What Is Cosmetic Dental Treatment?

A Manhattan Beach cosmetic dentist can help you get the picture-perfect smile you’ve always dreamed of.

But if you find the entire topic a bit confusing and want to learn how cosmetic dentistry can help, check out the six popular treatments and how they can change your smile’s appearance:

1. Teeth Whitening

If you have healthy teeth that are stained and discolored, professional teeth whitening can help you get a brighter smile safely.

Most dentists offer both in-office and at-home treatment options, so everyone can access teeth whitening conveniently. In either case, you’ll get a personalized treatment plan aimed at reducing your stains and lifting your smile a few shades.

2. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a quick and non-invasive procedure that can address minor cosmetic imperfections with ease. It involves applying a dental resin to your teeth, shaping it, and then hardening it with a special light.

Bonding can address anything from gaps between the teeth to uneven or irregularly sized teeth.

3. Veneers

Veneers are thin shells that cover the front of a tooth to change its appearance. It’s a simple procedure that can provide both minor and major cosmetic improvements, as they’re made for each individual tooth and customized to match the shape, size, and color of the patient’s smile.

Getting veneers is an irreversible decision since the process involves shaving tooth enamel to create a rough surface texture. With the right care, veneers can last up to 15 years before they need replacing.

4. Invisalign

Invisalign is a type of clear aligner that can discreetly straighten your teeth and improve your bite. It’s a type of alternative orthodontic treatment that can address minor to moderate cases of alignment.

Compared to braces, Invisalign is much more comfortable and easy to maintain; the aligners are removable and easy to clean.

5. Enameloplasty

Enameloplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to address uneven teeth. The process removes a small amount of enamel to change the tooth’s size or even shape.

Unlike getting veneers, enameloplasty removes even less enamel tissue, meaning patients can still keep their natural smile. With veneers, if they fall out or are damaged, they have to be replaced as soon as possible.

6. Smile Makeovers

Patients with more severe cosmetic issues may need a combination of treatments, which is exactly what smile makeovers are!

They are personalized plans that use several methods to improve a patient’s smile. Sometimes, these makeovers can also include restorative procedures that improve a patient’s oral health, such as implants to replace missing teeth or dental crowns.