It’s never too late to get the smile you deserve.
Every smile is uniquely beautiful, and though we don’t believe any smile is ugly, we understand that damaged teeth can detract from the smile you wish for, from your self-confidence, and from your optimal health. A combination of restorative and cosmetic dentistry allows us to help patients achieve their dream smiles and regain confidence in sharing their grins with everyone around them.
If you find yourself unhappy with how your smile looks, there are a few different options to consider.
Professional whitening can be a great first step in any smile makeover.
Teeth whitening may not seem like a dramatic procedure, but it’s actually a wonderful starting point for anyone who’s unhappy with their smile. Professional teeth whitening yields beautiful results without sacrificing comfort or causing teeth sensitivity. Most importantly, it gives your entire smile a bright, healthy glow and a youthful appearance.
But why bother with whitening if you want more work done on your smile? Well, the porcelain or composite materials used for dental crowns, veneers, and other popular smile solutions can’t be whitened. By first whitening your entire smile to the shade you desire, your dentist will be able to match your restorations or prosthetics to this exact shade. This ensures, post-makeover, that your new smile will be exactly how you dreamed of it looking.
Replacing missing teeth and filling gaps gives your smile a full look.
Missing teeth are by far the most obvious problem you can experience with your smile. Missing front teeth are visually prominent, while missing molars can make your smile appear smaller and dark. Missing teeth also negatively impact your oral health and make it difficult to eat the foods you love.
The most permanent solution for one or more missing teeth is dental implants or implant-supported dentures. Dental implants mimic the structure of natural teeth in a way other prosthetic teeth can’t, which helps preserve long-term jawbone health.
Traditional dentures (complete or partial) and dental bridges are still commonly used and can be a great choice for patients who aren’t candidates for dental implants.
As far as other gaps go, sometimes teeth alignment can leave larger than normal spacing in between teeth. This often happens in between the front teeth. In these cases, you certainly don’t need a prosthetic tooth, but you can still fill in the tooth with something like a pair of dental crowns sized to allow for a normal gap between the two affected teeth.
Dental bonding can be another option for moderate gaps between teeth.
Covering your teeth with porcelain veneers balances your smile.
When you’re dreaming of a completely new smile, porcelain veneers can make your vision a reality.
Porcelain veneers are the quintessential smile makeover solution when a patient wants an entirely new look. If your teeth have a lot of wear and tear or if your smile looks worn overall, porcelain veneers can cover the damage or age without your dentist needing to treat every tooth individually.
Porcelain veneers are more versatile than many realize as well. Your dentist can place veneers over just a couple of teeth as a dental crown alternative or transform entire visible arches on the top and bottom. Porcelain veneers can also be used as part of a more in-depth treatment plan involving dental bridges or dental implants if there are teeth missing.
Last but not least, porcelain veneers can also be an alternative to orthodontic care if you have crooked teeth. Veneers won’t physically change the position of your teeth like braces or Invisalign, but they will give the appearance of straight teeth.
Restorative care repairs damage and boosts your overall oral health.
If you’re content with your smile overall but there are individual teeth you don’t like the look of, restorative care is the right path to take.
Restorative dentistry includes common procedures like tooth-colored dental fillings or inlays and onlays, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Many of the same restorative procedures that improve tooth function and health also improve cosmetic appeal. This is why there’s often some overlap between restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry in custom smile makeover plans.
Dental crowns are great at changing the look of a badly damaged tooth. They are also tooth savers, meaning if your tooth has enough structure left, your dentist can place a dental crown rather than having to extract it.
Old silver amalgam fillings and inlays or onlays can also be replaced with beautiful porcelain and composite options that blend in with your natural tooth. This, combined with professional teeth whitening, can immediately enhance your smile.
Maintain your results with great at-home dental care and routine checkups.
Cosmetic and restorative care permanently changes your smile’s physical appearance, but your beautiful new smile does need to be maintained.
Evaluate your current at-home dental care routine and see if you need to make any changes. Set reminders to make sure you brush twice daily for two minutes. Try out some different types of floss to find a product you’ll use every day. Consider upgrading to a powered toothbrush or a water flosser system. The better you care for your smile at home, the fewer oral health issues you’ll experience.
After your smile makeover is complete, keep in mind that you’ll still need to come back every six months for a checkup and a deep cleaning. Scheduling these visits in advance helps prevent missed appointments when life gets busy.
To schedule your next appointment or book a smile makeover consultation, give our Buxton office a call. You can also fill out this quick online form for booking during non-business hours or weekends.