Want a better smile? Here’s how cosmetic dental surgery can help you get one

Unhappy with your smile? You’re not alone. Millions of people the world over have dental imperfections that cause self-consciousness, embarrassment and unhappiness. The good news is that you don’t have to stay in this state of despondency over your smile. There is actually a lot you can do to improve the appearance of your smile – which will have a whole host of great benefits for your self-confidence and wellbeing. Cosmetic dentistry is the answer – read on to find out more.  

What is cosmetic dentistry?

The term cosmetic dentistry covers a range of procedures that will improve the way your teeth look. These procedures are usually elective, and can range from small and subtle changes to major repairs. Cosmetic dental procedures can improve the shape, colour, alignment and appearance of your teeth and give you a beautiful and natural-looking smile that you’ll be proud to show off.  

What problems can cosmetic dentistry fix?

There are a whole range of common dental problems that can be improved or alleviated through the use of cosmetic dentistry. These include:

• Broken, chipped or cracked teeth
• Crooked or misaligned teeth
• Uneven or irregularly shaped teeth
• Stained or discoloured teeth
• Worn teeth
• Excessively short teeth
• Gappy teeth

 

What happens if I don’t deal with these problems?

Cosmetic dentistry has greater benefits than just making your teeth look better. Having damaged teeth doesn’t only affect your self-confidence and appearance, it also affects your dental and general health. If left uncorrected, these problems will usually worsen and can often become a bigger and much more expensive problem to fix. You’re much better off dealing with dental problems at the earliest opportunity. Cosmetic dental procedures can improve your dental health, reduce the effects of clenching or grinding your teeth and make cleaning your teeth easier.  

How will cosmetic dentistry help?

Cosmetic dental procedures will correct your dental problems by:

• Rebuilding chipped, worn or broken teeth
• Replacing missing teeth and filling in any gaps
• Reshaping uneven teeth
• Removing stains and whitening your teeth
• Replacing old amalgam silver fillings with more aesthetically pleasing tooth-coloured ones

 

Cosmetic dentistry procedures

There are a wide range of procedures cosmetic dentists can use to enhance and modify your smile, including:

1. Dental veneers
2. Dental crowns
3. Dental bridges
4. Teeth whitening
5. Gum lifts

 

Dental veneers

Dental veneers are thinly constructed, custom-made shells that cover the front surfaces of your teeth and conceal imperfections. They can be used to change the size, shape, length or colour of your teeth, and are a quick and painless way to achieve flawless-looking teeth. They will be colour matched to look just like your natural teeth, so no-one will be able to tell them apart from your other teeth. Veneers are a minimally invasive procedure, only requiring basic preparation before a veneer can be attached. They are durable enough to handle a normal diet and with proper care, can last between seven and twenty years.  

Dental crowns

In contrast to a veneer, a crown is a cap that fully encases an entire tooth which is cracked, chipped, broken or otherwise beyond repair. A crown will improve the appearance, shape, size and strength of your damaged tooth, and will support and protect it as well. It will be colour-matched to your natural teeth so that it blends in perfectly. Crowns are a highly successful method of restoring damaged teeth, and fitting the crown is a relatively simple procedure. A crown will both function and feel like any other normal teeth within days, and with proper care, will often last a lifetime.  

Dental bridges

Dental bridges are constructions used to fill the gap between missing teeth and prevent the surrounding teeth from drifting across into the empty space. They create the illusion of a tooth where there is none, and use the existing teeth as anchors. This will reduce damage to your remaining teeth and uneven wear caused by the remaining teeth compensating for the missing one. A bridge will also make eating easier for people with missing teeth and can improve speech problems caused by having teeth missing. As with other cosmetic treatments, bridges can be colour-matched to your existing teeth so that no-one will notice you have one. They are also very durable and can last a lifetime given proper care.  

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to restore your smile to whiteness and brightness. It involves coating your teeth with a whitening gel that will enhance their colour and appearance. Whitening can be done by a dentist or with an at-home whitening kit. While tooth whitening doesn’t last forever, it is an effective procedure with few side effects.  

Gum lifts

A gum lift is a procedure that will improve the “gummy smile” look created by an uneven gum line or shorter teeth. The appearance of your smile is improved by using a dental laser to raise, sculpt and contour the gum line.  

Are cosmetic dental procedures for me?

Almost anyone can benefit from the wide range of cosmetic dental treatments available. There’s really no reason why anyone should have to be unhappy with their smile, as almost any dental problem can be fixed. Cosmetic dentistry can help you rediscover your smile and your self-confidence, so that you can enjoy living life to the full. To access Lentini’s range of cosmetic dental services, contact us here.