 Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is the field of dentistry that relate to improving the appearance of patient's smile. It is involved with improving teeth that misalign, over-space, over- gap, mis-shape, discolored. Most cosmetic dentistry involves the whitening of teeth, veneers, or other restorative procedures. Cosmetic dentistry differs from traditional dentistry, which focuses on the maintenance of good oral health and hygiene, and treating any maladies related to the patient’s oral health. Veneers, whitening treatments, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures have been available for many years.
Teeth Whitening
Whiter teeth have now become a status symbol, and Hollywood stars and other celebrities have popularized the need for a whiter, brighter smile. For this reason, there are newer and better procedures now available in the field of cosmetic dentistry to ensure one can get the much-coveted bright white smile.. There are many teeth whitening system in Market but most dental clinics in Thailand use LED/cool light technology because of lower costs of equipments. However, there are also other systems such as plasma, laser. The procedures of each system are quite similar. Dentist will use light to activate teeth whitening gels on the teeth. Teeth whitening is quite common for cosmetic dental procedure because of ease of procedures. Teeth whitening can be done within one single visit and effectively with optimal results in the office of the cosmetic dentist, as opposed to do-it-yourself kits at home. Certainly, home whitening products are effective, but the time required to achieve desired results is far longer than having the procedure performed by a cosmetic dentistry professional.
Dental Veneer
Porcelain veneers, also termed dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are one of cosmetic dentistry’s more recent developments. Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that can be bonded onto the front side of teeth to make a cosmetic improvement in the teeth’s appearance. Porcelain veneers are routinely used to idealize teeth that are:
- Stained or discolored
- Worn
- Chipped
- Misaligned
- Alternative to orthodontic treatment
In Thailand, there are mainly 2 materials of veneers; porcelain and composite. For porcelain, most Thai dentist should Empress Esthetic or Empress Emax system. For decades dentists have had available to them materials that can create a durable bond to tooth enamel. These bonding materials are used to securely attach a thin sheet of porcelain (the porcelain veneer) to a tooth. Although porcelain is inherently brittle, when it is firmly bonded to a sturdy substructure (a tooth) it becomes very strong and durable.
Composite vs Porcelain veneer |
