Are you finally ready to achieve your dream smile? You might be curious about addressing years of staining with teeth whitening, or small chips and gaps with veneers. However, did you know that before you dive into cosmetic dental work, your smile actually needs to be in decent health? Thankfully, the road to a healthier smile isn’t long or complicated, and before you know it, you’ll be able to begin improving your aesthetics. Here’s what you need to know.
Cosmetic Dentistry Needs a Healthy Foundation
You can think of your mouth like a house. If your home has structural issues, like broken windows, cracks in the foundation, or failing roof shingles, you wouldn’t want to ignore these problems and begin with aesthetic renovations like a fresh coat of paint! Instead, you’d go about repairing all of the damage first and then moving on to a home makeover.
Your smile is the exact same way. Cosmetic treatments are designed to enhance and refine what’s already there, meaning they work best and last the longest when they’re placed on stable, healthy teeth. This is why when you attend a cosmetic dental consultation, your dentist will evaluate the overall health of your smile beforehand. If there are issues like cavities, gum disease, cracked or fractured teeth, or even failing dental restorations, they’ll need to be addressed first.
What Can Cosmetic Dentistry Do for Me?
Once your smile is in great shape, your dentist can move on to cosmetic work, and you’ll have all kinds of options based on your personal goals:
- Teeth whitening – This is one of the most popular ways to refresh your smile quickly by targeting stains on the enamel layer of your teeth. However, if cavities or enamel erosion are present, it can cause discomfort.
- Veneers – These are small, thin porcelain coverings that are bonded to the visible portions of teeth with aesthetic flaws. Since the process for placing them involves modifying your tooth structure, your pearly whites need to be in excellent condition.
- Cosmetic dental bonding – This is a versatile and affordable treatment option for repairing chips, closing small gaps, or reshaping teeth. Like all cosmetic work, it works best when the teeth are clean and free of decay.
- Smile makeover – A full smile makeover can combine multiple services to address numerous flaws in teeth at once. However, this comprehensiveness means you’ll need a clean bill of dental health before getting started.
It can be a little disheartening to hear that you need a certain treatment, like a filling or deep cleaning, before you can move on to beautifying your smile. But this is only a very small (and necessary) delay that is setting you up for a future of happy, healthy grinning!
About the Practice
Here at Worcester Dental Arts, our team has proudly served patients in the area for several years under the leadership of Dr. Shadi Haidar and Dr. Krupali Shah. We offer a wide range of services, including numerous types of cosmetic services such as teeth whitening, veneers, and more. We can also ensure your smile is in excellent condition with the help of our preventive care and restorative services. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment at our Worcester office, call or visit us online for more information. Telephone: (508) 793-2114.
