Smile Makeover Techniques
Just about everybody looks fantastic when they smile – but if your teeth are ruining your smile, there’s no need to despair. Thanks to modern cosmetic dental techniques, it is now possible to do much to improve your smile. One important point to mention here: if you have any tooth decay or gum disease, these will have to be sorted out first, before proceeding with your smile makeover.
There are various techniques that a cosmetic dentist can use to improve your smile. It addresses any of the following problem areas.
Discolored Teeth
Discolored teeth can be as a result of genetics, age, diet or a combination of two or more of the preceding causes. Although there are DIY teeth whitening kits available over the counter from your local pharmacy, many patients prefer to use a dentist for teeth whitening for faster, more reliable, and more dramatic results. There is also less of a chance of something going wrong, like over-whitening, when having teeth whitening done by your dentist.
Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can be a very disheartening situation. Not only does it not look very pleasant, but missing teeth can also cause oral health problems. The site of the missing tooth is a perfect breeding ground for tooth decay bacteria. It is also possible and very likely that the other teeth on either side of the gap will start to move into the gap in an attempt to compensate for the missing tooth. This movement will affect the general alignment of your mouth. A cosmetic dentist will use a dental implant, a dental bridge or a partial denture to fill the gap.
Misshapen Teeth
It quite often happens that not all your teeth are in conformity with your other teeth. The individual tooth might be too short. In this case the dentist will use a process called crown lengthening to make your tooth appear longer. This is usually done by removing some of your gum, either surgically or with a laser. Another alternative would be to use veneers to change the shape of your teeth. Veneers can be either plastic or porcelain. Cosmetic dentists also use tooth bonding to alter the shape of your tooth. In this technique, composite material is chemically bonded to your tooth to subtly change its shape.
Facial Shape
The shape of your face can change due to age or loss of teeth. Although rather extreme and definitely somewhat expensive, oral maxillofacial surgery is used to change the shape of your face, by, for example, filling out your cheeks to alter the appearance of your face. However, simply replacing missing teeth will usually plump out the sunken look we get from missing teeth.
Misaligned Teeth
If you have misaligned teeth, these will have to be brought into a better alignment before the dentist can continue with your smile makeover. This is usually achieved by the use of braces to force your teeth in better positions. Nowadays one doesn’t have to use the old fashioned metal braces to achieve this. Clear braces are available which are less conspicuous than metal braces. There is also a product on the market called Invisalign, which consists of clear plastic aligners which are custom made for each individual case. The aligner fits tightly over your teeth and is kept on for 2 to 3 weeks. Then, the next aligner is then used. In this way your teeth are slowly forced into a better alignment.
In the world of modern cosmetic dentistry there are many techniques that the dentist can employ to correct your smile. It is no longer necessary to suffer an imperfect smile. Some of the techniques are minor interventions with major results and are quickly completed. Others are somewhat more extensive and time-consuming. Rest assured: whatever your problem, there is something that can be done to improve your smile and give you more confidence. Visit your local cosmetic dentist for a consultation to find out what can be done to improve your smile.