Everyone wants a beautiful smile, but unfortunately, aging, injuries, illnesses, medications, poor hygiene, lifestyle choices such as smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, drinking coffee and soda, and using illicit drugs, and just the luck of the draw genetically can all negatively affect your teeth. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry can restore bad teeth. Here is a look at five different procedures that dentists use to give patients dazzling teeth:

Dental Implants

This newer technology is expensive, but when you have missing teeth there is no better option than a dental implant. In addition to the aesthetics of not having all your teeth, you lose bone wherever a tooth isn't in place. With dental implants, you can avoid bridges and even dentures. A titanium post is set in your jaw and a new artificial tooth is screwed into it.

Dentures

Thankfully, dentures are an option for people who have teeth that are in very poor condition. Dentists like to preserve natural teeth as long as they can, but sometimes there comes a point where it just isn't possible any longer or the remaining treatment methods are cost-prohibitive. Dentures can be full dentures or they may be partials, which are used when some of the natural teeth are still remaining. A partial contains the required missing teeth and leave openings for the remaining teeth. They are then held in place with discreet metal clips that clasp the natural teeth. With a full set of teeth, patients can feel confident again, and they can eat more easily as well. 

Bonding

If you break or chip your front tooth or if you have always had a large gap between your upper middle teeth, the center incisors, then bonding may be right for you. This tooth-colored dental bonding material can be used to repair chips, build up a broken tooth, or added on to each center incisor to close the gap. Dental bonding can also be thinly applied over a permanently stained tooth.

Porcelain Veneers

If your teeth are largely intact but are permanently stained from tobacco, coffee, or medications like tetracycline, porcelain veneers are the ideal solution. The natural tooth is slightly reduced in size and then a custom-built thin porcelain veneer is placed over the existing tooth. The teeth and porcelain veneers can also be slightly reshaped, creating a more even smile than what you had before. Of course, they will also be bright, so when you do smile you reveal nice white teeth.

Teeth Whitening

If you are happy with your smile other than superficial staining, your dentist can apply a whitening agent to make your teeth white again. Usually, a single visit is all that is required to dramatically brighten your smile.

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