Your smile is one of the first things people notice, so it’s natural to want to make improvements if you’re not proud of yours. When you want to enhance the aesthetics of your teeth, you should seek the services of cosmetic dentistry professionals. A cosmetic dentist can improve the overall shape and color of your teeth. Some of them can also help them function better, depending on their specialty. Here are ways cosmetic dentistry can give you a better smile.
Whitening
According to Global Newswire, by 2026, the cosmetic dentistry industry will have a $32.73 billion value. This increase in revenue and value is no shock considering the number of people in the media who constantly have beautiful white teeth. It’s hard to see a news broadcaster, Instagram influencer, movie star, or musician who doesn’t have the whitest teeth possible! Luckily, anyone can get their teeth just as beautiful and white by seeking out their local cosmetic dentist.
Whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of your teeth. After all, some people may be much more forgiving of slight overbites, gaps, and misaligned teeth as long as they are at least white and stain-free. It’s not time-consuming to take advantage of tooth whitening. In as little as an hour, your teeth may be as much as eight shades lighter than before. Professional tooth whitening is way more effective than at-home kits, which don’t whiten your teeth to the extent your cosmetic dentist can. With proper aftercare and the adjustments to your diet, your newly whitened teeth can last anywhere from six months to three years, per Healthline.
Veneers
Maybe you want a tooth whitening option that can last longer than three years. If so, porcelain veneers might be for you. This cosmetic procedure uses thin porcelain shells that fit over your natural teeth. With proper care, your porcelain veneers can last 10 to 15 years, states Forbes. Veneers benefit your smile, as they bring two main advantages. In addition to giving you a white-colored smile, they also help give you more evenly shaped teeth. Therefore, if you have teeth that are spaced out in small gaps, veneers can solve that problem for you.
Crowns
Dental crowns often fall under restorative care. However, this restorative option also provides aesthetic benefits. That’s why your cosmetic dentist may also specialize in this option. If your tooth is severely damaged or you lost a great amount of surface enamel after a root canal, your dentist may often use a crown to protect and reshape it. Like veneers, crowns can cover cracks and chips. The difference is that you may need a crown if the crack or chip is more damaging and extensive. According to Healthline, a typical crown may last around 10 years. However, with proper care, it can last even longer!
When you need a crown due to a root canal or need to repair tooth damage, be prepared to make at least a couple of visits to your cosmetic dentistry professional to complete your crown. After the initial visit, you may walk away with a temporary crown to wear over your repaired tooth. The dentist takes an impression of your tooth and sends it off to a lab, where the permanent crown from porcelain will be crafted. Schedule another appointment to return about a couple of weeks later to get your permanent crown attached. You’ll be able to smile and eat normally but remember to maintain your regular oral hygiene. The better you care for your mouth, particularly around your crown area, the longer it will last.
Implants
Crown restoration is taken to a new level thanks to implants. If you have one or more missing teeth, the aesthetics of your smile has greatly been affected. You may not even feel comfortable smiling unless necessary. However, you don’t have to live with missing teeth anymore thanks to dental implant technology. Your cosmetic dentist may have also become a specialist in dental implant surgery. Implants usually are made from a strong metal such as titanium. Your cosmetic dentist will conduct an oral examination of your mouth to see if you qualify. After all, your jawbone must be strong enough to successfully allow the implant to adhere to it.
If you’re approved for this procedure, it’ll take several months for the infusion process to complete. Once the implants are set in your jaw, your cosmetic dentist will follow the same procedure for a crown. With custom-made crowns, you can have the smile you’ve always wanted. Your dental implanted crowns will look and act like natural teeth. Therefore, if your diet has suffered before, you’ll now be able to eat nutritious foods again and digest them well as you can chew them better. Most importantly, if you used to worry about smiling through missing teeth, you could say goodbye to that insecurity. Now, you’ll be able to have a beautiful, bright smile that everyone will notice.
Note that the implants themselves are permanent, as they are a part of your jaw once fusion has been completed. However, if you’re not careful with how you bite down on things or use your crown as a tool to open a bottle, you could damage your crown. Crowns can be a costly and time-consuming replacement, so be sure to treat them like the natural teeth that they look and act like so you can always have an aesthetically pleasing smile.
Invisalign
The right cosmetic dentistry professional may be cross-trained in providing Invisalign for their patients. After all, they specialize in aesthetics, and what better way to have a pleasingly beautiful smile than with straight teeth? When you combine Invisalign tooth straightening capabilities with professional dental whitening, you’ll soon have the perfect smile you’ve always wanted.
Invisalign is perfect for adults and teens who don’t want to have obvious braces. This treatment consists of clear aligners that you wear over your teeth for up to 22 hours a day. Unlike regular braces, Invisalign allows you to eat and drink whatever you want since you have to remove them during consumption. According to Invisalign, you can have straight teeth in about a year, but some people start to see results in as little as three months.
When you undergo the Invisalign process as part of your cosmetic dentistry rejuvenation, be prepared to see your cosmetic dentist every couple of weeks to get a new aligner tray. These clear aligners give you the freedom to remove them as needed. Don’t overdo that, as keeping your aligners off for too long will reduce their ability to straighten your teeth in a timely fashion.
You understand why cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever. People want to look and feel good, and a beautiful smile is the ultimate way to start improving your confidence. Whether you want to whiten, reshape, or replace missing teeth, a professional with cosmetic dentistry training will offer several ways to help you! Luckily, our family dental office can provide several services to enhance your smile and care for your oral health. Whether you are interested in braces, Invisalign veneers, tooth whitening, or general dentistry care, contact our team at Bright Side Dental for a consultation!