Cosmetic dental procedures are believed to enhance the appearance of the teeth along with providing aesthetic benefits like whiter, perfectly shaped, and sized teeth, etc. A cosmetic procedure can range anywhere from a minor fix to major surgery. These procedures are very popular amongst the public since they can restore the confidence of the individual to a great extent. Teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental crowns, dental bonding, etc. are some examples.

Cosmetic dental procedures like these can not only provide aesthetic benefits but can also promote good oral hygiene, improvised oral functioning, and overall enhanced oral health. Let us see how.

Improving the bite and ability to chew

When the patient has misaligned and crooked teeth, eating becomes an everyday struggle. They experience sharp pain and often food particles get stuck in their teeth. Cosmetic dental procedures like gum lifts, gum grafts, Invisalign, etc. help with reshaping the teeth and help the patient in chewing better.

A gum lift procedure raises and shapes the gum line. In a gum graft procedure, a little piece of tissue is cut from a healthy gum area and is attached to the area that has worn off. An Invisalign has to be worn by the patient to see effects in 12 to 18 months.

So, besides improving the appearance of the smile, the biting function of the teeth is also restored.

Freedom from dental pain

Misaligned and crooked teeth can cause sharp pain when chewing food.  Not only that, but the chances of injury are also higher in crooked teeth. Cosmetic procedures provide relief by correcting the shape of the teeth and smoothing the sharp edges that may have caused damage and injury to the patient. Food particles also stop getting stuck in teeth.

Dental implants and tooth reshaping procedures can help here. The dental implant procedure involved the replacement of the tooth root with metal posts and replacing the real, damaged teeth with an artificial one. Teeth reshaping is an affordable cosmetic surgery procedure in which misaligned and chipped teeth are corrected.

All sorts of pain caused by misaligned teeth can be minimized by such cosmetic dental procedures.

Improving oral hygiene

Crooked and chipped conditions of the teeth can make them difficult to clean. During cosmetic dental procedures, the gums are also treated and corrected as required. This causes both the teeth and gums to be properly shaped and well maintained.

Teeth reshaping procedures help by aligning the teeth in the proper place and making them easier to care for. It allows hygiene tools like toothbrushes and floss to reach and clean the inside parts of the teeth better than before.

Many patients have also reported that the improved smile brings them confidence, and to maintain this confidence they enthusiastically take care of their teeth and keep them hygienic. This leads to better general oral hygiene.

Better jaw alignment and functionality

In some patients, along with teeth, jaws can also be misaligned. Jaw misalignment can cause chewing problems in patients.

A jaw surgery that comes under cosmetic procedures, can help with improving and correcting the shape of the jaw, improving the facial structure. In the procedure, the teeth and jawbones are cut and then repositioned. It can also help restore jaw function. Therefore, the patient can chew food without any jaw-related problems.

Better teeth and gum health

A cosmetic dental procedure guarantees an improved smile. But it is a little-known fact that the procedure also includes working on the teeth and gums.

 Procedures like bonding help in keeping the teeth intact. It is a procedure in which teeth-coloured resin is applied to the teeth with the help of a special light. The light helps in binding the resin material to the teeth to make them stronger.

On the other hand, gum contouring can help correct and restore an uneven and damaged gumline. This is how cosmetic procedures help in improving teeth and gum health.

Preventing future damage of teeth

Along with fixing the current dental problems of the patient, cosmetic dental procedures also help in preventing damage to the teeth in the future. For example, dental implants help in preventing damage to the gums. In the procedure, the roots are replaced by metallic posts. Whereas, dental crowns protect the teeth from a break down and deterioration. During the procedure, the crown is placed over the teeth, covering almost all of the teeth.

Preventing future tooth loss

Cosmetic procedures like a dental implant help in preventing future tooth loss. Implants do so by supporting nearby teeth. By using the support of the nearby teeth, all the teeth can stay fit in their gum sockets and maintain a good grip. Teeth without such support can lean into the mouth space and are at the risk of falling out.

Preventing bone loss

Bone loss occurs when the bone supporting the teeth shrinks due to an infection or disease. It causes the teeth to loosen and break off from the gum socket. It is a painful condition and cannot be reversed. Cosmetic procedures such as a dental implant can help prevent such conditions.

A dental implant helps in preventing bone loss by acting as an actual tooth root. It stimulates the tissue of the jawbone. This creates pressure required by the jawbone to remain healthy. If this pressure is absent, the jawbone can deteriorate leading to bone loss.

Dental implants can help your teeth even further if they have suffered adverse effects from a previous dental procedure. For example, people with dentures often experience a shrinkage in their jaw. It affects the facial structure negatively and impacts overall appearance. The implant can help in this condition and can save the jaw from decorating and the facial structure from disrupting. Sometimes it happens that a patient does not have enough jaw tissue to use in dental implants. In such cases, grafting can be performed, a little piece of tissue is taken from another gum area that is healthy, and is placed on the required site.

These are some of the cosmetic dentistry procedures that are often performed. Consult your dentist if you think you may benefit from a cosmetic makeover of your teeth.