Far too many people feel like they have to hide their smiles from others. It may be that a small flaw in the alignment makes a person feel far less confident, or it could be that some serious trauma has damaged several teeth and left some large gaps in the mouth.
Many dental specialties can treat several of these dental issues, including orthodontics, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry. When you bring all of these elements together, you can get a complete smile makeover that restores or re-invigorates your smile, so you'll always have the confidence to show it off.
The First Step Toward a Brighter, Healthier Smile
The first step in getting the smile of your dreams is to call and schedule a consultation or cleaning with your dentist. At this appointment, the dental team will help answer all of your questions and get your journey off to a great start.
The general recommendation is for everyone to get a regular checkup every 6 months. This is a critical step to keeping a great smile, even before diving into a full smile makeover. Clean, healthy teeth are the foundation on which additional procedures can be built.
For example, some procedures, such as implants and bridges, require healthy teeth, gums, and jawbones in order to be successful.
This is also the time when x-rays are taken and oral cancer screenings can be performed. These procedures help the dentist (and you) become aware of potentially severe dental problems that may arise or have already begun to develop.
These oral health issues can contribute to a less-than-perfect smile. Even if they don't cause aesthetic problems, it's important to treat any serious oral health issue before continuing with the various cosmetic improvements.
Your Smile Makeover Plan
When you visit your dentist for your routine cleaning, you can discuss your options and start to make a plan for your smile makeover.
A smile makeover will be different for everyone, based on individual needs. Your personal plan might involve replacing teeth or closing large gaps. It could be a whitening treatment or a full restoration involving veneers and crowns. Your plan may involve taking care of several procedures at once or spreading them out over time.
In the end, though, pulling together the right combination of treatments will lead to that beautiful smile you've always wanted.
The Benefits of a Smile Makeover
Smiling people tend to look more confident and approachable. They seem more sociable and friendly, and others are drawn towards that perceived openness.
A great smile is about more than making others like you, though. There are actual psychological benefits to smiling. It's not just in your head. A simple smile activates some neuropeptides in your brain that say it's time to release some dopamine and serotonin and help you feel better.
The same studies that showed those psychological benefits also suggest that a smile is contagious. When someone sees you grinning at them, they can't help but want to smile back.
So, with all these benefits to a great smile, it's truly unfortunate when someone feels they need to hide their smile behind their lips.
A complete smile makeover can boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. It can also improve your overall dental health, so you'll require fewer additional dental procedures in the long run.