Helping patients maintain optimal oral health is vital to every practice. A beautifully maintained smile can light up a room and improve patients’ overall health and longevity. But what if they want cosmetic improvements? Cosmetic dental procedures have the power to boost self-confidence, perk up social lives, and even improve careers. Patients looking for gorgeous smile makeovers can benefit greatly from today’s cosmetic dental procedures, which focus on minimally invasive, highly personalized, and natural-looking smile glow-ups. This article will take a look at how modern dental veneers, teeth whitening, and clear aligners can accomplish just that.
Custom-made clear aligners can discretely straighten teeth or be a key part of a comprehensive smile rejuvenation. As clear aligner technology continues to advance, time-to-results is becoming faster, and final outcomes are becoming more precise.
From laser and LED whitening systems to formulas that minimize sensitivity and hasten results, modern teeth whitening treatments include custom plans based on patient needs and desires. A recent trend is to whiten teeth to a more natural tone that will look beautiful in photos as well as in real life.
A mainstay of cosmetic dental procedures, veneers cover and correct uneven, cracked, misaligned, or misshapen teeth. The latest veneer technology is custom designed to the ideal shape, size, and color of each tooth, to look natural and blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth. Made of extremely tough and thin materials, such as micro-thin veneers, they are minimally invasive, reducing or eliminating the need for enamel removal to make space for the veneers. And unlike older versions, they can be removed with minimal damage to the underlying tooth.
For a beautiful, natural, and lasting smile makeover, a best practice is to begin by ensuring teeth are properly aligned, followed by whitening, and then adding veneers, if needed, to complete the transformation. Clear aligners ensure the bite is in balance and facial aesthetics are optimized. Additionally, once teeth are correctly aligned, practitioners can be more conservative with veneer preparation and trim less tooth structure.
But before veneers are created, teeth whitening should be performed. This is so the veneers can be matched to the base shade of the patient’s teeth, as veneers cannot be whitened later. Modern veneer materials mimic the translucency and texture of surrounding teeth and address any outstanding cosmetic issues, such as cracks or unevenness, to complete the smile makeover.
Effective cosmetic dental procedures begin with good techniques and products. The following are some essential items that every practice should keep on hand.
Fast-set alginate impression material is ideal for preliminary and orthodontic impressions. This product features an advanced dustless formulation for ease of mixing and a cleaner working environment. Available in 1lb pouches, it creates precise impressions of teeth and gums.
Ideal for bonding veneers to teeth, this strong, versatile dental adhesive works with a variety of materials, including glass ceramics. A one-step, one-coat adhesive with no need for separate primers, it provides excellent marginal integrity for high-quality aesthetic restorations. This universal formula is compatible with self-curing and dual-curing materials and can be stored without refrigeration for two years.
With a 38% phosphoric acid formulation, this advanced etching gel sets the standard for superior quality and optimal handling. Used for preparing tooth surfaces before applying the bonding agent, it enables a 20-second etch for enamel and a 15-second etch for dentin. It also stays in place without running and washes off quickly without leaving residue. Available in a convenient jumbo refill 2-pack of 25ml syringes, it facilitates precise placement with small gauge pre-bent tips.
When it comes to modern cosmetic dental procedures, natural, healthy-looking smiles are on trend. Advances in personalized and minimally invasive cosmetic treatments, such as clear aligners, teeth whitening, and dental veneers, are ideal for correcting tooth aesthetics and creating lasting smile transformations that let the patient’s natural beauty shine through.