Smiling is a natural facial expression that can leave a long-lasting impact. Whether you are smiling at someone, or to yourself, you automatically create a shower of warmth. A lot of people even say that a genuine smile is all it takes to feel in harmony with the rest of the world.
That being said, everybody should smile often. After all, smiling does not just bring happiness; it can relieve stress and boost the immune system as well. Sadly though, many folks feel like they need to have a perfect set of pearly whites to smile often, which is not the case at all.
Perfect teeth do not make a genuinely appealing smile – however, they do contribute to the confidence one feels about breaking into one. This should not be a problem as well, especially with all the cosmetic dentistry treatments available today.
Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment Options
A highly trained cosmetic dentist can create the flawless smile of your dreams. After a thorough consultation, you’ll learn the different treatment options available so you can financially prepare for them adequately. And, speaking of treatment options, listed below are the most in-demand.
1. Orthodontic Braces
Braces fix alignment issues such as an overbite, underbite, the presence of a snaggletooth, and crooked teeth.
This orthodontic treatment typically lasts at least two years. It can be much longer, depending on the gravity of your teeth alignment problem. However, one thing is for sure, once the treatment is done, you will have perfectly straight teeth and more beautiful mouth shape.
There are different kinds of orthodontic braces to choose from. Metal braces are the traditional options. They are the most affordable, but they are obvious. Ceramic or clear braces, on the other hand, are less visible and slightly more expensive but they function similarly to metal braces.
If you want braces that are completely invisible to others, lingual braces and Invisalign are your best options. Lingual braces are metal braces that are placed behind and the inner sides of the teeth. Therefore, other people do not see them. Meanwhile, Invisalign is made of clear aligner trays that hug and adjust your teeth.
2. Contouring and Reshaping
This treatment is advisable for people with crooked or misshapen, and uneven teeth. Sometimes, you just get teeth that are bigger than the rest or have a wonky shape. Thus, you end up with a weird pout, or you find it difficult to close your mouth properly.
A contouring and reshaping treatment can easily take care of such problems, and quite often, in just a single session. This will correct the irregular size and shape of the teeth to improve alignment, as well as make brushing and flossing so much easier.
3. Bonding
Bonding is a quick treatment for teeth with cavities and discoloration. It usually follows air abrasion or micro dentistry, which uses special technology to get rid of small cavities without removing healthy tooth enamel.
The bond is an enamel-colored material that is applied after abrasion. It can cover discoloration, as well as restore the original shape of the teeth that have been compromised by cavities.
Bonding is affordable. On top of that, it is a treatment that can be completed quickly. It usually takes just about 30 minutes or even less to get it done. It is essential to note, however, that the bond will wear over time. Therefore, upkeep is required every year or so.
4. Dental Lumineers
Lumineers are quite like porcelain veneers except they are much thinner and take much faster to create. They are the perfect solutions for stained, misshapen, and damaged teeth (broken or chipped). They achieve the look of perfect teeth and can be created to fit in nicely with the rest of your original teeth.
Another difference that lumineers have from veneers is that their application does not require reshaping of the tooth. Therefore, should a day come when you no longer want to have them on, you do not have to worry about your original teeth looking too different.
5. Dental Crown or Cap
Crowns or caps are often the last resort for damaged teeth that can no longer be corrected by most conventional restorative treatments. Basically, crowns cover the worn down or greatly damaged teeth completely, taking on the original size and shape of the teeth they are covering.
Because of that, it can take a few sessions for the creation and the installation to be completed. But, you can rest assured that it will feel, look, and function like your original tooth.
6. Dental Bridge
A bridge is a device that is used to replace a missing tooth (a molar). It is attached or anchored to neighboring teeth so when you smile widely, no big gap between teeth can be seen.
Dental bridges are made of high-quality materials such as semiprecious (stainless steel) or precious metals (gold or silver), porcelain, or a combination of the two.
Apart from bridging a gap between teeth, a dental bridge also works to prevent the gradual shifting of teeth due to a missing tooth. At the same time, it can help preserve gums and jaw bone, which is crucial if you wish to get dental implants one day.
7. Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is perhaps the most popular cosmetic dental procedure these days. It is the easiest way to achieve brighter teeth in a single session.
This treatment, however, only works on extrinsic stains – meaning discoloration due to excessive coffee, tea, or wine-drinking, cigarette-smoking, and even poor dental hygiene. The results are long-lasting, and you usually do not have to go back to the dentist for several months to a year for a touch-up.
So, those are some of the best cosmetic dental treatments to consider if you wish to makeover your smile. It is important to mention, though that your choice of cosmetic dentist is crucial in securing the best results from such treatments.
Be discriminating in choosing a cosmetic dentist.
How to Choose a Trustworthy Cosmetic Dentist
Make sure to check their portfolio of before and after images of their work. This is evidence of how well they carry out procedures. Likewise, gather feedback about them. It’s not enough that they are highly trained in cosmetic dentistry. They should be friendly and kind as well because your comfort is important.
And lastly, check their credentials. See if they are from good dental schools and if they are dedicated to being an expert in their field through continuing education.
