How a Cosmetic Dentist Can Straighten Your Teeth

Beautiful teeth are possible with a cosmetic dentist. If you want a glamorous smile, there are ways to accomplish that goal that are not painful and can be accomplished fairly quickly.  Event people with crooked teeth can benefit from seeing a dentist that can straighten them through cosmetic procedures.

We recommend that before you fix the appearance of your smile you start by improving your health.  Healthy teeth and gums are essential for staying healthy overall, and this requires both at-home care and in-office dental treatments.  Make sure to brush, floss, and rinse with antiseptic mouthwash daily.  This will prevent bacteria and plaque from building up.  You should also visit the dentist twice a year for regular teeth cleanings and examinations.

Once your teeth and gums are healthy, we can focus on cosmetic procedures to improve your smile.  There are several ways that a cosmetic dentist can improve your smile and straighten your teeth, including:

·         Dental Veneers.  We can place dental veneers over the top of your existing teeth.  This is an efficient way to improve your smile because dental veneers look perfect, bright, and beautiful.  Since they are placed on top of your existing teeth, the procedure is less invasive than implants.  Veneers can be placed on some or all of your teeth.  They are created in a lab to match your teeth color and shape.  Your existing teeth are filed down prior to them being placed so that they lay flat and underneath your gum line.

·         Dental Implants.  You can permanently straighten your smile with dental implants.  Implants replace your current or missing teeth and root system.  In this procedure, a metal piece is implanted underneath the gum line and secured to your jaw bone.  The two will eventually fuse together, creating a strong synthetic root system.  A second metal piece is secured at the base of the gum line and your new tooth will be attached to that.  Since your new tooth (or teeth) are created in a lab, they are perfectly sized and placed to create a stunning smile.  This is actually more effective than braces because, by replacing the root system, your teeth won’t “move back” over time.

·         Invisalign.  If you want to straighten your teeth without a cosmetic procedure or traditional braces, Invisalign is an ideal option.  Clear aligners are created for the duration of your treatment plan.  Every couple of weeks you replace your aligner at home, and over time your teeth will move into place.  The aligners are like a clear retainer so no one will know that you are in the process of correcting your smile. This is ideal for working professionals that need to maintain a corporate image.

Before starting the procedure to straighten your teeth, we recommend that you schedule an in-office teeth whitening.  Your teeth can become up to eight shades whiter in a single visit.  It is affordable and makes a great impact.  As a cosmetic dentist, we will match your veneers or implants to the color of your existing teeth.  Whitening your teeth first will make sure that your entire smile is bright, white, beautiful, and stunning. 

Dentist Tips for Stopping Gum Recession

We can help to prevent gum recession and correct it once started.  Your gums are extremely important for the overall health of your mouth.  Gums hold your teeth in place and cover up sensitive roots, preventing bacteria and plaque from reaching them.  Poor gum health may eventually lead to tooth loss, in addition to pain.

As a local dentist, we help patients to stay healthy.  There are many things that can lead to poor oral health.  This includes not brushing and flossing enough and not visiting the dentist on a regular basis.  Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to stay healthy.  Here are our favorite tips.

·         Visit the dentist twice a year.  You can brush and floss daily and still not reach all of the bacteria that forms in your mouth.  There are some areas that are simply too difficult to get to.  A professional teeth cleaning will remove the plaque and bacteria that you were unable to reach.  We can also remove tartar which is a harder substance and nearly impossible to remove on your own.  These regular visits can keep you in good health and prevent gum recession.

·         Pay attention to risk factors.  If you are a smoker, you are at greater risk for all types of oral health issues due to the sticky plaque that is caused by smoking.  This plaque can lead to cavities and gum disease.  Another risk factor is hormonal changes.  Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can all put women at greater risk for sensitive gums and oral health problems.  If you are at greater risk ask your dentist how often you should have your teeth cleaned.  You may need to come in more frequently than twice a year. 

·         At home routine.  While, at home, you should brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush at least twice a day, floss daily, and use an antiseptic mouthwash daily.  These three things combined will help to remove bacteria and prevent plaque from forming.  At home care is essential for maintaining the health of your gums and teeth.

·         Correct your bite.  If your bite is off it will place additional pressure on your teeth and gums which can cause gum recession.  When you correct your bite, the rest of your mouth will thank you.

·         Stay hydrated.  Your mouth needs to produce saliva in order to wash away bacteria.  In order to do so, your body needs to stay hydrated so drink plenty of water.  If you don’t like the taste of water try a sugar free drink instead.

Gum recession is a serious condition that can lead to a lot of pain.  As gums recede, pockets can form in between the teeth and gum line where bacteria can hide and grow.  These exposed areas will make your teeth and gums more sensitive while the bacteria attacks your teeth and can cause tooth decay or the need for a root canal.  We can do a deep cleaning of your gums both at and underneath your gum line to remove bacteria.  Once removed, your gums will start to feel healthier again, and the severe, permanent damage can be corrected.  Call us to schedule an appointment today.