Do you ever catch your smile’s reflection and quickly look away? Do you cover your mouth during meetings or when you’re laughing with friends? These moments may seem small or insignificant, but they add up, don’t they? What many people don’t realize is that cosmetic dentistry is about more than just achieving a prettier smile. Yes, it can change how you feel about your smile. But it can also improve your oral health at the same time.
Here’s how a cosmetic dentist can help you. They can:
- Fix chips, cracks, and stains that make you self-conscious
- Protect damaged teeth and improve their appearance
- Give your confidence a step up in social and professional settings
- Protect your teeth from future decay and damage
Is Your Smile Holding You Back?
Think about the last time you hesitated before smiling in a photo. Maybe rolled your eyes as the picture taker yelled out a helpful, “smile!”. What caused this feeling? Possibly, it happened because you have a chipped front tooth from an accident that happened ten years ago. Perhaps your teeth have yellowed even though you brush your teeth after every meal, simply due to age.
These feelings are common and understandable. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. When you feel uncomfortable with showing your teeth, that discomfort shows up throughout your life. You might be more likely to avoid social situations, keep your smile reigned in, or be more inclined to keep quiet at work.
The Benefits Run Deeper Than the Surface
There are many cosmetic dental procedures that actually strengthen your teeth and protect your oral health at the same time. Let’s look at a few examples:
Porcelain veneers cover imperfections like chips, stains, and gaps. They also add a layer of protection to your tooth enamel, kind of like a shield, a tooth shield, if you will!
Dental crowns restore function to a damaged tooth and allow you to bite and chew normally again. They also completely cover up decayed or damaged teeth.
Even teeth whitening has functional benefits. Many people who invest in whitening treatment become more motivated to keep their smile bright by taking better care of their teeth.
Let us now consider how cosmetic dentistry can not only alter your smile but also change your outlook on life.
Confidence Really Does Change Things
What happens when you finally get the smile you’ve always imagined, when it becomes a material part of your mental self-image? There’s more to it than your looks. You might find yourself speaking up more at work or laughing more openly and freely with friends. That nagging thought in your mind that’s always wondering if people are judging your teeth has vanished, and poof, the negative voice is gone.
This confidence can affect many parts of your life, such as your relationships, work life, and overall sense of well-being. Research suggests that people perceive individuals with attractive smiles as more successful, intelligent, and friendly. This isn’t only about the way your smile looks. When you feel good about yourself and the way you look, you are much more likely to project confidence. This changes the way people look at you.
In fact, your new confidence might have you worrying less about what others think of you.
Starting Small Makes Sense
You don’t have to kick off cosmetic changes with a complete smile makeover to see results. Many people choose professional teeth whitening as a first step. The results are dramatic enough to alter the way you perceive your smile, and you can keep it fresh with occasional touch-ups at home (under the supervision of a dentist).
At Quality Dental Care, your cosmetic dentist in Lakeland, FL, offers custom whitening kits that give you better results than over-the-counter (OTC) drugstore options. The prescription-strength gel in these kits is more effective, and the custom trays fit perfectly, spreading the agent evenly over your teeth. This is a benefit that you don’t get with OTC kits.
After doing professional whitening, you might want to explore other cosmetic options. Maybe you’ll consider dental bonding to fix a small chip or gap. Or perhaps you’ll finally get that crooked tooth looked at. Maybe it’s bothered you for years, but you never thought it was worth addressing. Something small, like tooth whitening, might be the catalyst for more.
Popular Cosmetic Treatments
There are certain cosmetic treatment options that many people choose. Common issues that people want to conceal include chips, cracks, stains, misshapen teeth, and uneven spacing.
Porcelain veneers are a popular option for several different appearance issues. For this procedure, a dentist bonds the veneer, a thin porcelain shell, to the front of the tooth, instantly changing the appearance quite dramatically. Because porcelain resists stains and mimics natural enamel, the results look realistic.
Another popular option, dental crowns, serves a dual purpose. They look great while also keeping your natural tooth safe from harm. Crowns are generally used for people who have a large filling, a severely discolored tooth, or a misshapen tooth. Sometimes, they’re used after a root canal or placed on dental implants. They are also good protection for decayed or damaged teeth.
Finally, another popular treatment is dental bonding. This is great for minor repairs. The bond material is made from composite resin and matches your natural tooth color. It can be used to fix small chips, cracks, and discoloration.
Support Your Oral Health as Well
These procedures might make your teeth more attractive, but they can also improve your oral health, which should always be the primary concern when it comes to your mouth. When you get a chipped or cracked tooth fixed, you are preventing bacteria from entering through damaged areas. This reduces the risk of decay or infection.
Crowns can protect weak or damaged teeth from breaking or becoming more damaged when you chew or bite. While veneers can be used to correct minor alignment issues, they also make cleaning easier and your bite more functional. When your teeth are aligned and free from damage, you’re less likely to develop gum disease or tooth decay. Better oral health means fewer emergency visits and less complex treatment.
Ready to Improve Your Smile and Oral Health?
Listen, you deserve to feel good about your smile. You deserve to laugh loudly and openly, to smile without hesitation. Cosmetic dentistry can give you that freedom while also protecting and improving your oral health.
Sometimes the hardest part of going to the dentist is overcoming anxiety and making that first appointment. After that, it won’t seem as difficult. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to a confident, healthy smile. If you’re ready to get in touch with a cosmetic dentist in Lakeland, FL, consider giving us a call at (863) 858-3891, and we’ll help you take that first step.