Everyone wants a beautiful smile, but unfortunately, aging, poor lifestyle habits, genetics, poor dental hygiene, and injuries can all detract from your pearly whites. Thankfully, dental technology has come a long way in recent years, and patients now have several cosmetic dentistry options that will give them pearly whites again.
1. Teeth Whitening
Most Americans enjoy coffee or less frequently, tea, on a daily basis. This common habit can take a toll on teeth, staining them an unsightly color. Smoking cigarettes is another bad habit that adversely affects health and wellness, and the teeth are no exception. Smoking will eventually lead to gum disease and tooth loss, but the nicotine in cigarettes will also turn the teeth an unattractive shade of yellow. While current smokers can have their teeth whitened, ex-smokers, in particular, should gift themselves with teeth whitening to help encourage them to stay white.
Visiting a cosmetic dentist for regular teeth whitening sessions can reduce this discoloration and brighten the smile. Teeth whitening can be done both in the office and at home, so schedule an appointment with the dentist to determine which whitening process is best for your specific situation.
2. Tooth Bonding
Teeth age like every other part of the human body, and over time, they can develop small, jagged chips. This can give your smile an uneven appearance, and it can open your teeth to bacteria, putting them at greater risk of developing cavities. Cosmetic dental bonding uses a dental bonding cement that repairs the chips and builds the tooth back to its original shape.
3. Dental Implants
No one wants to lose a tooth, but decay, gum disease, and injury can all cause tooth loss. Bridges and dentures are an option, but they are not without their disadvantages. Both can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and messy. If a patient loses a front tooth and gets a replacement bridge, the other teeth will shift and become crooked eventually. With dentures, it can be difficult to eat normally. Perhaps most importantly, both bridges and dentures will lead to eventual bone loss.
Dental implants are much more convenient as they are permanently fixed in your mouth and won't lead to bone loss. A titanium screw is anchored into the jawbone, and the new artificial tooth is attached to the post. One tooth can be done, or the entire set of teeth can be replaced with this procedure. Implants can also be used as an anchor and done in conjunction with a dental bridge for a cost-effective option.
