Do you cover your mouth when you laugh or smile? Or “disappear” every time pictures are being taken? Do you constantly wonder what other people think of your teeth?
An imperfect smile can make life a lot more complicated. That’s why we are in the business of making smiles beautiful—because we want to help make life more enjoyable for our patients.
Cosmetic dentistry can give you a smile that is both aesthetically pleasing and fully functional so you can live your best life.
Here are five ways cosmetic dentistry can enhance your smile:
1. Whiten
One of the quickest ways to enhance your smile is through professional, in-office teeth whitening. If `you’ve been disappointed by over-the-counter whitening kits, we can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with your dentist-supervised whitening procedure.
Laser teeth whitening is one of the safest and most effective ways to brighten your smile. In as little as 60 minutes, you can walk out of the dentist’s office feeling more confident than when you walked in.
Your dentist may also offer other safe and effective teeth whitening options that don’t involve lasers or whitening kits that you can use at home.
We recommend laser teeth whitening for the quickest, most effective results.
2. Straighten
Many adults with crooked or gapped teeth are eligible for Invisalign® clear aligners. Rather than placing chunky metal braces on your teeth, your dentist can have clear aligners made that will straighten your smile just as well as traditional braces.
These clear aligners are removable, but they will need to be worn for 20-22 hours a day. The good news is that no one will even notice! And, in between 6 and 18 months, you’ll have a brand-new smile to show off.
3. Fill in gaps
Besides braces, there are other solutions for gapped teeth: dental bonding and porcelain veneers.
Dental bonding is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your smile. To fix your gap or gaps, your dentist will apply a composite bonding material to widen the teeth on either side of the gap. This material will match the color of your natural teeth for a natural appearance.
Porcelain veneers are custom-made to fit on the front surface of your teeth. These can be made wider to fill in the gaps between your teeth. This solution takes a couple of visits to complete, but your veneers will last several years longer than dental bonding.
Both of these procedures are fairly conservative and typically don’t require anesthesia or laughing gas. However, if dental procedures make you overly stressed or nervous, ask your dentist about sedation options.
4. Lengthen
For patients with short teeth or gummy smiles, crown lengthening, laser gum recontouring, and dental veneers can all lengthen your teeth.
The appearance of short teeth can be improved with veneers or even braces, but gummy smiles typically require the removal of small amounts of gum tissue through gum recontouring or crown lengthening.
Your dentist can help you decide which procedure will help you achieve your cosmetic dental goals.
5. Replace missing teeth
Replacing your missing tooth or teeth doesn’t just improve the appearance of your smile, it improves the health of your smile as well. Dental implants, bridges, and dentures can all replace missing teeth.
Without replacing the missing tooth, you are at a much higher risk for shifting teeth, jawbone deterioration, and dental diseases. Talk to your dentist today about the best tooth-replacement option for your teeth.
Smile Makeovers
If your smile requires more than one treatment to reach your cosmetic dentistry goals, ask your dentist about a smile makeover. He or she can create a comprehensive treatment plan to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.
Contact your dentist today to get started!
To meet with our Austin Laser Dentist, contact our team at 512-346-4690.
