Posted September 27, 2019 in Dental Implant, Porcelain Veneers
There is something uniquely alluring about a bright smile. When someone with a pearly white, perfectly symmetrical smile speaks, it is easy to focus on their teeth.
The same, unfortunately, is also true when someone has a missing tooth, gaps, or yellow teeth.
A woman smiles after having dental work done, feeling confident enough to show her teeth off.
A stained, damaged smile can detract from the rest of your appearance and cause you to cover your mouth in fear that others might focus in on that one negative trait.
Rather than continuing to cover your mouth every time you laugh, you could instead opt for a corrective procedure that will have you happy to show off your teeth.
Here are 3 procedures that can have a dramatic effect on the way you face the world:
1. Dental Implants
Sometimes, teeth fall out or have to be pulled. It’s a common procedure that many patients undergo each year.
An illustration of how dental implants are installed into the mouth.
There is a problem, though, with leaving the hole left by the missing tooth unfilled. A gap can create both practical and aesthetic problems and wreak havoc on a person’s smile.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to fill that gap is through dental implants, which are made to mimic the appearance of natural teeth.
During the procedure, the dentist will drill a screw into the jawbone beneath the gum. Then, the dentist will craft a dental crown to fit the specific area of your mouth and attach it to the screw.
The numbing agent provided at the time of the procedure and the pain medication prescribed afterward renders this option virtually painless.
When the benefits of this procedure are weighed against that minimal pain, the decision to finally fill that gap in your mouth is a no-brainer.
2. Teeth Whitening
Even if your teeth are not damaged, you could still be dealing with a yellow smile. Maybe you drink a lot of wine, coffee, or soda, or perhaps cigarettes are the culprit.
A patient undergoes teeth whitening with ultraviolet light.
Whatever the cause, not only can noticeably stained and yellow teeth be unsightly, but it can also make you look older than your age.
Thankfully, Gentle Care Dentistry offers two simple teeth whitening options: ultraviolet light or custom bleach trays.
Both options will brighten your smile and make you look younger. And who doesn’t want to look younger?
Ultraviolet Light
For this in-office treatment, we use ultraviolet (UV) light to brighten your smile by removing any stains and yellowing.
This procedure typically lasts for about two hours, and only one appointment is usually necessary. This procedure is safe, and a gel is applied to the gums to protect them from the UV light.
Custom Trays
A woman smiles after getting her teeth whitened with custom-fit trays.
Custom bleach trays have long been the standard of teeth whitening—and for good reason. They have been proven to be an extremely effective method of creating brighter, whiter teeth.
So despite how much wine, coffee, or soda you drink, this method is a sure-fire way to brighten your smile.
3. Porcelain Veneers
In some cases, teeth can be both misshapen and stained.
When a simple bleaching session will not fix the aesthetic issues, and the problem with the shape of
the teeth is not caused by a missing tooth, the best way to fix the problem is with porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers are essentially caps that are bonded to your current teeth. They can fix gaps in the smile, severe yellowing or discoloration, underdeveloped or crooked teeth, and many more conditions that negatively affect your appearance.
An illustration of how porcelain veneers can create a balanced smile.
The process starts with a consultation, where one of our dentists will conduct an examination to determine the most appropriate shape, color, and size for your veneers.
Then, an impression of your smile is made and sent to a dental laboratory. While the veneers are being crafted, temporary veneers will be placed on the teeth.
After roughly two weeks, the new veneers will be permanently bonded to your teeth, creating a new and improved smile that you will be proud to show off.
Have More Questions?
For more information about how you can improve the appearance of your smile, give our office a call at 575-524-3722 to schedule a consultation today!