What is the first thing you notice when someone posts a selfie to social media? Whether you realize it or not, I bet nine times out of ten you first notice their smile!
Now, more than ever, a beautiful smile is a personal asset.
One of the most common requests dentists receive from patients both young and old is to have their smile improved. Who doesn’t want a whiter set of teeth?
As with many things in life, the perfect smile lays in the eye of the beholder. Most of us recognize a pretty smile when we see it, but few (besides those in dental who stare at teeth all day) could accurately provide a technical description of what that beautiful smile entails.
If you want to be proud of those pearly whites, here are a few options…
A Dental Cleaning – The first step to getting perfect teeth is to remove the extrinsic stains from them. Sometimes, this can be as simple as a routine dental cleaning (prophylaxis). Many of the stains our teeth pick up can be polished out by a dental hygienist. If that doesn’t brighten them up enough, read on.
Whitening – Tooth whitening is the next step to a whiter, brighter smile. Bleaching can be accomplished in a single office visit (in-office whitening) or custom trays can be made (take home whitening) to allow you to whiten your teeth at your leisure. Both systems work well for the correct personality. If you are a person who wants instant results and you know you will not wear trays filled with bleaching gel every night for two weeks, then go for the in-office treatment. If you are a person blessed with patience, persistence, discipline, and consistency, then you can save some money and bleach your teeth at home for a few weeks. Either way, you can get your teeth almost as white as you want them.
Orthodontics (Braces) – Few people consider braces part of a smile makeover, but they surely are. We often see people who have beautifully shaped and well proportioned teeth that are simply out of alignment. In these cases, orthodontics can line up the teeth and whitening can finish the job to create a perfect smile.
Replace Old Restorations – Dental restorations (tooth colored fillings, front crowns, veneers, etc.) tend to lose their luster over the years. Restorations fight the battle with Father Time along with the rest of our bodies. Replacing worn out restorations can help to get your smile selfie-ready.
Gingival Plastic Surgery – Some people have beautiful teeth, but the frame around their teeth (the gum tissue) is not proportioned correctly. This can make the teeth look out of alignment. Gum recontouring can often fix the problem of short teeth or a “gummy” smile.
New Dentures – Research has suggested that complete dentures be replaced as often as every five years because they can begin to harbor harmful bacteria. Esthetically, most dentures lose their luster somewhere along that same time frame. Denture teeth and base (gum colored) materials get more esthetic each and every year. As an added bonus with custom dentures, you get to pick out your own teeth as far as their size, shape, color, and arrangement.
Full Mouth Rehabilitation – This is the truly extreme dental makeover. Dentists use a combination of tooth colored crowns, porcelain veneers, ceramic bridges, and dental implants to restore the youth and vigor to your face and smile by putting your bite, jaw joint, and your teeth into a healthy physiologic position. You truly get your healthy teeth and your smile back.
Anyone can get the perfect selfie smile. When dentistry fits into your life, give us a call and we’ll help you with your options. Until next time, keep smiling.
-Questions or comments can be sent to Drs. Parrish at FrontDesk@ParrishDental.com.
