It’s extremely important to take proper care of your teeth. If not, you might wind up dealing with a wide range of potential dental problems. In addition to causing pain and potentially leading to other problems, these conditions can worsen the appearance of your smile. Therefore, many people visit a cosmetic dentist office to have these situations taken care of. In this post, you’ll learn more about popular cosmetic dentistry procedures.
Cosmetic Dental Options
It’s understandable to wonder which types of cosmetic dental options are right for you. For this to happen, you’ll need to make a consultation appointment with a dentist. In turn, the dentist will be able to obtain a detailed look into your mouth and the overall condition of your oral health. With that in mind, here are four popular types of cosmetic dentistry procedures.
Dental Implants
Statistics show that nearly 3 million people have some type of dental implants. Dental implants are primarily used to restore smiles for those who have one or more missing teeth. Tooth loss can happen for many reasons. However, periodontal disease still remains the leading cause of tooth loss among adults.
Dental implants are the next best thing to having an actual tooth. These implants are made by attaching an artificial root material to a crown. The artificial root is placed into the gums, where the natural tooth root would be found. Over time, the artificial root fuses to the nearby bone which creates a secure hold.
Veneers
Not all cosmetic dental options involve replacing missing teeth. Many patients have teeth with problems that are slightly easier to correct. In these situations, patients will complain of discolored, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth. If the tooth is still firmly placed in the gums, dental veneers are often the best solution.
That being said, it’s important to know that veneers don’t simply fit over your natural teeth. Instead, your natural teeth will need to be slightly altered in order to prepare for the veneer fitting. However, this helps to ensure a tight and secure seal is created. Veneers last a long time but they aren’t a permanent solution. Dentist typically replace veneers after about 10-15 years.
Teeth Whitening
One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry options is teeth whitening. It’s understandable to wonder what separates teeth whitening in a dental office from what you can do in your own home. Unfortunately, over the counter whitening products aren’t often that effective. In fact, certain name brand whitening strips have even been shown to damage your teeth.
Tooth whitening at a dentist’s office use specialized tools and equipment. In many cases, these items are not available in stores. Therefore, visiting the dentist for teeth whitening procedures is often a much safer and effective route to take to brighten your smile.
Braces
While braces have been around for many years, certain inventions have made straightening your teeth much easier than normal. Many people are considering invisible braces over the traditional metal braces. Invisible braces look more like a mouthguard rather than traditional braces with all of their wiring and rubber bands.
In order for invisible braces to fully straighten your teeth, you’ll receive different molds to wear in your mouth. As you continually wear your molds, the teeth continue to form to this device. After a specified amount of time, invisible braces correct many types of alignment problems.
To summarize, there are a wide range of cosmetic dental options available for most patients. These solutions can help treat a wide variety of dental issues patients are encountering. Cosmetic dental options are often used to repair damaged or missing teeth. In fact, statistics show that 92% of adults ages 20 to 64 have had some type of decay taking place in their permanent teeth. If you’re unhappy with your smile, consider contacting a cosmetic dentist. In turn, you’ll be able to receive a consultation. This consultation is your opportunity to find out which cosmetic options work best for you.
