What to Expect from Two Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Cosmetic dentistry is growing in popularity in cosmopolitan areas like Atlanta, Georgia. The field’s practitioners have a wide range of tools and procedures that they can use to improve the appearance of their patients’ smiles, including teeth whitening and composite bonding. The following explains what a patient should expect when visiting the dentist for these procedures: 

From Teeth Whitening

Over time, teeth become discolored as a result of the food we eat, the beverages we drink, the medications we take and certain habits we may have developed. Teeth whitening is performed by inserting a customized mouthpiece over your teeth that has been filled with a whitening solution. The process usually takes between one to two hours, and a patient can expect to have drastically whiter teeth after one or two visits. Whitened teeth can become stained again if proper oral hygiene methods such as brushing and flossing are not practiced.

From Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is used on teeth that are broken, decayed or discolored. During this procedure, a dental composite material that has the same appearance as tooth enamel is applied to the cavity or to the surface of a patient’s teeth. The dentist will then form the material into the shape and contour of their patient’s teeth. As a result, the bonding material will be indistinguishable from the remainder of the surrounding tooth structure as well as from the rest of the teeth in their patient’s mouth.