Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way in recent years. Gone are the horse-like veneers and whiter-than-white hues reminiscent of a beauty pageant winner. These days, dentists are taking the less is more approach and focusing on natural-looking aesthetic dentistry. Restoring your teeth to their most natural state is the primary focus of cosmetic dentistry in 2018, and this can be seen in the latest trends.
Natural Restoration
Probably the most popular kind of natural restoration is replacing amalgam fillings with a composite alternative. This helps to improve the appearance and has added benefits such as removing mercury from the fillings. Dentists are also moving towards more natural restoration methods such as tooth-coloured inlays and onlays in order to improve symmetry and colour.
Gum Contouring
One way to dramatically change the look of your smile is through contouring. This involves reshaping the gum to make the teeth appear longer and more shapely. If you are self conscious about having a gummy smile, this can be the ideal solution. If you have two prominent front teeth, this is a popular way to make the teeth around them match and therefore improve the appearance.
Dental Implants
If you thought dental implants were only for older people, think again! Dental implants are set to become very popular in 2018 as the treatment gets more accessible. In the past, people have been afraid of the procedure as it sounds fairly intimidating, but patient experiences will tell you that it’s no worse than a tooth extraction. As we’ve outlined before, dental implants are the perfect combination of aesthetic and function. If you’re looking for a long-lasting and natural looking solution for missing teeth, this is a one-stop shop.
Teeth Whitening
Hopefully 2018 will be the end of ineffective over-the-counter teeth whitening methods and at-home solutions. Teeth whitening is a lot safer and a lot more effective than it was five or ten years ago. You can now walk into a dentist’s office and walk out one hour later with teeth whiter than ever before. So there’s really no need to waste time with messy trays and syringes of whitening solutions. Here’s to more natural looking white teeth in 2018!
Quick Straightening Methods
Once upon a time, getting braces meant a mouth full of metal for upwards of a year. Thanks to advances in technology, minor problems can now be fixed in as little as 3 months and you don’t have to wear fixed metal braces. Clear aligners are becoming increasingly popular and can now be used to treat a range of orthodontic problems. There are also tooth coloured brackets and wires for those who still want the fixed method. Or, if you’d rather no one can see your braces, you can try lingual braces which sit behind the teeth. Whatever your alignment problems, there’s an orthodontic solution to suit your needs.
For people who are afraid of the dentist or just haven’t been in quite a few years, now it a great time to book in a visit and see what new treatments your dentist specialises in. You might be surprised at how far dentistry has come in the past five years.
Rebecca Harper is a freelancer writer and trainee surgical nurse based in Manchester. She is passionate about the role of technology in disrupting the surgical industry and patient care.
