Cosmetic Question: How Can I Fix My Smile?

One of the first things that people notice about you is the quality of your smile, and if yours is full of flaws, you’re less likely to make a good impression. Issues like stains, chips, cracks, minor gaps, or slightly overcrowded teeth can dent your self-confidence and detract from your daily quality of life.

Fortunately, your dentist offers several cosmetic procedures to treat any aesthetic concerns you have. Continue reading to learn about 3 common problems and how your provider improves them!

Issue #1: Dental Discoloration

Although the surfaces of your teeth seem completely solid to the naked eye, the truth is that they’re covered with microscopic pores. These dentinal tubules help your pearly whites maintain the right balance of minerals and hydration, but they can also absorb darkly pigmented particles. That means if you consume deeply toned foods and drinks, your teeth can soak up some of the color.

Sometimes, improving your dental hygiene routine can help remove discoloration, but for more severe stains, you may need your dentist’s help. Instead of relying on over-the-counter options that often contain diluted bleaching agents that don’t provide the desired outcome, they have access to ultra-concentrated whitening gels designed to prevent sensitivity. They can send you home with everything you need to lighten your teeth, including professional-grade bleach and custom-fitted trays to optimize the outcome.

Issue #2: Mild Misalignments

You might think that your slightly overlapped teeth are more of a visual concern than a dental problem, but if you can’t reach all their surfaces, it’s harder to brush and floss them. Unfortunately, this allows plaque and bacteria to build up and contribute to problems like cavities and gum disease.

Thankfully, your dentist can straighten your smile with Invisalign, a clear alternative to traditional orthodontics. Instead of using bulky metal brackets and wires to force your teeth into their proper places, this method utilizes transparent plastic trays that fit snugly over them to shift them more gently. You must wear them for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent your teeth from reverting, and then every one to two weeks, you’ll switch to a new set to account for their ongoing movement.  

Issue #3: Damaged Teeth

Many patients mistakenly believe that minor chips and cracks in their enamel will eventually mend themselves, but that’s usually not the case. Your teeth don’t regenerate like your bones do, so dental problems tend to get progressively worse until they’re treated. It’s important to see your dentist for even seemingly surface issues because once the structure of your tooth is compromised, it’s more vulnerable to additional injury or decay.

Porcelain veneers can be placed over the fronts of your pearly whites to mask these types of imperfections, although dental bonding is another popular solution. Both options can be customized to look and feel as lifelike as possible for seamless results.

If you’re still unsure of how your dentist can enhance your appearance, you can find out by scheduling a cosmetic consultation!

About the Practice

Patients at Wethersfield Dental Group benefit from a team of dentists with decades of combined experience helping improve patients’ lives by enhancing their dental condition. They work together to provide a comprehensive menu of services to conveniently meet all your needs, including cosmetic procedures. Then, they combine a compassionate approach with state-of-the-art technology to increase patient comfort while delivering accurate results intended to last. If you want to address problems in your grin, you can request an appointment on the website or call (860) 400-3007.