While a beautiful smile can be a marvelous asset in the business world and the social scene, many people are too shy to show their teeth due to visible dental flaws. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has developed a few treatments that can address many of these issues and allow patients to enjoy more ideal smiles. Here are a few common dental flaws as well as a few cosmetic dental treatments that can resolve them.
Chips, Cracks, and Stains
Teeth chew through a lot of material over the years, and they can show their wear and tear after a few decades of use. Many people have teeth with unsightly chips and gaps that come from injuries or improper chewing habits. Others have stains or discoloration that can result from many years of exposing teeth to foods and beverages that are high in pigments, dyes, and acids.
Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry has these dental defects covered. Your dentist can use cosmetic dental bonding to address minor chips, cracks, and stains by applying a small amount of composite resin to the flawed area. They will then smooth out this tooth-colored and putty-like substance so it matches the natural contours of your smile. This can be performed without anesthesia within minutes during a routine dental appointment and the results can last for up to a decade with proper care.
Extensive Damage, Misalignments, or Misshapen Teeth
If you are dealing with more extensive chips, cracks, or stains, or if your teeth aren’t shaped right, your dentist can help you with veneers. Veneers are thin, durable porcelain shells that are designed to be cemented over troubled teeth. They imitate the color, luster, and shape of real teeth, allowing your dentist to transform your smile in as few as two appointments. In some cases, dentists can even use veneers to realign a patient’s smile without orthodontic treatment. This can save some patients much time, effort, and discomfort.
During the first appointment, your dentist will remove a tiny amount of enamel from the teeth being treated, take a bite impression of them, and place temporary veneers on them. The impression will be sent to a lab that will manufacture your permanent set. When your new veneers are ready, you’ll come back to the office for a second appointment a few weeks later. Your permanent veneers will be placed and you’ll be sent on your way. Dentists treat veneers patients with local anesthetics, rendering the whole process completely painless.
Cosmetic dentistry has helped millions of people achieve a smile they can be proud of. Consulting with your dentist can help you determine if any of these treatments are right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Ben Wolfe earned his dental doctorate at Oregon Health Sciences University and remains committed to continuing his education with further training. He has completed nearly all of the workshops at the Spear Education Institute and completed state-of-the-art training at the Whitecap Institute in 2008. His office in Hillsboro, OR offers general, pediatric, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as veneers and cosmetic dental binding. For more information on what cosmetic dentistry can do for you, contact his office online or dial (503) 844-6550.