5 Ways to Improve Your Smile
Cosmetic dentistry is all about looks, right? Not entirely! While brighter, more attractive teeth look great, they can also affect your confidence and performance. In a modern, on-the-go city like Austin, confidence will help you stay on top of life and catch the waves of opportunity as they come. Check out the ways that an Austin cosmetic dentist can boost your self-confidence and improve your well-being – certainly things to smile about!
1. YOUR AUSTIN DENTIST CAN WHITEN YOUR SMILE
Typically, one of the first things to come to mind when we think about cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening. There are a few different methods of achieving a brighter smile, and not all are created equal. In fact, it’s easy to find teeth-whitening services advertised in mall kiosks or on TV, but these kinds of services can often be far less effective than their professional counterparts – and even do damage. Dental whitening through a licensed dentist, on the other hand, is safe and effective, and can be achieved through a couple of different methods:
- In-office whitening
One of the fastest, safest, and most effective methods of teeth whitening is treatment right in your dentist’s office. During this treatment, your dentist applies a strong whitening gel to your teeth after placing a protective barrier or substance on your gums. Today, many whitening treatments use a gel that is activated by a special UV light and delivers impressive results in under an hour.
- At home whitening
Typically, at-home whitening treatments prescribed by your dentist involve a gel-filled tray in which teeth are submerged for 30 minutes to an hour daily for one to two weeks. The trays themselves are specially-designed to fit your teeth exactly and are provided by your dentist after taking an impression of your teeth during an office visit.
The gel that fills the trays contains a mild bleaching agent that is safe to use at home. While this type of whitening usually requires more sessions than in-office whitening, its benefits are you can whiten on your own time in the flexibility and privacy of your own home.
2. PERMANENTLY IMPROVE YOUR TEETH WITH VENEERS
Some of the biggest culprits in tooth discoloration are food and drink. Substances like coffee, black tea, dark berries, and others can stain your teeth very quickly, which can be frustrating for individuals trying to keep a bright smile. In some cases, getting repeated whitening treatments over and over can be unrealistic or damaging.
Fortunately, there’s another option for permanent whitening: veneers.
Porcelain dental veneers are an ultra-thin coating applied to your teeth at the dentist’s office. This coating is extraordinarily strong, and can be colored to the exact shade you wish. Unlike your teeth, porcelain doesn’t stain, meaning you’ll achieve permanent whitening results; but that’s not all! Porcelain veneers are also great for making small cosmetic improvements to small chips or cracks, misalignment, gaps, or irregular shapes in teeth.
3. FIX MISSING TEETH AFFORDABLY WITH DENTAL BRIDGES
Missing teeth aren’t only a cosmetic issue; they can affect speech, chewing, and the health of surrounding teeth and gums. In some cases, however, implants aren’t the best option because of price, surrounding bone structure, or a variety of other reasons. Dental bridges provide a great solution to affordably restore missing teeth. In most cases, healthy surrounding teeth serve as “anchor” teeth, which your dentist will crown and connect to an artificial tooth (to replace the missing tooth) in between. Typically, this tooth is comprised of a combination or porcelain, ceramics, and metal. If you need more extensive repairs, you might have to visit an orthodontist like Calgary Family Braces.
4. STRAIGHTEN YOUR SMILE WITH INVISIBLE BRACES
A crooked smile may be unsightly, but so too can wires and brackets of traditional braces. Today, dental patients have another option to solve misaligned teeth: invisible braces. Your local dentist in Austin, TX can take exact measurements, scans, and impressions of your teeth, which are then sent to an off-site laboratory to create a series of clear plastic aligner trays.
These trays are worn throughout the day and swapped out every two to three weeks to gradually adjust and straighten your teeth to achieve proper alignment. Comfortable, removable, and virtually invisible, this treatment is a great way to achieve a picture-perfect smile without unsightly braces.
5. RECEIVE PERMANENT, FUNCTIONAL NEW TEETH WITH IMPLANTS
While dental bridges are a great option for many patients, a truly permanent and most “tooth-like” solution is dental implants. While generally more expensive than bridges, dental implants involve titanium rods that anchor a strong artificial tooth directly into your jaw. This “tooth” is virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. It looks and feels so similar to an actual tooth that lots of patients no longer notice they even have an implant after a few weeks! Implants can be a great solution to fully restore the health and appearance of your smile, permanently.
Whether you’re looking for whitening, bridges, or porcelain veneers in Austin, our expert providers and staff at South Austin Dental Studio are ready to help. Come see why we’ve become a trusted community dentist over the past 30 years, and discover how we can brighten your smile this year! To learn more or to schedule a consultation, contact us today.