Cosmetic Dentistry / Pure Dental / Dr. Prudenti

Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the functionality) of teeth, gums and/or bites. It primarily focuses on improvement in dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance.

Cosmetic dentistry may involve:
-the addition of a dental material to teeth or gums – examples: bonding, porcelain veneers (laminates), crowns (caps), gum grafts
-the removal of tooth structure or gums – examples: enameloplasty, gingivectomy
-neither adding nor removing dental materials, tooth structure, or gums – examples: teeth whitening (bleaching), laser whitening, gum depigmentation
straightening of teeth accompanied by improvement in the appearance of face – orthodontics
-Veneers, Dental laminates

Whitening
Whitening, or "tooth bleaching", is the most common cosmetic dental procedure. The doctor will first evaluate your teeth and smile to determine whether whitening is right for you. In some cases, a different cosmetic procedure may better meet your expectations, but whitening is a safe, fast and easy process that is effective for almost everyone.

Laser whitening is a teeth whitening technique in which gums are covered with rubber and a bleaching chemical is applied on the teeth. A beam of argon laser, which is intended to accelerate the process of bleaching, is then projected upon the teeth. This laser activates the bleaching chemical and lightens the teeth color.[6] Laser whitening is said to be six times more effective[7] in teeth whitening compared to other procedures.

Reshaping
Tooth reshaping removes parts of the enamel to improve the appearance of the tooth. It may be used to correct a small chip, or to alter the length, shape or position of teeth, as well as when there is tooth size discrepancy;[8][9] it can be used to correct crooked or excessively long teeth. The removed enamel is irreplaceable, and may sometimes expose dentin. It is also known as enameloplasty, odontoplasty, contouring, recontouring, slenderizing, stripping. This procedure offers fast results and can even be a substitute for braces under certain circumstances.[10]

Bonding
Bonding is a process in which an enamel-like dental composite material is applied to a tooth's surface, sculpted into shape, hardened and then polished. An example of a bonding substance are inlays and Onlays, which are used to repair decayed & cracked teeth. These are helped at those parts of teeth when a filling is too small to correct the decayed teeth and a crown would be excessive.

Bridging
Dental bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth. Teeth on both sides of the space left by the missing teeth are prepared.[11] A bridge is made up of abutments, the teeth that are prepped, and the missing, false teeth, which are called pontics.
Veneers

Anatomic wax mock-up fabricated to guide the dentist before tooth preparation
Veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made porcelain laminates that are bonded directly to the teeth. They are an option for closing gaps, enhance the shape, or change the color of teeth that do not respond well to whitening procedures.

Implants
Dental implants are prosthetic replacements for missing teeth. There are commonly three parts to what it is described as an implant: the implant device which is predominantly made of titanium (which is inserted into the bone), the abutment, and a dental crown or a denture which is connected to the implant through the abutment.

Gum lifts
A gum lift is a cosmetic dental procedure that raises and sculpts the gum line. The procedure involves reshaping the tissue and/or underlying bones to create the appearance of longer or more symmetrical teeth.[19]

Straightening
Invisalign treatment is being used as an alternative to traditional metal braces. Invisalign helps in treating spacing, crowding, and overlapping teeth to create the smile patients desire. This system has treated hundreds of thousands of patients and has been around for over a decade. Clear aligners are comfortable, invisible and easy to clean.

Bite reclamation