6 Dental Procedures That Could Change Your Life
Posted on: 10 February 2015
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The old saying, "Let a smile be your umbrella," now has science to back it up. According to Prevention Magazine, smiling –even when you don't feel like it—can lower your heart rate, reduce stress and actually make you happier.
However, if your smile is less than stunning, you might feel reluctant to grin in the presence of others. The good news is you don't have to go through life covering your mouth or simply refusing to show your teeth. Check out these six dental procedures, one of which could have you happily revealing your sparkling smile once again:
1. Bonding
If you have a chipped, cracked, misshapen or discolored tooth, dental bonding could be the ideal solution. After your dentist roughens the surface of the tooth and applies a conditioning liquid, he will apply tooth-colored resin and shape it to look great.
2. Braces
They're not just for middle school students anymore! If you have always felt self-conscious about crooked teeth or tooth loss has caused your teeth to shift, braces might be your answer. Modern dental technology offers options such as clear ceramic braces, brackets that attach to the backs of your teeth and plastic aligners.
3. Crowns and Bridges
One option for broken, weak or missing teeth is crowns or a combination of crowns and bridges. Your dentist will grind down the damaged tooth and essentially cap it with a crown. If you have a missing tooth, your dentist can use a bridge, which is a false tooth with a crown on either side.
4. Dentures
If you have many missing or damaged teeth, you may be a good candidate for complete dentures. Your dentist must remove your remaining natural teeth, provide you with temporary dentures to wear right away and then construct a complete set of custom dentures when your mouth has healed.
5. Implants
Dental implants can be the best choice if you want to replace one or more missing teeth while maintaining the benefits of your natural teeth. Your dentist will insert a small titanium post into the missing tooth's socket. This post will fuse with your bone (making it a permanent solution), following which your dentist will attach a connector post and a custom-made tooth. Implants often last a lifetime.
6. Whitening
Years of drinking coffee, tea or wine, tobacco use or even eating certain foods can result in yellowed or discolored teeth. Numerous whitening options are available from toothpastes and rinses to strips and gels, but receiving professional whitening treatments from your dentist can reduce your risk of damage and provide state of the art technology.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these procedures, talk to a dentist you trust. Soon, you will be beaming from ear to ear.