Why smile? A simple curve of the lips offers major benefits. As Verywell Mind reports, studies show that smiling strengthens immunity, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, boosts mood, eases pain, and increases positivity. Donning your best smile also makes you seem younger, more confidant, and more successful. It welcomes people to engage with you, which is helpful in both your personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction with your grin can make it tough to smile. There’s where cosmetic dentistry comes into play. What is cosmetic dentistry?
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
As the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry explains, cosmetic dentistry is a form of dentistry that uses a variety of tools, techniques, and treatments to produce positive changes to your teeth and smile. The most obvious benefit is a healthy, beautiful smile, but it’s not the only one. Cosmetic dentistry can address both functional and cosmetic issues, and successful treatments can boost self-esteem, comfort, and confidence. What does cosmetic dentistry look like?
Invisalign
Crooked teeth and bite problems can leave you feeling self-conscious about your smile. They can also make effective brushing more difficult, raising your risk for dental dilemmas and oral discomfort. While traditional metal braces can be used to straighten teeth, they can be bulky and uncomfortable. They’re also highly visible, and they present challenges when it comes to eating and keeping your teeth clean. Invisalign offers a fresh solution for those who want to correct overcrowded or misaligned teeth without the hassles of traditional braces.
With Invisalign, clear plastic aligners gently nudge your teeth into their proper positions. Because they’re clear, the aligners are nearly invisible, so the impact on your appearance is minimal. The custom trays are far more comfortable than brackets and wires that cut and poke the delicate tissues inside the mouth. Invisalign trays are also removable. Simply pop the tray out to eat, brush, or floss as you normally would – then pop it back in to continue your treatment.
Accelerated Invisalign
With Invisalign, treatment times vary depending on the severity of the issues that you’re working to correct. With Accelerated Invisalign, you can cut your treatment time in half. With this option, you’ll combine wearing your clear plastic aligners with the use of Propel VPro5 technology. This small device uses micropulses to speed tooth movement and bone regeneration. Patients typically use the device for a daily 5-minute session in the comfort of their own homes. It’s a quicker, convenient way to reshape your smile.
Veneers
Veneers can give you a reason to smile if you’re tired of living with teeth that are chipped, stained, or uneven. Thin porcelain shells that are bonded to the front of problem teeth, veneers offer an instant smile makeover. Whether it’s an unsightly gap between your teeth, oddly shaped teeth, or discolorations that dim your smile, veneers can be a speedy solution. Once in place, they require no special care and last for years, so you’ll be able to enjoy your new smile without worry. Check out our porcelain veneers FAQ for more information.
Whitening
What do coffee, tea, wine, blueberries, and sweets have in common? Like many popular foods and drinks, they’re prone to staining teeth. If your smile could be brighter, professional whitening treatments may be the answer. While you can find whitening products at your local drugstore, a professional approach offers notable advantages. Whether you opt for in-office-whitening or choose an at-home treatment, a customized whitening plan created by your dentist is not only safer for your gums but also delivers better results.
Bonding
What is cosmetic dentistry used for? It reshapes your smile. With bonding, your dentist uses a color-matched resin to literally sculpt and reshape your teeth. Completed in a single visit, bonding offers a rapid way to fill in gaps, repair small chips or cracks, and restore teeth damaged by decay.
Snap-On Smile
What if you could try on a brighter smile filled with perfect teeth? With Snap-on Smile, you can. A removable appliance designed to fit over your existing smile, Snap-on Smile is both comfortable to wear and noninvasive. No alterations to your existing teeth are needed. The versatile appliance can be worn as a temporary accessory while you’re trying to decide if a more permanent fix is right for you. Alternately, the appliance can be worn as a long-term solution if you aren’t a good candidate for other dental work like bridges or implants.
If you’re interested in improving your smile, contact Wilkinson Dental if you live in or near Springfield, Missouri. We offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments, including Invisalign, Veneers, Teeth Whitening, and Snap-On Smile, and we would be happy to help you choose the right option for your needs. To schedule a consultation, please give us a call at 417-708-0556 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you!