If you’ve ever wondered why so many of your favorite movie stars seem to have flawless smiles, the answer is probably cosmetic dental treatments. Many people have flaws in their teeth that they’d like to get rid of, and advances in dental science have made these treatments much more accessible to people who aren’t celebrities. Here are a few ways cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve a more ideal smile.
Lift Stubborn Stains with Teeth Whitening
Everyone wants a beautifully white smile, but decades of exposure to the dyes and pigments found in foods and drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, and berries can leave stains or discoloration in your enamel. Luckily, at-home teeth whitening kits can deliver results far superior to those of any similar product found in stores, making teeth up to ten shades whiter.
Each kit comes with a tube of professional-grade whitening gel and a set of customized dental trays. All you’ll need to do is place the gel in the trays and wear them for an hour daily over the course of two weeks. You’ll be left with a flashy grin that can shine with the best Hollywood smiles.
Transform Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers
While everyone would like a flawless smile, few people are born with that privilege. Many people deal with issues like chips, cracks, gaps, and stubborn stains, and this can make a lot of them shy about showing off their teeth. Fortunately, porcelain veneers can cover up these flaws, transforming a grin into a beautiful new state.
Veneers are thin porcelain shells that are designed to be cemented over troubled teeth, and they can be placed in as few as two appointments. During the first, your dentist will remove a tiny amount of enamel from the surface of your teeth while local anesthetics render this whole process completely painless. They will then take bite impressions before placing temporary veneers on your teeth. These impressions will be sent to a lab, where a skilled technician will manufacture your permanent veneers according to precise measurements.
You’ll come back for the second appointment when your dentist receives your permanent set a few weeks later. Your dentist will remove the temporary veneers before cementing the permanent ones in place and making any final adjustments, leaving you with a beautiful new smile that will look great in person and in photographs.
Don’t let a few troublesome dental defects stand in the way of you having the smile you’ve always wanted. Only a qualified dentist can make the final call as to what cosmetic dental treatments may be right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Sarah Esparza earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore in 1999 before serving in the US Air Force as a general dentist for seven years. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Virginia Tidewater Dental Association. Her office in Virginia Beach, VA offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry. To schedule a cosmetic dental consultation, contact her office online or dial (757) 499-4707.