Cosmetic
Dentistry in Sydney
Smile
rejuvenation can be as effortless
as a one-hour teeth whitening or
as complex as a total smile makeover.
Discover the realm of possibilities
with cosmetic dentistry by Sydney
area cosmetic dentist Dr. Phillip
F. Ajaje at his Liverpool and Mascot
offices. His talent, artistry, and
experience combine to produce amazing
results for patients, gaining him
the reputation of The Smiles Dr.
He listens carefully to your desires
and goals, and only then does he
recommend procedures that will meet
your individual needs.
In Australia today,
there is an increasing focus on
maintaining a youthful appearance.
This, of course, extends to our
mouths because when we smile, we
show our teeth. In recent years,
more people have become concerned
about having teeth that are straight
and free of stains, chips or other
obvious imperfections.
This is encouraged
by popular television shows that
provide makeovers. Advertisements
for whitening agents have become
very common on television and in
newspapers and magazines. Numerous
articles are written about bleaching
agents and smile makeovers. As a
result, people often want their
teeth to be perfectly uniform and
dazzlingly white. Dental offices
have responded to consumer demand,
and offer many services such as
porcelain Veneers, bleaching, replacement
of amalgam (silver) fillings with
white fillings, and bonding procedures.
No one's sure how
many cosmetic dental procedures
are done each year. More than 95%
of dentists offer bleaching products
and virtually all dentists perform
some types of cosmetic services.
Advances in cosmetic
techniques have also made it possible
for dentists to repair damaged teeth
without using amalgam or gold.
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Good
as New
Dentists have been doing cosmetic
restorations for decades, but the
materials that were used, such as
the early composite resins, tended
to stain, chip and change colour
over time, which limited their use.
New composite resins (tooth-coloured
fillings) and porcelain veneers
are strong, long-lasting and resist
colour change over time. A few decades
ago, people who chipped or broke
a tooth either lived with it or
had a crown (also called a cap)
installed, a time-consuming and
often expensive procedure. Crowns
still are used sometimes, but it's
often possible to "patch"
minor imperfections, chips or fractured
teeth with bonding composite resin
that can be smoothed and colour-matched
to the surrounding teeth.
A computer imaging
technique is available that allows
dentists to create "virtual
restorations" on a computer
screen. A patient who is thinking
about having work done can see what
the results will look like before
he or she makes the decision to
go forward. This imaging technique
is relatively new and is not common
in dental practices.
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Many
Choices
Teeth with space
or chips can be corrected with a
technique called bonding. For example,
your dentist can repair damaged
areas by applying a "paste"
made of a material called composite
resin. The resin comes in a wide
variety of shades. It is shaped
by your dentist and then hardens
almost instantly when it's exposed
to a special high-intensity blue
light. It can be sanded, smoothed
and polished until it closely matches
your natural tooth shade.
The most popular cosmetic dental
procedures include bonding front
teeth, whitening the teeth and using
tooth-coloured fillings, which blend
with the natural colour of teeth.
Because of advances
in dental adhesives, many cosmetic
techniques can be done with less
preparation (cutting) of the tooth's
enamel structure. Older dental materials
were held in place by the shape
of the tooth, so dentists had to
remove more of the tooth enamel
to make sure that a filling would
remain securely in place. However,
the dental adhesives used today
are very strong and can hold a filling
in place without the need to cut
away as much of the tooth surface.
There are many
cosmetic options to choose from,
depending on what you need to have
done. For example:
Stained
or discoloured teeth —
The enamel that covers the teeth
isn't resistant to stains, and the
underlying tooth structure (the
dentine) often yellows over time.
Bleaching is an option for healthy
teeth.
Chips or rough spots
— These can be filled with
a tooth-coloured material called
composite. The colour of the composite
can be chosen so that it matches
the colour of your teeth. Once the
material has been smoothed and polished,
it will look virtually the same
as the surrounding area.
Cavities or cracks —
Traditional amalgam fillings work
fine in the back of the mouth, but
most people don't want to reveal
a "metal mouth" when they
smile. An alternative is to use
tooth-coloured fillings," which
match the colour of the teeth. These
fillings are made with composite
material similar to that used to
repair chips or cracks. Some white
fillings (direct composites) are
pressed into the cavity and cured
(hardened) with a special high-intensity
blue light. Others (indirect composites
or porcelain inlays) are made in
a laboratory and then cemented in
place. They cost much more than
amalgam fillings, but are much more
attractive.
Uneven teeth —
It’s not uncommon for a tooth
to be slightly longer or have a
different shape than its neighbors.
With a procedure called recontouring,
your dentist can reshape the tooth
so that it's a better match.
Gaps between the teeth
— Small gaps can be closed
by applying composite material between
the teeth. For large gaps or other
imperfections on the surfaces of
the teeth, your dentist may recommend
veneers. Veneers are among the most
expensive cosmetic procedures. Made
from ultra-thin shells of porcelain
that come in every shade of white,
veneers are permanently bonded to
the fronts of the teeth, giving
them an entirely new esthetic appearance.
Your dentist also may refer you
to an orthodontist to correct your
gaps. The approach used to correct
the gap depends on your cosmetic
concern. Some people like or don't
mind a gap. Others are very aware
of it and want it closed. You and
your dentist can determine the best
treatment option. In some cases,
the best option is no treatment.
In others, it is bonding, veneers
or an orthodontic consultation.
Broken or crooked teeth
— If a tooth has been badly
broken or is structurally weak,
you may need a crown. Today, crowns
on front teeth are made of tooth-coloured
porcelain that can appear very life-like.
The crown may be a porcelain jacket
(all porcelain) or porcelain-fused-to-metal
crown, in which a very thin metal
coping supports the porcelain. Both
crowns offer excellent results.
The choice of crowns depends on
your bite (occlusion), your preferences
and your dentist's preferences.
The procedures available to correct
dental defects and cavities or to
improve your appearance vary in
technique and cost. Before starting
a treatment plan, you should consider
all the options and make an educated
decision because these procedures
cannot be reversed.
"It was worth
every penny," says Mr S. Richardson,
who had his teeth capped in 1995.
"I was told that they would
probably last about 10 years, but
it's been about 15 years and I haven't
had any problems."
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Perfect
Smiles
Although there is a significant
demand for cosmetic dentistry in
Australia and many of us want to
achieve an ideal, youthful smile,
be cautious about starting an extensive
and costly elective procedure to
change your appearance. If you want
to change the colour of your teeth,
be aware that teeth are rarely pure
white and you might not be satisifed
once that shade is on your smile.
A less-intense shade may be more
likely to give you the look you
are seeking.
In addition, excessive or frequent
use of bleaching agents can lead
to tooth sensitivity. Whitening
procedures can be done in your dentist's
office or at home. If you are whitening
your teeth at home, it is important
to follow the directions and to
consult with your dentist.
Cosmetic
dentistry can improve your self
image, particularly for people with
damaged or discoloured teeth. Even
simple procedures such as bleaching
or bonding can be real confidence-boosters.
Let us improve your smile, we have
the experience and are always up
to date with all the latest in cosmetic
dental practices, don't ask us our
succesful results will show you.
If you would like more information
on Cosmetic Dentistry in Sydney
then please click on the following
link....
Cosmetic
Dentistry
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you require any more information
on EMERGENCY DENTISTRY IN
SYDNEY please do not hesitate
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