Did you know that 99.7% of people think that the most important asset their have is their smile? This might account for the 15% increase from 2004 to 2006 in the number of people with veneers in the U.S., and also contribute to the fact that about 600,000 people had veneers in 2007.
The main reason why veneers and other cosmetic dental procedures are sought is because of damaged, decaying, or missing teeth. For many people, following dentist recommended dental hygiene habits are not enough to prevent teeth problems. In these cases, many patients seek cosmetic dental work.
Cosmetic dentistry is identified as a procedure that improves a patient’s teeth or gums, without attempting to repair a medical condition. Some common cosmetic dental procedures include laser teeth whitening, veneers, and dental implant surgery, which also involves the use of oral sedation dentistry.
Many patients seek teeth whitening procedures because of stained or discolored teeth, which can stem from several different drink products, such as coffee and wine. Smoking can also darken the teeth significantly. If over-the-counter whitening strips do not work, laser treatment can be an effective way to remove these stains.
With dental porcelain veneers, a thin sheet of ceramic is molded and secured to the surface of the patient’s teeth. This sheet can cover a damaged tooth, and also protect it from further harm. They often produce a shiny, bright smile, which is why they are extremely popular.
Oral sedation dentistry is typically used for dental implants, because it is a surgery that requires more intricate dental work that can be painful. An artificial root, made of a titanium rod, is first drilled into the jaw socket of a missing tooth. Then a connector, called an abutment, covers the rod and connects it with a tooth-like crown. While implants do take a few months to heal, they are considered 98% successful, and are also the only cosmetic dental procedure that gives patients the feeling of natural teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry is not cheap, as dental implants alone can cost up to $4,000 per tooth. But, with the help of these procedures, thousands of Americans feel confident enough to share their most important social asset with one another. And many of them would say that it was worth the investment. See this link for more.