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Diastema Closure

Before

After

Bonding

A natural tooth does not grow like natural hairs or nails. So, the only way to effectively fix the appearance of a chipped tooth is through bonding of certain tooth-colored materials to the tooth. These resins are a paste to begin with, so they can be shaped and colored to look like the rest of the tooth. Once exposed to a certain wavelength of light, the resin hardens into a permanent plastic. These materials are exactly similar to the materials used for tooth-colored fillings.

Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. The composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the color and shine of the surrounding teeth. Most often, bonding is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It also can be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth. Sometimes, bonding also is used as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede.

Besides the procedure has other advantage of getting completed in a single appointment.

However, bonding procedure has its own limitations. After receiving a composite, a patient may experience post-operative sensitivity. Besides composites have a tendency to pick up stain with time. They can chip or break over time if they are abused. It is therefore essential to follow proper home care instructions and get regular professional cleanings to keep the restored teeth healthy and beautiful.

Proper home care and regular professional cleanings are essential to keep the restored teeth healthy and beautiful.

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Veneers and Laminates

Veneers and laminates are another conservative approach to enhancing the look of your teeth. They are a thin shell made of porcelain or composite resin that is cemented to the front surface of the tooth. Like bonding, veneers are used to cover up discoloration, cracks and chipping, and to change the shape or size of your teeth. However, porcelain veneers outperform bonding with greater resilience and a greater resistance to stains and dulling. Also, they tend to look more natural than a bonded tooth.

Before	After

Cosmetic recontouring
If the esthetic problem is limited to the contour of the teeth, mere reshaping of the tooth might suffice. Although the technique is invasive involving grinding of enamel, it is safe and gives immediate results.

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Cosmetic surgeries

Gingival depigmentation: If you are conscious of your smile due to the blackish appearance of the gums instead of the normal coral pink color, consider yourself to be a candidate for this cosmetic procedure. The condition is caused by excessive presence of certain pigment producing cells called melanocytes in the gum tissue. The treatment simply involves scraping of the superficial layer of the gum to remove the pigmentation. The results are evident within 7 days of healing.

Receding gum tissue: Worried about your receding gum tissue? Relax. With the recent advances in dentistry it is now possible to cover the tooth area exposed by recession. (For details see section "Gum Diseases and Recession")

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Tooth Jewellery

The beauty of a dazzling white smile can be further enhanced by use of “Tooth Jewellery”. These jewels are made of crystal glass and are available in two different colors- crystal and sapphire blue. They are glued to the front surfaces of the upper anterior teeth. Placing these stones is a very brief procedure but it goes a long way in satisfying the dental cosmetic needs of the patient.

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