Dental Contact Lenses & Digital Smile

The Latest Cosmetic Dentistry Achievements

Cosmetic medicine entered the medical world and has become a specialty with the expansion of techniques and methods used, which aim primarily at having a charming smile and healthy teeth at the same time. A cosmetic dentist is distinguished by his ability to make a smile compatible with other facial features as well as the skin color in addition to facial dimensions and details.

Dental Contact Lenses

Dental contact lenses are the latest findings in cosmetic dentistry; the doctor will add a very thin layer, which looks like contact lenses, on the surface of the teeth to provide the desired teeth whitening outcome. The sole purpose is to get a nice smile. The dental contact lens is a ceramic layer, manufactured by a special device in the laboratory. This thin layer can make a radical change in the patient’s smile by changing the color and shape of the teeth as well as closing gaps between teeth. This advanced technology does not require removing a layer of the tooth or sedating the patient.

Veneers

Dental veneers are one of the most popular and effective treatments in cosmetic dentistry due to their ability to help the person achieve the perfect smile they desire. Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel. It is often the material of choice for those looking to make slight position alterations, or to change tooth shape, size, and/or color.

Porcelain laminate veneers consist of a compilation of several thin ceramic layers which replace original tooth enamel, and an adhesive layer. To apply a veneer, a very small amount of the original tooth enamel must be removed, usually less than a millimeter. This is essential as it creates room for the porcelain veneer to fit within the mouth and most accurately restore natural tooth function while creating an even better appearance than the original tooth.

The bond between the original tooth and porcelain veneer is critical as it not only provides the esthetic perfection desired, but also a strong bond which is essential for correct veneer function. The light-sensitive resin is placed between the original tooth and the veneer and then hardened using a special curing light. Veneers are very durable and long-lasting; the patient gets quickly accustomed to them because they do not cause any pressure on the gums or the entire jaw. Porcelain veneers are generally placed over two appointments. They usually require some slight to moderate tooth preparation including the removal of a thin layer of enamel. At the first appointment, your dentist will prepare the tooth and take an impression to create the veneer. A temporary veneer is placed between appointments. The veneer is glued to the tooth during the second appointment. Porcelain veneers have a high success rate and are very durable once bonded in place.  

Lumineers

Dental Lumineers are unique because they are ultra-thin (approximately 0.2 mm) and highly translucent, allowing them to replicate the natural appearance of enamel. Traditional veneers are little thicker, requiring the preparation of your original tooth structure. Lumineers are so thin that little to no tooth reduction is necessary. Lumineers can be used to give you white straight teeth in about two weeks. Dental Lumineers cannot dramatically change the tooth size, shape, or length of the teeth as Veneers can. If your teeth are hard to whiten, you may consider Lumineers to give you a brighter, whiter smile. Porcelain dental Lumineers offer a dramatic change. They are as thin as contact lenses and can be bonded directly to the tooth with minimal drilling. Lumineers mask imperfections and make teeth permanently as white as you desire them to be. They are made of high-grade porcelain that looks natural and blends beautifully with the surrounding teeth. Lumineers are resistant to staining or discoloration and get rid of the appearance of stained teeth.

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening or bleaching has become one of the most popular esthetic dental treatments. There are many methods used to achieve a beautiful smile. Whitening involves applying bleach solutions to the teeth. The bleach attacks the highly colored organic molecules that lodge between the crystals of tooth enamel (the outermost tooth covering) or in the dentin (the tooth material under the enamel).  Lots of in-office whitening treatments use a light or a laser during the whitening process.

The dentist/oral hygienist will clean your teeth to remove the build-up of bacteria, food and other substances which contribute to staining. The dentist will then apply a substance that covers and protects the gums around the teeth. After this is done, hydrogen peroxide will be applied to the teeth.

The main risk of tooth whitening is tooth sensitivity following bleaching and that varies with a given product’s concentration and the amount of time it is left on the teeth. If sensitivity does occur, it usually lasts no more than one to four days. Gums can also become irritated on contact with bleaching solutions or by an ill-fitting mouth tray. It’s important to wipe off excess gel from your gums during whitening and to inform your dentist of any problems.

Digital Smile

Digital Smile Design (DSD) is a treatment planning protocol that allows for careful analysis of the patient’s facial and dental structures through state-of-the-art videography and digital technology. Today, the DSD Concept is considered the most modern, patient-centered design approach available.

A set of diagnostic photographs are used for DSD. The dentist and his team make a short interview to discuss your desires for a new smile.  This interactive communication between dentist and patient captures your thoughts and also your gestures, smile, laugh, lip movements and reveals the smile you show when you are being spontaneous.

Then, a digital analysis of the face is carried out in order to calibrate these measurements with the position of the teeth in the mouth, picking up fine imperfections that may be missed and left to chance without DSD.  Drawing reference lines to reflect an ideal smile, and mapping these with existing shapes and planes, allows careful assessment of both the possibilities and limitations of case planning.  The patient then has the first opportunity to see the impact of new shapes carefully designed and appropriate tooth forms that create harmony in the face.

DSD allows providing beautiful solutions with a variety of materials, to meet all budgets.  The quality of teeth and gums determine the success rate of this technique; if the gums are weak, the dentist cannot begin with implementation because the results won’t be as expected. Healthy practices should be followed after designing the smile such as abstaining from smoking or avoiding the consumption of unhealthy food.