Your smile is among the first things people notice about you, and it can speak volumes about your health and well-being. Over time, though, our teeth take on years of accumulated stains, wear, and tear. As your smile diminishes, your self-confidence can dim with it.
A smile makeover may be in order! Before you decide what kind of teeth restorations are right for you, let’s take a look at some of the ways your dentist can restore and brighten your smile.
1. Teeth Whitening
The first step in your smile makeover may be teeth whitening. A bright, pearly smile is the hallmark of youth and good health. Even with daily brushing, stains from food and drink, as well as certain prescription medications, can leave your teeth dull and discolored.
You may use many kinds of teeth whitening kits at home to brighten your teeth, but you’ll get the highest quality of teeth whitening in the dentist’s office. For severely discolored teeth, it may take several treatments before your teeth reach peak whiteness.
2. Porcelain Veneers
Some people find that even multiple teeth whitening treatments do not remove stains and discoloration from their teeth. If that is your situation, your dentist may recommend porcelain veneers to restore your bright, white smile. They use them to repair minor flaws in the teeth, such as small chips or uneven edges.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that your dentist fuses to your teeth, creating an immediate improvement in your smile. Your dentist will craft each veneer to fit your teeth perfectly!
3. Dental Bonding
Some chips and damage to your teeth require dental bonding to repair and restore your smile. Dental bonding uses a composite resin the same color and shade as your teeth. Your dentist will apply it to the tooth to improve the damaged area, then shape and polish it to blend seamlessly with your other natural teeth.
Dental bonding can close gaps between teeth and also repair teeth by filling cavities.
4. Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges
Dental crowns fit over a tooth like a snug cap. Made of porcelain or a composite resin, crowns fit tightly to each tooth, restoring the shape, size, and appearance of the original tooth. Dental crowns also offer strength and protection to damaged teeth and serve as an essential step in root canal therapy.
While dental crowns cannot replace your teeth on their own, they become part of a tooth replacement fixture called a “dental bridge.” A Dental bridge restores your smile by bridging the gap where a missing tooth once stood.
Dentists can choose among several different types of bridges. For a single tooth, the standard is a dental crown on either side of the gap and a connecting framework to replace your missing tooth and restore the balance to your smile and bite.
5. Dental Implants
Whether you’re replacing one tooth or an entire mouthful, dental implants are another option for smile restorations. A single dental implant consists of creating an artificial metal “root” of the tooth in the form of a rod implanted into your jawbone. Upon it, the dentist will place a connecting screw and a dental crown in place of the tooth.
6. Aligners
If your smile suffers from crooked or displaced teeth or malformations of the jaw, aligners may be the solution you need.
Clear aligners have increased in popularity recently. Once the dentist takes impressions and the lab creates the aligner trays, you wear a tray for several weeks as it incrementally moves your teeth. You will move from one tray to the next according to schedule, the aligners gradually moving your teeth back to their position.
Reinvent Your Smile
All of the ways we noted above can help you get the smile you desire. Some are subtle, while others are more dramatic. However, they all accomplish the same end: giving you the bright, white, perfect smile you want.
For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures or to schedule an appointment, contact the offices of Dr. Hal N. Arnold Esthetic & Cosmetic Dentistry at (404) 941-1719 and schedule a smile restoration consultation.