If you want a beautiful smile, but your teeth have become discolored or damaged or you have never liked the appearance of your teeth, you are not alone. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry offers many tools that can give you a bright, straight, even smile without undergoing more intensive restorative procedures. These include porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, dental bonding, Invisalign® aligners, and even complete Smile Makeovers to create a beautiful smile. Dr. Helen Ragsdale of Austin Laser Dentist in Austin, TX offers an array of cosmetic dental procedures to help you obtain the smile you deserve.
Here is a look at 5 of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures for a beautiful smile
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneersor laminates involve the use of thin shells made of hard porcelain that fit on the front of your existing natural teeth. They are used to cover minor imperfections, damage and alignment issues. You are left with a durable, natural-looking smile that will allow you to eat, talk and smile as usual.
Porcelain veneers can help:
- Close gaps between teeth
- Restore decayed, eroded or worn teeth
- Fix the size, shape, and length of teeth for a more uniform smile
- Cover minor cracks, chips and fractures
- Cover stains and discoloration
- Create a uniform texture and surface
- Change position of teeth (occlusion)
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whiteningis one of the least expensive ways to obtain a beautiful smile. For the procedure, a peroxide-based gel is applied to the teeth to brighten your smile by up to 8 shades. Treatment is often combined with a specialized laser for even more dramatic whitening.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a non-invasive way to even out your smile. The same resin used in tooth-colored fillings is applied to cover small cosmetic flaws in your teeth, such as stains, discoloration, chips and cracks. For the bonding process, the dentist will micro-etch the surface of the teeth and then apply the composite in several layers.
Gum Lifts
A so-called “gummy” smile occurs when a disproportionate amount of gum shows, creating an uneven or overly large gum line. During a gum lift, excess gum is trimmed using a specialized laser to expose the upper portion of your teeth. The laser is extremely precise to protect the surrounding tissue.
Invisalign Aligners
If you have crooked teeth, alignment or bite issues, Invisalign® treatment can help. Your teeth are straightened using a series of clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth. The trays are switched out every 2 weeks until you finish treatment, which usually takes 6 to 12 months. The advantage of Invisalign is that they are invisible and removable so you can take them out when needed.
Smile Makeover
A Smile Makeover is a more comprehensive approach to restoring your smile. It can involve a number of cosmetic procedures (several of which are addressed above) to fix different problems with your smile. It can include procedures like teeth whitening, veneers, redoing old fillings, dental implants, bridges, crowns, dental bonding, dentures and teeth straightening.
A Smile Makeover can help:
- Close gaps between teeth
- Whiten and brighten discolored/stained teeth
- Repair decayed, chipped, broken or cracked teeth
- Replace old metal fillings
- Replace missing teeth
- Lengthen or shorten uneven teeth
- Reposition crowded teeth
- Improve or correct your bite
Contact Austin Laser Dentist Today
If you want to learn more about cosmetic dental procedures that can give you a beautiful smile, contact Dr. Helen Ragsdale of Austin Laser Dentist in Austin, TX at (512) 346-4690 to schedule a consultation.
