There are very few of us who are born with, and grow into a perfectly beautiful, white, and straight smile. If you are or have become unhappy, or dissatisfied with your smile over the years, there are plenty of cosmetic dentistry procedures that can help.
Cosmetic dentists can address a wide variety of issues like gaps between the teeth, misaligned teeth, broken or chipped teeth, and can correct discoloration for a healthier, and brighter smile.
If you’re looking for a transformation, here are 7 cosmetic dentistry procedures that can help.
1. Teeth Whitening or Bleaching
If you have deep discolorations or staining on your teeth, scheduling yourself in for a teeth whitening appointment is one of the least expensive ways to improve your smile. This cosmetic procedure is done in a dentist’s office, usually after having all plaque, tartar, and food debris scraped away, but it can also be done at home with custom whitening trays. If you’re looking for a brighter smile, check-in with your dentist to see if your teeth would benefit from a teeth whitening appointment.
2. Dental Veneers
These are wafer-thin, custom-made, porcelain or composite resin shells that mimic your natural teeth. This type of cosmetic procedure is used to treat dental issues like crooked teeth, cracked teeth, damaged enamel, and to cover up noticeable gaps between teeth. These thin shells are bonded (cemented) to the front of your teeth, changing the outer surface’s shape, color, length, or even size.
3. Dental Crowns
Also known as “caps”, dental crowns are custom-designed to fit over your whole tooth. They are meant to help restore the strength, appearance, size, and shape of an entire tooth that is either poorly shaped, severely decayed, has had large fillings, or has been severely chipped or broken. Dental crowns are often made from metal, acrylic, ceramic, or resin, and are sometimes used to cover spaces between teeth.
4. Dental Implants
A dental implant is a cosmetic option designed to replace missing teeth with an artificial one. The implant is most commonly made out of titanium metal, and is surgically placed into the jawbone underneath where the missing tooth is. The implant acts as an artificial tooth root, fusing with the jawbone over time. When the jawbone completely heals and fuses with the titanium implant, it becomes secure and is then used as an anchor to attach an artificial tooth such as a crown, bridge, or denture.
5. Teeth Shaping
This is another low-cost cosmetic dentistry procedure that can fix up a tooth that is misaligned, cracked, chipped, or is uneven. Also known as “enamel shaping”, a cosmetic dentist will file or remove a very small portion of your tooth’s enamel, then either smooths it out, trims it, or lengthens it. The procedure is painless, and you’ll notice the improvement immediately.
6. Tooth Bonding
A dental bonding procedure uses tooth-colored resin to repair a decayed, chipped, or broken tooth. This resin is applied to the tooth, and is hardened by shining a laser or ultraviolet light onto it. As the light hardens the resin, it bonds with your tooth. The dentist will shape it, trim it up, and then polish it.
7. Orthodontics
There are also more comprehensive, and more invasive procedures under the orthodontics umbrella that can help you if you have alignment issues. While you could look at orthodontics as the process of straightening your teeth, it’s actually quite complex, and involves treating conditions like overbites, underbites, crossbites, and misplaced midlines. It can also help correct spacing issues and teeth crowding.
If you are considering any of these cosmetic dentistry procedures, make sure to sit down with your cosmetic dentist and have a conversation about which one will best suit your needs. Not all cosmetic dentistry procedures are covered by insurance, as some are considered elective, so this may change the route you want to go when making your final decision.
If you’d like to come for a dental visit and/or have any questions, feel free to get in touch today.
