When you think of cosmetic dentistry, chances are you immediately think of a famous and/or wealthy person. It makes sense that someone who lives in the public eye undergoes cosmetic dental procedures. After all, he or she must always look their best.
But then there's you.
While you think that it would be nice to rejuvenate, resurrect and restore your once beautiful smile, you think cosmetic dentistry is too extreme a measure. Cosmetic dentistry isn't for you.
Or is it?
What was once a novelty service offered by a few select dentists to their wealthier clients, is now a cheaper, routine procedure that is offered by many dentists and available to many patients.
Everyone, not just the rich and famous, can benefit from a whitened smile.
If you're embarrassed by your smile because of deep, stubborn stains in which you've tried nearly everything else, in-office, professional teeth whitening might be the best cosmetic dental procedure for you.
What about other cosmetic dental procedures?
The following are other cosmetic dental procedures available:
- Inlays
- Onlays
- Porcelain crowns
- Veneers
- Bonding
- Orthodontics
- Implants
- Orthodontics
- Teeth reshaping
- Gum lift
- Gum grafts
- Gingivectomy
- Gum depigmentation
- Invisalign
- Bite reclamation
- Bridges
- Enamelplasty
As you can see, there are many cosmetic dental procedures available. Cosmetic dentistry not only makes your smile look flawless, but it can fix speech impediments, chewing and biting difficulties, and increase self-confidence and self-esteem.
Signs You Need Cosmetic Dentistry
If you think that cosmetic dentistry is only about whitening teeth and smoothing minor smile imperfections, think again. The advancements in cosmetic dental technology have enabled dentists to perform additional cosmetic dental procedures that can dramatically change and improve the lives of their patients.
Here are some signs you may need a cosmetic dental procedure:
Difficulty chewing. Do you experience pain, discomfort, or pressure when you chew? Maybe you don't have any discomfort, but you're physically not able to chew food as well as you should. Difficulty chewing can have a variety of causes, most notably a misaligned bite caused by crooked, missing, or misshapen teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry can fill-in gaps between teeth, replace lost teeth, reshape teeth and straighten teeth so that your proper bite can be restored.
Embarrassing smile. If you're unhappy with your smile, join the crowd. Many patients can find one thing wrong about their smiles. For many people, it's the unpleasant yellowing of their teeth due to poor oral hygiene, smoking, and drinking of coffee, tea, wine, and soda.
While some patients may have the time to have their teeth whitened via at-home whitening kits, others may have deep stains that they'd like to have removed quickly.
If you have teeth staining that won't come out with at-home whitening kits or products and it's causing you to hide your smile, cosmetic dentistry may be the best option for you.
Maybe it's not teeth staining you're most embarrassed about. Maybe you have chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth. Cosmetic dental procedures such as veneers, inlays, inlays, and bonding can help with these dental issues.
Jaw pain, pressure, and discomfort. Dental issues such as bruxism and TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can leave your jaw sore and can lead to excessive pressure on your teeth and gums.
Crowns can help protect teeth from further wear due to the grinding and clenching common in bruxism and Botox can help ease the pain and pressure associated with TMJ.
Chronic headaches. Dental conditions such as TMJ and abscessed teeth can also produce constant headaches which can be severe enough to negatively impact your life. Your oral and nasal cavity are interconnected so a severe issue in one can also affect the other. A problem in the mouth can, therefore, not only cause jaw pain, but it can impact the nasal cavity and produce headaches. Cosmetic dental procedures such as dermal fillers and Botox can help lessen the severity and frequency of your headaches.
Heartburn and ulcers. Patients who suffer from chronic acid reflux and heartburn can not only be staining their teeth but also put their teeth at a heightened risk of decay. The stomach acid that comes up from the stomach can erode the lining of the esophagus and the enamel of teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry can help protect your teeth from further stomach acid damage.
Cosmetic dentistry not only makes your smile look great, but it also offers restoration and prevention treatments to give you a healthy and strong smile.
Cosmetic dentistry isn't anything to be afraid of or intimidated by. Contact your local cosmetic dentist to learn how cosmetic dentistry can help improve your smile and life.