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Cosmetic dentistry makeover simulation pictures |
This picture illustrates a condition that dentists term "white spot lesions." White spot lesions are the first readily visible evidence of tooth decay formation.
When dental plaque lies on the surface of a tooth the acid waste products created by the bacteria that live in the plaque etch away some of the mineral content contained in the tooth's enamel. As more and more mineral content is leeched out of the enamel its appearance becomes changed. The enamel starts to take on an opaque white appearance (hence the term "white spot lesion").
If dental plaque is permitted to continue to lie on the tooth's surface the decay process will progress until finally a point is reached where so much mineral content has been lost that a hole has formed in the tooth and a filling is needed. On the other hand however, if the tooth's surface is kept plaque free, the cavity formation process can be halted. But since the mineral content of the enamel has already been altered its color will remain bright white.
In this example it seems that the white spot lesions developed when this person was undergoing orthodontic treatment (braces). We've draw lines on the image to show the outline of the cement that held this person's orthodontic brackets in place. The enamel lying underneath this cement was protected from the effects of the dental plaque that accumulated around the brackets. The surrounding tooth enamel was not, however, and as a result white spot lesions formed.
It is possible that the white spot lesions seen in this example might just be a cosmetic dilemma, as opposed to a structural one. However, it would take an evaluation by this person's dentist to make this determination. It is possible that now that this person's braces have been removed that the effectiveness of their brushing technique has improved. If so, the decay process that created the white spot lesions may now be under control. If this is the case, even though this person's teeth are not attractive, they may be structurally stable.
One cosmetic solution for this case could be for this person's dentist to place white fillings in those regions where the white spot lesions have formed. Actually, some of the very faintest of the white spot lesions might just buff off and not even require the placement of a filling. Once again however, only the dentist performing this treatment can make this determination.
One difficulty with the white filling approach is that there seems to be variation in the coloration of this person's teeth in different regions. It may be difficult for the dentist to place white fillings that match well. If this is the case, the dentist and patient might decide that a better approach is to place porcelain veneers since they cover over and uniformly change the appearance of the entire front side of a tooth.
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