When you have perfect teeth, you’re able to smile with confidence and project a positive attitude. The same can’t be said when your teeth are either stained, gapped, or misaligned. There are ways to improve your smile if your teeth are imperfect due to one or more of these conditions.
Whether your teeth got damaged over time or have been imperfect from birth, cosmetic dentistry is a reliable way to improve their appearance and restore your self-confidence. As evidenced by different dental case studies, cosmetic dentistry features various smile treatments that restore the appearance and standard functionality of teeth damaged by injury, decay, or disease.
Below are five smile treatments and options that can restore your self-confidence.
- Orthodontics
This smile treatment option is conducted on people who have crooked or crowded teeth. Doctors use teeth brackets and wires to align teeth and move them to targeted positions. Increasingly, people, particularly adults, are opting for clear aligners that allow for discreet teeth alignment. The beauty of clear aligners is that you can remove them when you eat, brush, and even attend special occasions.
Unlike metal braces requiring regular checkups, clear aligners give you more control and, therefore, fewer and shorter dental visits. If you need to undergo orthodontic treatment, your dentist will craft a personalized treatment plan based on your needs. Even so, an orthodontic procedure can take between one year and one and a half years.
- Dental Implants
People who have missing teeth can boost their self-confidence by undergoing dental implant treatment. A dental implant procedure involves replacing missing teeth with prosthetic ones that imitate the structure and appearance of natural teeth. It also emulates the jawbone connection of a natural tooth.
Dentists screw a biocompatible titanium implant to the jawbone during the procedure to create a permanent artificial root. The implant fuses with the jawbone over six months. When the process is completed, a porcelain crown with the same color as your teeth covers the space above the gum line.
- Dental Bonding
If your teeth are damaged and need repair, the best treatment option would be dental bonding. Typically, a dental bonding procedure is affordable and requires patients to make fewer visits to the dentist than procedures like dental crowns and veneers.
When conducting a dental bonding procedure, doctors use a composite resin similar to your teeth to fix the problem. The resin material is shaped to correct the cosmetic and functional issues on the damaged teeth.
The teeth bonding procedure is an ideal smile treatment if you want to restore chipped or cracked teeth, or repair cavities so your teeth will have a more natural appearance. Furthermore, this dental procedure can be used to reshape or elongate teeth that have diminished due to trauma or grinding.
In some instances, dentists use dental bonding to treat gum recession that causes gaps between teeth and gums. Ideally, a dental bonding procedure takes an hour without downtime or anesthesia.
- Teeth Whitening
This form of smile treatment is the most common smile treatment that people who want to restore self-confidence seek. Teeth whitening is a relatively affordable and straightforward procedure aimed at brightening teeth for a great appearance. During this procedure, dentists use safe but strong whitening solutions. As such, the risk of getting your gums or teeth damaged is very low.
Results of teeth whitening can be noticed within an hour of undergoing treatment. If you opt for this form of smile treatment, you’ll be able to maintain a whiter smile for six months or more, depending on how well you avoid dark-colored beverages and foods.
- Dental Veneers
This smile treatment option is mainly used to restore the self-confidence of people who have damaged teeth. The treatment involves using durable, wafer-thin tooth-colored films to cover the flawed sections of the teeth. The tooth films are made from a porcelain or ceramic material that gives teeth a natural look. Often, they’re designed to match the precise color, shape, and size of your teeth.
The process of applying veneers to teeth takes several weeks. It involves trimming off a section of the natural enamel, x-ray imaging, customizing veneers to your teeth specifications, and attaching them to the teeth surface. Patients who undergo this procedure are often required to make follow-up dental visits for monitoring of placements.
Final Thoughts
The condition of one’s teeth can boost their self-confidence or undermine it. If your teeth are imperfect, there are various procedures your dentist can conduct to restore their appearance and boost your self-confidence. Whether the damage in your teeth is as a result of injury, disease, or decay, the dentist will assess your teeth and advise you on the best treatment option to improve them and restore your self-confidence.