Do you struggle with self confidence? Life can be difficult enough without the added stress of worrying about how you look. It’s normal to feel self-conscious from time to time, but when you generally lack self confidence it can be debilitating to your daily life.
Does your lack of self confidence stem from your dissatisfaction with your smile? If you don’t like the way your smile looks in the mirror or in pictures it can cause you to avoid smiling altogether, which can affect many aspects of your life. You may struggle with meeting new people, forming personal relationships, and even your career could suffer.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Cosmetic dentistry can transform your smile in a variety of ways so that you can smile with confidence. Here’s how.
Common Cosmetic Dental Problems and Solutions
What qualities about your smile do you dislike? What are the things that bother you when you look in the mirror or view pictures of yourself? Here are some of the most common dental issues and the cosmetic procedures that can be used to correct them.
Problem: Gaps between your teeth. Do you have gaps between your front teeth that are very noticeable? This can be a cause of self-consciousness for some people.
Solutions: Invisalign, veneers, bonding. Invisalign is a teeth straightening system that uses clear aligners that fit over the teeth to gradually shift them into place. This can close the gaps between your teeth to improve your smile. Gaps can also be covered with veneers, which are thin shells made of porcelain that fit over your teeth to give them a new facade. Veneers wrap slightly around the sides of your teeth to close the gaps. Bonding uses a material made of composite resin (the material used for most cavity fillings) to cover and reshape teeth. Bonding can help close in the gaps between your teeth as well.
Problem: Yellow or discolored teeth. One of the most common and easy to solve cosmetic issues is discolored teeth. Gradual yellowing or discoloration of teeth is normal. It comes from the things you eat and drink as well as just a natural dulling that occurs over time.
Solutions: Teeth whitening, bonding, veneers. Professional teeth whitening treatments can give you a brighter smile in just one application. The type of whitening used by your dentist in the office will give you better results than over the counter products you can purchase like toothpaste and whitening strips. If teeth whitening treatments don’t work, bonding or veneers can be used to give your teeth a new white facade.
Problem: Crooked teeth. Are you bothered by one or more crooked teeth that show up when you smile? Crooked teeth are a very common cosmetic issue.
Solutions: Invisalign, veneers. Invisalign can be used to straighten your teeth in a subtle way that most people won’t even see. The clear aligners fit over your teeth and are barely noticeable while they are gently shifting your teeth into proper alignment. Veneers are a much faster way to solve crooked teeth, as they can be applied to the front of your teeth in one session to make your teeth appear straight and uniform.
Problem: Chipped or broken teeth. Do you have one or more teeth that are chipped, broken, or worn down? If this is affecting your self confidence there are plenty of solutions.
Solutions: Bonding, veneers, crowns, dental implants. The best treatment for this issue depends on the situation. If the tooth is barely chipped or slightly worn down, bonding is an easy way to reshape the tooth so that it matches your other teeth. If the damage is a bit more significant but the tooth is still healthy and intact, veneers can cover the tooth or teeth. When the damage is significant but the root is still healthy, a crown can be used to correct a broken or cracked tooth. A crown fitting involves shaving down the existing tooth and covering it with an artificial tooth cover or cap. If the tooth and the root are both damaged beyond repair, the tooth may need to be replaced with a dental implant. A dental implant involves placing an artificial tooth root in the jaw bone with a crown attached to the top. It looks and functions just like a natural tooth.
Problem: Missing or severely decayed teeth. Do you feel self conscious about your smile because you are missing teeth? Or maybe you have some teeth that are noticeably decayed.
Solutions: Crowns, dental implants. Severely decayed teeth can be covered with crowns as long as the root of the tooth is still healthy. Missing or hopeless teeth can be replaced with dental implants that look and function just like natural teeth.
Problem: Gum issues. Some people feel self conscious about their smile because of the appearance of their gums. Gums can sometimes cover too much of your teeth, making them appear short or small. Gums can also recede, leaving too much of the teeth exposed.
Solutions: Gum contouring, gum grafting. Gum tissue can be reshaped to help you achieve a more desirable smile. The gums can be cut back to remove excess or grafted if they have receded too far.
Artistic Family Dentistry Can Give You New Confidence
Have you been unhappy with your smile for years? Maybe this is the year you decide to do something about it. Artistic Family Dentistry of Silver Spring can give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. You tell us what you want your smile to look like, and we will create a customized plan to help you achieve it.
Call 240-641-5828 to schedule a consultation or request an appointment. We look forward to being a part of your transformation so that you can smile with confidence.