It’s no secret — as Americans, smiles are important. Others see them when we open our mouths to speak, and when we smile, they gleam brightly. If we’re happy with our smile, knowing this can be a confidence boost, but the inverse can also be true. A gallup poll conducted in 2012 found that nearly one-third of American adults are unhappy with their smile. So if you count yourself among them, you’re not alone. But don’t let that get you down. You may think your smile is one of those things out of your control, but there is something that can help.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry refers to a group of dental treatments designed to improve the appearance of your gums, teeth, and bite. The primary focus of cosmetic dentistry is correcting the color, position, shape, size, and overall appearance of your smile. Some patients may seek cosmetic dentistry believing there might not be a treatment the can correct the concerns they have about their smile. But as technology advances, so do the methods and procedures of cosmetic dentistry. Not only can we improve the appearance of teeth, we can assess and treat systemic problems which may have caused an issue in the first place.
What Issues Does Cosmetic Dentistry Correct?
There is very little that cosmetic dentistry can’t correct. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed by the shade of your teeth, in-office treatments like Opalescence teeth whitening can produce incredible results with just one appointment. Extrinsic stains occur as we consume drink and food like coffee, red wine, tobacco, and chocolate that contain a large amount of staining agents, . These staining agents become trapped in our enamel where they can no longer be removed by brushing and flossing. Professional whitening works using a stain-removing chemical like peroxide. During an in-office appointment, this solution is applied three times for about 15 minutes each. Alight catalyst helps the solution to dissolve staining agents.
Other common aesthetic issues cosmetic dentistry can correct, include:
- Crooked or misaligned teeth
- Unattractive gums
- Chipped teeth
- Missing Teeth
In fact, we often have multiple options to treat your concerns.
What If My Smile Has Multiple Issues?
Many patients considering cosmetic dentistry might be afraid that their smile has too many issues to fix. The truth, however, is more complicated. If your teeth have been damaged by and underlying issue such as bruxism (tooth grinding) or gum disease, then these issues may take precedence. Beyond treating more serious dental concerns that affect both your health and your teeth, like gum disease, cosmetic dentistry can be very effective at treating even the most damaged smiles. For example, treatments like porcelain veneers can fix multiple issues such as staining, chips, and the shape of your teeth. We can bond a custom-crafted veneer to the visible surfaces of your teeth to radically improve the appearance of your smile.
For more information about how you can achieve your ideal smile, and to schedule an appointment at our Columbia, SC cosmetic dentistry office, please call (803) 781-9090 or contact Smile Columbia Dentistry today.
