3 Brilliant Ways To Brighten Your Smile

Posted on: 30 December 2019

When you think of cosmetic dentistry, you may imagine yourself submitting to crown fittings, undergoing dental implant procedures, or receiving a removable  bridge. While any of these reconstructive services can certainly help someone with "bad teeth" smile more confidently, they're not the only dental techniques that can improve your looks. Here are three other procedures worth discussing with your cosmetic dentist.

1. Professional Teeth Whitening

Have you tried whitening your teeth in the past, only to give up in frustration? Home teeth whitening kits tend to be better at making a mess than getting rid of significant discoloration. Not only are these strips or trays not custom-fitted for your mouth, but their mild peroxide solutions fall short in the potency department. By contrast, the results of professional teeth whitening could astonish you. The solutions that cosmetic dentists are allowed to use are much stronger than the over-the-counter versions, and the trays fit your mouth better while also protecting your gums from the bleaching agent. Stained teeth can be made several shades whiter in just one teeth whitening session.

2. Porcelain Veneers

Even professional teeth whitening has its limits. Situations such as tetracycline poisoning can create deep discoloration that can't be removed by bleaching agents, while cracks or fissures in teeth may remain embarrassingly visible. In such cases, you have another possible solution for perfecting the look of your teeth: porcelain veneers. Your dentist will shave off the outermost layer of enamel on the fronts of your teeth before cementing thin porcelain "shells" over them. When properly fitted and colored, veneers look just like your own teeth, and they can last for years (assuming that take care of them).

3. Gum Reshaping

Perhaps your smile seems less sparkly than you would like, not because your teeth are stained, but because they're half-hidden by your gums. A "gummy smile" doesn't necessarily present any medical concerns, but you still have the option of correcting it through cosmetic dentistry if you so desire. Cosmetic gum reshaping makes use of modern laser surgery to expose more of your tooth enamel, getting rid of that gummy look. After your gums have received a local anesthetic, the laser vaporizes a small amount of tissue along the gum line.

As you can see, improving your smile doesn't always mean crowning or replacing teeth. Talk to your cosmetic dentist about which strategy or technique can give your mouth the new look you want!

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