Are you unhappy with the current appearance of your teeth? Whether you have chipped teeth, prevalent stains, or spaces between your teeth, it can be challenging to feel confident when you don’t want to show off your teeth. Fortunately, there is a wide range of cosmetic solutions available to mask dental imperfections. Read on to learn about some of the most common cosmetic flaws and their solutions.
Discoloration
This is likely the most common cosmetic issue that people dislike about their teeth. Discoloration occurs naturally with age. Whether your teeth are becoming stained due to smoking, dark-pigmented foods, medication, or aging, there are a few different ways that your dentist can help. The most common one is teeth whitening. In-office treatment and take-home kits are both available from your dentist and can help you achieve dramatic results very quickly. For more stubborn, intrinsic staining, veneers are an excellent solution.
Gapped Teeth
When the teeth are spaced too far apart from each other, unsightly gaps can form. In addition to taking away from your overall appearance, they allow for more accumulation of food debris and plaque that can result in tooth decay and gum disease. Fortunately, the smaller gaps can be fixed with dental bonding or veneers. This can improve your appearance and even improve your oral health.
Broken Teeth
If you have a tooth that has been damaged, there is a solution. Smaller cracks and breaks can be masked with cosmetic bonding. This is molded and bonded with your tooth, leaving you with a natural-looking result. Larger chips can often be repaired with a veneer. If your tooth is more severely damaged, your dentist may be able to preserve your tooth with a root canal and crown. For teeth that are beyond repair, they can be extracted and replaced with a dental bridge or implant.
Irregularly Shaped/Uneven Teeth
There are several different things that can make this happen. Sometimes, irregularly shaped teeth occur due to bruxism. Other times, this can be a general problem. There are several different treatments that can help. For smaller changes, your dentist can contour your teeth to appear more even. To do this, they shave away a small amount of the tooth’s protective enamel. Another option is cosmetic bonding. This uses a tooth-colored composite resin to alter the shape, length, and width of the tooth. For more dramatic fixes, veneers are likely the solution.
No matter what imperfection is bothering you, there are options. You will be showing off your smile with confidence in just a matter of time!
About the Practice
At Plaisance & Bostick Family Dentistry, Dr. Kerry Plaisance and Dr. Reese Bostick work together to treat patients in the River Ridge community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about cosmetic solutions or to schedule a consultation, visit their website or call (504) 738-5171.