If you’re frustrated by stubbornly stained, chipped, slightly misaligned, or otherwise imperfect teeth, you’re not alone! An estimated 50 million cosmetic dental procedures are performed in the U.S. each year. These treatments only continue to gain popularity as more people realize that there are accessible solutions to help them upgrade their grins.
Once you’ve achieved your desired results, it’s natural to want to do everything you can to keep them. Continue reading to learn about three popular services and their longevity so you can make an informed decision about your smile!
Treatment #1: Teeth Whitening
Years of exposure to dark foods and drinks can leave your once-pearly-whites looking worse for wear. While there are plenty of over-the-counter solutions, they often contain ingredients that can cause tooth sensitivity. Plus, there’s no guarantee that you’ll achieve your ideal shade. Thankfully, your dentist has professional-grade gels that can lighten your grin by several shades in a single, hour-long in-office visit. If you prefer, many providers also offer take-home kits with top-quality materials and custom-fitted trays for optimal application from the comfort of your home.
Typically, you can expect to keep the updated hue for anywhere from six months to three years, though there are things you can do to preserve it. For example, brushing and flossing twice daily removes plaque, so pigmented particles are less likely to cling to your teeth.
Treatment #2: Veneers
Many people have issues with their teeth that have nothing to do with their color. If your smile is riddled with chips, cracks, or slightly gapped or crooked teeth, then you might benefit from veneers. These thin ceramic shells are created to match the size, shade, and shape of your natural pearly whites. Then, they’re bonded over the front surface to simultaneously mask one or several imperfections. They’re coated with a glaze durable enough to resist damage and discoloration, which can even shield the underlying teeth from potential harm.
Furthermore, veneers can last 10+ years if you clean them consistently. Also, it’s a good idea to visit your dentist every six months for a routine checkup to ensure they’re still in great shape.
Treatment #3: Invisalign
Seemingly, everyone wishes they had a perfectly straight smile, though very few are born with them. Thankfully, your dentist can use Invisalign to help realign your crooked, overcrowded, or gapped teeth in addition to mild malocclusions (bite misalignments). Treatment can take anywhere from 12 to 18+ months to complete, which is a small price to pay, considering that the results can potentially last the rest of your life.
That said, wearing a retainer is important if one is provided after treatment. This ensures that your teeth remain in their new positions while giving the muscles, ligaments, and other connective tissues in your mouth time to adjust to the change.
As you can see, there are many ways your dentist can enhance your appearance in the long run!
About the Practice
At A New Smile Dental Canyon Country, you and your family benefit from a team of experts who conveniently offer a full range of services under one roof. With a general dentist, endodontist, executive director, and pediatric dentist on staff, there’s no problem too simple or complex for them to address. They take the time to get to know your needs and goals so they can create individualized solutions to meet them. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art equipment to deliver accurate results intended to last. You can request a cosmetic consultation on the website or call (661) 251-0480.