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 It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.

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It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

2 Cosmetic Dental Services To Transform Your Smile

by Jacqueline Byrd

Although ultimately it's what's on the inside that counts, physical appearance has always been important to societies across the globe. How you carry and present yourself can either open or close doors for you. If there's one thing that stands out about a person, it's their smile. Here are two ways cosmetic dentistry is used to improve the look of your teeth:

Bleaching

Who doesn't want a whiter smile? One of the reasons we brush our teeth, aside from eliminating putrid breath and avoiding gum disease, is to brighten our smiles. Although consistent brushing will make your smile brighter over time, there's nothing like getting professional work done.

Before you get your teeth whitened, you need to make sure you have treated all cavities and tooth decay. If you don't, the tooth whitening solution could pass through decayed areas and reach the inner parts of the tooth.

Due to the convenience of at-home whitening products, you can whiten your teeth practically anywhere. However, professional whitening performed at a dental office is your safest and most effective bleaching option. 

The dentist will remove any plaque or food particles from your teeth before beginning the bleaching session. In addition, he may coat your gums with a protective substance to prevent undue irritation from the bleaching solution. The process only takes about an hour, but it may have to be repeated during a few separate visits to achieve the brightest tooth shade. The only side-effect may be a little dental sensitivity for a while, but that subsides quickly.

Bonding

Unfortunately, not all of us are born with a set of gapless teeth. Although some people choose to embrace their gaps, the task is more difficult for others. Along with filling gaps, tooth bonding can repair decayed teeth, and restore teeth that have been cracked or chipped.

The bonding material is basically a resin or plastic that is applied to the affected area and hardened with a specialized light. The dentist will first apply a conditioning liquid to help the resin material bond to the tooth. Next, the putty-like resin is applied and shaped so that it looks natural. It is then hardened by a ultraviolet light and trimmed and shaped further. Because bonding materials are not as strong as crowns or veneers, it is suggested that you only use bonding for small areas of your teeth. The bonding process only requires one visit.

If you would like to improve the look of your teeth, contact Family Dental Center TriCities, PC or another dentist in your area for an appointment. He or she can help determine the best ways to give you a more perfect smile.

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