Which Cosmetic Dental Procedure is Right for You?
Being unhappy with how your teeth look can affect your entire life. If you’re self-conscious about smiling, you may dread social and professional situations, constantly worried about how your teeth look rather than engaging with others. Fortunately, there are several procedures in cosmetic dentistry that can restore or repair a less than stellar smile! Our Fuquay Varina family dentist is sharing some of the procedures we perform here in our office to help you determine which is right for you!
Teeth Whitening for Stained Teeth
If your main concern is having dingy or stained teeth, but your teeth are otherwise in good condition, teeth whitening may be the right option for you! Instead of relying on abrasive toothpastes that can damage enamel or over the counter kits that make minimal changes, professional whitening can lighten your teeth by several shades, restoring your smile to a bright, vibrant look!
Using a gel made from hydrogen peroxide, our teeth whitening solution attacks stains on your enamel, creating an oxidization process that breaks down the stains and makes your teeth whiter and brighter. The procedure is completed quickly, and the result is a smile that is significantly whiter than before.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for You?
If you have healthy teeth that have extrinsic stains (surface stains caused by food, beverage, or smoking), teeth whitening can give you the smile you want. With proper care, including quitting smoking, proper dental hygiene, and reducing coffee, wine, and cola intake, results can last up to five years!
Who Is Teeth Whitening Not For?
If you have severe tooth decay, you should speak with our family dentist first about repairing any decay and restoring health to your teeth before beginning cosmetic changes. Also, if your teeth are discolored due to intrinsic stains (inside the teeth caused by medicine, trauma, or genetics), teeth whitening may not help.
Dental Bonding for Minor Repairs
For simple repairs to teeth that are chipped, misshapen, have gaps, or are discolored from intrinsic stains, dental bonding may be the best option for you. This method requires a cosmetic dentist to apply a tooth-colored composite resin similar to your enamel to the tooth, then sculpt it to the desired shape. Once it’s hard, it will be polished to a bright shine.
Bonding is a quick procedure that can be completed in one appointment and is generally more affordable than veneers with a similar result. However, it is not as strong as natural enamel, so it’s important to avoid crunching on hard substances like ice or chewing your nails. Otherwise, it can last several years before it needs to be repaired or redone.
Is Dental Bonding Right for You?
If you have a discolored or damaged tooth, bonding is a simple, effective way to repair it. The composite resin is also used to repair minor chips and reduce gaps between teeth.
Who Is Dental Bonding Not For?
While dental bonding is often used to repair small cavities and minor issues, if you have a severely broken tooth or decay, more intensive repair will need to be performed.
Dental Veneers for Multiple Cosmetic Issues
Dental veneers are a highly effective way of fixing multiple cosmetic concerns, including misshapen, crooked, stained, or chipped teeth. In fact, dental veneers are the solution for people wanting the “Hollywood smile” of straight, even, vibrantly white teeth.
Porcelain and resin veneers are incredibly thin shells that are laid over your teeth covering any flaws and transforming your smile. While they’re not permanent, they last on average of ten years with proper care that includes regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. However, crunching ice, tearing open packages using your teeth, and other activities can damage or chip your veneers, reducing their effectiveness.
Are Dental Veneers Right for You?
Dental veneers are a more intensive process and usually require three separate appointments for planning, preparation, and bonding the veneers to your teeth. Fortunately, it is a relatively pain-free procedure, and the end result is a gorgeous smile you’ll be proud to show off!
Who Are Dental Veneers Not For?
Because they cover a variety of flaws, veneers are ideal for almost every patient with healthy teeth.
Contact Us to Learn Which Cosmetic Dental Procedure Is for You!
If you’re ready to reclaim your healthy, vibrant smile, our Fuquay Varina cosmetic dentist is here for you! We’ll work with you to determine which procedures are right for you so you can feel confident and proud of your smile. Call us today at 919-552-2431 or fill out our form below to request an appointment!