In the past, a visit to the dentist was merely an annual check-up to maintain oral health and help get rid of any toothache or issues you were having. However, nowadays many dental practices offer a wide range of cosmetic treatments that can be used to improve and transform the appearance of a patient’s teeth to create a beautiful smile.
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a term given to a range of dental treatments that work to improve the appearance of teeth by altering their shape, coloring, position, alignment, or size. The types of issues that are typically addressed by cosmetic dentist Essex include those for teeth that are;
- Stained or discolored
- Broken
- Worn down or short
- Chipped
- Misaligned
- Gapped
Why Is It Increasing In Popularity?
The desire to achieve a bright, white, straight, healthy-looking smile has always been present but what was once only something that could be obtained by the rich and famous, cosmetic dentistry treatments are now becoming more accessible to everyone.
Social Media Culture
Things such as reality TV, social media, and celebrities can have an impact on the way that everyday people think and feel about themselves and their own appearance. Seeing people on the TV or pictures posted on social media sites who we deem as being successful or famous with perfectly straight, white, gleaming smiles leaves patients desiring the same thing. This is because we often associate success and wealth with good looks and physical appearance, a big part of which can include a perfect smile.
Evolution Of Technology
The evolution of cosmetic dental procedures and the continual improvement of the technology, tools, equipment, and techniques used means that more people than ever are taking the opportunity to improve their teeth and transform their smiles. Over the past 10-15 years everything from dental imaging to the materials used has greatly improved to deliver smiles that are more natural looking and easier to achieve than ever before.
Affordability
Cosmetic dentistry continues to gain in popularity right across the globe and as treatments continue to evolve and become more efficient and widespread, the prices tend to become more affordable. In addition to this, a lot of dental practices will offer patients ways to spread their payments over a set period of time with great options of things such as 0% interest.
Treatments Available
The types of cosmetic dental treatments available are able to improve a number of dental issues and can often be combined to produce a complete smile make-over.
The most popular treatments include;
Teeth Whitening
Teeth can be whitened at home using custom whitening trays which improve the overall color of teeth. It is a non-invasive, painless treatment that is in high demand and can make teeth look much younger and brighter.
Invisalign
Clear, removable braces that work to gradually move teeth over time into the correct position. They are comfortable, practically invisible, and easy to remove when needed which makes the process of achieving a straighter smile so much better.
Veneers
These custom thin porcelain ‘shells’ go on top of existing teeth to mask discoloration, repair broken or worn teeth, and close gaps. They have a high resistance to staining and can deliver extremely natural long-lasting results.
Composite Bonding
This treatment involves applying a tooth-colored resin to the tooth and carefully molding it to improve the shape, color, size, or overall appearance. Results can be achieved in just one appointment, and it is completely pain-free.