If you feel you are not living up to your potential and your self-esteem can use a boost, try to smile more.
However, flashing a grin may be difficult if you are not happy with it. If you have crooked, chipped, broken, decayed, stained, or discolored teeth, smiling, which is a natural reflex, can be quite challenging.
Fortunately, the right cosmetic dental treatments can correct any flaws or issues you have that cause you to be embarrassed of and hide your smile. Whether you want to have straighter or brighter pearly whites or correct gaps in your front teeth, a cosmetic dentist in Fort Lauderdale can help transform your look.
But what cosmetic dental treatments can you get to have a more dazzling and healthier smile? Here are the top six:
1. Teeth Whitening
Without a doubt, teeth whitening is one of the most popular and sought-after cosmetic dentistry treatments. This aesthetic dental treatment removes stains, yellowing, and discoloration from your teeth, giving you a brighter, more beautiful smile.
Although you can go the DIY route to brighten your smile, professional teeth whitening treatments are more effective and safer than over-the-counter options. They are non invasive and the result lasts longer. Moreover, the procedure is short; it can take an hour or even less.
When you opt for an in-office teeth whitening treatment, you will avoid wasting time and money trying on different products, which may harm your pearly whites.
The most common professional teeth whitening treatment brands include Opalescence, Zoom, and Lumibrite.
2. Dental Veneers
Also known as porcelain veneers and dental laminates, dental veneers are quick yet effective fixes for chipped, misaligned, irregularly shaped, and severely stained or discolored teeth. They can also cover gaps between the teeth.
Dental veneers are thin, customized shells made of porcelain or resin that are bonded onto the front or surface of the teeth to cover imperfections. Their hue is then matched to the color of your teeth so they’ll appear natural.
Aside from covering imperfections or damage on the teeth, dental veneers can prevent further tooth discoloration since they are stain-resistant. This cosmetic dental treatment requires little enamel removal, as well.
Installing dental veneers requires several visits to your St George dentist. If you opt for this cosmetic treatment, make sure you are prepared for regular appointments with your specialist before the laminates are completely installed.
3. Dental Crowns
Like veneers, dental crowns can restore a tooth’s appearance, function, shape, and strength. It functions like a cap that covers the flawed tooth.
However, unlike veneers, crowns are thicker and, thus, often recommended for more serious dental issues such as cracked, broken, decayed, or severely worn down teeth.
Since dental crowns are made of thicker, more durable material, they can last longer and withstand years of wear. They are also not subject to decay.
Although the material is thicker, dental crowns can still be designed to look, function, and feel like your natural teeth.
Installation of permanent dental crowns usually requires two appointments. On your first visit, your dentist will prepare and take an impression of the tooth. Once the crown is done, it will be bonded to your tooth.
4. Dental Bonding
If you have decayed, chipped, misshapen, or gap teeth, aside from crowns, you can also opt for dental bonding.
Dental bonding involves the application of a safe, durable plastic resin to the damaged tooth to repair or cover it. Your dentist will then use a special light to harden and bond the resin to the tooth.
The resin will have the same color as your natural teeth, thereby ensuring it matches your pearly whites.
The application of dental bonding usually takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.
This cosmetic dental treatment is quicker to do and less expensive than veneers or crowns. It also does not involve the removal of any enamel, so it is relatively painless.
However, the material used for dental bonding is not stain- and chip-resistant and requires more maintenance and care.
Because of these reasons, dental bonding is often recommended as a temporary fix instead of a permanent solution.
5. Tooth Reshaping
Also known as “enameloplasty,” tooth reshaping can fix minor imperfections, such as slightly misshapen, crooked, and overlapping teeth. It can also be used to repair eroded tooth surfaces and biting areas that are severely worn.
The process involves removing problematic areas of your tooth enamel carefully and gently with the use of dental instruments and abrasion techniques. Next, your dentist will trim the misshapen areas or alter badly shaped teeth to even them out for better alignment and bite or to shorten disproportionately long teeth.
Your dentist will then use a sanding instrument to scrape away the imperfections on the tooth’s surface and smooth or polish it.
The procedure usually takes between 30 to 60 minutes.
Once completed, your smile will look better. You will have an easier time keeping your teeth clean and maintaining your oral health.
6. Invisalign
Some dental issues require the use of an orthodontic appliance for correction. These include bite irregularities, crooked, overcrowded teeth and teeth gaps.
However, if these dental problems are not too severe, leading orthodontists in Fort Lauderdale say you won’t have to wear traditional metal braces. You can opt for Invisalign.
Invisalign aligners are invisible braces that align your teeth. The trays are made of flexible, light thermoplastic material, which means they are not heavy, chunky, and uncomfortable to wear.
Wearing invisible aligners also minimizes the risk of frequent gum and lip injury.
Moreover, they are removable. You can take them off when eating, which means you won’t have to follow a strict diet.
Brushing and flossing are easier, as well, since you can remove the aligners.
You can have straighter teeth and a lovelier, healthier smile within 12 to 18 months as long as you wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day and follow the prescribed treatment plan.
Brighter, straighter, and flawless teeth won’t fail to help you make a great impression. Your gorgeous smile will also make you look younger and healthier.
These positive changes can boost your self-confidence, which will help you in various aspects of your career and life.
If you want to experience the benefits of having a better, more beautiful smile, see your dentist and find out which cosmetic dental treatments are best for you.