Who doesn't want a perfect smile? While few people have one naturally, almost anyone can get one with the help of their dentist. In addition to orthodontic treatment, which can straighten your teeth, recent advances in dental materials and techniques offer near-perfect teeth that are almost as strong as the originals.
Things your dentist can do to improve your smile include
- Bleaching to make teeth whiter
- Repairing chips or rough spots with fillings that match your teeth
- Filling cavities with tooth-colored materials
- Reshaping teeth that don't match the others
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Covering broken teeth with porcelain crowns
- Smile Makeovers: Cosmetic Dentistry Today(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31846/t.32484/pr.3.html
- Considering Cosmetic Dentistry(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31846/t.32269/pr.3.html
- How Can My Dentist Improve My Smile?(Academy of General Dentistry) - http://www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1196
- Bonding(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.32226/t.32136/pr.3.html
- Bridges(American Dental Association) - http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bridges.asp
- Crown Lengthening(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.32576/t.29584/pr.3.html
- Crowns(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31905/t.31914/pr.3.html
- Dental Implants(American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) - http://www.aaoms.org/dental_implants.php
- Diastema (Gap between Teeth)(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.32219/t.86520/pr.3.html
- Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.32576/t.32603/pr.3.html
- Recontouring(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.32226/t.32165/pr.3.html
- Ridge Augmentation(American Academy of Periodontology) - http://www.perio.org/consumer/ridge.htm
- Soft Tissue Grafts(American Academy of Periodontology) - http://www.perio.org/consumer/grafts.htm
- Tooth Whitening(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31905/t.32546/pr.3.html
- What Are Veneers?(Academy of General Dentistry) - http://www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1363
- Whiter Teeth: What Works?(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31846/t.32483/pr.3.html
- Bone Augmentation and Nerve Repositioning(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery) - http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.32575/t.34985/pr.3.html
- ADA Dental Minute(American Dental Association) - Requires media player - http://www.ada.org/public/media/videos/minute/index.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Modified genioplasty and bimaxillary advancement for treating obstructive sleep apnea... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18718413&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Biological basis for soft tissue management in implant dentistry. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18498584&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Does orthodontic treatment affect patients' quality of life? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18676797&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cosmetic Dentistry -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=esthetics,dental[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Glossary of Dental Terms(American Dental Association) - http://www.ada.org/public/resources/glossary.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.ada.org/public/espanol/glossary.asp
- Find a Dentist: ADA Member Directory(American Dental Association) - http://www.ada.org/public/disclaimer.asp
- Find a Periodontist(American Academy of Periodontology) - http://www.perio.org/consumer/1a.html
- Academy of General Dentistry - http://www.agd.org/
- American Academy of Periodontology - http://www.perio.org/
- American Dental Association - http://www.ada.org/
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National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/
- Esthetic Dentistry(American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) - http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/esthetics.asp
- Teens: Want a Brighter Smile? Visit the Dentist, Not the Shopping Mall(Academy of General Dentistry) - http://www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1123
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Here Comes the Bride... and Her Teeth Are Nice and Bright(American Dental Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/jada/patient/patient_38.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.ada.org/public/espanol/patient/whitening_bride.pdf
- Child Dental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childdentalhealth.html
- Dental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dentalhealth.html
- Gum Disease - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gumdisease.html
- Orthodontia - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/orthodontia.html
- Tooth Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/toothdisorders.html
- Mouth and Teeth - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mouthandteeth.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cosmetic Dentistry is the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research - http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/
Cosmetic Dentistry - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/cosmeticdentistry.html