Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

One of the few times people look forward to visiting the dentist is when they are having cosmetic work done, such as whitening their teeth, or having caps put on to fix crooked or chipped teeth. A cosmetic dentist (like those at Ash Dental) specialises in this kind of work, which is designed to make you feel more confident and secure in your smile. But there are also some less common procedures that are becoming more popular, so if you're looking for new ways to individualise your smile, here are some ideas.

Dental Tattoos - Like skin tattoos, dental tattoos are meant to make a statement, except instead of etching your epidermis, you etch enamel. Dental tattoos are available when a cosmetic dentist places a crown in your mouth. A crown is an artificial tooth that is seated in your mouth after a procedure such as a dental implant. The crown is shaped like a normal tooth and it hides the fact that you've lost an entire tooth or a portion of a tooth by covering the area with a device that mimics the look of a real tooth. Tattoos are drawn and sealed onto a crown before it's seated in your mouth. Dental tattoos are either permanent or temporary. Permanent dental tattoos are etched onto your crown with a drill and cannot be altered or removed. Temporary dental tattoos are created using templates and are removable. Tattoo choices are only limited by your imagination, just like skin tattoos. You can tattoo faces, animals and logos onto your teeth, with the front teeth being the most commonly-chosen area. One huge benefit of dental tattoos over skin tattoos is that there is no pain or discomfort with dental tattoos, as the entire process is completed prior to the seating of your crown.

Gold Teeth - Hip hop stars have made a mouthful of gold teeth an emblem of pop culture excess and relevance, but you don't have to be famous for a cosmetic dentist to fix you up with gold teeth. In truth, gold teeth are actually caps that are added to your existing teeth. Gold is sometimes used to make dental crowns, because it is very strong material that extends the life of a crown and protects against cracking and breakage. Depending on your budget, you can have gold caps that are 10 karat, 14 karat, 18 karat and 24 karat. You can also choose yellow or white gold, and add accents such as a crucifix, half-moon, gemstone design or heart for a more distinct appearance. Gold caps are bonded to your teeth, so to remove them, a dentist has to use a drill, but as far as making a bold statement with your smile, gold may be the way to go.