Costa Rica Dental Tourism – “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh
This quote caught my attention when I was searching online about dentistry, healthy teeth and beautiful smile; aside from it sharing positivity it also teaches us that having a beautiful smile and sharing it with the world can bring happiness. The problem is how can you have a beautiful smile when you have crooked, chipped or stained teeth? Instead of having a reason to smile, you might just feel shy and be ashamed to show everyone your far from perfect teeth.
But we are no longer in the dark ages where we just have to live with it, rather we are in an era where technology and science made great things possible and this includes operations and procedures which would enable us to get the perfect teeth and beautiful smile we want.
The most common solution for crooked, misaligned, stained and worn-down teeth is porcelain dental veneer. Porcelain veneers are dental laminates made of customized composite porcelain bonded to the front surface of the teeth. Since it requires minimal tooth grinding and filing of the front surface of a tooth it is considered to be the most conservative of all dental procedure.
But since we are a species of never ending possibilities due to our curiosity plus an inborn knack in innovation, a few years after porcelain veneers, a new product was introduced called Lumineers.
Lumineers are like traditional porcelain veneers in that they are thin shells fused to the front surface of tooth to hide structural imperfections and different kinds of discolorations. Both procedures provide versatility because they can both correct a number of aesthetic issues at once so the patient need not spend too much time on a dental chair. Also, porcelain veneer and Lumineers are applied in just 2 trips to the dentist’s office. They are also designed with durability and aesthetic in mind which allows them to resist wear and stain and remain resilient to last 15 to 20 years with proper care that includes daily brushing, regular flossing and dental check-ups every 6 months.
However, compared to porcelain veneers, Lumineers are significantly thinner that little to no tooth reduction is required, thus the treatment is faster and reversible. Moreover, Lumineers are highly translucent enabling them to replicate the natural appearance of tooth enamel which would then give you a beautiful smile without producing a fake appearance. Another great advantage of Lumineer over traditional porcelain veneer is that the patient won’t feel any discomfort or tooth sensitivity after the Lumineer is bonded to the tooth since very little or no tooth reduction or grinding was performed.
On the other hand, because it is significantly thinner than traditional porcelain veneers Lumineers are not advisable for certain tooth imperfections like very dark dental stains. Lumineers are also not repairable so if they get chipped or cracked, a new replacement is needed. Lastly, if you usually grind your teeth which causes excessive pressure on your teeth do not consider Lumineers as they may chip or crack or worse get dislodged.
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There is a lot of information to digest when it comes to preparing for your dental vacation to Costa Rica. Entry requirements to Costa Rica, how to find a dentist or dental clinic, what to expect for your specific procedure ( dental implants, porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, full mouth restorations and much more) and so much more.
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