There are so many things that make us have a good hearty laugh – memes, TV sitcoms, pranks, puns, knock-knock jokes, and so on. Yet, around one in every two Americans feel insecure about their teeth when they laugh. Discolored, crooked, cracked, missing, decayed, or gapped teeth are just some of the reasons people cover their giggles with their hands or try to smile with their mouths closed.
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When we aren’t happy with our teeth, our self-confidence takes a hit, we shy away from social interactions, and we even avoid snacking or eating around others. Thankfully, it is possible to reclaim your smile or get a new and improved one through cosmetic dentistry. This branch of dentistry focuses on fixing your smile and the general appearance of your teeth. Below, we will look at some of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures available today.
Invisalign Braces
When people think of teeth with braces, they picture a mouth full of unsightly wires and brackets. Such braces affect the self-esteem of the individual because they are aesthetically unpleasant. Invisible braces, however, also known as clear aligners, are a modern orthodontics in reading treatment option used to correct crowded, spaced, and crooked teeth without affecting the patient’s dental appearance. The materials used to construct these aligners blend with your natural teeth, becoming near-invisible when you smile.
Teeth Whitening
Regardless of how well you brush and floss your teeth, they always seem to lose their shine and brightness. Teeth become stained or discolored when minerals or debris build up on their surface and bond with enamel. Coffee, tea, black currants, red wine, and smoke are just some of the things that can cause stains on teeth. A cosmetic dentist will use an approved medical bleaching solution to dissolve those stains and make your teeth uniformly white again.
Dental Veneers
Some stains just won’t go away, even with the best whitening solutions. That’s why it’s always important to talk to your dentist before using any, especially at-home options. A dentist will inspect your teeth and decide whether bleaching or cosmetic dental veneers are the right option for your teeth. In this procedure, the doctor takes an impression of your tooth and creates a thin shell that will be bonded on the surface of your tooth. Apart from treating dark stains, veneers are also used to correct chipped, fractured, spaced, and small front teeth.
Dental Crown
A damaged, cracked, chipped, or badly decayed tooth can make you smile less often. After a dental examination, your dentist may recommend a dental crown. A crown will improve the shape, size, strength, and appearance of a tooth. In this procedure, the dentist takes an impression of the affected tooth and designs a cap for it made of acrylic or porcelain. Your natural tooth is then filed down before the crown is cemented over it. With appropriate care, a crown can last more than 15 years.
Dental Implants
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About 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Tooth loss, which mainly occurs due to tooth decay, oral disease, or trauma, can alter your speech, affect your eating habits, and hurt your self-confidence. If you have a missing or severely compromised tooth, your doctor may opt for a dental implant procedure to rectify the problem.
This procedure involves inserting a titanium tooth root in your jawbone at the missing tooth area. Once it heals, the implant is used as the anchor that will hold a replacement tooth. The artificial tooth functions and looks like a real one and helps you smile with confidence.
Restore Your Smile and Self Esteem
There are multiple cosmetic dentistry procedures available that can transform your smile and give your teeth a healthier and brighter appearance. With the options above, you don’t have to limit your social interactions or hide your giggles – you’ll be brimming with confidence.
