Dentists can provide many options to renew and revitalize your smile. Many patients go to the dentist for more than just dental cleanings and pain management. Your dentist can transform your teeth into the smile of your dreams. No matter your dental issue, your dentist can alter your smile for the better. You can talk to your dentist about your cosmetic options.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells that cover the surface of your teeth. They are typically made from porcelain or composite resin, matching the color of your teeth. Unlike other cosmetic procedures, getting dental veneers is a permanent process. This means that your dentist cannot undo the procedure once you get veneers.
A dentist can use dental veneers to improve the look of many cosmetic issues. For example, you can use veneers to fix broken or chipped teeth. As long as the damage is not significant, the shell can cover the broken area.
Additionally, veneers can drastically reshape your smile. If you have misshapen or smaller-than-average teeth, dental veneers will give you a symmetrical smile. Also, a dentist may recommend veneers if you have severely discolored teeth. Finally, some medications or dental trauma can alter the color of your teeth, making it difficult to whiten them with traditional whitening routines.
The process of getting dental veneers takes a few weeks. After your consultation, your dentist will send off a mold of your teeth to create your veneers. Once the veneers are ready, you will come to your dentist for placement. Before your dentist places your veneers, they will thoroughly clean your teeth to minimize complications–infection, tooth decay, etc. Next, your dentist will grind down a portion of your enamel to ensure a flush placement. Finally, your dentist will bond the veneer to your teeth using special dental cement.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a much quicker, less invasive procedure compared to dental veneers. Bonding uses a composite resin to reshape or hide imperfections on your teeth. This resin is tooth-colored, allowing the resin to blend with the color of your teeth. If needed, a dentist can reverse the dental bonding process without any extra damage to your teeth.
You can use dental bonding for many of the same issues that dental veneers correct. For example, dental bonding can repair minor chips and cracks in your teeth. Also, bonding can fill the gaps in your smile as well as lengthen uneven teeth. In addition, dental bonding can hide stubborn stains. Other uses for dental bonding include filling cavities.
Teeth Whitening
A popular cosmetic procedure is professional teeth whitening. In one session, your dentist can lighten your smile by several shades. Using bleaching chemicals, you may see your teeth whiten by up to eight shades. Professional whitening treatments are quicker and more efficient than most treatments from a drugstore. Some at-home whitening treatments can take months to get results. Unfortunately, it may only whiten your teeth by a few shades.