When you look in the mirror, do you truly love your smile? If not, you’re not the only person who has felt that way. In fact, cosmetic dentistry has a very thorough history that stretches back from ancient times to the modern dentistry we have today.
Cosmetic dentistry is a wonderful way to help patients achieve the smile goals they have been longing for in just a few simple dental appointments. Let’s look at how far dentistry has come with a cosmetic dentist in Lenox Hill.
The Beginning of Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry has made great strides over the past couple of years. Thanks to advancements in dentistry, patients have a plethora of options to gain a beautiful smile in such a short amount of time.
In ancient civilizations, dentures would be created with ivory and bone to look and act as natural teeth. Teeth were also taken from the dead or extracted and sold by live donors. Since teeth don’t tend to live too long without the proper placement, many people continued to have missing teeth and dentistry continued to advance.
The Start of a Real Profession
The Guild of Barbers consisted of dental surgeons and dental hygienists that trained and studied dental surgery as well as providing hygienic services. The Barbers would file teeth and coat them with an acid to make them appear whiter, but the acid eventually destroyed the tooth enamel and corroded teeth. Thank goodness for the professional-grade teeth whitening we have today!
Porcelain teeth became very popular in the 1800’s, not only boosting the dental economy but improving smiles at the same time. Once dentists discovered that porcelain fused with metal could create dental crowns, they continued to advance in dentistry. By the 1900’s, dental labs switched from fusing to metal to plastics and acrylics—especially for dentures. Eventually, acrylics became the standard material for modern dentures today.
Cosmetic Dental Practices Today
Early day cosmetic dentistry had a few different problems, mainly the pain that patients had to undergo to achieve the smile they really needed and wanted. The late 90’s saw a major increase in aesthetic dentistry. Bleaching, dental veneers, and dental implants are now all common cosmetic dental practices—all of that can be performed with the help of local anesthetics and sedation.
Here are a few dental procedures that a patient can discuss getting with a dentist in Lenox Hill:
- Metal-free restorations
- Cosmetic dental bonding
- Teeth whitening
- Gum recontouring
- Crown lengthening
- Digital imaging
- Virtual smile design
Your dental office may offer more or a combination of services to help you achieve the smile you truly want. If you would like to speak to a dental expert about which is best for you, feel free to reach out to your local dentist.
About Our Office
When you choose to visit the Manhattan dental practice of Dorian Tetelman, DDS, you’re choosing a dentist that truly works to stay in tune with modern advancements in dentistry. We want to stay up to date because we believe that your comfort and convenience is our number one priority. Modern solutions allow us to provide that for you while helping you reach your smile goals. Feel free to call our office to speak to one of our dentists.