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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Gena Schultheis, DDS
Treat Yourself To a Smile Makeover This New Year
Maryland Holistic Dentistry
. https://marylandholisticdentistryannapolis.com

Treat Yourself To a Smile Makeover This New Year

How can you look 10+ years younger in just a few weeks or sometimes just one appointment without surgery? By seeing your dentist. A whiter, brighter smile makes people look years or decades younger. What better time to treat yourself to a brand new smile than the New Year?

Today, cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping to closing spaces and replacing teeth.

Before deciding to undergo any cosmetic procedure, it's important to know the benefits and risks and what you can expect during the process, make sure you're clear about what it will cost (insurance may help you get the smile you've always dreamed of), and whether any special maintenance will be needed afterward.

Teeth Whitening. Over time, teeth can become stained or discolored, especially after smoking, taking certain medications, or consuming foods and beverages such as coffee and tea. Using a chemical process, your dentist can bleach your teeth in one of two ways. He/she can do an in-office procedure, or provide you with a system to use at home if the stains are on the surface.

Bonding. Bonding may improve how your teeth look if they have excess space between them, or if they are chipped, broken, stained, or cracked. Dentists also use bonding materials to fill small cavities or cracks to improve the aesthetics of the teeth. The dentist can usually do this procedure in a single office visit, but does require more maintenance then veneers or crowns.

Veneers. These custom shells, typically made of porcelain, cover the front sides of the teeth to change their color and/or shape. Veneers last longer than bonding and provide a superior appearance.

Crowns. Sometimes called caps, crowns completely cover a tooth, restoring a normal shape and appearance. Crowns can be made with no metal underneath so they do not appear gray. These crowns are metal-free solid porcelain to protect old and worn teeth.

Permanent crowns can have a long life if you take good care of the tooth they are cemented too.

Braces. Today, people of almost all ages are benefitting from braces. Braces not only improve the look of teeth that are crooked or crowded. They can improve an irregular bite and correct jaw positioning and jaw joint disorders. Braces are now clear and metal free or can just consist of a series of aligner trays that put pressure on the teeth to move them into a more beautiful and functional place in the smile.

Bridges. Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, bridges are used to replace missing teeth with artificial teeth. Bridges can replace missing teeth with solid porcelain teeth in as little as two appointments.

Implants are a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. They are an alternative to bridges and to removable dentures. Implants can be used when no adjacent teeth or healthy teeth are present.

With implants, you can achieve the most natural way to be able to chew, smile, and talk confidently again if you have lost multiple teeth.

Don't let missing teeth, misshapen teeth, or discolored teeth hold you back in life. Call your dentist now to schedule your New Year smile makeover.

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