People generally see those who smile frequently as friendlier, more confident, and more trustworthy, but many people are anxious about showing off their grins because of dental imperfections like gaps, stains, cracks, and chips. Luckily, cosmetic dental treatments can address these issues so a patient can enjoy a more pleasing smile. Here’s a brief guide to a few popular cosmetic procedures and how they can change your life.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a modern orthodontic method that can address mild to moderate misalignments such as gaps, crowding, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. This technique straightens teeth using a customized series of clear aligners designed to fit snugly over the patient’s teeth. The patient must wear each set of aligners for at least twenty hours daily for two weeks before moving to the next pair in their sequence, and Invisalign typically takes six to eighteen months to realign a smile.
Addressing dental misalignments with Invisalign can make your teeth easier to clean and safer from injury, and it can also help prevent headaches, backaches, and jaw and neck pain. Straight teeth are also more visually pleasing, so you’ll be more eager to show off your grin.
Teeth Whitening
While you can find a plethora of teeth whitening products at grocery stores and pharmacies, these retail methods often deliver lackluster results and may lead to injury due to user error. Professional teeth whitening treatments, on the other hand, are administered by a qualified dentist to safely ensure impressive results in brief timeframes.
Professional teeth whitening treatment comes in the form of an in-office procedure that takes about an hour or a take-home kit that can be completed in two weeks. Either method can lift even stubborn dental stains and discoloration and leave your smile up to eight shades whiter.
Veneers
Veneers are thin ceramic shells crafted to mimic the ideal appearance of natural enamel, and they are designed to be cemented on troubled teeth to conceal defects like chips, cracks, stains, and gaps. They require the removal of a small amount of enamel from the teeth receiving them to make room, but this will only be done after you receive an appropriate anesthetic to ensure your comfort. Veneers can completely transform a patient’s smile in a single appointment, and they can last for more than a decade with excellent care.
Don’t let a few unsightly dental defects make you less willing to show off your grin. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best cosmetic treatments for you.
About the Author
Dr. David Tillman earned his dental degree at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston and completed a general dentistry residency at St. Anthony Hospital. He has completed over 2,500 hours of postgraduate coursework and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. His office in Fort Worth provides general, reconstructive, and cosmetic dentistry. To schedule your cosmetic dental consultation, contact his office online or dial (817) 870-4746.