You Can Improve Your Smile With Veneers

Your smile – whether it is bright and shiny or dull and dismal – can dramatically impact your life. Few people take into consideration how vital their smile is to both their career and their personal life. Think about it: what’s your first impression when you meet someone with broken, chipped, or even yellow-stained teeth? Your initial impression is probably a negative one. Regardless of how much you attempt to control your natural, emotional reaction, the fact is that an unhealthy smile will hinder a person’s interpersonal relationships, both in their personal life and their career.

Now, consider meeting someone with bright white teeth that are perfectly aligned. What would your initial impression be towards that person? More than likely you would like this person, even if it is at a subconscious level. Additionally, a person’s smile is closely linked to their level of life enjoyment. Want to improve your quality of life? You should improve your smile!

Veneers are a simple, low-cost solution for stained or poorly aligned teeth. These extremely thin pieces of plastic are cemented directly onto the front of your teeth. In essence, they are a façade, presenting a very healthy set of white teeth to anyone who sees your smile while your real teeth, no matter how unsightly they may be, are kept hidden and out of view.

To install veneers, your dentist will need to trim off a very thin layer of enamel from the front of your teeth. He or she will then permanently cement your custom-crafted veneers to the front of your teeth. You can then walk out of your dentist’s office with a brand new smile.

If you only have one tooth that is unsightly, a crown might be your best solution. A crown (sometimes referred to as a “cap”) is a great solution for a single-tooth problem. If your tooth is chipped or cracked, a crown can not only hide its imperfect appearance, it can also hold your cracked tooth together and keep it from splitting apart altogether.

To install a crown, your dentist will need to trim a significant amount of enamel from your tooth. In fact, he’ll have to remove enough enamel to transform your tooth into a round peg. Once your tooth is in the form of a round peg, your dentist will permanently attach the crown on top of it. Crowns can be expected to last anywhere from ten to fifteen years. Of course, that will require that you take good care of your crown!

If your tooth is beyond repair (or if it’s missing altogether), then a dental implant might be your best solution. A dental implant is not a cheap fix – they can easily cost several thousand dollars by the time the entire procedure is complete.

The first step for getting a dental implant is for your dentist to drill a pilot hole into your jaw. He will then install an implant screw into the hole. After that, it’s up to your body to complete the next part of the process: osseointegration. This process can take up to six months or longer to complete. During this time, your jaw bone will graft to the implant post and permanently anchor it into place. Once the bone has grafted to the jaw, your dentist will install a crown on top of the implant screw. Dental implants can last thirty years or longer.

The above mentioned procedures are available to anyone who wants to improve their smile. If you think your smile could benefit from cosmetic dentistry, contact your local dentist and schedule an initial consultation to learn more.