What’s the first thing people see when they look at you? Hopefully, it’s your cheerful and infectious smile! The comedian Phyllis Diller had it right when she said: “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” Are your teeth up to the task?
If you’re not confident smiling in pictures, on videos or even when chatting with others because of your teeth, there IS something you can do about it. With graduations, summer weddings and a whole season of pictures and outdoor fun, it’s the perfect time to consider whether or not cosmetic dentistry might help your smile.
‘But isn’t that just vanity?’ Absolutely not! A nice smile plays into our sense of self and confidence and alters the perception others have of us.
Typical Cosmetic Dental Complaints
- Yellowing teeth – aging, the chemicals in certain foods and beverages, medications, and smoking are some of the reasons that teeth yellow over time.
- Missing teeth – this can lead to a host of other problems, including additional tooth loss. Research shows that if a missing tooth is not replaced, up to 20% of adjacent teeth will fall out in the next 4 to 8 years.
- Crooked teeth – whether born that way or caused by tooth loss or accident, crooked teeth can also alter your bite.
A Sample of Available Cosmetic Dental Solutions
- Teeth whitening – A simple procedure done in the office, or at home, that gradually whitens teeth. If you’re in a hurry, we offer Zoom Whitening: You can get that whiter smile in under two hours!
- Dental implants – As the most natural prosthetic to the natural tooth structure, a dental implant offers a comfortable, natural-looking, easy-to-care-for choice to replace missing teeth. If cared for, implants can last a lifetime, so they are a logical choice, in many cases.
- Veneers – These are custom-made shells of porcelain materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth. The purpose is to improve your overall appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or even length.
- Crowns – Tooth crowns are placed over existing teeth and are typically a way to cover teeth that have metal fillings or misshapen teeth. They are most commonly given to patients who have crooked, broken, cracked, or chipped teeth.
How do I Choose a Cosmetic Dentist?
To choose a good cosmetic dentist, review the doctor’s before-and-after photos of actual cases, ask about his or her postgraduate education in cosmetic dentistry, and make sure that you feel confident and comfortable in the office.
Cosmetic Dentistry… A smile as a Gift?
While you may not think of teeth whitening as a typical gift, do you really want to get that special person in your life another token gift that will sit unused on a shelf until one day it mysteriously disappears? Who could not love the gift of whiter teeth and a brighter smile?
Once you have that beautiful, bright smile, you’ve got to make sure you take good care of it so it lasts a long time. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day will help preserve your white teeth and let us help your bright smile with regular visits to either of our two offices. At Orion Dental, our offices offer teeth whitening services but also cosmetic dentistry, implants, fillings, veneers, dentures – we’ve got everything you need to take care of your beautiful smile! Contact our Scarborough dental office at (416) 291–0306 or our Milton dental clinic at (905) 636–9770!
