Summer is a time for making memories, and that usually means lots of photographs. However, many people are anxious about showing off their smiles due to dental defects such as gaps, chips, cracks, and stains. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry includes a range of treatments that may be able to help you achieve a smile that you’ll be proud to show off. Here’s what you should know about how teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and cosmetic bonding can help you make the most of your summer.
Your Smile Will Be Quite a Sight After Teeth Whitening
You can expect your teeth to chew through a lot of material over years of use, but many foods and beverages can leave their mark on your smile if you’re not careful. Items like coffee, tea, red wine, colas, dark sauces, and berries can contain lots of pigment or dyes that can become embedded in your enamel to create unsightly stains and discoloration in your smile.
Thankfully, professional teeth whitening treatments from your dentist can often lift these stains and give your teeth a brilliant new shine. Using concentrated whitening agents and oral barriers to protect your soft tissues, your dentist can make your smile up to eight shades whiter without the risk of injury due to user error or poor manufacturing that comes with store-bought whitening products.
Porcelain Veneers Can Transform Your Grin
Porcelain veneers are thin shells designed to be cemented over troubled teeth to conceal one or more flaws such as stains, gaps, chips, and cracks. In some cases, they are used to reshape misshapen teeth or correct alignment issues without orthodontics. These appliances can completely transform a smile into a beautiful new state, and they are usually placed over two appointments which are rendered painless through local anesthetic treatments.
Cosmetic Bonding Can Cover Up Flaws
If you have a few minor chips, cracks, gaps, or stains that you’d like to get rid of, cosmetic bonding may be a great treatment for you. This procedure can usually be completed in minutes during a routine cosmetic dental appointment without any anesthesia, meaning that you won’t need anyone to drive you to and from the dentist’s office. Your dentist will simply fill in or conceal a dental defect using a small amount of composite resin before shaping it to match the natural curves of your smile. This creates beautiful results that can last for several years with excellent care.
Cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve the confidence you need to smile brightly and make that stunning first impression. Consulting with your dentist can help determine if any of these treatments can be a great fit for you.
About the Author
Dr. Spiro Saati earned his dental doctorate at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and stays up to date with the latest developments in his field by completing many hours of continuing education. He is proud to be a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Massachusetts Dental Society. His office in Peabody, MA, offers preventive, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry. To schedule a cosmetic dental consultation, contact his office online or dial (978) 531-2185.