How to Have a Great Smile

The first thing most people notice when them meet someone for the first time is their teeth. Everyone would love to have a nice, bright white smile.

Here are a few things you can do to make your teeth look great!

Teeth whitening:

There are several over the counter packages you can buy to accomplish this at home. You dentist can also perform it at his or her office. It's wise to check with your dentist first, as not everyone's teeth can be whitened.

Veneers:

This is a thin, composite material that is cemented to the front side of your tooth. They are used to treat discolored teeth, chipped teeth or can even cover gaps between you teeth or fix a slightly crooked tooth.

Implants:

This is an actual "fake" tooth that is made and placed within your jawbone where a tooth either needs to be replaced or might be missing. This is a permanent fix, and can be quite costly, running approximately $1,500 per tooth. It is a surgical procedure, but it can be beneficial because it acts along the lines of a permanent tooth.

Crowns:

These are also known as caps, and are made to fit over your existing tooth after any needed work has been done to it. They are typically made of porcelain and fused to a metal rod, after a root canal. Crowns can be used to fix teeth that are broken or chipped, or have large fillings and decay. They can also help fix gaps between two teeth or a poorly shaped tooth.

Bonding:

This is the process, which materials are bonded to your tooth, and can be used to repair a tooth that has been badly stained or chipped. The material will match your tooth color, so it will most likely not be noticeable.

Shaping:

The dentist will reshape a tooth by filling in some enamel.

Then there is the process that most of us can remember well.

Braces:

A visit to the orthodontist can provide you with great, straight teeth. You don't have to be a kid anymore to get braces, as more and more adults are being seen with them.

While it's a great idea to have any of these practices done to make a great smile, reality is a trip to the dentist is often times expensive. Even if you have a great insurance plan with dental coverage, most will only pay minimums, or none at all on any kind of cosmetic dentistry.