Dental Aesthetics
Enhancing Your Smile's Appearance
At Cedar Grove Dental Group in Cedar Grove and the surrounding area, we offer complete health dentistry with a focus on dental aesthetics. Our services are provided from a more integrative perspective, ensuring both appearance and overall wellness are taken into consideration. Trust us to correct any irregularities in your smile while keeping your health in mind. Contact us at (973) 857-0567 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our services.
Why Dental Aesthetics
The field of dental aesthetics is currently experiencing a surge in popularity. It involves enhancing both the cosmetic appearance and functionality of the mouth, including the teeth and gums. Common procedures in dental aesthetics include bonding, braces, bridges, crowns, enamel shaping and contouring, implants, teeth whitening, veneers, and other cosmetic periodontal procedures.
While smile makeovers primarily focus on improving aesthetics, many procedures can also enhance the overall functionality and health of the mouth, especially when they are restorative in nature. Additionally, cosmetic dental procedures have the potential to boost patients' self-esteem, leading to an improved quality of life.
“Though any smile makeover will focus primarily on improving the aesthetics of the mouth, many procedures may also improve the overall functionality and health of the mouth.”
Why Complete Health Dentistry
Traditional dentistry focuses on treating specific conditions rather than considering the overall health of the patient. This means that conventional dentists may overlook how systemic conditions can impact oral health. In contrast, complete health dentistry prioritizes the patient's well-being. While traditional dentists may focus on cosmetic procedures, they may not take into account how these procedures can affect the patient's overall health, and vice versa.
Research shows that periodontal disease can be a sign of underlying systemic conditions. The mouth serves as a gateway to the digestive and respiratory systems, making it a breeding ground for bacteria. Poor oral hygiene can lead to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of oral infections. A complete health dentist is trained to identify signs of poor health and improve a patient's oral health while enhancing their smile.
“A complete health dentist knows how to recognize the warning signs of poor health in addition to perfecting a patient’s smile.”
Popular Dental Aesthetics Procedures
There are various factors that can cause teeth to become yellow, leading to tooth whitening being a popular cosmetic dental procedure. Consuming certain foods, drinks, and medications can stain or discolor teeth, as well as taking specific medications. While at-home whitening kits may seem like a cost-effective option, professional in-office whitening or dentist-recommended kits are the best ways to achieve safe and effective results.
In addition to tooth whitening, dental aesthetics also involve procedures such as replacing missing teeth. Bridges and implants are common options for tooth replacement. Bridges, also known as fixed partial dentures, are attached to surrounding teeth that have been prepared for crowns. Implants, on the other hand, are surgically placed in the jawbone to replace one or more missing teeth. These procedures are considered restorative as they improve both the appearance and function of the mouth.
“While at-home tooth whitening kits may seem like an economical alternative, in-office whitening is the only way to ensure safe, optimal results.”
Issues related to dental aesthetics and gums
Improving the appearance of your smile can also address issues such as gum recession. There are various options to choose from, such as:
- Composite restoration
- Dentin bonding agents
- Desensitizing agents
- Orthodontics
- Pink porcelain or composite
- Removable gum veneers
- Surgery
For those seeking a natural-looking, tooth-colored option, composite restorations can cover the tooth root surface and fill gaps between teeth. Dentin bonding agents, desensitizing agents, and varnishes can help reduce sensitivity in exposed tooth roots, making it easier for patients to brush sensitive teeth and improve overall oral hygiene.
Patients looking for more long-term treatment options may consider orthodontics or braces to gradually correct teeth and gum margins. In more severe cases of gum recession, surgery such as a gum graft may be necessary.
“Those in need of more long-term treatment may want to consider orthodontics, or braces, to slowly correct teeth and the margin of the gum.”
Complete Health Dentistry and Orthodontics
Orthodontics involves using braces and retainers to fix teeth irregularities like crooked teeth and misaligned bites, also known as malocclusions. In more serious cases, orthodontics may be used to prepare a patient for surgery. There are three classes of malocclusions: Class 1, where upper teeth slightly overlap lower teeth; Class 2, where upper teeth significantly overlap lower teeth; and Class 3, where lower teeth significantly overlap upper teeth.
Symptoms of malocclusion can vary from mild to severe, affecting both appearance and causing discomfort when chewing or biting. It can lead to biting the inner cheeks or tongue, developing a lisp, or breathing through the mouth instead of the nose. A comprehensive dentist can correct these irregularities for optimal oral and overall health.
