Dental aesthetics is the part of odontology that it is responsible for correcting all alterations of shape, colour and dental position to achieve a nice, attractive smile, complying as far as possible with the beauty objectives of each person.
The treatments covered in this section often require different professionals to do different work to achieve the overall result sought. Among the different options covered by dental aesthetics, the ones most requested by patients are:
Whitening is currently one of the most requested aesthetic dental procedures.
The colour of your teeth is determined by the individual characteristics of the dentin, so there are people that naturally have whiter teeth than others. Other factors that influence the colour of the teeth are:
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The consumption of certain foods with colourings or drinks such as red wine, herbal infusions, coffee, tea and smoking stain the surface of the enamel.
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Some medicinal products as tetracyclines, chlorhexidine and fluoride can stain the enamel and dentin.
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With age the dentin darkens and the layer of enamel thins due to wear, so teeth tend to appear more yellow.
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Blows to the teeth can cause bleeding inside their structure which gives the teeth a grey or blackened tone.
Dental whitening treatments consist of removing these marks or stains deposited on the tooth's surface or inside the tooth using different techniques that can be performed at the clinic, at home or a combination of both options.
There are many severe stains, (especially those caused by the use of tetracyclines, which cause grey or black bands of different intensities) that cannot be resolved by external whitening, but can be tackled with internal whitening with endodontics.
At the Eduardo Anitua Clinic we use techniques of external whitening, internal whitening and external whitening at the patient's home.
Veneers are fine sheets of porcelain or a composite (material used for white fillings) approximately 0.2-1 mm thick that are positioned covering the front of the teeth, after having slightly reduced the thickness of their enamel.
These veneers help us to improve the appearance of the teeth by hiding marks, shape anomalies and slight anomalies of position or size
Porcelain veneers have a texture that makes them barely distinguishable from natural teeth. In addition, they last much longer; 15 to 20 years as opposed to composites with an average life of between 5 and 10 years. At the same time, porcelain veneers maintain their sheen throughout their life and are most resistant to pigmentation than those made of resin, especially if you do not follow an adequate oral hygiene routine or have bad habits (smoking or drinking beverages such as coffee and cola, which give teeth a yellow tinge). Nevertheless, it is possible to extend the efficacy of composite veneers as much as possible with periodical check-ups and a professional clean once a year. In addition, after 5 or 10 years the veneers can be restored (by replacing their surface layer).
In terms of resistance, it must be said that both composite and porcelain veneers should not disbond with proper placement and use. Breakage is not usual in either of the two cases. If this occurs, it is easier to repair composite veneers. In contrast, with porcelain veneers, the veneer would have to be completely replaced.
Another difference lies in their placement. While composite veneers can be applied in one single session, porcelain veneers require a first preparatory session and a second for application.
Finally, a significant difference is the cost. Porcelain veneers are much more costly than composite, due to the materials used and that it is not only the odontologist that is involved, but also the laboratory staff responsible for modelling the layer. Now, considering a period of 15 – 20 years, as resin requires more care, the total cost does not vary much between the two.
Composite is an obturation material used for white fillings that allows us to restore teeth in aesthetic sectors avoiding having to use other less conservative alternatives such as a full crown.
The considerable progress made in quality of these materials makes restorations possible that are perfectly camouflaged with the teeth in which they are set, achieving a perfect appearance.
