Advances In Cosmetic Dentistry
For most people, cosmetic dentistry used to mean getting braces on their teeth
. There were other things, such as having caps put on to whiten the teeth or correct different types of flaws, but those kinds of things were mostly for the rich or famous.
These days, however, there have been so advances in this field, and it has become more common in mainstream society. With that, prices for many procedures have gone down. Though dentists still put braces on people's teeth and still whiten them with caps, they do so now in much more innovative ways.
Old Methods
If you want to go really far back, you'll see methods of cosmetic dentistry consisting of dentures carved out of wood, and teeth whitening done by barbers using nitric acid. Those were fairly ancient, and obviously flawed, methods and procedures.
As little as two or three decades ago, however, dentists were using porcelain materials to cap teeth and fill in gaps, and they've used metal braces to straighten teeth for many decades. Teeth whitening by barbers using enamel-destroying acids gave way to fluoride lozenges that also tended to brighten the smile, although later it was found that over-use of fluoride actually discolored the teeth.
New Methods
Today, cosmetic dentistry has made many strides forward. Although people do still get metal braces to straighten their teeth, the practice is rapidly becoming less common. These days, for themselves and for their children, people are opting for the new, clear, plastic aligners that you wear in stages, with each stage straightening your teeth just a little more until the desired result is finally reached.
These aligners are completely removable, which means that you can take them off to eat or brush your teeth, and the treatment is usually only needed for about a year or less. That is a significant improvement over metal braces, which some people had to wear for up to 3 or 4 years. Though dentists still use porcelain to cap teeth and fill gaps, they do so in a new way that bonds everything better.
Dentures, though still regularly used (and made out of acrylic, not wood), are starting to give way more and more to dental implants, which are basically prosthetic teeth that eventually bond naturally to the gums. Whitening procedures are much safer for the teeth, and there are a variety of them to choose from.
The Future
What should we look forward to in the field of cosmetic dentistry? Basically, just more improvements in the methods that are being utilized now. More than likely there will be advancements beyond that as well. 3-D Digital imaging of teeth, which is being used now in some cases, will probably play an increasing role in developing cosmetic procedures and prosthetics.
The good news is, cosmetic dentistry is available to a wider range of people today, including teeth-whitening treatments that can be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy. No doubt this will continue to be a positive trend.
by: Andrew Stratton
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