Many cosmetic dental treatments are actually esthetically-focused options for restorative dental procedures. While not everyone can benefit from them, these restorative-based cosmetic treatments help your smile stay beautiful and healthy at the same time.
Composite and Porcelain Fillings
Dental fillings restore teeth which have experienced a mild amount of decay. Unless the cavity in question is large enough to warrant a crown, fillings rebuild the strength of the smile once the decay is removed.
Traditionally, dental amalgam would be used as the material of a filling; however, this dark-colored mixture of metals has a negative impact on the appearance of the smile. Instead, our practice uses fillings made out of composite resin and dental porcelain. Both of these materials look like naturally healthy tooth enamel. Additionally, when restoring a very small cavity, composite fillings need less of the remaining healthy structure to be removed for successful placement than amalgam fillings require.
Porcelain Crowns
Larger cavities that cannot be treated by fillings require dental crowns. These caps cover a tooth entirely, bolstering its durability and sealing it off from the oral bacteria that cause cavities. Crowns traditionally had to be made of metal, either a silver-colored alloy or a gold alloy, but there are cosmetic options as well.
Our practice exclusively uses crowns made of dental porcelain. These restorations look like naturally healthy teeth, so they blend easily into the smile’s appearance and improve it. Additionally, porcelain as a material is resilient enough to meet the needs of most patients, so the durability provided by a metallic crown is not needed except in severe or extreme circumstances.
Dental Implants
When one or more teeth are lost, they have to be replaced to help you chew and eat effectively. The traditional solutions for restoring teeth include fixed dental bridges, partial dentures, and full dentures. However, dental implants provide a more beautiful, more effective solution.
Dental implants are a more esthetic option because their restorations are often made of porcelain and acrylic entirely, which makes them look more natural than the metallic bases that are sometimes necessary when using traditional bridges and partials. Implants are also more resilient as restorations because they rely on artificial tooth roots for support; traditional bridges and partials need healthy teeth in the smile for support, and full dentures depend on the mouth’s natural suction for support. The new teeth roots are more sturdy and do not impact the health of other teeth.
Contact Us for Cosmetic Dentistry
Bull Valley Dentistry provides cosmetic dental treatments in McHenry, Lakemoor, Johnsburg, and Woodstock. Dr. John Dano helps his patients develop healthy, beautiful teeth. For more information about our cosmetic and restorative procedures, call our practice and schedule your next appointment today!