Cosmetic or aesthetic dentistry is a broad designation under which many dental procedures may be described ie. tooth bleaching, bonding, veneers, orthodontics, crown and bridge work. The organisation responsible for registering dentists and dental specialists in Australia is The Dental Board (located in the state of registration) and they can be specialist prosthodontists and orthodontists.

In the past, the tooth restorations were made of gold, amalgam and other metals. Now the work is entirely made in porcelain or composite materials that closely mimic the appearance of the natural tooth structures. The materials are bonded to the underlying tooth structure with resin adhesives.

Advances in dental materials have led to tooth shades resins that are painted on and bond with your tooth. The dentist can now repair chipped and damaged teeth with minimum drilling hence the resultant filling is usually impossible to detect. Also the fillings can be as small as possible since when combined with lifelike modern materials, the small fillings are hardly noticeable.

When a tooth is lost there are several alternatives to partial denture: bridges with modern porcelain are often difficult to detect; bonding the replacement tooth to the teeth either side is now possible, so no drilling or future loss of the tooth structure is involved; implants made of titanium can now be inserted in the jawbone to anchor an artificial crown, bridge or tooth. Orthodontic treatments can correct the position of crooked teeth. The braces can no be placed on the inner surface of the teeth so they don’t show up when you smile.

Bleaching, micro-abrasion, bonding and veneers will improve many cosmetic problems with your teeth. However, it the teeth are severely crooked and broken or teeth are missing, it may be necessary to have orthodontic treatment, crowned or bridges contracted or implants placed.

Teeth Whitening Treatments

Teeth whitening treatments are designed to whiten your teeth without any artificial additions. It can be done in several ways:

• The dentist can use a very high peroxide gel concentration gel and apply it to the teeth and use a laser to heat it and whiten the teeth in a short time. This is very expensive and not a common procedure.

• The Zoom3! Professional Teeth Whitening treatment consists of a gentle hydrogen-peroxide whitening gel activated by a special, patented light operating in the gentle blue spectrum. It can cost up to $1500.

• Plastic trays are custom made by the dentist using models of your teeth. It is followed by a home bleaching treatment, this being the most popular and least expensive method. The results however depend on initial level of staining of the teeth and the type of staining. Home bleaching takes about two weeks and you have to wear the trays either during sleep or for a few hours daily.

Micro-abrasion is used to remove discoloration in the surface layer of the enamel. A paste made of acid and an abrasive is used to remove the outer surface of the tooth enamel.

Bonding

Bonding is a process in which the dentist cleans and prepares the surface of your teeth, the gaps between the teeth, alter the shape and cover discoloration in teeth. The resins used are simple to re-polish and replace if they eventually discolour. It is a good alternative for treating small blemishes and chips. The cost varies from $180 - $300 per tooth.

Veneers

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of the teeth. They can be used to improve the appearance of the teeth by changing their shape, changing the colour, masking stains and replacing small fractured pieces of teeth. The porcelain is a very hard, resistant, non-porous material and will keep its appearance far longer than tooth coloured resins. The cost varies from $350 -$1300 per tooth.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are an artificial tooth root that is submerged into the jawbone. It is fabricated from a very strong, biocompatible material (the bone grows through the implant and bonds on to it) placed in a relatively simple procedure. After an initial healing period, the implant is uncovered and connected to a small metal post that secures the supports to the artificial tooth. The cost is closely comparable to those of the prostheses involving fixed bridges.

Tooth Re-Shaping

Tooth reshaping (contouring) is one of the instant treatments available in cosmetic dentistry. It is a procedure to correct crooked, chipped, cracked teeth or even overlapping teeth in one session. The procedure can be a substitute for braces under certain circumstances. It is commonly used to alter the length, shape or position of the teeth.

Cosmetic Gum Surgery

Cosmetic gum surgery refers to the procedure of lengthening the teeth from the neck of the tooth upwards. The teeth then appear to be longer and much less gum is seen when you smile.