Enhance Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry

Patients who are disappointed with the aesthetics of their smiles should consider working with a cosmetic dentist to improve the smile’s appearance.

Cosmetic dentistry treatments can address a wide range of issues, such as misshapen or stained teeth, a crooked smile or teeth that have been damaged by injury and decay.

To treat all of those problems, a cosmetic dentist may use any number of interventions. Some patients, for example, can see dramatic improvements in as little as an hour with a teeth whitening treatment such as ZOOM!, which uses lasers to activate the bleaching gel to make it work more quickly.

Other treatments require a greater investment of the patient’s time, but are worthwhile nonetheless. When a tooth (or multiple teeth) is chipped or cracked, it can be seriously detrimental to the smile’s appearance. Depending on the extent of the damage, dental bonding or porcelain veneers can remedy the flaw. Bonding can be completed in a single appointment, while porcelain veneers take a little more planning and are placed on the patient’s teeth within a matter of a few weeks.

Veneers, which are tooth-shaped shells that are bonded atop a patient’s natural tooth, can also help to bring misshapen or undersized teeth into the correct proportions so that they fit in with the rest of the smile. Sometimes referred to as “instant orthodontics,” veneers can also create a straighter appearance.

Patients who need more extensive orthodontic work may opt for Invisalign, which repositions the teeth using a series of plastic trays rather than metal brackets and wires. This treatment method appeals to patients who want to avoid obscuring their smile with traditional orthodontic appliances while improving their smiles.

A single cosmetic dental treatment, such as swapping out a metal filling for a tooth-colored one, may be all that is needed to improve a smile’s appearance. On the other hand, these interventions can be used in combination for a complete overhaul of a patient’s smile.

To learn about all of the ways you can enhance your smile with dental treatments, contact the office of Dr. Gardner at 516-484-6394 for advice on which interventions would be most helpful in achieving your unique smile goals.