Although healthy teeth and gums are the foundation of a great smile, there’s more to great oral health than that alone – a smile’s appearance is also incredibly important. After all, when people feel confident about their smile, they smile and laugh more often. In addition, many studies have shown that people with a beautiful smile are perceived as more attractive and intelligent, which is helpful for anyone’s personal and professional life. If you’ve been interested in enhancing your smile but aren’t sure where to start, keep reading to learn about 4 popular procedures a cosmetic dentist in Sewell might recommend for you!

Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic bonding is the use of white filling material (the same material used to fill cavities) to correct cosmetic imperfections on the front teeth. It’s great for relatively minor issues such as small cracks, chips or cavities on the front teeth.

Porcelain Veneers

If there’s one procedure that can “do it all,” it’s porcelain veneers. These strong, thin “shells” are adhered to the front surfaces of the teeth to give them an entirely new appearance.

That means they can completely mask a wide variety of imperfections, including:

• More involved chips or cracks
• Severe staining that doesn’t respond well to whitening treatments
• Small or oddly shaped teeth
• Minor crowding
• Gaps

Dental Crowns

If a tooth has been badly damaged by a large cavity or fracture, or has had several dental fillings over the years, a dental crown will probably be a better option than a veneer. That’s because a crown changes a tooth’s entire appearance, while also restoring its strength and function after major damage.

Depending on your specific needs, a dental crown can be made with porcelain, zirconia or ceramic, all of which will be matched to your existing teeth so that it looks as natural as possible.

Whitening

Whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures because it provides big results for a relatively small investment of time and effort.

In many cases, whitening is used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures such as veneers. In fact, a dentist will often recommend whitening before having crowns or veneers done so that they can be matched to the new whiter shade.

Professional whitening treatments are a lot more effective than over-the-counter products because they’re much more concentrated. There are 2 main types of whitening to choose from (both of which will whiten your teeth 6-10 shades):

• Zoom! – This in-office option is perfect for anyone who wants their results as soon as possible. Appointments usually take just one hour, after which you’ll leave with your final result.
• Take-home trays – This option is perfect for patients who want to whiten their teeth more gradually. It involves wearing custom-made trays with professional strength whitening gel for 30-90 minutes each day, for 2 weeks.

Regardless of which of these procedures a dentist in Sewell recommends, you’ll be on your way to having a beautiful, healthy smile that you can feel good about showing off!

About the Author

Dr. John McCarty is a general, restorative and cosmetic dentist in Sewell who is a firm believer in the power of a great smile to enhance his patients’ self-confidence. He always works closely with each patient from start to finish to make sure they get the results they’re after. If you have any additional questions about enhancing your smile, he can be reached via his website or at (856) 582-0090.