Having a healthy and attractive smile is important to your overall well-being. A beautiful smile can improve confidence, and self-esteem, and even boost mental health. However, some dental issues may affect the aesthetics of your teeth, making it difficult to feel proud of your smile. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry offers numerous treatments that can help restore damaged or missing teeth for a healthier, more vibrant look. Read on as we discuss 6 common dental issues you can fix with cosmetic dentistry.
1. Chipped Teeth
Chipped teeth are one of the most common cosmetic dental problems and usually occur due to an injury or trauma caused by chewing hard objects like ice cubes or hard candy. The chip may be small but can still cause cosmetic issues, resulting in an uneven and unsightly smile. Fortunately, cosmetic dentists can fix a chipped tooth with porcelain veneers or crowns. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that fit over the existing teeth while crowns cover the entire surface of the affected tooth.
2. Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth are another common cosmetic dental issue and can be caused by clenching or grinding your teeth, biting on hard objects, or even age-related wear and tear. While cracks may not always be visible at first, they can cause cosmetic problems such as discoloration and sensitivity. To fix this issue, cosmetic dentists may use a variety of treatments including porcelain veneers, crowns, dental bonding, and even dental implants.
3. Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can have a significant cosmetic impact on the overall appearance of your smile. Thankfully, cosmetic dentists can provide solutions for this issue as well. Dental implants are one of the most commonly used treatments for missing teeth and involve placing an artificial tooth root into the jawbone which is then topped with a lifelike porcelain restoration that looks and functions just like a natural tooth.
4. Uneven or Crooked Teeth
Uneven or crooked teeth can cause cosmetic issues such as difficulty in biting and chewing food properly as well as affecting the aesthetics of your smile. Cosmetic dentists use a variety of treatments to fix this issue. In some cases, cosmetic bonding or veneers may be used to reshape the teeth and close any gaps between them for an even look. For more severe cases, orthodontic treatments such as braces or clear aligners can help move the teeth into proper alignment and restore your smile.
5. Discolored Teeth
Teeth discoloration is one of the most common cosmetic dental issues caused by food, drinks, smoking, aging, and certain medications. To fix this issue cosmetic dentists use professional-grade whitening products or porcelain veneers that cover up any discoloration and make your teeth look brighter and whiter again.
6. Gaps Between Teeth
Gaps between teeth can have a cosmetic impact on the overall appearance of your smile but are easily fixable with cosmetic dentistry. Veneers or dental bonding may be used to fill any space between the teeth and restore your smile as well as improve oral function. In some cases, orthodontic treatments such as braces or clear aligners may also be used to close the gaps between teeth.
Conclusion
Cosmetic dentistry offers numerous treatments that can help restore damaged or missing teeth for a healthier, more vibrant look and address cosmetic issues such as chipped, cracked, uneven or crooked, discolored, and gapped teeth. If you are looking to fix any of these common cosmetic dental issues, make sure to consult a cosmetic dentist for the best treatment options.