Nowadays, more and more people are getting interested in cosmetic dentistry, either for teeth whitening or for applying on the teeth small diamonds to make them look sparkling. The teeth whitening procedure is very popular, because everyone wants to have a whiter and brighter smile. Some of the major factors that can damage our teeth are the plaque, which appears when teeth have not benefited from proper brushing, and foods, wine and tobacco, which are very harmful for your smile. Nevertheless, it is possible to remove the effects of these all by going to your personal dentist or by using some special products at home. No matter what procedure you use, the effect lasts only few months and you will have to do it again all over.

Cosmetic dentistry done at home could be cheaper than the treatments done with your personal dentist. The products you buy and use at home for the bleaching of your teeth are also very effective and many people prefer to use them, but not everybody CAN use them. Teeth whitening procedures are not wise in the case of pregnant women or women who are breast-feeding, children younger than 16, people who have sensitive teeth, peroxide allergy or gum disease.

There are many types of products you can use for your teeth whitening at home: over-the-counter whitening strips, over-the-counter whitening gels, over-the-counter tray-based bleaching systems (purchased at your local drug store, over the Internet, by mail) or dentist supervised tray-based whitening system (whitening supplies are purchased through your dentist's office). The products are effective, cheap and easy to use for your own cosmetic treatment.

At a cosmetic dentistry clinic, it is also possible to have your teeth whitened in a number of ways. The dentist can solve the problem by isolating and protecting your lips, gums, and inside lining of your mouth. Then, he or she applies a powerful bleaching agent onto the teeth.

Finally, he or she directs onto the teeth a powerful light source, which completes the procedure by activating the bleaching agent. He or she can opt for setting in action a very modern solution, the laser bleaching, by using a laser-activated gel, which is the most efficient. The procedure is much the same. The only difference is that he or she will use an argon laser for activating the bleaching agent, instead of the usual light source.

Cosmetic dentistry has also a few side effects when it comes to teeth whitening. The two side effects that can occur most often are a temporary increase in the sensitivity of the teeth and mild irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth, more often the gums. The sensitivity of the tooth often occurs during the early steps of the bleaching treatment. Tissue irritation most usually results from an ill-fitting mouthpiece tray rather than from the tooth-bleaching agent. Both of these usually are temporary and often disappear within 1 to 3 days after stopping or completing the treatment.

In addition, in cosmetic dentistry, there is another material used for making your teeth look whiter or just prettier. Veneers are very thin shells of an artificial material made to fit over the front side of a patient’s teeth and look like natural teeth. The cosmetic dentist will remove a small amount of enamel, to make space for the veneers, so the process is not reversible. Veneers are useful for masking stains, chipped, misshapen or slightly damaged teeth, or gaps or spaces between teeth.

The most common questions people ask about cosmetic dentistry in general concern the damage of the tooth enamel. Studies proved that there are no effects on the hardness or mineral content of a tooth’s enamel surface. Moreover, people ask if the teeth whiteners damage a tooth’s nerve. There is no evidence that the tooth whitening process might have a harmful effect on the health of a tooth’s nerve.

The latest trend in cosmetic dental procedures is the ornaments on teeth, mostly used by teenagers or public persons, just for fashion and looks. The jewelries applied in dentistry clinics are of many colors and sizes and offer a sparkling sensation. Of course, this can be very expensive, depending on the jewelry you would like have applied on your teeth, from simple sparkling jewels made of glass to real diamonds. The ornaments go glued on the tooth and the results can last up to 6 months.