Cosmetic Dental Procedures That Can Help Restore Your Smile
by Harold Coleman
Undergoing a total smile makeover can be an effective way of dramatically improving your appearance and confidence. However, you might not be aware of the various types of procedures that can be used to restore and improve your smile.
Whitening
Whitening is one of the most commonly requested cosmetic procedure. Individuals will find that their teeth will gradually become duller over the course of time. This can be particularly noticeable for individuals that smoke, drink a lot of coffee or otherwise ingest pigment rich foods. Professional whitening can be superior to home-based whitening kits due to the advanced chemicals and techniques that can be used. For example, you may find that laser whitening is needed in order to eliminate staining that may be deep below the surface of your enamel.
Tooth Shaping
Misshapen or damaged teeth can be one of the most noticeable things about your smile. While this can be an embarrassing problem to have, it is possible to correct it with tooth shaping. This process will involve the dentist manually adding bonding materials to the tooth so that its shape can be restored. While individuals may assume that the tooth will be extremely fragile following this work, the bonding material will be extremely durable and should not require major diet change or care to keep it in good condition.
Gum Contouring
Gum contouring can be another option for improving the appearance of your smile. When a person has an uneven gumline, it can make the size of their teeth appear inconsistent or much larger than normal. Gum contouring will often involve the addition or removal of gum tissue so that a more uniform appearance can be achieved. For most patients, this procedure will usually only be needed for cosmetically important teeth, but some patients may have severe enough gumline issues to lead to functional problems. For these patients, it may be necessary to perform gum contouring for the entire mouth.
Tooth Replacement
When a patient is completely missing a tooth, they will need to consider their tooth replacement options. A dental implant can provide patients with the most durable and cosmetically discrete replacement option. However, some patients may not be suitable candidates for an implant due to issues with their jaw bone being unable to support the implant. In these situations, the patient may need to opt for a bridge to replace the tooth. This option is not as durable as an implant due to the fact that the bridge will not be directly placed in the gums.
Reach out to a cosmetic dentist near you to learn more.
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About Me
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.