There are several reasons for unhealthy looking teeth: a lifetime of poor hygiene, an illness, gum disease, a genetic predisposition, even certain medicines can cause weakened or discolored teeth.
An American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey reveals that 92 percent of adult respondents say an attractive smile is an important social asset, while 74 percent believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for a successful career.
Cosmetic dentistry consists of treatments and procedures that improve the appearance of your teeth, gums, smile and bite. These treatments generally address issues affecting the shape and color of your teeth, spacing, shape, size and alignment.
Below are a few of the most popular ways a dentist can improve your smile.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic dental procedure in which thin porcelain “shells” are permanently bonded to the fronts of your teeth. With this one procedure you can whiten your teeth, fix chips and cracks, close large gaps, make teeth appear straighter, and protect yourself from sensitivity due to worn enamel.
Teeth Whitening
It only takes Zoom! whitening an hour to whiten and brighten your smile. Zoom! whitening uses an accelerated bleaching process to lighten stains and discoloration on your teeth.
Smoking, red wine, certain medications, coffee and aging can all contribute to dark spots on your teeth. Zoom! uses a bleaching mixture that penetrates your tooth’s enamel to bleach from the inside out. With the help of the Zoom Advanced Power Lamp, it activates and accelerates the bleaching process so your teeth can get up to 8 shades whiter in one office visit.
The in-office Zoom! procedure consists of three 15-minute, same day, sessions. Prior to starting, you’ll need to have your teeth cleaned. Your lips and gums will be prepped to keep the gel from getting on them and the gel will remain on your teeth for each 15-minute session.
If you prefer a more subtle, gradual change, most dentists offer a Zoom! take-home kit. We’ll provide you with custom shaped bleaching trays with the same professional-strength bleaching gel you would get here in our office. This is a terrific option for patients with extra sensitive teeth.
Invisalign
The appeal of Invisalign is that unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are essentially invisible. Most people you meet can’t even tell when someone is wearing Invisalign. Invisalign are custom-made clear trays or aligners worn for 20 to 22 hours a day, in stages, to gradually move teeth into a desired position.
Invisalign is often referred to as clear braces and is ideal for correcting overcrowding, over and underbites, spacing issues and minor relapses following traditional orthodontics. It has become a popular cosmetic dental treatment.
Dental Crowns
As a rule of thumb, you want to keep your natural teeth, if possible, and dental crowns can help you do just that.
Only a real tooth has roots, and roots are what keep your jawbone healthy and strong. A strong jawbone retains the shape of your face and integrity of the other teeth. Without a root, the bone in your jaw begins to wear away. A dental crown encases, or caps, a chipped or otherwise unhealthy tooth, restoring its appearance and function while protecting the natural tooth and root within.
A crown is usually made from porcelain and designed to match your other teeth. It’s fitted onto an existing tooth by filing down the tooth in question so the crown can fit over the top like a cap. Dental crowns can be used in conjunction with dental bridges and dental implants or any of our other cosmetic treatments to complete your ideal smile.
Pro Tip: If you’re thinking about getting dental crowns, consider having your teeth whitened first, and then have your crowns matched to the shade of your whitened teeth. You can’t whiten a crown once it’s in!
Smile Makeover
Combining multiple dental treatments to achieve your ideal smile is known as a smile makeover. During your consultation, you’ll discuss your desired smile goal with the dentist and together agree upon a treatment plan that is right for you. An example of a smile makeover could be having excess gum tissue removed to lengthen the appearance of your teeth, brightening your smile with a whitening treatment, and adjusting your teeth alignment with an Invisalign treatment. For bigger issues, a dental implant might be part of your suggested treatment plan.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the permanent solution for missing or otherwise severely compromised teeth. A titanium post, or screw, is implanted into your jawbone. To the implant we’ll attach an abutment, and the crown (tooth) is attached to that.
Nothing else looks or functions more like real teeth than dental implants.
If you or a loved one are interested in improving your smile with one or more of the cosmetic procedures mentioned above, contact or research 4M Dental Implant Centers. Our doctors are highly trained in every cosmetic dental procedure and have years of experience.
We have plenty of before-and-after case photos so you can see the possibilities for your smile. We also have hundreds of testimonials by super satisfied clients. Check us out at www.4Mdentalimplants.com
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal were not involved in the creation of this content.