You might have flaws in your smile that bother you every time you look in the mirror. You aren’t alone, but there are effective solutions to get the perfect grin you dream of. Cosmetic dentistry offers a wide range of treatments, but will it be a lengthy process until the end? Thankfully, many services are relatively short and offer results that can last for a long while. Here are three quick choices that you can consider for yourself.
1.) Professional Whitening Treatment
Many people develop dental stains as they get older. They can happen with aging, diet, and lifestyle factors, to name a few. While you may want to use a store-bought product, it won’t be able to give you the transformation you want, unlike a professional whitening treatment.
Your dentist has access to a high-quality bleaching gel that can target discoloration on and within your enamel. Whether you do it with an hour-long in-office service or their take-home kit, you can often get noticeable results that are up to eight shades brighter!
2.) Cosmetic Dental Bonding
If you have chips, cracks, or even stubborn stains, then they can bring down the aesthetics of your smile. An effective and non-invasive way to mask these flaws is with cosmetic dental bonding.
In this treatment, your dentist will sculpt tooth-colored composite resin on the affected tooth, covering the imperfection or filling in the space. It gets cured with a special light, and you’re all done. This appointment usually takes about an hour per tooth, but you can leave showing off a restored grin you love.
3.) Porcelain Veneers
While veneers take an extra visit compared to the other two options, this is a great choice that thousands have made for their smile. These are thin, durable shells that bond to the front-facing parts of your grin. They effectively hide imperfections underneath them in one go.
The entire process takes two appointments; the first is preparing your teeth. Your dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel and then send an impression of your grin to a dental lab. Here, a skilled artisan will craft each veneer out of porcelain, which takes about two weeks. They’ll shape, color, and shade it according to how you want and then send it back. You’ll have your second visit to get them bonded on, but then you can enjoy your results for up to 15 years with the proper care.
All the cosmetic treatments above offer a quick and easy way to get to the dream smile that you want. By talking about them to your dentist, you can find an option that works for you and lets you feel your best.
About the Author
Dr. Karen Littlefield Neil earned her dental degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is dedicated to helping her patients get the aesthetically pleasing teeth they deserve with cosmetic dentistry. By using state-of-the-art technology, you can preview different treatments to help you make a decision you won’t regret. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment or call Dr. Neil’s office at (817) 738-3368.