According to the CDC, about 95% of adults past the age of 65 have had a cavity, and 20% live with untreated tooth decay. This is not only unhealthy, but it can affect how your smile appears, which greatly impacts your confidence. Fortunately, a cosmetic dentist can use a variety of methods to correct these and other dental problems. Read on to find out more about cosmetic dentistry techniques and how they can improve the look of your smile.

Dental Veneers

A veneer is a thin tooth-colored shell that fits over the surface of teeth. A cosmetic dentist custom makes veneers to suit the shape of your teeth. They are then bonded to the teeth using a dental formula that acts as glue. Veneers are used to cover chips, discolorations, and cracks on teeth. With the veneers on, your teeth will appear whiter, which will boost your confidence and improve the look of your smile.

Dental Implants as Replacements for Missing Teeth

It can be difficult living with a missing tooth, especially if it's one of the front ones. The situation gets even worse if you have several missing teeth. Fortunately, cosmetic dentists can easily fix that with dental implants. These are synthetic teeth that take the characteristic of your natural teeth. They not only make your smile look good, but they also shield and stimulate the jaw bone. This prevents the jawbone from weakening over time. The key advantage of dental implants is that they are permanent, and they can even outlive your natural teeth. However, unlike other cosmetic dentistry methods, getting a dental implant is not an instant process. In most instances, it is done over the course of several months.

Teeth Whitening Treatments

This is probably one of the most common and simplest cosmetic dentistry procedures. With teeth whitening, you can either get an in-office treatment or use at-home trays. Cosmetic dentists use whitening trays that are inserted into your mouth to whiten teeth 5-10 shades whiter. This will give your smile a boost. Research shows that while you will get results with at-home treatments, they might not be as effective as an in-office procedure.

You can benefit a lot from visiting a cosmetic dentist. They will examine you and determine how the several techniques they use can improve the look of your smile and give you a much-needed confidence boost. Have more questions about cosmetic dentistry? Contact us today and we would be glad to go over your concerns.