The ever-broadening field of cosmetic dentistry addresses a variety of oral issues meant to improve your smile aesthetically and functionally. The experienced and compassionate team of dentists here at Chester Family Dentistry in Warren, Ohio, understands that you may have different reasons for wanting to improve, enhance, or restore your smile. To give you a better idea of which types of cosmetic dentistry procedures are right for you, we’re sharing some of the most common ways to boost your self-confidence for a more beautiful, functional smile.
One of the simplest and most highly effective cosmetic dental procedures is professional teeth whitening. For people whose teeth are stained or have a yellowish appearance after years of drinking coffee, smoking, or as a result of taking certain medications, teeth whitening is an ideal solution. In just a single, one-hour, in-office treatment, you can potentially whiten your teeth up to eight shades brighter!
additionally, you can request custom-made whitening trays that fit perfectly over your teeth so you can brighten your smile professionally and conveniently at home. Professional whitening kits are more effective than the ones you buy at the store, and the team at Chester Family Dentistry provides ways to minimize gum sensitivity.
If you have a single tooth or a few teeth that are cracked, discolored, chipped or somewhat damaged by minor decay, composite bonding or porcelain veneers can restore your smile or improve it. Dental bonding uses a tooth-colored material that your dentist expertly matches to the surrounding teeth, so the bonded tooth looks natural.
Bonding is less expensive than other cosmetic procedures, but it can dramatically improve your smile in just one visit. Bonding can also fill in cavities so you have natural-looking fillings instead of a mouthful of silver.
Veneers are another solution to repairing cracked, chipped, or broken teeth, or to create evenly spaced teeth by filling gaps. They’re made of medical-grade ceramic or porcelain and are custom-designed for each individual tooth. Veneers are durable and appear exceptionally realistic, so you can get that dazzling, movie-star smile you’ve always wanted.
Composite bonding and veneers are both permanent solutions to a variety of dental problems, and may even allow you to forgo extensive orthodontic work since they make your teeth appear more uniform in size and shape, and straighter overall. Your dentist can help you decide which one is best for your cosmetic dentistry needs.
If you’re missing a tooth, or a few, dental implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth. They’re implanted in your jaw into the space where your tooth should be, with a secure, metal post that serves as your tooth’s new root. The post, made from titanium, bonds to your jawbone over the course of a few months.
Once the post of the dental implant is permanently in place, your dentist creates a custom-fit tooth — a crown — to attach to the post. Implants can also hold a bridge or dentures securely in place. Dental implants with crowns look, feel, and function just like natural teeth, so you can chew and talk without worry that your teeth will come loose. Implants become a permanent part of your smile, and they function to keep surrounding teeth healthy as well.
Dental implants are a great cosmetic dentistry option when you want to keep your face looking young, too. If you don’t replace missing teeth, your skin eventually collapses into the spaces, making you appear older than you are.
Instead of traditional metal braces, clear plastic orthodontic aligners can achieve the same results without the hassle or inconvenience of braces. Clear aligners are a series of custom-made trays that fit snugly over your upper and lower teeth. They gradually shift crooked teeth into alignment, and you can take the trays out of your mouth when you brush your teeth, or for a special occasion.
Clear aligners are a great cosmetic dental option for teens and adults who want straighter teeth using a discreet orthodontic treatment. And, since you can remove them to brush and floss, they keep your teeth healthier than with traditional braces, which make it harder to clean your teeth. Clear aligners are more comfortable in your mouth than wire and metal, too.
With each of these cosmetic dental procedures, you’re able to care for your teeth just as you would with natural teeth. With regular dental checkups and cleanings, you can keep your cosmetic dentistry looking good and functioning for many years to come.
For a personalized consultation to learn which of these cosmetic dentistry techniques is right for you, or to explore more options, give our Warren office a call, or schedule the next available appointment using the online system.
