It’s been said that “peace begins with a smile”. They’re how we show joy, warmth, and friendliness, after all. But if you’re self-conscious about your smile, it can have a significant effect on your quality of life.
It’s why smile restoration procedures are the most popular form of cosmetic dentistry. And the options go far beyond mere teeth whitening.
To see how you can have a major smile makeover, check out these three ways to restore a smile.
- Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells applied to the outside of the teeth to improve their appearance. You could almost think of them as the equivalent of having fake nails applied.
Usually made from porcelain or resin composite materials, veneers are permanently bonded around the teeth. It’s a simple dental procedure and can achieve a variety of positive outcomes. Most often, they’re applied to fix chips, crooked tooth lines, small gaps between teeth, and deep staining or discolored teeth.
- Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is the next step up from having veneers applied. The procedure is likewise used to repair the appearance of a damaged or discolored tooth.
Your doctor will apply a tooth-colored resin to one or more of your teeth, in effect filling in or covering up gaps or damaged areas. It can be a quick and easy way to restore a smile — most applications don’t even need anesthesia. So if you have decayed, damaged, or tarnishedteeth, it may be the right option for you.
Some individuals with uncommonly small teeth also make use of dental bonding. For example, you might have a tooth that happens to be shorter than its neighbors. Dental bonding can build up that tooth, creating a nice, even row.
- Dental Implants
Tooth loss can have a significant impact not only on your confidence but on your quality of life. And it’s a more common problem than many people realize. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, about 178 million Americans are missing at least one
tooth, with 40 million Americans missing all of their teeth.
Dentures are the most common answer for missing teeth but are an imperfect solution. They often cause soreness, difficulty speaking or eating, and may even cause gum infections.
So in their place, dental implants are becoming an increasingly popular alternative.
Dental implants usually take the form of titanium posts fitted into the jaw. Once secured, these posts act as root substitutes and provide the foundations for replacement teeth.
It is a somewhat involved process, requiring one or more bouts of surgery. But once complete, the new artificial tooth can last for a lifetime.
Finding the Right Smile Restoration Solution
Dental care goes well beyond cleaning teeth and filling the occasional cavity. While it’s true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, there are still options to fix a smile if prevention is no longer an option.
And these smile restoration procedures only scratch the surface. To see more ways that you can boost not only your dental health but your overall wellbeing, be sure to follow our latest health news and guides.
