It’s National Smile month (which a real thing – I looked it up!) and it’s here just in time for us to show our maskless faces.
Just like putting on real pants again after a year of sweatpants made me reevaluate my diet and exercise habits, showing ourselves without masks on is a great excuse to take a second look at our smiles.
I’ve seen a lot of patients who feel that they’ve perhaps neglected their teeth over the past year or so, and now they want to know what we can do to make their smile ready to show off again.
A Smile Makeover Doesn’t Necessarily Mean a Lot of Work
Fixing a few small things can make a big improvement to your overall smile. You may just have one or two things about your smile that bother you – a dark tooth, a small gap, or a minor chip. Sometimes just keeping things simple, fixing just couple thing, then doing some whitening can give a fantastic result
Cosmetic Dentistry Options at Virginia Family Dentistry
Some patients are interested in that conservative approach, while others are looking for a more dramatic change. Fortunately, we have a wide range of cosmetic services that can be combined to give you the exact result you’re looking for.
- Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening can keep an otherwise pretty smile from looking dingy. I often tell people to look at their teeth in the mirror and compare the white of their teeth to the whites of their eyes. If your teeth are darker than the whites if your eyes, you might be a good candidate for whitening.
We offer both in-office and at-home teeth whitening systems. These treatments effectively treat deep intrinsic stain, rather than just removing surface stains like whitening toothpastes.
Sometimes, a patient can have a single dark tooth in an otherwise bright smile. Those dark teeth are usually resistant to normal whitening treatments. Fortunately, they can be whitened from the inside out in a procedure called internal bleaching.
- Bonding – Bonding is where we apply a tooth colored material directly to your teeth. It works great to close spaces, repair chips, or cover discoloration. It is quick and affordable, and it works best for small fixes. For big changes or repairs, you and your dentist may opt for the improved strength and durability of veneers or crowns.
- Veneers – These are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front surfaces of the teeth. With veneers, we can change the shape, color, and character of your teeth. They are an ideal choice to give you that perfect smile that you have been wanting.
- Crowns – Crowns are similar to veneers, but they wrap all the way around the tooth rather than just fitting over the front surface. They can be just as beautiful as veneers, but can be more durable and are a better choice if your teeth already have large fillings.
- Gum Recontouring – Your smile is more than just your teeth. Sometimes, giving you a better smile means recontouring your gums so that you show more of your teeth. Alternatively, receding gums can make dark exposed roots prominent in your smile. We offer a procedure to cover those roots and restore your gumline.
- Orthodontics – It may not be as fast as these other options, but there’s no doubt that braces or Invisalign is often the best way to improve your smile.
Improve Your Teeth’s Function and Correct Your Bite
Years of chipping and wear can damage more than just the cosmetics of someone’s smile. It can endanger the teeth and diminish their function. At the same time that we make your teeth beautiful, we can protect them and insure that they stay functional for years to come. Sometimes, we can even improve your bite.
Improve Your Confidence
I’ve seen so many patients that have taught themselves how to talk and smile without showing their teeth because they are ashamed or embarrassed by them. Then I’ve seen those same people completely change when their teeth are fixed. Their smile is bigger, their eyes are brighter, and they walk with more confidence. I’m always amazed that this one thing was able to make such a big difference in someone’s life.
My wish is that no one would be ashamed of their teeth, no matter what their condition, but if your teeth are holding you back from being the person you want to be, I want you to know that improving your smile might be easier than you think.
Now let’s start enjoying each other’s smiling faces again!
S. Tyler Perkinson, DDS
General Dentist, VFD Patterson-Parham