If you sometimes find yourself confused by medical terminology and dental terms, you aren’t alone. As you explore your options for cosmetic dentistry, you will come across several words that are unfamiliar. Whether you hope to brighten your smile or make your teeth straighter and more shapely, it will be helpful to understand certain words and what they mean for your decision-making. Here’s our abridged dental dictionary for cosmetic procedures.
Bonding: Also called cosmetic bonding or dental bonding. Bonding involves the use of composite resin to cover the visible tooth surface. After the material is applied to the tooth, it is carefully shaped and cured. This achieves one of several things: It may mask severe stains, fill gaps between teeth, add bulk to the teeth, or give the appearance that the teeth are straighter. Composite can be made to match any shade of enamel, and the procedure requires just one visit.
Gum contouring: A procedure designed to create a more symmetrical, attractive gum line. Receding gums and gingival overgrowth can cause the gum line to appear uneven, throwing the smile off-balance and distracting the eye. The procedure does not require your dentist to use a scalpel. Instead, a diode laser safely removes the tissue, allowing for faster healing.
KoR Deep Bleaching: The two-phase professional teeth whitening system offered by our office. The procedure consists of an in-office treatment accompanied by a home whitening kit. The deep bleaching treatment addresses stains caused by tobacco, coffee, and poor hygiene and lightens teeth by several shades.
Veneers: Thin porcelain shells that your dentist adheres to the surface of your tooth to treat one or more cosmetic shortcomings, the same as bonding. Porcelain is naturally translucent, making it lifelike and virtually identical to healthy tooth enamel. Unlike composite, dental porcelain is stain-resistant. With proper care, veneers can last ten years or longer. Multiple visits are necessary to take impressions and place the veneers.
About Your Shrewsbury General Dentists
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-8838 today.
