A cosmetic dentistry treatment might be just what you need to restore your confidence. Your teeth are constantly exposed to acids created by the bacteria in your mouth, and there is always the possibility of damage to your teeth as a result of trauma. Discolored, damaged, or missing teeth can even have a negative impact self-esteem. Thus, you begin to feel shy when you interact with others because you constantly worry about what people think of your appearance. Some people will even hesitate to smile due to this.

Having a full set of pearly white teeth has the opposite effect on your psyche. You become more confident, and you appear younger and more successful. That is why it is important to take proper care of your teeth since you want to keep your natural ones for as long as you can. Unfortunately, you can still end up with damaged, stained, or missing teeth even if you have decent oral hygiene habits.

No need to panic though, your dentist has many tools at his/her disposal that can be used to painlessly restore your smile. Your dentist will help you select the best treatments for your situation. Your dentist might also ask you to make a choice if there is more than one treatment option available. Here are a few cosmetic dentistry treatments your dentist might decide to go with to address specific situations:

Smile makeover options

1. Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are a great way to cover up stains and discoloration on your teeth. The veneer is a thin shell that acts like a cover for a tooth, hiding any imperfections on it. It is a great way to cover stains that teeth whitening procedures cannot remove.

During your visit, your dentist will file down the tooth to make the veneer fit in line with the other teeth. The dentist will take dimensions of your tooth and send the information to the lab that makes the veneer. Once complete, the dentist will attach your customized veneer to your tooth using a dental cement.

2. Dental bonding

Your dentist will typically recommend this to cover up smaller issues like chips and partial breaks. He/she uses a putty-like substance that is the same color as your natural teeth to cover up the imperfection. The bond is then hardened using a laser.

3. Braces

Braces are beneficial in correcting poorly aligned teeth. Your dentist will give you the option to decide if you want to go with traditional braces or clear braces like Invisalign®. Traditional braces are the cheapest option available, but these devices are very visible so you might not be comfortable with that. These devices work by putting pressure on your teeth, gradually pushing them into place.

Clear braces are barely visible, but it is a more expensive alternative. You wear a series of clear aligners that look like mouth guards, switching to a new one every two weeks. These work similarly to traditional braces, gently pushing your teeth into place.