When most people go in for a dentist appointment, they don’t often consider cosmetic dentistry. While it’s essential to get regular cleanings, whitenings, and general check-ups, you might find that various cosmetic procedures could benefit your smile.
You might need cosmetic dentistry to refresh your smile and improve your overall quality of life, which can boost your oral health and hygiene.
In this article, we’ll go over these benefits and more so that you can learn more about these cosmetic procedures and how they can help you solve issues relating to your oral health.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
We define cosmetic dentistry as a practice used to redesign smiles. Smile redesign takes into account your teeth, gums, bone, jaws, and muscles and works to restore functionality and aesthetics to your smile through precise work and modern dental technology.
Signs You Might Need Work Done
There are signs you can look for if you’re not sure you need cosmetic dentistry done. We recommend looking into these procedures if you deal with the following dental issues.
1. You Have Misaligned Teeth
You may want to look into teeth straightening if you have misaligned teeth. Cosmetic solutions like Invisalign, braces, and retainers can give you the smile of your dreams. Not only do straighter teeth boost your confidence, but they’ll be much easier to work on so that you can avoid further complications.
2. You Have Stained or Discolored Teeth
Stains and discoloration can make it hard for you to smile confidently. If you have a hard time showing off your teeth in front of others, you could benefit from teeth whitening or looking into getting veneers if the damage to your teeth is severe enough.
3. You Have Different Teeth Sizes
This issue can be more challenging to address than stains. In situations where you may not be comfortable with your smile because your teeth are of different lengths, you may look at veneers or gum correction surgery.
4. You’re Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can expedite tooth misalignment, compromising your smile’s look and making it difficult to live your day-to-day life. Dental implants are a popular option today because they are starting to look more natural as time goes on.
In some cases, you and the dentist who performed the implant would be the only people to know that you even had an implant put in, so you can show off your teeth confidently and enjoy your new smile.
5. You Have Gaps in Your Smile
A gappy smile can be a damper on your confidence. The good thing about this specific issue is that there are various solutions we can choose from. We can look at veneers, composite bonding, and Invisalign when dealing with gaps.
6. You Have Chipped, Broken, and Worn Teeth
Veneers, dental bonding, and crowns are the best way to address more severe issues like cracks, chips, and wear. These issues can affect your smile’s aesthetics and lead to poor oral health, which can snowball into even more problems like the ones we’ve mentioned.
7. You Want to Fix Botched Restorations
Though not a common issue, fixing a prior restoration can be another reason you need cosmetic dentistry. If you went to another dentist who may not have been as experienced as they led you to believe, or if the procedure went wrong, we may need to fix those dental mistakes.
Now that we’ve considered why you may need cosmetic dentistry, let’s discuss the benefits.
The Benefits
So, what kind of benefits can you expect from dental cosmetic work?
You’ll Gain Confidence
Your smile is one of the first things people notice when you first meet them. If you hide your teeth when you smile or tend to cover your mouth often when speaking or laughing, you might want to consider veneers, a gum balance, or something as small as teeth whitening.
Constantly covering your mouth is a sign that you may not be 100% comfortable with your smile’s current condition, and cosmetic dentistry can help bring a newfound sense of confidence by reviving your smile.
It Will Improve Your Oral Health
As we mentioned previously, having straight and uniform teeth makes it easier to perform routine dental procedures on your smile, which means improved oral health. Additionally, a good smile makes it easier for you to maintain your smile at home.
Improved oral health helps you avoid tooth decay, periodontal disease, cavities, and other oral health issues.
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Improve Your Bite
Aside from giving you a more appealing smile, cosmetic dentistry can also correct your bite. A poor bite can lead to issues such as recurring headaches, jaw stiffness, and uneven tooth wear. Implants and alignment procedures can help correct your bite and help extend your teeth’s lifespan.
Are Cosmetic Procedures Painful?
It’s normal for you to dread a dental procedure. However, you’ll find that most of our procedures are minimally invasive and almost painless when it comes to cosmetic dentistry.
Cosmetic procedures are meant to primarily address aesthetic issues with your smile, bar a few of the ones that happen to have added functional and health-related benefits.
Rest assured, we will go over the specifics before undergoing a procedure, ensuring that we address any and all concerns you may have regarding your visit. You’ll also be glad to know that technology and techniques continue to evolve, making these procedures even safer as time goes on.
Let the Professionals at Oak Hills Dentistry Get Your Smile Back!
As you can see, cosmetic dentistry brings aesthetic and health benefits. If you or someone you know is dealing with any of the issues we covered in this article, reach out to us at Oak Hills Dentistry in Layton, Utah.
We want you to feel confident in your smile again, which is why our doctors spend the time to meet with you and come up with a detailed, custom-tailored solution to your oral health concerns. Give us a call at 801-544-2256 or fill out our online form.