Lots of people make (and break) resolutions heading into a new year. But many people forego resolutions in favour of goals. Do your goals include a more beautiful and healthier smile and mouth? If so, your timing is good. You may be able to take advantage of some new technological innovations and trends developing going into 2021. Here’s an introduction to four cosmetic dentistry trends for 2021.
Discreet teeth straightening
Straighter teeth have long been one of the most common goals when it comes to cosmetic dentistry in Maple Ridge. When the options for getting straighter teeth were limited to traditional wire and metal braces, getting straighter often seemed like a chore and a purely clinical procedure. As options for discreet teeth whitening become more and more prevalent, though, the prospect of finally achieving straighter teeth is, for many heading into 2021, an exciting notion.
When it comes to discreet teeth straightening, the most well-known option is probably Invisalign and its invisible and removable aligners. Invisalign is not the only discreet option, though. Traditional metal braces can also be completely invisible to observers. How? Ask your dentist in Maple Ridge if you’re a candidate for lingual braces. They’re traditional wire and metal braces that are mounted to the inside of your teeth rather than out front for all to see.
New printing and milling technologies
Everywhere you turn, you’re seeing new applications of 3D printing technology computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM). Those same innovations are finding their way into dentist’s offices, too. Using 3D printing as part of cosmetic dentistry near you is not a wholly new phenomenon. If, for example, you’ve received dental implants recently, the drilling guides used to make sure they were placed precisely may have been built up with a 3D printer.
In years gone by, dental bridges and crowns took weeks to receive because the information enabling their manufacture had to be shipped to external laboratories. Today, though, many clinics offer same-day crowns and bridges. Your dentist in Maple Ridge may use CAD to collect information that is fed to a milling machine in their office that uses CAM software to guide the milling of a crown or bridge from a block of ceramic while you wait. In 2021, those same-day CAD/CAM technologies will become more common. But what’s the next step? Rather than milling restorations from blocks of ceramic, more and more dental professionals will build those same restorations from the floor up using 3D printing technology.
Digital previews
Artificial intelligence (AI) may not seem like a technology that is particularly relevant to cosmetic dentistry, but that has begun to change. The use of AI is a trend that will continue to develop in 2021, particularly as it relates to cosmetic treatments with multiple stages or lengthy treatment plans. The combination of AI and digital imaging allows a dentist in Maple Ridge to take information drawn from assessments and images to project the eventual outcome of treatment. Using AI-informed imaging, a cosmetic dentist near you can show you — before any treatment has begun — the final product of teeth straightening or other cosmetic procedures. They can even show you glimpses of interim stages along the way to keep you motivated and to make sure your treatment plan is staying on track.
Accelerating orthodontic work
Speaking of lengthy treatment plans, teeth straightening is one cosmetic dentistry option that involves a commitment of time, effort and money over many months or even up to two years. A dentist near you can offer alternatives to traditional braces that can, in some cases, shorten the length of treatment. Invisalign can produce results faster depending on a particular patient’s circumstances. That’s not particularly new, but here’s what is. A dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry near you can offer add-on services in combination with Invisalign that can speed up the treatment plan in appropriate cases. One example is the PROPEL system. PROPEL involves making tiny micro-holes in the bone tissue between your teeth to help teeth move through that bone into their proper positions more easily and more quickly.
When you’re ready to take the next step towards achieving your goals, get in touch with a dentist in Maple Ridge and ask for their help. Their goal is simple: to help you to achieve yours.