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How to change your smile
A beautiful smile can have a powerful impact in professional and social situations. When someone smiles at you, your natural instinct is to smile back. Yet many people may not smile back not due to being stuck up or rude – they may be embarrassed by their smile. Modern dentistry offers a myriad of ways to improve a smile. In this article, I will discuss some of the most common ways to create a beautiful smile you can be proud of.
Dark Teeth
Most patients I talk to wish their teeth were brighter. If you go into any store that sells dental items, you will see products that tout how they “whiten” your teeth, especially toothpaste. Most whitening products, whether they be over the counter or professional, require contact with the teeth for at least 30 minutes to truly whiten teeth. Toothpaste does not stay in contact with teeth long enough to truly whiten teeth, instead they contain abrasives that remove surface stains making the teeth appear whiter. Of course, this does not work for everyone and long-term use can wear away your enamel, making the problem worse. It’s best to seek professional advice to see if you are a candidate for tooth whitening and what options will best work for you.
Some teeth may be dark due to medications taken at an early age. Tetracycline antibiotic is the most common one know for causing very dark teeth. In the past, these teeth would not whiten using normal methods and required extensive restorative procedures such as crowns or veneers to obtain a white smile. Some whitening procedures have been shown to whiten tetracycline teeth but often take weeks or months to see a result. Most patients choose not invest this much time and often choose the faster, restorative route. Again, consult with your dentist to get all the pros and cons of each procedure before making a final decision.
Crooked Teeth
Teeth move throughout a person’s life, even if they’ve had braces. Most adults who have had braces no longer wear retainers, which act to hold the teeth straight. As a result, I commonly see adult orthodontic relapse cases where the teeth have moved causing a change in the bite and esthetics. Today clear aligners such as Invisalign are a great option to realign teeth, improving both the bite and esthetics. For extremely difficult cases that require a lot of move, traditional braces may be the best option. Most general dentists provide Invisalign services but not all provide traditional orthodontic treatment. Your family dentist would be a great place to start to discuss which option would be best for you.
Worn, broken and missing teeth
As we age, our teeth take a real beating. Clenching, grinding, ice chewing, high sugar/acid diet can have a negative, irreversible effect on teeth. Unfortunately, when teeth wear, chip and break they don’t grow back. This is where veneers, crowns, bridges or implants come in. Each type of restoration is designed to restore or replace teeth back to a stable, healthy state. Teeth don’t get better with time so the sooner problems are identified and treated the better the long-term results. With modern techniques full smiles and sets of teeth can be restored and replaced giving back that bright, youthful smile. A comprehensive evaluation is the best way to determine how much work will be needed to get you back in tip top shape.
At our office, we can give you that smile you’ve always wanted. Call us to schedule your consult today: (225) 926-4203!