One thing is for sure. If you are not confident about your teeth, you will avoid smiling. People like to smile spontaneously … but if your teeth are discolored, misshapen, crooked, or unevenly spaced, you will do what you can to hide them. With cosmetic dentistry, your smile can be whiter, straighter, and more attractive. There are several options to achieve the results that you desire.
Composite Fillings
If you have amalgam or “silver” fillings, they can be replaced with composite fillings that are matched to the color of your teeth. If an amalgam filling is in a front tooth, replacing it with a composite filling can immediately improve your smile.
Bonding
Dentists use a bonding material matched to the color of your teeth to correct excess space between the teeth or to improve the appearance of chipped, broken, stained, or cracked teeth. This procedure can usually be completed within a single office visit. Bonding can last for several years, but it can chip, become stained, or simply wear down over time.
Enamel Shaping and Contouring
This process involves removing or contouring dental enamel to improve the appearance of the teeth. Enamel shaping and contouring is often combined with bonding. It can be used to alter the length, shape, or position of teeth and correct crooked or overlapping teeth, chipped and irregular teeth, or minor bite problems.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers can improve teeth that are chipped or worn or are poorly shaped or are slightly crooked. Veneers are also used on teeth that have excess space between them or are permanently stained. A custom-fit “shell” made of porcelain is made to cover the front side of the teeth to change the color and/or shape. The dentist buffs the teeth before cementing the veneers in place. A beam of UV light helps harden the cement, which secures the veneer to the teeth. Veneers last longer than bonding and provide an attractive smile.
Crowns
Sometimes called “caps,” crowns are a tooth-colored protection that envelopes the entire tooth. Custom-made for each tooth, crowns can restore damaged teeth, protecting them from further breakage. In addition, a crown stops bacteria from flowing into teeth, which lowers the risk of a nerve infection. Crowns are used for cosmetic improvements over a drastically discolored or damaged tooth that will resemble nearby healthy teeth and provide an even smile.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth. A titanium rod is implanted into the jawbone that provides a strong and stable root for a prosthetic crown to cover. The dental implant looks and feels permanent and is an attractive improvement for missing teeth.
Teeth Whitening
A bright smile requires white teeth and whitening teeth in the dentist’s office is the only way to rid the teeth of stains that have accumulated over time. Smoking and certain medications stain the teeth. Every sip of coffee, tea, or red wine has a discoloring effect that can only be removed by a professional bleaching process that is much stronger than the over-the-counter products available. A custom mouthpiece tray ensures that the correct amount of whitening solution reaches the teeth. The process can be completed in one or more one- to 2-hour visits.
There are other procedures that can improve an uneven gum line, teeth that look too short or too long, exposed roots, or indentations in the gums or jawbone. Consult your dentist for a consultation to determine the best option to give you the smile you will love and can’t wait to show off!
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