How often have you heard that the one thing that makes you appear most beautiful is your smile? Indeed, you can have a bad hair day or feel upset that your favorite jeans feel a bit tighter than usual, but present your best smile to the world and people don’t seem to notice the flaws. If you’ve had dental issues of late, you may have considered cosmetic dentistry as a means of improving the look and health of your teeth. Finding the right procedure for you, though, could be tricky, but with a bit of advice from your dentist, you shouldn’t have any problems.
What sort of procedure should you get to improve your smile? This basically depends on what needs improvement. You may have a missing or chipped tooth, an overbite, a tooth that is smaller or larger than it should be (which in turn makes your mouth look crowded or gapped), or teeth that have become discolored due to age or coffee or tea drinking. Whatever the issue with your teeth, there is a procedure that can help you improve the face and smile you present to friends and family.
When you next visit your dentist, ask about any of the following and determine which is right for you:
Porcelain Veneers – A veneer often refers to a thin layer of protection, and is a term used often in construction. For the dentist, a porcelain veneer is used to cover a tooth and change the way it looks. Veneers have been used to help brighten teeth conceal cracks, and to correct a misshapen tooth.
Fixed Bridge – If you are missing teeth due to an illness or injury, you have the option of a permanent bridge that fills in the gaps with artificial teeth designed to last. With a bridge, you will regain the proper shape of your smile and experience improved chewing and speech.
Teeth Straightening – As kids, we dreaded the possibility of braces and living with “metal mouth” for several years. These days, however, there are more attractive options for teeth straightening. Clear aligners allow you to go about your day without people realizing you’ve had dental work. When you wear the specially designed mouthpiece, it works to align your teeth properly while you eat what you wish.
Cosmetic dentistry may be the right option for you if you require work to correct a smile, replace missing teeth, or brighten enamel. Talk with your dentist today about your choices.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles in Virginia Beach Cosmetic dentists.