Well, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Perhaps you’re thinking of sprucing up your smile for your sweetheart. If so, you may wonder: Are you a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry? However much you want a pretty grin, treatment won’t help when you aren’t suited for it. Luckily, it isn’t hard to address your question. Your Copperas Cove dentist is happy to share the answer to it. Here’s how to tell if you’re a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry.
Which Flaws Do You Want to Fix?
Firstly, you should take note of which smile flaws you’d like to fix. Cosmetic dental work won’t help if it doesn’t hide your problem areas. So, noting your grin’s faults lets you grasp the procedures you may want.
As a starting point, observe whether you suffer from issues like:
- Tooth Stains or Discoloration
- Gaps Between Teeth
- Crooked/Misaligned Teeth
- Dental Fractures
- Chipped or Cracked Teeth
Once you’ve discerned the relevant flaws, you can select treatment options.
Narrow Down Your Options
When you meet with a cosmetic dentist, they can help you narrow your treatment options. They may suggest one (or more) of the following services:
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening can quickly remove mild to moderate tooth stains. By using a special bleaching gel, it removes the discoloration from your enamel. The result is a grin that’s six to eight shades brighter! To that extent, treatment makes your pearly whites live up to their nickname. However, this procedure is moderately priced.
Dental Bonding
Should you have minor smile flaws, consider dental bonding. This service applies a tooth-colored resin to your teeth. By doing so, it can hide stains, chips, cracks, and more. The resin will also blend seamlessly with the rest of your grin. Even so, bonding’s effects are short-lived; you’ll likely need touch-ups after a few years.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that dentists place on the fronts of teeth. Typically, dentists use them to hide a wide range of smile flaws. (These can span chips, cracks, stains, misalignments, etc.) These shells use high-quality porcelain, blending seamlessly with your surrounding teeth. They’ll even last for 20 years or more with care. In exchange, they can get pricey.
Invisalign Clear Braces
Invisalign is a popular orthodontic option today. To be precise, it’s a series of clear trays worn over a patient’s teeth. These “aligners” straighten one’s smile by shifting each tooth into the right position. The result is often an aligned grin in only 12-18 months. All that said, Invisalign is a big financial commitment; ensure you’re ready before choosing it.
By mulling your goals and options, you’ll know if you’re a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry. Keep that truth in mind as you consider treatment this Valentine’s Day!
About the Practice
Benchmark Family Dental is based in Copperas Cove, TX. Led by Dr. Caraveo, our practice always aims to give patients the best dental experience. That means we offer custom treatments that span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dentistry. Our team is also a certified provider of dental sedation options. For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (254)-547-4866.