeks of recovery time, while some may take a month. You may visit the clinic alone on the day of surgery or bring someone to accompany you and drive you home particularly if you undergo sedation during the surgery.

Eat soft, nutritious and liquid foods for a few days after the surgery. These generally includes yogurt, soups, overcooked pastas with non-acidic sauces, fibre rich diet, milkshakes, smoothies, blended drinks, bananas, mashed potatoes, soft cooked scrambled eggs, etc. Relying on soft foods and a light diet helps you recovery quickly.

Avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic for weeks after a cosmetic smile makeup surgery. If you take care of everything the recovery time of cosmetic smile makeup is quick. After all, you won’t want to ruin your smile due to carelessness.