5 Dental treatments to brighten your smile: A Guide from Cosmetic dentist.

Everyone wants healthy and brighter teeth but it all depends on the kind of dental treatments to enhance it. Plus your daily oral routine like brushing, flossing, and other oral kits can help you achieve your new smile.

Today, more than 50 percent thinks that smile makes a perfect picture and create a lasting impression with your new friends, and family. Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Anjali Rajpal, DDS says. “With the right tools that are common this day, cavities or worn teeth can be repaired with natural-looking materials that also are highly functional.” Cosmetic dentistry now brings a perfect smile that brightens your day.

Here are five procedures that Dr. Anjali tell us on how to enhance our smile.

   1. In-Office Teeth Whitening 

Teeth whitening is the number one dental treatments when it comes to your smile. It is also known as teeth bleaching, is a quick method to enhance your smile and remove tough stains from your teeth before brightening them. Although there are oral kits you can use at home, but not that effective like office whitening because they have a lower concentration of bleach. If you know your teeth are yellow it is advisable to visit your dentist to choose the right one for your specific needs. The general process for office teeth whitening is fast and painless.

The procedure

At first, a dental hygienist will remove tough stains and clean your teeth and gums to remove any bacteria that can affect the bleaching process. After that, your dentist will protect your gums before applying the whitening solution. This process may be repeated two times or more to achieve your desired result before using a UV light to finally activate the bleaching solution.

Different teeth whitening brand

 There are a number of different teeth whitening brands that offer in-office treatments they are, Philips ZOOM, Brite Smile, or LumaLite, which with their own subtle differences.

The cost of in-office teeth whitening

Many patients only require one session of bleaching, but the number of sessions depends on the initial color of your teeth. Most teeth whitening lasts for about six months to two years, depending on diet and lifestyle, and typically run from $500 to $1,000.

   2. Dental Bonding

We use Dental bonding to repairs decayed or cracked teeth gaps. The dental treatments work by applying a durable plastic resin to the tooth. A UV light is then applied to strengthen and bond the resin, which enhances the smile and looks natural with the color of your teeth. The procedure does not take long but depends on the number of teeth your dentist is bonding, it ranges between 30 - 60 minutes per tooth.

Dental bonding is faster and inexpensive unlike other cosmetic dental treatments like veneers or crowns. It is the best option if you don't want to manipulate your normal teeth. However, dental bondings are for temporary fixes and not suitable for long term solutions. To get the most out of dental bonding, avoid bad oral habits like fingernail biting or pen chewing and never chew ice or other hard foods.

The cost of dental bonding

Depending on your area and your dentist, dental bonding cost between $100 to $400. Dental insurance can sometimes cover partial or fully dental bonding, especially if it is accident-related injuries.

   3. Reshaping your enamel

Enamel shaping (also known as enameloplasty) is a quick procedure to fix small chips, uneven enamel, and irregular tooth shape. Unlike dental bonding, enamel shaping is permanent since the process involves removing small amounts of enamel.

Before you reshaping your enamel you should schedule an appointment with your dentist to check the thickness level of your teeth’s enamel. Reshaping your enamel may not be better dental treatments to brighten up your smile if your enamel is too thin. You can go for dental bonding or veneers instead.

The whole thing is pretty easy, quick and involves your dentist using a sanding disc or paper to smooth out and recontour the teeth. Although your teeth may be more exposed to sensitivity after the procedure is done. Because some of the enamel is being stripped if you experience sensitivity consult your dentist.

Enamel shaping cost

Enamel shaping cost between $50 to $250. Is the most inexpensive ways to enhance your smile.

   4. Porcelain Veneers

Dental veneers are also known as porcelain veneers or dental laminates, a perfect option if you want to fix chipped, misaligned, or irregularly shaped teeth and adjust spacing. The veneers are very thin custom made shells, made from resin or porcelain, that cover the whole tooth. It is aesthetics in nature and matches the color of the front tooth.

The whole procedure consumes much time than dental bonding. Usually, three trips to the dentist are required: an initial meeting, a visit to make the molds for the veneers, and a final visit to apply them. To fix the veneers to the teeth, a UV light is used to bond the cement, similar to dental bonding. Then, the dentist will eliminate any excess cement and make any final touch-up’s. Depending on your needs, a follow-up appointment may be needed.

Cost of dental veneers

Veneers achieve a long-lasting natural smile but do have some drawbacks. Most importantly, getting veneers is a permanent solution. Because the enamel is removed and teeth are shaved down, the process is irreversible. Additionally, veneers are not indestructible. While they last longer than dental bonding, around seven to 15 years, they can eventually experience discoloration and chipping. They cost between $1,000 to $2,000 per tooth.

   5. Gum Reshaping

When it comes to enhancing your smile, most people forget that it goes beyond just teeth. Reshaping the gums can also make a world of difference. The procedure, also known as gum contouring, gingival contouring, or tissue sculpting, can even out the gum line and fix a gummy smile. There are a number of reasons why someone can have uneven gums; it could be due to genetics, health issues, or even certain medications. Gum reshaping can sometimes be medically necessary, like to cure gum recession, but it can also be done for cosmetic reasons.

Cost of gum reshaping

Since gum recontouring involve surgery, it has a little downtime unlike other cosmetic procedures above. Usually, your dentist will prescribe pain relief drugs for you and eat only soft food during the recovery process. Recovery time can depend on the method used, but the pain should reduce after a few days and the gums should heal itself within weeks. Depending on the severity of the procedure, gum reshaping cost between $600 to $2,000.

Conclusion

Each dental treatments listed above offers its own unique benefits and for many people, it is possible to mix and match to achieve the best smile. For example, some people combine dental bonding with enamel shaping while others get veneers along with gum contouring. Despite the procedure, Dr. Rajpal advises us to try to maintain our original tooth structure.

Work with a dentist that specializes in cosmetic dentistry to achieve the ideal smile that you want. “It is essential to be treated by someone who has an aesthetic eye and who is highly trained with the latest cutting edge and materials,” Dr. Rajpal advises.

This article originally appeared on Aedition and was published March 26, 2019. This article is republished here with permission.

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