Creating the smile of your dreams with a smile makeover can mean different things for different patients. The process is highly customizable and can involve a wide variety of treatments depending on the changes you have in mind. Exactly what aspects of your smile are you trying to improve? Here’s a look at 4 aesthetic components that a smile makeover can potentially address.
1. Tooth Length
Shorter or worn-down teeth tend to be associated with a more aged appearance. As such, one goal of your smile makeover may be to make certain teeth look longer. This can often be done by covering the teeth in question with veneers. Alternatively, it’s also possible to lengthen teeth by applying composite resin to specific areas via cosmetic bonding.
2. Tooth Color
Even if you do everything right when it comes to caring for your smile, you can still end up with stained teeth. This is often due to exposure to coffee and other dark-colored beverages. If you’re bothered by dull or discolored enamel, your cosmetic dentist may decide to make brightening your teeth a part of the smile makeover process. In many cases, this means performing professional teeth whitening to address dental stains and discolored spots.
3. Tooth Proportions
Do your teeth seem like they’re all the right sizes compared to each other? Or do some seem disproportionately large or small? Your cosmetic dentist can take a look at the proportions of your teeth and determine how they might be impacting the overall appearance of your smile. In many cases, the length and width of your teeth can be corrected with veneers or metal-free dental crowns.
4. Spacing of Teeth
Ideally, adjacent teeth should just slightly touch each other. If they’re spaced too far apart, the resulting gaps can lead to eyes being drawn to your smile for the wrong reasons. Depending on how small the gaps between your teeth are, it may be possible to close them with veneers or cosmetic bonding.
The path toward a better smile looks different for every patient. If you schedule a consultation with your dentist, they can help you figure out the best way to address the aesthetic aspects of your teeth that have been bothering you. With the right smile makeover plan, you can look forward to eventually enjoying a grin that you can show off to the world with full confidence.
About the Author
Dr. Rebecca Long graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. She is currently enrolled in the Dawson Academy advanced cosmetic dentistry curriculum and regularly attends the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry conference. She offers personalized smile makeovers for patients in Austin who are unhappy with the way their teeth look. If you want to enhance the appearance of your smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Long at Westlake Hills Dental Arts by visiting her website or calling (512) 328-0155.