If there’s something about your teeth or gums that has always left you feeling less than impressed, you may be wondering how you can change your smile to create a more natural, even, or otherwise beautiful appearance. Crowns, veneers, implants, and a variety of other cosmetic dental procedures can both reinvent the appearance of your smile and boost your overall oral health. Your smile makeover can consist of one quick fix or a combination of more elaborate procedures that can help you get the gorgeous grin you’ve always dreamed of.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is one of the least expensive and most versatile cosmetic dental procedures available. This special type of resin, which is designed to match the color of your teeth to create a natural appearance, can improve your smile by closing gaps between your teeth, repairing chipped or cracked teeth, and even altering the shape of your teeth. Bonding can also be used as a more natural-looking alternative to silver fillings to treat cavities without changing the appearance of your smile.
Veneers
Veneers are bonded to the front of your tooth to adjust the shape, size, or color of the teeth. They are generally made from resin composite or porcelain, and the function and application process are similar to crowns.
Crowns
Crowns are a type of cap that covers damaged or weak teeth to protect your tooth and improve the appearance of your smile. They are applied after filing the existing tooth to create the strongest seal and fit possible. Crowns can be made of ceramic, resin, porcelain, or metal, and most types last between five and fifteen years.
Enamel Shaping
Enamel shaping, also known as contouring, corrects minor imperfections in your smile by slightly changing the shape of your teeth. If you have slightly uneven or overcrowded teeth, enamel shaping may be a quicker and simpler alternative to braces or other complex procedures. However, it is often combined with other cosmetic treatments, such as bonding, veneers, or teeth whitening. Making small changes to your teeth can have a bigger impact on your overall smile than you might think!
Teeth Whitening
Toothpastes, rinses, whitening strips, and dental whitening treatments are just a few of the many teeth whitening options available. Whitening tends to work best for people who have generally healthy teeth and gums and whose current tooth tone is more yellow than gray.
Implants
Dental implants replace missing or severely damaged teeth. They consist of a titanium root that is placed under your gum and a crown that is attached to the root to provide the appearance of a full smile. Although individual implants are common, they can also be altered to attach to removable dentures.
Gummy Smile
Gum reshaping is a similar idea to enamel shaping that adjusts the gum to improve the appearance of your smile. Gums that are uneven or make the teeth look too short can be contoured to create a broad and natural smile. It can be done on one tooth or across several teeth to make a variety to changes to the relationship between your gums and your teeth.
Gum Grafts
Gum grafts move healthy bits of your gums from places where they aren’t needed to areas that are affected by a lack of healthy gums. Exposed roots can be painful, especially when eating hot or cold foods, increase your risk for cavities and bone loss, and make your teeth appear too long. Gum grafts have the opposite effect of gum reshaping, as they replace missing or damaged gums instead of removing excess gums.
If you’re ready to change your smile for the better, look no further than Legacy Dental. We provide top-notch services to patients throughout the Omaha area, and we will work with you to plan a smile makeover that will help you look and feel your best. Contact us today to learn more about the cosmetic dental procedures we offer or to schedule a consultation!
