Ways Your Dentist Can Turn Back the Clock

Small dental changes can make a big difference.

No matter how well you take care of yourself, age and time happen to us all. The good news is that there are procedures and treatments that your dentist can employ to make you look and feel like they have turned back the clock on your smile. There is no need to settle for feeling self-conscious about your teeth. Learn more about available treatments that will have you feeling young and confident in no time at all.

Teeth Whitening

Years of drinking coffee, tea, wine, and other foods that stain your teeth can leave them looking dull. While there are plenty of at-home teeth whitening kits available on the market, they don’t offer the same strength and results as in-office treatments. Since your dentist is trained to provide these treatments and will be supervising, they can use a more effective whitening agent and process that will provide you with brighter, whiter teeth in less time.

Visiting the dentist for teeth whitening is also the safest option, especially if you have other oral health problems. At-home bleaching solutions can cause gum sensitivity and irritate sensitive teeth. A dentist can help you avoid any discomfort.

If stained or yellow teeth have you feeling older than you are or hiding your smile, teeth whitening can take years off your look. Depending on the results you are looking to achieve, it will only take a few visits to feel better about your smile.

Veneers

Veneers are an easy way to instantly look younger and enjoy a flawless smile. This versatile treatment can be used to address a wide variety of dental problems, including discoloration, chips, gaps, long teeth, cracks, and even small misalignments. The veneer process begins with a thorough exam and cleaning. From there, the dentist may remove some enamel to make room for the veneers and do some other shaping work. Once they have achieved the right shape, they will take an impression of your mouth to create a custom mold.

In about 2-3 weeks, your porcelain veneers will be ready to be applied. The dentist will do a preliminary fitting to make sure you are happy with the results and that the thin veneers look completely natural. If you give your approval on the final look, the veneers will be bonded in place using a strong dental cement. It only takes two to three visits to transform your smile.

Bonding

For those who have just a few trouble spots and don’t necessarily want to overhaul their entire smile, bonding might be the right choice. Bonding is also a common treatment for chipped teeth. It involves shaping the tooth in order to receive the bonding and create a natural look. From there, the dentist will use a bonding material to fill in gaps, repair chips and improve your smile. Keep in mind that bonding is considered more of a temporary fix. You may have to visit the dentist every few years to have the bonding touched up. However, bonding is an easy and painless way to correct your smile and improve your confidence.

Teeth Straightening

Have your teeth shifted over time and become increasingly crooked? You are never too old to benefit from modern teeth straightening treatments. Invisalign is a more subtle alternative to traditional orthodontic procedures. Using this modern technique, dentists will take a 3-D scan of your teeth that will then be used to show you a preview model of what your new smile will look like.

Next, the dentist will use this mapping information to create custom aligners that are printed using SmartTrack material. Each aligner is carefully trimmed to match your gum line and offer maximum comfort. This technology provides durable, fully customized aligners that will gradually move your teeth into place. You don’t have to worry about brackets and wires and the clear material means that they are virtually invisible.

All you have to do is follow your program and return to the dentist at designated intervals to receive your next set of aligners. They won’t interrupt your life. Just remove them before you eat and brush your teeth before putting them back in. The length of time you will have to wear Invisalign depends on the corrections you are looking to make, but they tend to work faster than traditional braces.

Dr. Horton is a pioneer in Invisalign, being one of the first in the region to recognize the potential benefits to patients and put the clear aligners to use in her practice. You’re in the best hands with Dr. Horton.

Crowns

Crowns provide another way to cover imperfections and return your smile to its former glory. While crowns are considered a more aggressive approach than veneers and bonding, they may be the recommended course of treatment for cracked fillings, extensive tooth decay, and other, more challenging dental issues. They are designed to look, feel, and operate like your real teeth.

Having a crown placed usually takes two visits to the dentist. For this procedure, the dentist will need to remove any decay and shape the tooth for the best bond to the crown. They will then take an impression and place a temporary crown on the tooth. Once your custom crown has been manufactured, you will need to return to have it permanently fastened to the tooth.

Botox

Botox is used to treat a wide variety of medical issues while also providing cosmetic benefits, which has helped it to become an increasingly popular tool in the dentist office. Not only can it provide relief from painful joint disorders, but it can also be used to create more symmetrical lips, plump gums to fill in “black triangles” that tend to form at the top intersection between teeth and help reduce gummy smiles. If there is a part of your smile that you don’t like or you think makes you look older, Botox may be able to provide a solution.

Gummy Smile

While Botox may help some patients improve their gummy smile, crown lengthening, and lip lowering are two other cosmetic procedures that will help reduce the amount of gum that shows when you smile. This is just another way to keep you feeling younger and more confident.

One Source Dental of South Tampa offers a wide range of services, including cosmetic dentistry treatments that will have your teeth looking and feeling great. Call on us to help you turn back the clock and improve your smile today. Contact us to get started and see just how a better smile can affect your whole outlook on life.