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Restore Your Teeth Through a Smile Makeover

A smile makeover involves treatments that can restore the appearance of your smile. Thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry in the past couple of decades, even the most unsightly smiles you can think of can be fixed with a smile makeover.

Smile makeover options for restoring teeth

The way a dentist goes about restoring the appearance of a patient’s teeth varies based on their unique situation. The first step during a smile makeover is examining the patient’s mouth. The dentist notes all the issues affecting the patient’s teeth, then they come up with a strategic treatment plan that addresses every issue. Treatments that can be used to restore teeth during smile makeovers include:

1. Composite bonding

Also called dental bonding, this is one of the most affordable treatments used during smile makeovers. It involves applying a putty-like composite to a tooth and shaping it as desired. The composite is made from a mixture of plastics and glass, and it is color-matched with the patient’s real teeth. The composite is hardened with a curing light as it is applied in layers until the desired look is achieved.

Dental bonding is a versatile treatment that can be used to address a variety of dental issues that affect the appearance of teeth, like:

Tooth decay
Gaps between teeth
Discolored teeth
Chipped, broken and deformed teeth
Short teeth

The application of a composite resin does not require any permanent alterations to the patient’s tooth. This allows them to get other restorations in the future if they choose to do so.

2. Veneers

These are thin shells that cover the front part of teeth. They hide imperfections on these surfaces and create the appearance of a healthy-looking tooth. Veneers allow patients to craft the smile of their dreams. Veneers are responsible for many of the famous smiles you have seen on television and in movies.

The installation of veneers requires the removal of some enamel from the front part of the tooth. This creates a more natural look when veneers are installed. This is a permanent alteration that cannot be reversed, so a tooth that is covered with veneers will always need some oral restoration to protect it. There are also no-prep veneers that do not require taking off any enamel.

3. Crowns

Dental crowns have many uses in dentistry and they restore the appearance of damaged teeth. Crowns also protect teeth and restore any function that was lost. They can be used to treat issues like broken, chipped or fractured teeth, stains, deformed teeth and spaces between teeth.

Teeth have to be prepared before they can be fitted with crowns and that involves removing enamel from all four sides of the tooth. This creates a better fit with the crown. The installation of dental crowns typically requires two trips to the dentist.