Do you feel like your smile is the last part of your “look” that you’ve yet to master. Even if you’ve worked really hard at the gym to have a great body, and have spent a lot of well-earned money at the mall buying the latest outfits from the pages of the fashion magazines, if your smile isn’t its best you may never feel truly confident. That’s because, more than anything else, your smile is what radiates how comfortable, or uncomfortable, you are in your own skin. This makes a beautiful smile an essential element of your overall appearance, and cosmetic dentistry a wonderful investment in yourself. Because even if you have neglected your teeth for many years, it’s not too late to have a smile of your dreams. Cosmetic dentistry can help update your most important asset, your smile!
Understanding the Options
Though teeth whitening and veneers are two of the most common forms of cosmetic dentistry, ones you may have read about time and time again in beauty magazines, they are hardly the only ways to improve your smile.
Bonding and contouring offer similar results to porcelain veneers, but since those procedures can be completed by the dentist, they’re much less expensive. During cosmetic bonding the dentist will apply a composite resin to any teeth you wish to alter, and will then sculpt the tooth-colored material until he’s created your ideal teeth shape. Afterwards, a light is used to harden the material, and it is polished until it has the same sheen of natural teeth. Contouring is used when some of your teeth appear too large, or have jagged edges. In this procedure, the dentist will gently buff away parts of the tooth until the shape is more desirable and in line with your other teeth. This can also be used to help correct minor overlapping of the teeth, often making it easier to maintain good oral health (in the case of overcrowding which makes proper flossing difficult, for instance).
For Bigger Problems
Though both veneers and bonding can help to correct minor alignment issues that are primarily a cosmetic concern, they will not fix any bite issues that are negatively affecting one’s ability to chew or speak comfortably.
Invisalign Clear Braces is an alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment, which offers many of the same benefits to one’s alignment. It can also greatly improve the appearance of your smile! Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign is nearly undetectable, making it an ideal way to straighten teeth, especially for self-conscious teens and adults. It is also far more comfortable, as the aligner trays can be removed during eating.
In some cases, a dentist may recommend combining cosmetic treatments, in order to eradicate any concerns, while creating a beautiful, yet still natural-looking smile.