24 FOCUS - OCTOBER 2017 Cosmetic Dentistry Explained 462 Paxton Street, Port Perry Located across from the hospital in the Medical Associates building 905-985-8459 www.dentistportperry.com EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE From subtle changes to major repairs, your dentist can perform a variety of procedures to improve your smile.There are many techniques and options to treat teeth that are discoloured, chipped, misshapen or missing.Your dentist can reshape your teeth, close spaces, restore worn or short teeth or alter the length of your teeth. Common procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers, reshaping and contouring. Bleaching is a common and popular chemical process used to whiten teeth. Some people get their teeth bleached to make stains disappear, while other just want a whiter shade. Bonding is tooth-coloured material used to fill in gaps or change the colour or shape of teeth. Requiring a single office visit, bonding lasts several years. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the colour or shape of your teeth.Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discoloured, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked.Veneers have a longer life expectancy and colour stability than bonding. Crowns, also known as caps, cover a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and appearance. Due to their cost, they are used in cases where other procedures will not be effective. Crowns have the longest life expectancy of all cosmetic restorations. Tooth reshaping and contouring is a procedure to correct crooked teeth, chipped or irregularly shaped teeth or even overlapping teeth in a single session.Tooth reshaping and contouring, is commonly used to alter the length, shape or position of your teeth. Which procedure is right for you? Your dentist can answer any questions you may have about techniques used to improve your smile. The condition of your teeth and desired result you want often dictates the best procedure.