Cosmetic dental procedures encompass a wide variety of treatments, from teeth whitening and gum reshaping to concealing tooth defects with dental implants, porcelain veneers and correcting crooked teeth with Invisalign aligners.
Dental Implants and Implant Crowns
If you have several missing teeth and a fully developed jawbone, permanent dental implants can dramatically improve your smile and give you a healthier, normal-functioning mouth. Dental implants are a type of dental prosthetic that fills empty sockets with natural-looking, securely affixed teeth. They feel like real teeth, look like real teeth and require no special attention after they have been inserted.
- More About Dental Implants
Consisting of a titanium screw (the implant), an abutment and porcelain crown, dental implants are permanent replacements for missing teeth that do not require modification of existing teeth. Dental implants will last for many years as long as good oral hygiene practices are followed and the bone/implant structure has fused properly.
- How a Dental Implant Procedure is Performed
The goal of all dental implants is the successful completion of a process called osseointegration, or the natural fusion of the patient’s jawbone to the titanium implant.
Your dentist will begin the dental implant procedure by placing a titanium “root” (the implant) into the bone where the implant is needed. Once the bone accepts the implant, the dentist can then install the abutment and crown. Since osseointegration may take up to three to six months, patients are fitted with a temporary while waiting for the fusion to complete.
- About Implant Crowns
Natural-looking and durable, implant crowns are made of varying porcelain compounds to accommodate chewing and appearance needs. Depending on several factors, such as location of the implant, the patient’s bite and translucency of adjacent teeth, your dentist will determine what kind of porcelain material is best suited for your implant.
- Additional Benefits of Dental Implants
Leaving empty sockets unfilled often expedites jaw shrinkage due to the jawbone losing the support of teeth essential for maintaining bone density. Moreover, there is no need for the dentist to grind down or file natural teeth when implementing dental implants, something that is necessary for fitting patients with bridges.
For answers to all your questions about dental implants, please call 6th Sense Dental to speak to one of our friendly staff members.
An affordable and popular method for covering stains and chips and eliminating unattractive gaps between teeth, bonding works to conceal flaws using a pliable, enamel-colored resin compound that can be molded and shaped to dental enamel accordingly.
Once bonding material is in place, Dr. Rinando polishes the bonding resin until its texture and reflective properties match those of the patient’s existing teeth. Bonding is also an alternative to narrowing small gaps between teeth because bonding resin is strong enough to fill in gaps without losing its durability and supportive qualities.
When gaps between teeth are not severe enough to warrant orthodontic work or whitening treatments fail to remove stubborn stains, Dr. Rinando may recommend restoring teeth aesthetics with translucent, natural-looking porcelain veneers. These paper-thin, tooth-shaped “shells” fabricated from strong ceramic materials are bonded to the front of teeth to transform problematic teeth into healthy, attractive smiles.
Partial Crowns and Inlays
Partial crowns allow patients to keep natural teeth by providing extra support with a crown placed over the tooth’s base. Inlays are placed directly onto the tooth if the tooth’s cusps are healthy and can support a partial crown. Prior to crown/inlay procedure, Dr. Rinando removes plaque and decay to take a clean mold of the tooth. This mold is then sent to a laboratory where technicians create a composite resin or porcelain restoration using the mold as a template. During the interim, Dr. Rinando provides patients with a temporary inlay that is eventually removed and replaced with the permanent, natural -looking dental crown.
Partial Dentures and Bridges
Dentures are a type of cosmetic dentistry that also serve to improve functionality of the mouth. Dr. Rinando recommends full or partial dentures for patients missing more than half of their teeth or for patients who are not good candidates for dental implant surgery.
Dental bridges are also popular appliances that replace missing teeth by creating a small “bridge” of crowns that are attached to adjacent, healthy teeth.
Invisalign Clear “Braces”
Invisalign is a recently developed orthodontic treatment designed to reposition crooked teeth by having the patient wear a series of specially constructed mouth trays made from a transparent, flexible plastic. Candidates for Invisalign treatment begin the process with Dr. Rinando. We take digital images of the patient’s upper and lower jaws, and upload these images to special Invisalign software shows patient how their teeth will look after using Invisalign trays. The amount of time the treatment will take depends on the amount of correction needed, and is different for each patient.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Dental-grade whitening gel used by Dr. Rinando contains significantly more hydrogen peroxide than store brands as well as ingredients that protect dental enamel from over bleaching and sensitivity. Patients receiving teeth whitening procedures at 6th Sense Dental also have their gums protected during the treatment so that the gel does not cause unnecessary discomfort to sensitive oral tissues.