Aesthetic dentistry is what we call dental care which doesn't actually maintain or improve the health of the teeth but alters the outward appearance of them to be more pleasing to the eye. Depending on the individual need, this is achieved by whitening the teeth and preparing crowns or laminates that cover the outer surface of the tooth.

Teeth whitening

Whitening is done by applying a whitening gel either in the dentist's chair or in the comfort of your home by using individually designed whitening trays. The gel used at home is slightly milder and thus the whitening process is slower. For home usage, we first take an impression mold, after which a custom-fitted whitening tray is made. The gel is applied to the trays, which are then placed in your mouth for the night. Depending on the degree of whitening you want, the process is usually continued for 1-3 weeks. The same trays can be used many times.

Laminates

Laminates are porcelain veneers that are bonded to the outer surface of your teeth. They are usually bonded with plastic cement. They are usually prepared for front teeth but also for canine teeth. Laminates are used to fix the color and shape of a tooth. To ensure bonding and to preserve the natural thickness of the tooth, the surface of the tooth has to be grinded. It requires two appointments to make the laminate. With a laminate, we can also fix a stained or fractured surface of a crown.

Crowns

The making of a crown can also be aesthetic dentistry. The entire surface of a tooth will then have to be grinded throughout. The crown is made out of porcelain and can be placed farther away in the arch than a laminate because of its better durability. The bonding of a crown to a tooth is also done with cement.

Ceramic composite fillings

Ceramic composite fillings are naturally a part of reconstructive dentistry, not merely aesthetic dentistry. Because of their natural tooth colour they are, however, besides their other characteristics also very much aesthetic. The current composite fillings are also durable. About 80 per cent of the composition of this so-called plastic filling is ceramic.

Consult your dentist for further information.