Everyone wants a pretty smile, and modern dental procedures can help many people achieve one. Procedures like cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, and teeth whitening can bring out the best in smiles, but some people worry about whether cosmetic dentistry will hurt. Thankfully, today’s cosmetic procedures are quite painless. Here are some treatments for improving the appearance of teeth and what how they ultimately don’t cause patients any pain or distress.
Dental Bonding
Dental Bonding is a common and completely non-invasive procedure that can even be performed during a routine dental visit. Using a composite resin color-matched to your smile, your dentist can repair chips, cracks, stains, or gaps in your teeth. The putty-like substance is applied to the flaw and molded so it matches the contours of your teeth before it is cured and hardened with a special UV light. The result is indistinguishable from natural tooth structure. It is completely painless and requires no recovery time.
Teeth Whitening
Years of wear and exposure to pigments and dyes can leave stains or yellowing on teeth. Professional teeth whitening treatment is far superior to any store-bought equivalent and can leave your smile eight to ten shades whiter. These procedures are completely painless and noninvasive, though they can leave teeth sensitive for a few days afterward.
These treatments generally come in take-home and in-office varieties, both of which produce outstanding results. All you have to do with a professional take-home teeth whitening kit is apply the provided whitening gel to trays custom-fitted to your mouth and wear them over your teeth for about an hour every day for two weeks. For an in-office treatment, your dentist will apply one or more coats to your teeth and probably treat them with fluoride afterward.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers might be the secret behind many Hollywood smiles, but they are affordable enough for the general public. Veneers are thin shells mimicking the color, shape, and luster of natural teeth that are used to cover flaws like chips, cracks, gaps, and stains that do not respond to teeth whitening. The procedure is rendered completely painless by local anesthetic.
A veneer treatment usually takes two appointments. During the first one, your dentist will numb the tooth being treated and shave a tiny amount of enamel off the surface before placing a temporary set of veneers on them. The second appointment takes place about two weeks later. After numbing the treated tooth again, your dentist will then cement the permanent veneers in place.
Cosmetic dentistry is nothing to worry about. These procedures are safe and involve only negligible discomfort, if any. Having prettier teeth can make you want to show them off more, and going through life with a beaming smile can open up a world of possibilities.
About the Author
Dr. Jamie Guthrie earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Oklahoma School of Dentistry. She was awarded the Health Director’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Medical/Dental Practitioner of the Year in 2002 while working as the chief dental office of Kickapoo Tribal Health Center. Her practice provides a wide variety of services to patients in the Ardmore area, including many cosmetic treatments such as veneers, dental bonding, whitening, and more. For more information on how comfortable cosmetic dentistry really is, contact her online or dial (580) 224-9600.