Smile Makeover: Which Treatments Are For You?

Smile makeovers are a blanket term for one or multiple procedures that help you achieve your dream smile. From adjusting the positions or replacing teeth to brightening or repairing them, smile makeovers can transform your teeth and self-confidence. Take a look at a few services typically offered to improve your smile.

Clear aligners

When the teeth shift, they can affect not only the smile's appearance but also its function, health, speech abilities, breathing abilities, and joints in the jaw. Fortunately, clear aligners can correct mild to moderate malocclusions or bite misalignments. This smile makeover treatment works by fitting the patient with clear, custom trays made of medical-grade thermoplastic. Each time the teeth shift approximately every two weeks, they receive new aligners.

The aligners apply gentle, constant pressure to the teeth, gums, and underlying jawbone to reposition the teeth in a more linear position. They are removable, but patients should wear them at least 22 hours a day. When adhering to proper care instructions, most patients complete their treatment between six and 18 months.

Dental bonding

Whether the teeth are chipped, stained, misshaped, or appear to have various sizes, dental bonding can help. Multiple types of bonding are available; it all depends on what the patient wants to address. If a few teeth need to be addressed, we can use composite resin (tooth-colored) material to build upon them until they have a desirable look, strength, and function.

Veneers are available for those wanting to address both arches of teeth. Dental veneers are another form of bonding that is crafted into tiny shells and consists of porcelain or composite resin materials. The dentist bonds them to the front surface of each tooth. Their purpose is to hide— not alter or treat— any attribute patients do not like about their natural teeth.

Dentures

While the main aim of any dental professional is to preserve patients' natural teeth, sometimes extractions are necessary, resulting in tooth replacements. Dentures are a common replacement option and can address one or multiple missing teeth. There are three types of dentures: partial, complete, and implant-supported.

Partial dentures are for one or a few missing teeth in sporadic locations. Their design consists of a false tooth, which has metal clasps affixed to it. The metal clasps will attach to the two adjacent natural teeth or the space, allowing the false tooth to span the area. Complete dentures replace all missing teeth on a single arch. Their design consists of false teeth attached to false gums, all of which consist of acrylic or metal materials. Lastly, implant-supported dentures are considered a permanent option. Its design consists of a dental implant surgically inserted into the jawbone, acting as tooth roots, allowing partial or complete dentures to firmly attach to the patient's gums.

Teeth whitening

Tooth discoloration can result from aging, consuming colored drinks or foods, medication use, and smoking. Fortunately, teeth whitening can do wonders for a smile makeover. Professional teeth whitening involves using a highly concentrated bleaching solution far stronger than over-the-counter options. Some dental professionals provide at-home bleaching kits equipped with special instructions and guidelines. Others perform in-office treatments using a laser to complete the process. Either way, patients can remove stains beyond the surface layer and brighten their smile up to seven shades.