While we are all born perfect, the things we do and the choices we make in life often leave a mark or a scar behind. They are signs of a life well-lived. But, what if you’d rather not look at the reminder in the mirror in the morning?
When it comes to your teeth, you have options.
Cosmetic dentistry isn’t necessarily about health, though some of these options can also offer protection to your teeth. It helps us overcome our worries about cavities, discoloration, and gaps.
There are several varieties of procedures available in cosmetic dentistry. It’s worth learning about the options available to see what fits you and your needs best.
Whitening
This is the most common treatment. While our teeth are pearly white when they come in as babies, once we start eating, our teeth start changing. Accidents can also cause damage and discoloration. There are a wide array of whitening options, varying in price and time commitment. While there are whitening toothpaste options on the market, they can be made far more effective when used in tandem with professional whitening treatments.
Bonding
Bonding is a simple procedure that can shrink gaps, and give a straighter appearance. It can also be a process to make minor repairs to chipped or cracked teeth. The cosmetic dentist just creates a resin to match your natural tooth color and applies it to fill in small cracks and gaps. It is generally only used on your front teeth, the ones that are the most visible in your smile. The bottom teeth take quite a bit of abuse and, generally, the composite bonding won’t hold up to it.
Veneers
Veneers are a thin covering placed on the tooth to cover imperfections or discolorations. There are different types of materials used for veneers, generally either porcelain, resin, or a mix of both. There are pros and cons to the different types of materials used. Your dentist can discuss these with you and help you pick the best option.
Crowns
When a tooth is severely damaged or affected by decay, a crown can be a great alternative to pulling it. This is not only better for your smile, but it is also better for your mouth in general, especially your jawbone. The dentist will take a mold of your tooth, then sand it down substantially and fit a crown, which is a cap for your tooth. This can sometimes be done in one visit if the dentist has the tools to create the crown in the office.
Bridges
If a tooth was lost to damage or needed to be pulled because of decay, a bridge is a way to fill that gap in your grin. Bridges are a prosthetic that is designed to fill the gap of just one or two missing teeth. It works just like a bridge. It is basically two crowns that go over the existing teeth and then a false tooth between them to cover the open space. Bridges, unlike dentures, are a permanent fixture in your mouth.
Implants
This is another option to replace a missing tooth. Usually, a titanium post is placed into the jaw. A new tooth is attached to the top. If it sounds permanent, it is. Once again, the dentist will work to create a natural-looking tooth by using a mold of your own teeth, ideally the one that was lost in the first place.
Gum Surgery
Sometimes the insecurities around our smile don’t come from problems with our teeth. A receding gum line can make teeth look longer than we might like. The best way to avoid this is good dental hygiene. Brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and regular visits to the dentist will keep the gums healthy, pink, and thriving. Still, none of us are perfect and perhaps our gums didn’t get as much attention as we wanted. Hope is not lost! Minor gum surgery is an option to reshape the gums or take a graft of your gum tissue and reattach it to a receding gum line and encourage the growth of new tissue.
Teeth Contouring
Our teeth can be shaped, sanded, and slightly repaired with some special tools. This is a great option to flatten uneven surfaces or do minor repairs and corrections on the surface of teeth.
Once you have narrowed down the list to a few options that you like best, now it is time to examine your dentist options! This is an important decision, so give yourself time to find the right fit.
Social media is a wonderful tool for research. Write a post to find recommendations and see what comes. Read online reviews and make a list of those with the top ratings. After creating a list of your top picks, do some research on their website. Before and after photos are especially helpful in seeing what kind of work they do in their office.
But, what can really seal the deal is how comfortable you feel. Set an appointment for just a quick visit and consultation. Many dentists won’t charge for this. You are hiring them, and deserve the right to do a job interview. Ask them about their approach, advice, techniques, and timing. Same day cosmetic dentistry in Atlanta is convenient for many patients. Dentist offices can be nerve-wracking, take the time to find a place where you feel most comfortable. You and your smile are worth finding the right place.
Life is full of surprising twists and turns, and it helps to keep all kinds of options open. This is true for your mouth as well. If you’d like a change to your smile, there are plenty of ways you can make changes, it just takes a little work to explore them.
