Am I the only one noticing a lot more stories recently about how to achieve a bright, white smile? Obviously, the majority of coverage in the popular mags continues to be on skin care, makeup, and fashion, but I wonder if the fact that having more smile whitening and smile straightening options than ever before is causing people to spend more time thinking about the appearance of their smile?
I had braces and a bunch of other orthodontic work as a kid to get a good looking smile, but some of the options available today are pretty amazing. I talked with one of our clients, a cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles, about what his patients are doing to create a dramatically enhanced smile, and some of the procedure choices surprised me.
Obviously, a lot of people are interested in whitening their teeth…and not just by chewing 1,000 packs of whitening gum (which has dubious whitening effects to say the least). Laser tooth whitening can give a long-lasting brighter smile in only minutes, a huge improvement over the messy bleaching creams and trays that were popular a decade ago. But that’s just the start of achieving a beautiful smile.
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Dental veneers are thin porcelain or resin shells that can be placed over existing teeth to create a whiter and straighter appearance.
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Dental implants are an increasingly popular option for people who are missing teeth. These artificial teeth are anchored in place and function just like a natural tooth. They also can be used to support a bridge.
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People living with dark, discolored gums can undergo a gum depigmentation procedure, and those with receding gums can have gum grafting.
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People who have a “gummy smile” that reveals too much of their upper gum line can choose a lip lowering procedure to show less of their gums when they smile.
These are just a few of the treatment innovations that are helping men and women love the look of their smile. If these recent news stories have you thinking that your smile could use a makeover, seek out a cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles or near you for professional help on achieving a celebrity smile.
