The past few decades have significantly changed cosmetic dentistry. Advancements in medical technology have made it possible for people to keep more of their natural teeth by preventing infections and restoring ones that become damaged. With new materials and technology, we can save teeth and transform their appearance in a way that is both natural looking and durable.
In the past, most dentists would look at an infected tooth and pull it. Over the years, dentists moved toward restorations but would still use a sliver amalgam crown to complete the process, especially after something like a root canal. While ceramic has been used in dentistry for over a hundred years, it wasn’t durable enough to be a popular solution.
The 1980’s changed that and made ceramic or natural looking dentistry, mainstream. The reason is simple; resin cement was invented. This cement allowed cosmetic dentistry offices to bond a ceramic crown directly to a natural tooth. This made the crown far more durable so that patients could eat like normal without worrying about damaging their crown or causing it to pop off. This change, while seemingly simple, solved a common problem and made natural looking crowns and veneers more accessible.
This technology was also used to make a dental bridge possible. A bridge restores a missing tooth by placing a dental crown on the two teeth surrounding the missing one and using those teeth to hold a natural looking bridge in place. Resin cement is a necessary component of this process, making a bridge a widely available solution starting in the 1990’s.
After the invention of resin cement, a lot of Hollywood stars had their teeth corrected using veneers and crowns. Stars like Tom Cruise, used to have teeth that were misshapen, stained, irregular sizes, and crooked. The winning smiles that you see on television now did not exist before cosmetic dentistry. In fact, in many places throughout the world – they still don’t. We know, however, that a beautiful smile can drastically improve a persons’ appearance, and as celebrities started using these procedures, the rest of America followed suit. People throughout the world now think of Americans as people with beautiful smiles.
In our cosmetic dentistry office, we regularly help people that want to replace their old metal crowns and fillings with natural looking ones. We can remove an old crown that was perhaps put in place in the 80s or early 90s and replace it with a strong and durable ceramic one by using resin cement to bond it to the tooth. Those that are looking for additional stability can also benefit from using ceramic-on-metal crowns that provide the best of both worlds. We recommend that front teeth are covered in all-ceramic crowns for the most natural appearance. By taking care of your crowns with a good oral hygiene routine, they can last for years and remain comfortable.
Dental technology has continued to advance, and while the 1980’s saw a major improvement with the invention of resin cement, there are new procedures and techniques being invented today. To learn more, call and schedule your appointment.
