Fillings and crowns, while often made from lifelike materials, are designed to really improve the health and function of your smile. However, if you have purely cosmetic concerns, we also have two unique treatments that address smile beauty issues in as little as one visit. In today’s blog, your Richfield, MN, dentist explains how we use bonding and contouring to improve smile beauty.
Dental Bonding
The dental bonding procedure uses the same lifelike composite resin we employ when we place a tooth-colored dental filling. A blend of glass and acrylic, the material is free of any metal ingredients, and can be shaded to blend with the rest of your smile. The process starts with the dentist thoroughly cleaning the tooth, and removing any decay present. We then prep the material, tinting to to blend with the rest of your tooth structure. We then apply the material in several different layers. As we cure the composite resin under a light, we shape and sculpt the tooth for a more attractive appearance. The final step is to polish the tooth. The entire process only takes one visit to complete! We’ve used the procedure to repair minor chips and cracks, add length to worn down teeth, and even close gaps in the smile. Treatment could also mask teeth stains and reshape malformed teeth too!
Dental Contouring
In the same visit, or separately, we could also contour the teeth. With contouring, we don’t add any materials to the teeth. Instead, we gently sand and buff away outer structure to reshape them and mask imperfections in your smile. For example, we could remove unsightly pits or grooves in the surfaces, and smooth out rough patches too. We can correct minor chips, reshape overly large or malformed teeth, and dull sharp or pointed portions of your smile. In just a short amount of time, we can correct a wide array of esthetic concerns, and may combine this with bonding to transform your smile completely.
Don’t Ignore Dental Damage
If your tooth sustains an injury and ends up chipped, let us know right away. In fact, we advise a visit even if no damage is visible, as fractures are often invisible to the naked eye. Addressing damage, even if it appears minor, is often crucial for avoiding painful toothaches due to cavities or infection, as injury could expose sensitive inner tissues to harmful bacteria. If you have any questions about our approach to cosmetic dentistry, or about addressing dental emergencies like chipped or cracked teeth, then contact our team today.
Your Richfield, MN Dentist’s Office Provides Cosmetic Treatment
At our Richfield, MN dentist’s office, our team is ready to help you enjoy a stunning new smile in one sitting. To find out more about cosmetic dentistry, then please call Cedar West Family Dentistry at (612) 861-7188.
