How a Cosmetic Dentist Can Improve Your Social Life

Patients who approach a cosmetic dentist with concerns related to misshapen or broken teeth may hesitate to go on dates, call friends on a video chat platform, hold virtual meetings, or even speak and laugh at social gatherings. Damaged and misaligned teeth, a smile that is discolored, large gaps in teeth, or unsightly fillings can put a damper on even the most confident person's social life. A qualified practitioner can provide an array of options to help those with smile concerns look and feel good in every situation.

Patients who have minor concerns

Patients who strive to hide teeth when laughing often do not have extensive concerns; many patients’ smiles can be given new life by performing simple, cost-effective procedures. Changing the color of teeth is a fast, affordable way to enhance a patient’s smile.

Whitening teeth

When a patient’s teeth are discolored from coffee stains or years of smoking, smiling and laughing with other people can bring on feelings of self-consciousness. Teeth whitening may be the quickest way to help a patient look healthier and happier. A cosmetic dentist can usually whiten a patient’s teeth in one office visit. If a patient is satisfied with the results, good oral hygiene can help to maintain the teeth’s new color. Whitening can be repeated in the future with no risk to the patient’s health.

Replacing metal fillings

While there is nothing wrong with metal fillings from a medical viewpoint, aesthetically, flashes of silver and gold every time a patient speaks can be off-putting in a social situation. If a patient has had numerous cavities fixed with metal in the past, switching these outdated-looking fillings for more modern tooth-colored options can be discussed with a cosmetic dentist.

Patients who have extensive concerns

Many people have concerns that go beyond the color of teeth or fillings. Some patients approach a cosmetic dentist with concerns that need to be remedied over the course of several appointments.

Veneers

If a patient has extensive damage to multiple teeth, porcelain veneers may be an option for restoring the smile. These shells are custom-designed to fit over a patient’s natural teeth. Veneers may need to be constructed and applied over multiple appointments but are a more permanent solution than procedures like whitening teeth.

Dental bonding

Bonding teeth, a procedure that can fix gaps between teeth as well as discolored and misshapen teeth, is as much of an art as it is a science. It involves setting a resin putty over the affected teeth and then sculpting and coloring it to match the surrounding teeth. After a consultation, a cosmetic dentist can tell a patient if bonding is an option.