Your teeth are probably on show dozens of times each and every day, which is why many people are obsessed with keeping their ‘pearly whites’ in tip-top condition. Every time you smile, laugh, eat, or even speak, your teeth are exposed for all to see, and having teeth that are in poor condition can make you feel quite self conscious and can really knock your confidence. We don’t all have naturally white, perfectly shaped teeth, and in fact, by the time we have reached adulthood many of us have at least some damage or irregularities with our teeth. Smokers can end up with yellow teeth, others can end up with chipped, oddly shaped, or even missing teeth, and this can make a big difference to self esteem.
Short of never opening your mouth, there is little that can be done about the state of your teeth – unless, of course, you are prepared to entrust the health and appearance of your teeth in the hands of a dentist. For some people, a trip to the dentist can be a daunting and traumatic experience, and you’ll find people that would rather suffer with their oral health and appearance than go to the dentist. However, advanced technology in dentistry means that people can now enjoy seeing the benefits of improved oral health without having to suffer any pain at all – and the results can be really impressive.
It is always a good idea to have a dental plan in place to ensure that you can look after your oral health even when cash may be tight. There’s no other nagging pain quite like toothache, and if you are financially strapped and have to put up with this pain for any longer than necessary, life could become very miserable and the problem could get worse. With a good dental plan in place, you can get the treatment and dental assistance that you need whatever the situation, which will go a long way towards keeping your teeth in great condition. Statistics also show that those with a dental plan in place are more likely to attend for dental check-ups than those without – obviously because there are no additional cost implications. This again can help to maintain your oral health, and will enable you to keep your teeth in good condition.
Cosmetic dentistry
If your teeth are in a particularly bad state – or if you are a perfectionist or particularly self conscious – your can also opt for cosmetic dentistry, although this can be expensive. There are many different cosmetic procedures when it comes to improving the appearance of your teeth, and you can opt for a minor procedure, such as a bridge or tooth whitening, to major tooth surgery such as complete reshaping or replacement of all teeth with surgical implants.
If you decide to opt for cosmetic dentistry, it is important to discuss your needs and expectations with the dental surgeon. This will enable you to determine whether the cost justified the end result, and will also give you an idea of the potential success of the surgery. Whatever your oral needs, today’s advanced dental procedures will enable you to give your teeth just the appearance that you want. You can select from cosmetic dental procedures such as:
Teeth/tooth whitening: Teeth can become discolored through many situations. One of the most common is the yellow discoloration of teeth in long-term and regular smokers. Tea, coffee, medication, and large amounts of soft drinks can also cause staining. Some people have genetics to blame, and are born with slight discoloration.
Dental veneers: These porcelain or plastic veneers are used by cosmetic dentists to improve the shape or the color of teeth. These veneers are placed over the teeth and can prove effective on problems such as irregular shaped teeth, discolored teeth, oddly sized teeth, teeth with small holes, and other dental irregularities.
Dental implants: These are used by cosmetic dentists to replace missing teeth with natural looking false teeth, whether it is one tooth or a number of teeth. The titanium fixture screws into the jaw bone, and can provide an effective and very realistic looking solution to those missing one, some, or all of their natural teeth.
The above are just a handful of the many cosmetic procedures available in dentistry. The chances are that, whatever type of work you want to have done on your teeth, a good cosmetic dentist will be able to help you.
