Cosmetic dental surgery is generally thought of as improving the appearance and shape of the teeth. Sparkling and shining teeth are not all that cosmetic surgery provides. Different procedures help with both restorative and cosmetic aspects. Indirectly, with the increase in confidence in appearance due to bright teeth, many are prompted to take care of oral health. Cosmetic surgery promotes oral health directly and indirectly.

How does cosmetic dentistry help?

Aesthetic benefits are the number one benefit of cosmetic dental surgery. Different procedures that help in this aspect. Crooked teeth, Broken or fractured teeth, decayed teeth can all be fixed using the different procedures available.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the simplest cosmetic procedures that is popular the world over. While this procedure helps to remove the stain on the teeth, there are other benefits also. Teeth whitening also involves cleaning the teeth. Plaque or tartar build up is one of the biggest causes of declining oral health. Food debris gets stuck in between teeth.

Less than perfect brushing of teeth will not remove food debris and this will attract bacterial action. Bacteria cause erosion of the teeth enamel by releasing an acid after acting on the food. This removes the protective covering of the teeth, and the inner layer gets exposed and also leads to staining of teeth.

Teeth whitening helps to remove the stain and also provide an extra coating of a protective layer over the teeth. A special puffing agent is applied on the teeth to give it extra protection. Teeth sensitivity might be felt when teeth whitening is done, but this gets reduced after a few hours. A sparkling looking teeth that is stronger is obtained at the end of the procedure.

Correcting the bite

A dental bite is a disorder that affects about 20% of the population, studies have shown. Many have problems with having overcrowded teeth or misshapen teeth. This will affect a person’s speech or their ability to chew. They also experience constant headaches, clicking jaw points and teeth grinding at night. This can worsen the situation even more. Over crowing teeth will also result in plaque or tartar formation, tooth decay etc.

Cosmetic dental surgery helps to correct this issue by using a highly extensive procedure. This involves moving the teeth to the correct position. Depending on how severe the situation is, there are different procedures available. Braces are commonly used to correct bite concerns. Children and adults use this procedure. Slight pressure is applied to the teeth and they are pushed back. The braces are tightened to achieve the desired effect. Extra teeth are removed and cleanliness can be easily managed through this procedure. If the situation requires then jaw surgery is also performed to correct the situation.

Dental crowns and veneers

Dental crowns and veneers are appliances that help to protect teeth that are damaged. Crowns cover the entire teeth, while veneers are placed to cover the front part of the teeth. They are placed on the teeth that require restoration and treatment. Staining, shape and length of the teeth are what they provide as part of the aesthetic feature.

Besides this the main advantage of these procedures is how they provide oral health. Teeth that are damaged are protected by this procedure. Teeth decay sets in the teeth due to bacterial action. Dentists protect the damaged teeth by removing the decayed internal region of the teeth. The region is cleaned and then filled with a safe material. Dental crowns are then placed over the teeth to protect it from further damage. The teeth then do not decay further, the health of the teeth is maintained. This also protects other teeth from damage.

Due to this procedure, the damage is arrested and does not spread to the neighbouring teeth and gums. Veneers are used to fill the gaps between teeth. Placing dental veneers to cover the gap provides a ‘complete’ smile and also stops any possible decay that can happen due to bacterial action. Dental enamel that can be damaged due to wear and tear is protected by placing this dental veneer.

Fixing cracked teeth

Cracked or fractured teeth is a tooth that is broken. This can happen due to different reasons. This fracture or crack in the teeth can run from the tip of the teeth to the root. Or this fracture can be limited to only the top portion of the teeth. Some are seen as small crack lines in the teeth. All this can be painful and would need specialised care from the dentist.

The entire teeth can be damaged and lost if the fracture is not treated. This can affect the nerve present in the teeth and the whole teeth will be lost. Teeth sensitivity can be felt in this case and sometimes bones loss near the end of the tooth can also be seen. All these can be protected by cosmetic dental procedures. Bonding, cosmetic contouring is done in most cases to protect the teeth. In some cases, procedures such as dental crowns and veneers also help to protect the teeth.

Repairing weak teeth and protecting teeth that are damaged is done by different cosmetic surgery procedures. Providing a brighter smile and giving confidence to the person is what they aim to do. Another important benefit these procedures provide is improving overall health and oral health.

Cosmetic dentistry is not only about improving the look but also improves oral health. Even the simplest teeth whitening process helps in this. It is important that at least twice in a year dental consultations are made. Guidance from the dentists will help in managing oral health. If there are any red flags about dental health, then these consultations will help to manage the situation earlier. This will help to save the teeth and also money. Dental doubts and concerns should be discussed with the dentists and proper advice must be sought.