Cosmetic Dentistry
Achieving a Healthy teeth and a Beautiful smile.
What is Cosmetic dentistry !?
Focusing on aesthetic factors, cosmetic dentistry tries to restore the ideal color, tone, and shape of your teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry aims at bringing you not only healthy teeth but also beautiful appearance and a great confident smile by using aesthetic, high quality materials not covered by Japanese health insurance.
Your teeth not only play a major role in speaking and digesting food, but they also decide your facial looks and make a great first impression.
With a beautiful smile you can be sure to make an invigorating, clean and bright impression!
You can build your confidence by brightening your smile or straightening your teeth with the use of orthodontics. These are ideal ways to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Indeed people can enjoy both physical and psychological benefits by correcting unattractive teeth with cosmetic dentistry.
We hope that as many people as possible get benefit from cosmetic dental treatments and achieve “a nice and beautiful smile.”
Kenji Tsuchiya, “Whitening Shade No Shinbi-Hotetsu” Shika-tenbo/bessatsu
Whitening-Shinbi Shika no main stream 93-101,2003.p.101 figure 5-9, & 5-1
Aesthetic Check
Whitening
A great smile is an expression of your inner beauty.
If you are not confident about your teeth that will show and it will not allow you to live up to your real potential.
Yes, first impressions depends on your smile and how good you feel about your teeth.
Two ways to make teeth appear whiter:
- Bleaching (does not require cutting or grinding)
- Ceramic Veneers or Crowns (require cutting or grinding)
There are three types of teeth whitening systems;
- Home Whitening System
- Office Whitening System
- Internal Bleaching
The best method of whitening will be recommended depending on the type of discoloration for your teeth.
- The Major Causes of Teeth Discoloration
- Intrinsic Staining
- Intrinsic staining can either be inherited (usually yellowish) discoloration, (or) congenital discoloration.
- Discoloration due to Old Restorations and Traumatic Injury
- Gradual discoloration also occurs when dead nerves and blood vessels are removed is removed from a decayed tooth causing the blood supply to the tooth to be lost.
Discoloration occurs on the surface of old metal restorations in the oral cavity. - Aging Discoloration
- As we age, our teeth will become yellow because the enamel on our teeth becomes worn and thinner and the dentin gets darker.
The cause of teeth staining comes from eating foods/drinks that stain, smoking or from poor oral hygiene.
Home Whitening
We make custom whitening trays that fit your teeth. This system uses whitening solution retained in a custom-fitted tray that is worn over your teeth for about 2hours.
Results are usually seen after two weeks to a month. Prolonged treatments may be necessary depending on the condition of your teeth.
IN-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is a bleaching procedure that takes place in the dental office.
Upon examining the surface condition of your teeth, a special light is used to activate the hydrogen peroxide whitening gel that penetrates the teeth to remove stains and discoloration. This procedure usually requires one to three office visits but may require more depending on the condition of your teeth.
Ryuichi Kondo : “Whitening ga Shika Shinryou ni mo ta ra su mo no.” Shika-tenbo/bessatus Whitening-Shinbi Shika no main stream 6-15,2003 p.11 figure9-1,figure5-1
Non-Vital Tooth Bleaching (walking bleach)
Non-vital tooth bleaching system can be performed on a tooth that has had root canal treatment.
The bleaching agent is introduced into the pulp chamber after the root canal is treated. If the discoloration has lasted for long time the desired result may not be achieved.
Kenji Tsuchiya: “Shikan shufuku wo hitsuyou to shinai seibutsugakuteki shikan syufuku chiryou” Shika gikou, 30(11):1355-1368, 2002.p.1360 figure C, figure D
Air Polishing treatment “Dental Treatment”
Using air polishing device, “white teeth treatment” involves removal of heavy stains and plaque, smoothing the surface of teeth, and coating of enamel surface with hydroxyapatite particles. Not like a regular tartar removal, it uses a special machine to deliver a stream of fine powders to the tooth surface through water spray and compressed air.
- The Effect of Air Polishing
-
- Less plaque accumulation on teeth
- Less stains on teeth
- Restoration of enamel surface smoothness
- Air polishing treatment is recommended：
-
- After teeth cleaning ・・・・to help with enamel care
- During & After orthodontic treatment・・・less plaque accumulation on teeth
- After whitening ・・・・ maintaining the whiteness of your teeth
- If bad breath is a concerned・・・prevention of bad breath
- Sticky and slimy teeth (plaque)・・・keeps your mouth refreshed
- Worried about stains and discoloration ‥‥ prevention of stains
Laminate Veneer
Ceramic laminate veneer is a restoration technique that involves shaving a thin layer of outer tooth surface and bonding the shell-like ceramic tooth covering to create a cosmetic improvement on the appearance of the tooth.
A laminate veneer is used when whitening is not working well or when there are wide spaces between teeth. Veneers can completely reshape your teeth and smile. They can often be alternatives to crowns and the ideal solution in treating many dental conditions.
Veneers can be used for discolored old composite fillings around the anterior teeth.
Veneers require two visits and it is a faster process than other treatment options.
Kenji Tsuchiya: “laminate veneer shufuku to suruka crown syufuku to suruka” Hotetsu Rinsho/betsusatsu bonding restoration. 62-75.2002. p. 74-75 figure 13.
Ceramic Treatment
Ceramic Crowns, Hybrid Crowns
Ceramic and hybrid crowns can be used to improve the appearance of the discolored teeth. If a tooth is damaged or of poor quality, a new ceramic crown is probably the best solution. Installation is fast.
The end result is fantastic. Some reasons why ceramic crowns are used is in cases when traditional whitening does not work, teeth that are covered by an unattractive metal crown, and crowns that are too white and unnatural looking.
Your dentist will reduce the tooth in size to allow it to accept the crown, followed by taking an impression of your teeth. The crown will then be made and fitted on the second visit.
You can pick the level of whiteness for your new porcelain crown. In just a short period of time you can have straight teeth or a brighter smile.
If orthodontic treatment is preferred we will gladly refer you to an orthodontist.
There are two types of crowns which are available: ceramic or Hybrid.
A ceramic crown will not change color and will last for a long time as apprised to a Hybrid crown.
This crown can give you amazing results making your teeth look natural and healthy. On the other hand, a hybrid crown tends to become discolored with poor color reproducibility in comparison to ceramic crown.
Chorou Yamazaki et al: “Saizensen no shika yo CAD/CAM shisutemu wo Saguru-tokucyou to rinshourei kara “purosera system” wo hyouka suru” Shika Gikou 29(6):781-801.2001.p.794 figure 1-1 p.797 figure 1-15.
Ceramic Inlay, Hybrid Inlay
Ceramic & hybrid Inlays are restorations used in treating minor to moderate tooth decay and replacing old, metal fillings. Inlay is a restoration placed on the occlusal and proximal surface of posterior tooth.
Porcelain inlay is one of the esthetic restoration to replace the metal restoration.
Porcelain may break with extreme biting forces.
The inlay can be made of ceramic or hybrid (composite resin). Ceramic inlays do not change color over time, matching with the natural color of your teeth compared to hybrid inlays which will change color over time.
Jyunji Tagami: “Mondai Teigi: Kyuushi syuufuku no genjou wo kangaeru-metal inlay ka resin jyutenka-Shika Tenbou 97(3): 482-488. Figure 4, figure 5
