If you’ve heard about the benefits of cosmetic dental treatments, you may be wondering what they might be able to do for you. Almost everyone has some flaw in their smile that they’d like to correct, and a cosmetic dentist is trained and equipped to whiten, brighten, straighten, and reshape teeth into more visually pleasing forms. However, not every treatment is a good fit for everyone, and your dentist will evaluate your goals and oral health during your consultation to determine which ones can be right for you. Here’s what you may need to receive a few popular cosmetic procedures.
It’s Easy to Cheer if You’re Wearing Veneers
If you’ve ever wondered why so many Hollywood celebrities have seemingly flawless smiles, the answer is frequently dental veneers. These thin ceramic shells mimic the ideal appearance of real teeth and are designed to conceal flaws like chips, cracks, stains, and gaps. After numbing your mouth with a local anesthetic, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel to make room before cementing your veneers in place. This process can be completed in as few as two appointments and can completely transform a smile into a beautiful new state.
To receive veneers, your smile will need to be free of tooth decay and gum disease. Placing a veneer on a tooth with untreated decay will only protect the infection from further treatment, which can lead to tooth loss.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding Can Be an Excellent Quick Fix
If you have an unsightly chip, stain, crack, or gap in your teeth that you’d like to get rid of, cosmetic dental bonding may be the right treatment for you. Your dentist will use a small amount of cosmetic resin (the same material used for tooth-colored fillings) to fill in or cover up a small defect before shaping it so that it matches the curves of the rest of the smile. This treatment can be done in minutes during a routine appointment without anesthesia.
Almost anyone can receive cosmetic dental bonding as long as there is no decay present in the tooth. This is also usually a remarkably affordable treatment as well.
Teeth Whitening Will Have Your Smile Brightening
Nearly everyone wishes they had a brighter smile. Luckily, professional teeth whitening treatments can deliver results far superior to those of store-bought kits. These treatments come in the form of in-office procedures or take-home kits, and they use a concentrated whitening agent to lift stains and discoloration from the teeth. However, the patient will need to be free of tooth decay and gum disease, as the powerful whitening agent can agitate infected gum and tooth tissue.
Cosmetic dentistry can be a great way to achieve a smile you’ll be happy to show off. With any cosmetic dental procedure, excellent hygiene and regular dental appointments are the best ways to ensure the results last for as long as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Jeffrey Skupny earned his dental doctorate at the University of Florida College of Dentistry and remains committed to taking continuing education courses so he can stay abreast of the latest developments in his field. He is proud to be a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His office in Naples, FL, offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as the treatments listed here. To schedule a cosmetic dental consultation, contact him online or dial (239) 261-5566.