How To Have A Perfect Smile: General Cosmetic Dentistry


General cosmetic dentistry improves the look of your smile, and also helps preserve the health and longevity of your teeth. After all, teeth are important; the first thing people notice is your smile, and the appearance of your teeth largely predicts how nice and confident your smile appears. The keys to a great looking smile are routine dental checkups and necessary cosmetic dentistry. If your teeth are healthy than your teeth are going to look good too. Before problems manifest, a dentist can spot bacteria or decay in its infant stages. When the problem gets larger or becomes obvious to the eye, cosmetic dentistry is also here to help you get the look of your beautiful teeth back. Even if you have chipped, missing or stained teeth there are cosmetic solutions for all dental problems. Here we explain the basics about general cosmetic dentistry and what types of procedures can be done to enhance the look of your smile.

What Is General Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry can include everything from repairing a small chip in your tooth to changing the entire structure of your jaw. Common procedures range to include veneers, crowns, bonding, reshaping of teeth, bleaching, and contouring teeth. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t only about aesthetics though; by adjusting the appearance of your teeth you can fix jaw pain, and help prevent the potential for cavities and gum disease. When your teeth and jaw properly align your mouth can better do its job without any hitches.

At some point in your life the need for cosmetic dentistry will arise. While the appearance of your teeth is very important, teeth rarely grow in straight and perfect. Not to mention, over time everyone’s teeth will begin to wear and discolor naturally. People rate the appearance of teeth as top priority; you can keep your teeth looking healthy and youthful with cosmetic dentistry.

Common Types of General Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

Your teeth are vital to your appearance, there’s no need to let discolored, misaligned, or even missing teeth get in the way of your life. Certain dental issues can even bring on self-confidence issues. You can have perfect teeth; there are so many different cosmetic dentistry solutions for you to consider.

Some of the most popular cosmetic procedures include:

Teeth Whitening

In recent years 300% more people have started to regularly whiten their teeth, making teeth whitening the number one cosmetic dentistry procedure. Advanced whitening techniques deliver so many benefits; in other words, brightening your teeth is a great way to invest in your appearance. Sure, you can whiten your teeth at home, but in-office whitening treatments provide safer and more immediate results. Plus, your Smilepartnerz dentist will make sure that your gums are not exposed during the bleaching process to protect the more sensitive parts of your mouth from the properties used in bleaching gel. You might think there is no hope for whitening your teeth, perhaps after years of drinking coffee or red wine. Although with advanced teeth whitening procedures we are able to remove years of built up stains. You will see your teeth lighten by up to several shades with only one treatment.

Veneers

Skip braces all together or have just one or two broken teeth fixed by getting veneers. Patients looking to brighten their smile, fill in gaps, or change the size or shape of their teeth can also consider porcelain veneers; veneers can be used to achieve a truly flawless smile. Veneers are often used for full dental cosmetic makeovers. Although they come in a range of shades and styles so if you don’t need a full set, veneers can be blended seamlessly to match your other teeth. No one ever has to know you have veneers; these porcelain teeth are even made to reflect light just as your natural teeth do. With proper care and upkeep veneers can last for many years.

Dental Implants

Many adults are missing teeth; in fact the average adult between the ages of 50-64 have 22.30 teeth left, while adults ages 20-34 still have an average of 26.90 teeth. With age, teeth naturally fall out and for some people the problem is worse than for others. Regular dental care can prevent your teeth from completely falling out, a condition that 3% of American’s face according to NIDCR statistics (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research).

While veneers fit over your original tooth, dental implants are used for missing teeth. If you have a tooth pulled or are missing a tooth for any reason, a dental implant can offer the perfect solution. It will look just like your other teeth, and fit comfortably in your mouth. Dental implants include a particular process, beginning with the implantation of a titanium post into your jawbone. For about 6 months a temporary denture tooth will be applied over this post, as your natural bone and tissues grow with it, creating a strong base. Once everything is healed, a permanent dental implant is ready to be applied.

How To Improve Your Appearance With Cosmetic Dentistry

Research proves great looking teeth might help you score a new job, or even a hot date! According to a survey conducted by a popular online dating site, single men and women both want the same thing: a date with someone who has a nice set of straight, white teeth. 60% of men ranked the appearance of women’s teeth as of top importance, while 71% of women said the same about men. The craziest part perhaps is that this data comes from no small study, it includes 5,000 single participants ages 21 and up.

Perhaps this is why people reportedly would rather pay to have their teeth corrected than to have weight loss surgery. No matter what happens with trends and styles, a great looking grin is always going to be important. A new smile can even make you appear younger, because naturally with age your teeth begin to show sings of wear and tear, cosmetic dentistry allows you to turn back the clock.

A study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found most people think straight white teeth can win you social favors as well. 99.7% of surveyed adults listed straight, white teeth as an important asset in the social world. Interestingly, less percentage of respondents (96%) considered straight white teeth an attractive feature in the opposite sex. 74% of adults claim that they believe a bad looking smile can cause problems when trying to find employment. While social class is a known predecessor to how often one goes to the dentist, the sooner you have oral health issues addressed the more affordable and less invasive your options will be.

Cosmetic Dentistry Is Good For Your Health

It isn’t just about appearances though, your health matters too and when your teeth are not in proper alignment you are at risk for developing more serious complications. For instance, it’s harder to keep bacteria out of crooked teeth because there are so many places for plaque to hide. This increases your likelihood for developing cavities or even gum disease, no matter how diligently you brush and floss. It’s a wise decision to schedule frequent checkups with your dentist to ensure your mouth is healthy now and in the future. By paying close attention to your teeth you could even save your own life. Each year 30,000 adults are diagnosed with a cancer that originates in the mouth and when caught early is much more treatable. The survival rates for those with oral cancer continue to rise, the older you are the more risk you have for developing oral cancer. Regardless of age, everyone deserves frequent trips to the dentist.

For healthy teeth that always look great, you will want to continue going to your dentist regularly all throughout your life. If you have had root canals or pulled teeth cosmetic dentistry can help erase the appearance of past procedures or traumas. Oral health issues start small, there is always a cosmetic dental solution that can reduce the potential for future health complications, improve your appearance, and potentially even save your life.

Some common dental problems that cosmetic dentistry can treat include:

Untreated Tooth Decay

If you have cavities that are left untreated they will only manifest into something much larger, unfortunately 23% of adults in America have untreated tooth decay. When left untreated, cavity-causing bacteria continues to grow until a persistent pain develops, pleading either a root canal or a tooth extraction. No one is immune to cavities considering 92% of adults get cavities at some point in their life, even if they practice good oral hygiene. There are places in your mouth that are nearly impossible to clean on your own, plus bacteria build up will layer onto your teeth. The after effects of ignoring plaque can lead to tooth loss and other oral aesthetic issues. No matter how long you’ve let the plaque build up, cosmetic dentistry can resolve the problem and grant you back the natural sparkle of your teeth.

Painful Cavities

A root canal is undergone when a tooth is very infected, although still salvageable. If cavities continue at this stage without treatment, the tooth might have to be completely extracted. You want to catch a decaying tooth as soon as possible; you’d rather have a root canal than a tooth extraction. Root canals not only cease related cavity pain but they look 100% natural and still use the base of your original tooth. Fillings don’t have to be noticeable; they can be blended naturally with the rest of your teeth. Tooth crowns are often envisioned in shades of gold or silver, but no need to worry you can have virtually invisible crowns and fillings applied. When cosmetic dentistry is done properly, the procedure helps protect the affected tooth so that bacteria has less chance to strike again.

Tooth Loss

If cavities are left untreated and proper dental care is not maintained tooth loss is unavoidable. As more awareness spreads about the importance of oral health, the number of teeth lost by the average American declines. Still, tooth loss affects a large chunk of our population. The biggest contributor to tooth loss is periodontal disease, better known as gum disease. Gum disease can be caused by inadequate brushing techniques, lack of dental care, or old age. 64.7 million Americans (around 47.2%) have gum disease, those 65 years and up are at the greatest risk, 70.1% of American seniors have gum disease. The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis, catching dental problems early is most beneficial but not always reality. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry can give you back the teeth you once loved.

Facial Pain

Do you experience pain in your face or jaw, perhaps a clicking sound when you open or close your mouth? Certain disorders such as an underbite, overbite, or open bite can lead to pain in your jaw if left untreated. When your teeth do not properly fit together your jaw cannot operate how it is intended to. General cosmetic dentistry offers solutions to cure your current pain and reduce your chances of developing something like TMJ—a painful muscle and joint disorder that can cause a variety of ailments.

What Can Cosmetic Dentistry Do For You?

No one is born with perfect teeth, even if you never needed braces you wont have a sparkling smile forever, especially not if you drink coffee or smoke Tabaco. A great set of teeth can be vital to your success in life, be it professionally, socially, or out in the dating world. No matter what it is about your teeth that you want to change, Smilepartnerz offers full service general cosmetic dentistry services. Simply take a look at some of our before and after photos to see the amazing differences cosmetic dentistry has made for our many happy patients. Do you want to enhance your appearance and improve your health? Call Smilepartnerz today at (973) 694-5101 or fill out the contact form to schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s top cosmetic dentists.