A Great Gift of Cosmetic DentistryIf all you really want this Christmas is to start next year with a brighter and more brilliant smile, you don’t need to wait on a visit from Santa. You need to visit the cosmetic dentist! From teeth whitening to gum contouring, cosmetic dentistry includes a number of treatments, all designed to eradicate imperfections and enhance your natural beauty. So, if you’re tired of wishing on stars or waiting too see if you made the “Nice list,” it’s time to call your cosmetic dentist, who can help give you a gift that will keep on giving, namely a newly brilliant, dazzling smile.

What Treatment Is Right for You?

Most people think of teeth whitening when they consider cosmetic dentistry, but that is only one available treatment. For patients with more prominent issues, like gaps between teeth, jagged edges or shape issues, both bonding and porcelain veneers offer great solutions.

Bonding can be completed in less than an hour, in most cases, and provides an affordable way to address shape and size concerns with teeth.

Veneers can offer similar solutions, but they are more expensive because they’re made of incredibly durable and stain-resistant porcelain. They also take longer to complete, but can last more than ten years with proper care, making them one of the most long-lasting forms of smile enhancement.

Do You Need a Custom Smile Makeover?

If you have several cosmetic concerns, the best way to address them may be through a customized smile makeover. This generally involves combining a few treatments in order to address all of a patient’s concerns. For instance, if you’re bothered by staining on all your teeth, but also have a noticeable gap between two front teeth, you may want to have whitening completed before having veneers affixed to hide the gap.

Other patients may wish to have bonding completed on a few teeth, but also have gum contouring completed on the rest of their smile, to help create a more symmetrical shape to their smile.

During a consultation your dentist should be able to help choose a course of action for you, based on your desires for your smile and how long and how much you can invest in your makeover.