Everyone wants to look their best, and for many people, that also means how their teeth look and contribute to their overall appearance and self-esteem. Are they crooked and chipped and off-white or even yellow, thereby detracting from how they appear to other people, or are they perfectly straight and white and dazzling with an incredible smile?
Most people do not, however, have the kind of teeth they really want: they can jut out at awkward angles, have big gaps between them, be badly stained from foods and drinks that leave their mark, and have chips and cracks from years of use and accidents.
Luckily, it’s all fixable. With cosmetic dentistry now widely available, and using the latest technologies to make it fast and affordable, more people than ever are taking a hard look at their teeth and deciding they want something better. After all, there’s only one you, and why shouldn’t you be the very best you can, for the benefit of your health and overall wellbeing?
Growing Demand for Cosmetic Dentistry
It used to be that America was home to the perfect smile, with so many people having cosmetic dentistry procedures to give them Hollywood smiles. But no longer. Now, a growing number of people across the pond, in the UK, are seeking cosmetic dentistry treatments of their own to fix their teeth and make them look radiant. That’s according to a survey earlier this year that found 43% of people wanted to have various procedures to improve the look of their teeth.
And in fact, cosmetic dentistry is now becoming so popular that most people who took part in the poll said they would like to have it instead of more traditional types of aesthetic treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines. And they weren’t just thinking about having cosmetic dentistry but were actively planning to schedule it in the next 12 months, the survey found.
The main reason respondents wanted to go to their dentist and discuss cosmetic dental options was to improve their self-confidence by having great teeth. Others said they wanted to look as good as they felt, while another segment of respondents wanted to have their teeth fixed to combat ageing. Others just felt that it would make them look younger.
Different Types of Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry takes several forms, and at the most basic involves whitening the teeth using a solution and mould that keeps it on your teeth for a short period during daily treatment. This is a professional teeth whitening kit, and over several weeks’ use in your home — after an initial consultation with your dentist, and taking an impression of your teeth to create the mould — your teeth will be several shades whiter.
If white and also straight and perfectly aligned teeth are what you’re after, you can consider having either veneers or crowns fitted. Veneers are thin slivers of porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth, while crowns, also mostly now made from porcelain, encase the entire tooth. Some preparation is required before either one can be fitted, and this means part of the original tooth will have to be filed down to provide space for them.
Composite bonding is another option with cosmetic dentistry, involving the application of a small amount of resin to cover over cracks and chips as well as gaps, and it’s a far more minor and less invasive procedure.
All these are part of what is called a smile makeover — helping to transform the lives of people everywhere with amazing teeth they can be proud of.
