Experts believe that people splurge on cosmetic dental treatments because enhancing the smile is a subtle yet effective way to freshen one’s appearance.
According to cosmetic dentist Dr. Uchenna Okoye, “smile tweaking” is becoming a part of people’s overall grooming routines as they realize the age-defying benefits of improving the smile. Teeth whitening and straightening are some of the common treatments patients turn to achieve a younger-looking appearance. With the arrival of new dentistry technology, however, people are starting to embrace other “tweakments” that are meant to improve the overall smile aesthetic.
Here are some cosmetic dental treatments that can instantly give you a more youthful appearance:
Teeth Whitening
Just as the wrinkles, sunspots, and fine lines on your complexion reveal telltale signs of your age, certain blemishes also tend to give away your real age.
Cosmetic dentist Dr. Richard Marques says that as people get old, they tend to get fluorosis. This condition, characterized by white spots on individual teeth, is caused by high fluoride levels in drinking water. As decalcification causes the white spots, this condition is harder to remedy than regular discoloration from staining.
A few sessions of intensive teeth whitening treatments should be able to zap these telltale white spots.
Edge Bonding
Over time, natural teeth may incur wear and tear and chipped, broken, or discolored teeth can make anyone appear older than they are.
If you have straight teeth with edges that have been a little worn from aging and grinding, edge bonding is ideal. This treatment uses the same tooth-colored material used in fillings and involves filling the chipped or worn out areas of the teeth with the same material. Your dentist may also administer this treatment to close small gaps, straighten edges, or even lengthen the teeth.
Veneers and Gum Reshaping
According to research published in Psychology and Aging, people who are smiling and laughing are perceived to be younger than their actual age. Those who worry that their smile might be showing too much “pink,” however, may feel a bit hesitant about smiling which may add years to their appearance.
For a gummy smile, veneers can be an ideal solution. Veneers can make the teeth appear longer as well as improve the gum-to-tooth ratio of teeth that are too short. If the issue stems from too much gum showing, a periodontist may perform a gingivectomy to remove or reshape the extra gum tissue to expose more of the teeth.
These, of course, are just some of the tweakments your dentist can provide to improve your smile aesthetics. Talk to your dentist about what you wish to achieve, and he or she should be able to give you recommendations on the treatment that can help you achieve a youthful smile.
Lasting Smiles of Bethlehem offers high-quality cosmetic dentistry to Highland Park residents and those in the surrounding areas. The services we provide range from regular checkups to more sophisticated cosmetic dental treatments such as teeth whitening, veneers, and more.
We welcome patients of all ages. Call us at (610) 861-0777 or fill out our form to set an appointment.
