How a Cosmetic Dentist Can Brighten Your Smile

Those looking to brighten their smiles should consider consulting a cosmetic dentist. Trying to achieve a whiter smile with inexpensive store-bought products can be tempting. However, a dental professional knows what works and what does not when trying to achieve a whiter smile. For the best chance at seeing the results you want, talk to a cosmetic dentist.

Why a cosmetic dentist

A cosmetic dentist offers various procedures to improve the smile's overall appearance. One of the most common things they do is to help patients brighten their smiles. In fact, teeth whitening often tops the list of most popular cosmetic dental procedures.

Patients can use store-bought whitening kits that are effective. However, they often do not produce dramatic results and can harm the enamel and irritate the gums. A cosmetic dentist, on the other hand, can not only help patients achieve more impressive results but also protect the teeth and gums in the process.

How cosmetic dentists brighten smiles

The most common treatments dentists recommend to help patients get a brighter and whiter smile are teeth whitening, dental bonding, and dental veneers. Here is a closer look at how each option works.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening employs a bleaching agent to remove stains and brighten teeth. According to WebMD, professional teeth whitening can produce 5 to 8 times whiter shades. The dentist may offer an in-office treatment or design customized trays the patient can use at home.

Either way, a dentist monitors the process and can help ensure patients avoid enamel damage and harm to the gums. However, it is important to note that professional teeth whitening, even from a cosmetic dentist, will not be effective against intrinsic stains due to factors such as medication use and aging. Also, teeth whitening will not change the color of dental restorations such as dental bonding or crowns.

Dental bonding

Dental bonding may be an option for those with intrinsic stains not helped by teeth whitening. The dentist covers the stained tooth with a tooth-colored composite resin during this procedure and hardens it with a special light. Cosmetic dentists also use dental bonding to fix cracks, chips, and other tooth imperfections.

If a patient has teeth with a mixture of more surface stains and intrinsic stains, the dentist may suggest combining teeth whitening and dental bonding. For it to work correctly, the dentist should whiten teeth before the dental bonding. If the patient already has restorations or dental bonding, they must replace them after the teeth whitening to match the shade of the newly whitened ea.

Dental veneers.

Dental veneers are also an option for patients with intrinsic staining. Veneers are thin porcelain or composite resin shells that cover the fronts of the teeth visible when a person smiles. The result is a brighter smile where the teeth are uniform in size, shape, and color.

This tends to be the most expensive of the teeth-brightening options. Composite resin veneers are less expensive but do not have the same strength and toothlike quality as porcelain. In addition, the veneers will eventually have to be replaced and require the original teeth to be shaved down to accommodate them.