Your smile can say a lot. It can also connect you with others, which is an essential part of maintaining a positive mindset. If you’re not happy with the appearance of your teeth and gums when you smile, however, your confidence shifts, and you may tend to hide it more often than not.
Fortunately, today, your dentist can help you makeover that smile in a variety of ways. Perhaps you wish your teeth were more even, less discolored, void of chips or breakages, or rid of ugly, old silver fillings. Maybe you’re missing a tooth and refuse to smile at all. You do have options for turning your smile into one you love and want to share with the world. All it takes is the right smile makeover.
What Exactly is a Smile Makeover?
A smile makeover is a process where you upgrade the appearance of your smile through cosmetic dentistry. It is a personal journey to finding what will enhance the look of your teeth so that when you smile, you like what you see.
It all starts with scheduling an appointment with your dentist, where you will go over the various options available and find the ones best suited for your circumstances. Most procedures will be quick, minimally-invasive, and comfortable with less pain. As an added bonus, your dental health will benefit, including a corrected bite, tooth protection, and better overall oral health.
How long your smile makeover takes will depend on a variety of factors, including your current oral health and which treatment or treatments you select.
Here at Stiles Dental Care, we understand the importance of your smile. That’s why we use exciting technology to help you see how impressive your smile can be. Smile Vision allows us to take images of your smile as it is currently, then add treatments to show you what can result. We then work with you to develop a personal treatment plan that will benefit you the most.
Common Treatments Used for a Smile Makeover
Every patient is different, and every smile is unique. Because of this, no one solution is best for everyone. Instead, you may find one of the following treatments to be the perfect choice or combine more than one to create the smile you want.
Here are the most common treatments used for a smile makeover.
Tooth Whitening
The most common treatment used in a smile makeover is undergoing tooth whitening. This treatment is especially helpful for those who experience discoloration or staining but have very few issues when it comes to tooth shape or evenness.
The discoloration and staining may be attributed to one or more factors, including natural aging, diet, poor oral hygiene, injuries, and even family history.
If discoloration is the biggest deterrent to you loving your smile, this is a good option. You can choose either over-the-counter whitening kits or schedule in-office treatments with your dentist.
The advantages of the in-office whitening treatment are that the process is quicker, allowing you to see results sooner, and also involves a customized tray to fit your mouth more comfortably.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
While you may not consider fillings a solution for beautifying your smile, look at whether or not you currently have one or more old silver amalgam fillings, which is making your teeth appear grayish in appearance. You may also have fillings that become stained over time and require replacing.
Tooth-colored fillings consist of a strong composite resin that matches as closely as possible to the natural color of your surrounding teeth.
Porcelain Dental Veneers
Porcelain dental veneers are extremely thin shells customized to fit over the surface of your teeth. They conceal imperfections such as chips, cracks, misalignments, unevenness, and stains.
These shells are designed to match your teeth precisely and will reshape, reposition, and change the color of the teeth you share each time you smile. They are also long-lasting.
The procedure is a little more involved but won’t take up too much of your time. Your dentist begins by etching off the thin surface of your teeth, creating a better bonding area for the veneers. Next, the veneers are adhered to the surface.
Dental Crowns and Bridges
For teeth that suffer more damage or decay, dental crowns or bridges are a viable solution. Dental crowns are customized caps that fit snugly over your natural teeth, protecting the tooth from further injury and concealing the damaged sections.
For areas where more than one crown may be needed, dental bridges are an option. A dental bridge is a set of interconnecting crowns and can do all an individual crown can do, including filling in gaps and replacing any missing teeth.
Dental Bondings
Dental bondings are an easy solution for hiding cosmetic flaws, such as chipped, cracked, stained, or misshapen teeth. You can also use them to alleviate noticeable gaps between teeth. In addition, dental bondings can reshape teeth while also creating matching colors across your smile.
The bonding itself is made of a pliable resin that, once applied, hardens with the help of a special curing light. As a final step, your dentist will trim any overhanging material and polish your teeth.
Inlays and Onlays:
Inlays and onlays can not only better your smile but also improve your bite and protect your teeth. Both can easily replace failing or defective restorations such as fillings.
While inlays are an alternative to fillings, outlays provide fuller coverage, extending out onto the tooth’s biting surface. Your dentist will explain the difference and make recommendations on which is right for you.
Dental Implants
Dental implants require a slightly more invasive procedure than the other solutions on this list but are beneficial not just to your smile but your overall dental health.
Small metal posts are surgically implanted into the jawbone just beneath the gums, serving as anchors to support an artificial tooth, such as a crown. These are a good solution for replacing any missing teeth that affect your appearance or bite.
Invisalign
Another condition that can affect your smile is the crowding or misalignment of your teeth. For this, no longer are traditional braces the only option available. Today you have access to Invisalign. These clear aligners take less time to achieve the results you want and fit more easily into daily life. Made of resin and customized to conveniently fit over your teeth, Invisalign is to be worn daily and only removed when you brush, floss, or eat.
Ready for a Smile Makeover? Contact Stiles Dental Care Today
When you’re ready to explore your options for a smile makeover and also improve your overall dental health, Dr. Stiles and his team are ready to help. We treat our patients like family, always keeping your best interests in mind. Call or visit us online today and schedule a consultation to find out how to create that beautiful smile you can share confidently.
