Dental Implants are an alternative option given to patients requiring dentures. Dental Implants are small dental devices that are inserted into the upper and lower jaw to help restore the mouth that has little or no teeth that can be restored. Dental implants are slowly gaining on popularity because of their many advantages over age-old dentures.

For some people, particularly persons with loose or poor fitting dentures due to flat ridges, or persons with multiple missing teeth who need support for crowns and bridges, implants may be considered a more appropriate alternative to fix the appearance of missing teeth than dentures.

Implants help to accomplish the following:

▣ Helps reduce movement of dentures, bridges and/or crowns
▣ Helps in proper chewing
▣ Provide support and improved stability for removable dentures or fixed bridge work
▣ Approximate the "feel" of natural teeth better than dentures
▣ Promote "denture self-confidence", as speech and appearance are often improved

Before undergoing this procedure the main factors to be considered are the following:

▣ The health of the patient
▣ Healing abilities to injuries
▣ Placement and technique
▣ Proper handling of the implant by the patient and the dentist

There are many different types of dental implants from which to choose, including:
Artificial bone substitute

In this kind of implant the similar kind of mineral that is found in bones is used. This helps the implant to bond to the existing jaw bone. The synthetic bone substitute is placed on top of the bone to help rebuild the shrinking ridge and provide a strong support for dentures.

This type of implant is inserted into the jaw bone to serve as the tooth's root.

This type of implant, usually an option for persons who can no longer wear conventional dentures, involves a specially-designed implant that fits directly on the existing bone.

Dental implants may either be inserted by a dentist specially training in implantology, or by an oral surgeon in a hospital.

Veneers, porcelain or plastic are placed over the front teeth to change color and shape of the teeth. Veneers are ideal for teeth that are too tooth veneerssmall, too big, or have uneven surfaces. It is very common for people to have imperfect teeth, either oddly shaped teeth, chipped teeth, crooked teeth, teeth with small holes in them, or an inappropriate sized tooth or teeth that have an odd appearance. Veneers solve such irregularities and create a durable and pleasing smile.

Veneers, an alternative to crowns are very thin pieces of specially-shaped porcelain or plastic that is glued over the front of your teeth with little or no anesthesia needed. This procedure is generally recommended for those whose teeth are severely discolored, chipped, have small holes or pits, misshapen or crooked or for the correction of unwanted or uneven spaces. Unlike crowns, veneers won't require the dentist to remove much of the tooth itself in most cases. Veneers are created from an impression of your teeth made by the dentist. In some cases more tooth will need to be removed, which may increase the risk of trauma to the tooth. The veneer, which is custom made is then glued directly onto your tooth. Veneers cost less in comparison with a crown and do not stain, thus making veneers a very popular solution for many people seeking that perfect smile. Typically veneers last from ten to fifteen years and come in colors that will brighten dark teeth without the worry of them changing color.

There are two tooth veneers procedures available that correct discoloration of the teeth by removing the brown and yellow staining. While each work effectively, there are advantages and disadvantages to each procedure dependent upon your objectives and commitment to the processes. The type of procedures available should be discussed with your cosmetic dentist and they will recommend the most appropriate tooth veneers procedure for you.

When creating new smiles and smile makeovers, porcelain veneers are commonly used. The procedure can be completed in a very short period of time with satisfying results. Veneers are difficult to stain, making veneers a very popular solution for many people seeking that perfect smile. Veneers are strong and very durable and last from ten to fifteen years. They come in different colors which brighten dark teeth without the worry of them changing color. The procedure is done in two sittings which typically last for about one and a half hours.

It takes about a week or two to get used to your teeth that have been changed in color size and shape. Usually in most cases very little tooth is removed but there can be situations where more tooth has to be removed. In such cases the trauma to the tooth increases. The amount of the tooth to be removed will be discussed with you by the cosmetic dentist before the procedure.

It is common to have minor sensitivity after your teeth have been prepared for your veneers while wearing the temporary veneers.

In your first appointment, it is important to initially discuss with your cosmetic dentist that you will want to "try in" your veneers with temporary cement that is the same color cement as will be used for the permanent attachment. During this, be sure to look at your veneers in natural light in addition to the office light. Teeth are prepared for veneers by lightly buffing to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Veneers are thin like contact lenses and will usually only need tooth reduction of 0.5mm to 1.0mm. If a drastic change is being made for the result you want, reduction may be 1.0mm to 2.0mm. A mold is taken of the teeth, from which the veneers are modeled after. Temporary veneers will be placed and worn until your permanent veneers are ready. While wearing the temporary veneers, advise your cosmetic dentist of any adjustments or changes you would like made, such as in shape or size. These changes will be translated into your permanent veneers, so good communication between you and your dentist is important in achieving your new smile.

Your dentist places the veneers with water or glycerin on the teeth to verify their perfect fit and the shade or color. The color cannot be changed after the veneers are adhered to your teeth. The tooth is then cleansed with chemicals to achieve a durable bond. Once the glue is between the veneer and your tooth, a light beam is used to harden the glue/cement.

The procedure for Lumineers is different than the above traditional porcelain veneers. Still two visits, but there is little to no preparation of the tooth and no need for temporary veneers.

Composite (direct) veneers are usually performed in a single visit to your cosmetic dentist. The procedure is an application of a bond and enamel directly to the tooth's surface.

Porcelain (indirect) veneers are a very thin porcelain material. Usually porcelain veneers require two visits and also require a dental laboratory to create the final tooth restoration piece.

Made of Cerinate porcelain, Lumineers are a new type of porcelain veneers. They are contact lens-thin, roughly .2 mm thick. Little to no tooth reduction in most cases is necessary with this type of veneer and anesthetics or numbing shots are not needed.

A smile is something that bridges the large gap between any two individuals. In fact a pretty smile can disarm the strongest of opponents smile designin any argument. The teeth play a very important role in creating a perfect smile. It is necessary to have good set of teeth and to be in harmony with the face, the lip line, the curvature of the mouth, etc. The same size and shape of teeth in one smile would look very aesthetic, while in another, they would not. Dentistry is able to alter, reorganize and reposition teeth and the tooth structure can be altered in terms of color, position size and texture without any harmful effects and make it look, feel and behave in the same fashion as natural teeth.

The human body is given a set of 32 teeth of which 28 are the most important working teeth. The four third molars, more commonly known as the wisdom teeth can be discounted. When a person smiles, the teeth are seen in what is called as a "Smile Window".

These are the front 6 to 10 teeth which are also known as the anterior teeth. These comprise of one pair of central incisors, lateral incisors, canines and two pairs of premolars. The smile window displays these teeth with the upper teeth generally covering about 2/3rd of the lower teeth. In order for your smile to be appealing and aesthetic, the teeth have to be in the right proportion and correctly aligned. They need to be of the right shape and color in harmony with the rest of the face.

The factors that mainly influence smile design are

▣ Your facial shape. For example, a long face may need to accentuate width to appear more oval. Someone with attractive features in the center of the face may need bold central incisors to draw attention to that center
▣ Your image aspirations. How do you want to appear to others? A sophisticated smile gives the appearance of more intelligence, maturity and judgment. A sexy smile gives the appearance of more warmth, energy and boldness
▣ Your age, or how old you want to appear. Longer central incisors make you appear younger. Also, whiter teeth make you appear younger. Conversely, a flatter smile or a more subdued color to the teeth make you appear more mature

Along with the teeth, the gums, technically known as the gingiva also play a significant role. There is certain proportion of pink to white, which has to be maintained for the smile to be pleasing and beautiful. At times, the only difference between an excellent smile and a run of the mill smile can be heavily pigmented gums. If there is discrepancy in any of the above listed factors, the smile tends to get unaesthetic. It is not that if any one of the above conditions is not met, the looks will be totally hampered. Many a time, totally out of position teeth or disproportionate teeth may still exhibit a very pleasing smile. When the smile does get unaesthetic, the dentist can play a large role in correcting these discrepancies.

Aesthetic dentistry usually requires a lot of teamwork. Teeth which are not in the proper position, are generally corrected by moving the teeth into the correct position. Such movements may be very minor or gross shifting around of teeth. A dental specialist, known as an "Orthodontist" does shifting of teeth. If the shifting is minor, it may take only a couple of months, but gross shifting may take upto two years and involve full fledged wiring of the teeth. In case time is not available or movement of teeth with wires is not feasible, certain malpositions of teeth can be rectified by reshaping teeth by grinding and adding special materials which have the look and texture of natural teeth. Such a job can be achieved within a matter of days. Another specialist, the "Periodontist" plays a role when a discrepancy of the gums to the teeth is to be corrected. Such corrections usually require a minor surgical procedure. A Periodontist also surgically removes pigments or stains in the gums.

The cosmetic dentist looks into and rectifies other situations once the tooth movement and gum correction are done. These corrections are done by a variety of techniques. It is possible to directly bond "composite", a tooth colored restorative material, over the teeth to reshape, rectify size and color of the teeth. If the problem is severe, the cosmetic dentist uses veneers made of ceramic based materials to rectify the problem. There are many aids and tools available to be able to re-design a smile as perfectly as possible. Computer aided graphics, mock ups with special materials, etc., are some techniques which give both, the patient as well as the dentist, a good idea of what will look good and what will not.

Smile re-designing is more like a painting than just a dental procedure. The ultimate result depends on the artistic skills of the dentist, just as the artistic skills of a painter dictate the end result of a painting. The small delicate touch is what distinguishes a class work of art from just a technically correct job.

A small defect in your smile, a chipped front tooth, worn out edges, pittings and grooves on the enamel are all issues against having a perfect smile. A tooth contouring and reshaping helps u to achieve the perfect smile. The main aim of tooth contouring and reshaping is to alter the size and shape of the teeth to fix slightly damaged teeth or just to make the teeth appear in uniformity. Hence this cosmetic procedure is done on the upper central, lateral and canine teeth. Apart from having cosmetic benefits, this procedure ensure oral health gains too as smoothing the teeth and repairing overlaps can make them easier to clean, reducing the risk of infection. Reshaping can help correct problems with bite and function.

The surface enamel of one or more teeth are removed using various tools and reformed into a more attractive shape. TTooth contouring and reshapinghe imperfections and edges of surrounding teeth are smoothened and polished using a polishing tool.

An examination of your teeth is done to determine whether the defects that are present can be corrected effectively using contouring and reshaping. The dentist will also x-ray the teeth to make sure that they are healthy enough to undergo removal of a small amount of the surface enamel.

Tooth contouring and reshaping can be undertaken in one sitting although follow-up visits are necessary. Using various tools, the dentist carefully polishes off small areas of the tooth surface enamel and reforms the tooth into a more attractive shape. The edges of the newly shaped tooth are smoothed and polished, completing the procedure. An "after" photograph is made at this point to compare with the photograph taken prior to treatment so the differences can be easily seen. After contouring, the teeth are more uniform in shape and size making them appears less crowded and eye-catching imperfections are gone. The length of the procedure is dependent on the amount of changes that are being made to the teeth, but can run from under 30 minutes to over an hour.

Since only the surface enamel is removed, there is no pain involved with the procedure. Minor sensitivity to hot and cold for a day or two after the procedure would be there. But this irritation almost disappears, a short time after the procedure. Recovery for almost every patient undergoing tooth contouring or reshaping is instantaneous. Oral consumption is possible soon after the procedure. The removal of the small amount of enamel does not hurt the tooth nor is it replaced, so no healing is involved.

An ideal candidate would have minor imperfections in their teeth such as small chips, minor unevenness, slight overlaps, shallowly pitted surfaces or worn biting areas in their teeth. Other indications for this procedure would be large pointed canine teeth. It has to be noted that reshaping can be done only on healthy teeth. Hence the dentist usually has x-rays taken to ensure there are no problems.

Some characteristics of the teeth that might preclude reshaping are: thin enamel, previous extensive restorations of the tooth or surrounding teeth, recently erupted teeth, teeth having gum structure that would be disturbed by the procedure, or teeth that are still shifting. Some contouring is not recommended if it will adversely affect the patient's bite.

There are risks involved with tooth contouring. Too much of enamel may be removed which would make the tooth more susceptible to breakage or decay. The problem may re-occur if it is due to grinding of teeth. However, seeing an experienced cosmetic dentist virtually eliminates these risks.