Cosmetic dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is concerned with improving the appearance of the smile: its curve, the shape of the teeth, the way the gums look
The way we look with our smile and mouth is a key factor in the beauty of the entire face and thus also in our self-esteem. Cosmetic dentistry treatments are aimed at resolving imperfections and defects of the teeth related to incorrect shape or position, too dark a colour or ageing. (These individual elements of the mouth are then placed in harmonious relation to the remaining facial features).
Cosmetic dentists
A cosmetic dentist, as in my case, is a professional who also takes care of the cosmetic appearance of the teeth and, more generally, of the mouth, carrying out treatments to correct imperfections in the most serious cases of pathology, such as gum disease like caries or periodontal disease, fractures and missing teeth, but also in simpler cases, such as gaps between teeth or colour defects.
(Thanks to the knowledge acquired in my Master’s Degree in Perioral Aesthetics, I also deal with facial enhancement and harmonisation with aesthetic medicine techniques).
Rules for a beautiful smile
Unfortunately, people who suffer from smile imperfections are often less confident and less relaxed when communicating.
Conversely, a beautiful and harmonious smile makes us feel more confident and positive. It is not just a matter of personal judgement, there are indeed common parameters of dental beauty: shape, colour, symmetry, distance from lips and gums, etc. etc.
Cosmetic dentistry treatments
The most common problems and treatments in cosmetic dentistry
Tooth colour
The colour of the smile is given by the outermost inner part of the teeth, the dentin. On the outside is a very hard shell, the enamel, which also contributes to tooth colour, but to a lesser extent; its integrity and colour are threatened daily by various factors such as acidic foods, smoking and ageing. Yellowing from external stains can be reduced with effective, daily and consistent oral hygiene. Other types of stains, those of the dentine, can be removed with an important cosmetic treatment that restores the radiance of the smile: tooth whitening.
The shape of the teeth and the spaces between them
Aesthetic Additive Odontoplasty treatments consist of reshaping the anatomy of one or more teeth by increasing or decreasing their size or changing their shape to eliminate imperfections.
One of the most common procedures is additive aesthetic plastic surgery to close anterior diastemas (the spaces between one tooth and another) and restore the contact points between the incisors.
This is a completely non-invasive procedure and the teeth are not shrunk at all. The material used for this aesthetic treatment is a so-called composite resin, whose colour is completely similar to that of tooth enamel, and which hardens thanks to a UV light source.
Another of the most effective and popular treatments is the ceramic veneer, which can be used to solve complex problems of the front dentition or of a single tooth: in practice, it is a thin ceramic film that is applied to the teeth, which in some cases are roughened with a preparation of a few tenths of a millimetre. However, this preparation is much less invasive than, for example, a capsule. The result is beautiful and completely natural.
Crooked or overlapping teeth
Misaligned or overcrowded teeth are a major aesthetic problem. One misaligned tooth can hide another, making the whole smile uncomfortable. In other words, it creates a disturbing element and detracts from the harmony of the smile. It also makes it harder to maintain good oral hygiene because the covered tooth is harder to reach with a toothbrush and is therefore more prone to plaque build-up and yellowing. Overlapping teeth can also cause malocclusion, where the arches do not mesh properly, making it difficult to close the mouth when chewing.
Targeted orthodontic treatment can prevent, eliminate or, in more severe cases, alleviate these changes and restore the aesthetics of the smile.
Missing teeth
Like crooked or malpositioned teeth, a missing tooth can be an immediately visible flaw in a smile, especially if it is in the front or side of the mouth. This defect greatly reduces the overall beauty of the smile and is a serious dental cosmetic problem.
In this case, the best solution to restore smile aesthetics is a dental implant.