Having a beautiful smile invokes confidence and makes you feel good about yourself. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, one in four orthodontic patients today are adults.
If you’re an adult thinking about getting smile correction treatment, there are many options available to you.
Read on to learn more about different options for cosmetic dentistry and which treatments may help restore your smile and make it beautiful.
Veneers
If you have stained or discolored teeth, and tooth whitening is not a solution, getting veneers can be an excellent alternative. This type of cosmetic dentistry involves fitting a thin shell directly over the tooth (or teeth).
Veneers look just like your natural teeth and can provide an additional layer of protection. This option for smile correction can help to cover issues like chips, cracks, gaps, and discoloration for a beautiful smile.
Getting veneers gives the illusion of having perfect teeth. When they’re cared for properly, veneers can last for many years and many patients find that they’re well worth the investment. The dentist can match the shade of your natural teeth so no one will ever know you have them.
Dental veneers are specially customized for each patient and their unique needs, so they’re a custom solution that works for lots of patients. Modern veneers are much more durable and thinner than the veneers of the past, making them a smart way to restore a beautiful, white smile.
Smile Correction: Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening can help to make your smile brighter by anywhere from five to 10 shades. Opting for professional bleaching provides a permanent solution. This procedure whitens your teeth from the inside out and will never fade or become discolored.
The type of teeth whitening you receive may depend on several factors including the condition of your enamel, genetics, and more. Your dentist will look at the reason for the discoloration as well as the health of your gums and bones. Some patients with extreme sensitivity may not be a good candidate for teeth whitening.
Ask your dentist about a personalized bleaching plan that can help you restore a beautiful smile. Professional teeth whitening is much more effective than over-the-counter products. Combining some simple office procedures with home care will produce a brilliant smile over time.
At Slone Dental, we design bleaching trays made with a special seal technology to keep saliva out and retain the bleach in its most chemically stable form. The result is deep penetration that gives you truly dramatic results.
The custom-sealed trays also protect your gums from irritating whitening agents. Combine this with our light or laser technology option to get fast, incredible results with deeper bleaching.
Invisalign
If you’re dealing with crooked or uneven teeth, Invisalign is an excellent alternative to traditional metal braces. This device straightens and aligns your teeth using a custom-made series of mouthpieces made just for your unique smile.
Your dentist will start by taking x-rays, pictures, and impressions of your teeth. This process allows them to create a digital 3D image of your teeth to make a precise treatment plan for effective smile correction.
Invisalign aligner trays are made of a lightweight and nearly invisible, smooth plastic. The trays are worn over your teeth and they gradually shift your teeth over time.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign has no metal and no annoying wires. The result is that you’ll enjoy an easy process that gives you a straight, even smile and newfound confidence.
Each set is usually worn for one to two weeks. Next, you’ll wear a new set of these clear aligners and repeat the process until you reach your goals.
Dental Implants
If you have missing teeth, dental implants will provide you with a permanent replacement solution. The process starts with a small titanium post (implant) inserted directly into the bone socket of the missing tooth.
Once the dentist inserts the implant, the next step can take several months to complete. During this process, the bone and surrounding tissue build up around the implant to create a strong, natural support. This may take anywhere from six weeks to six months.
After this step is complete, the dentist attaches a crown to the implant that looks just like your natural surrounding teeth. At this stage, the implant is now completely fused to the bone, and the crown is permanently supported so it looks and feels completely natural.
Some patients get dental implants along with dentures to create a stronger bite. Dentures have weaker bite power which can increase the risk of jawbone loss over time. Your implants never need to be removed once they’re added, so it’s a permanent form of smile correction.
Full-Mouth Restoration
The process of full-mouth restoration involves rebuilding or replacing all of your teeth. This restores your smile not just for looks, but also to provide you with better overall oral and dental health and functionality.
This form of smile correction is usually reserved for patients with serious oral health concerns. It may include a variety of different services like veneers, implants, dentures, crowns and bridges, and others.
Talk to your dentist about coming up with a treatment plan that works best for you. Even if you only take one step at a time, the final result will be that you have a healthy, beautiful new smile.
New technology like iTero® scanning gives your dentist a clear and accurate view of your dental health and oral condition. This allows the dentist to efficiently create a course of treatment that is completely tailored to your needs.
Get a Gorgeous Smile
From veneers and Invisalign to teeth whitening, adults have plenty of effective smile correction options to choose from and we’re proud to offer these services at Slone Dental. Keep these treatments in mind so you can regain your beautiful smile.
If you’re ready to take the next steps to improve your oral health, be sure to contact the team at Slone Dental to find out how we can restore your smile today! You can also sign up for a virtual consultation so we can help you determine the next steps.
