Whether you are gathering around for a family photo or sharing pictures of your festive decorations with your friends on social media, your smile is sure to be front and center this holiday season. Are your teeth ready for the spotlight? If you have cracked, stained or misshapen teeth, you may not feel confident enough to smile around family and friends. Fortunately, there is a range of cosmetic treatments that can quickly and dramatically boost the appearance of your smile. Here are 3 popular forms of cosmetic dentistry for the holiday season.
#1: Dental Bonding
Cosmetic bonding is a quick and easy way to boost the appearance of your smile before the holidays. The treatment involves applying a composite resin onto teeth to restore damaged or missing enamel. The tooth-colored resin is sculpted into the desired shape by a dentist and then hardened using a special curing light. Often in just a single visit, dental bonding can address:
- Chipped, cracked or fractured teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Small or irregularly shaped teeth
- Discolored teeth
Dental bonding offers a range of advantages, such as:
- Simple procedure
- Immediate results
- Preserves natural enamel
- Lasts up to 10 years with proper care
#2: Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are custom-designed porcelain shells that bond to the front of teeth to conceal common dental imperfections. A small amount of enamel – usually less than a millimeter – must first be removed to make room for veneers. Next, impressions are made of your teeth and custom veneers are crafted in a specialized dental laboratory.
In just two visits to the dentist, you can fill in gaps in your smile or hide chipped, misshapen, stained or smaller-than-average teeth with tooth-colored porcelain veneers. Some of the major benefits of porcelain veneers include:
- Natural appearance
- Whiter smile
- No recovery period
- Lifespan of 10 to 15 years
#3: Professional Teeth Whitening
Although the supermarket shelves are filled with whitening toothpaste, strips and other dental products that promise to dramatically brighten teeth, no over-the-counter products can deliver the same stunning results as professional teeth whitening. They simply do not contain the high-strength whitening agents that power teeth whitening treatments offered by dentists.
There are two different types of professional teeth whitening:
- In-office whitening – Your dentist can dramatically brighten your teeth using a powerful bleaching solution and a special activating light – usually in just a single visit!
- At-home whitening – Transform your smile on your own schedule with custom-made trays and special whitening gel.
Partner with a cosmetic dentist in Norman to achieve a beautiful, confident smile that you will be eager to show off this holiday season! With a range of cosmetic treatments available, you will be sure to find the one that is right for you.
About the Author
An active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Bobby Carmen enjoys helping Norman residents achieve the beautiful smiles of their dreams. The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry graduate offers a wide range of cosmetic dentistry procedures at his conveniently-located private practice, including dental bonding, cosmetic gum lifts, teeth whitening and more. For more information, visit Dr. Carmen’s website or call 405-364-2200.