If your teeth are in very bad condition, you may think that they are too far gone for you to ever enjoy an attractive smile again. However, the truth is that nowadays, dentists can fix the vast majority of dental problems, including severely damaged or decayed teeth. This is because there are a variety of restorative treatments that can effectively return the strength and function of your teeth, and this should be done before you undergo cosmetic dental procedures to enhance the appearance of your smile. In fact, many restorative dentistry treatments will automatically improve the way that your teeth look, and in some cases, this can eliminate the need for cosmetic procedures.
Restorative dental treatments that can also enhance the attractiveness of your smile include the following:
White cavity fillings. If you have small areas of decay in your teeth, you’ll need to have this addressed. This process involves drilling out the decay and covering the affected teeth with what is known as a filling. Traditionally, fillings are made from silver amalgam which is very dark and obvious against the relative whiteness of the teeth. Fortunately, it’s now possible to get fillings made from tooth-colored composite. These can be used to fill new areas of decay or to replace old, dark fillings.
Porcelain crowns. Crowns have long been the solution of choice for covering teeth that are badly eroded or damaged. This damage can take the form of cracks or chips or severe erosion. A crown is a custom-designed shell that is hollow inside and encases the damaged tooth. In the past, crowns were made purely from metal. However, now it is possible to have a metal shell coated in porcelain or a crown made from 100% porcelain. This enables the crown to be glazed in a color that matches the existing teeth, ensuring the restoration is discreet and enhances rather than compromises the attractiveness of your smile.
Dental implants. If you have lost one or more teeth, or you have teeth that are so badly damaged that they need to be extracted, you may be recommended to consider dental implants. These are a popular treatment for replacing teeth that offer greater stability and durability than other tooth replacement solutions. This is because they anchored directly to the bone in the jaw and don’t rely on neighboring teeth for support. They also look, feel, and act more like natural teeth than any other tooth-replacement solution. Dental implants can be used to replace single, multiple, or entire arches of missing teeth. This is because, in the case of multiple teeth, a bridge or denture can be supported on a number of implant posts.
These treatments represent just a few of the treatments that you may need to repair the function of your teeth and kickstart restoring the attractiveness of your smile. However, your dentist will be able to advise you which other procedures may benefit you. These could include professional cleaning, root canal treatment, scaling, and root planing, and more. Once your mouth and teeth are healthy, it will then be possible to discuss cosmetic dental treatments with your dentist.
Cosmetic dental treatments that can transform your smile
There is a huge range of different cosmetic dental treatments, each of which can address a specific issue that you have with the appearance of your smile, for example; the color of your teeth. Here are some of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments and what they can do for your smile.
Teeth whitening: as you might expect, this treatment uses strong but safe chemicals to remove stains and lighten and brighten your teeth.
Porcelain veneers: Veneers are thin, porcelain shells that are attached to the outer enamel of the teeth to cover them and hide imperfections like cracks and stains. They are bespoke, made for the exact tooth that they are to cover, and like crowns, they are glazed in the perfect shade to blend in with your natural smile.
Dental bonding: bonding is a good option for patients who can’t tolerate whitening, such as if they are over-sensitive to the chemicals used. Bonding uses a composite resin that is pasted onto the teeth and manipulated to cover the imperfections. It is then hardened using a special light and polished to finish the treatment.
If you are wondering if your teeth are too far gone to benefit from cosmetic dental treatment, please call our team to schedule a consultation, and find out how we can help you to rediscover your smile.
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