A cosmetic dentist can help improve the appearance of your smile in a multitude of ways. Even if you hate your smile, you can get a smile makeover that will give you the confidence to smile again. If you would like to know more, check out these cosmetic dental options to consider.

1. Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is incredibly popular, and while you can buy over-the-counter products, they aren't very effective and/or fast. In-office teeth whitening, however, can drastically brighten your smile by many shades in just one visit. The dentist uses strong but safe chemicals to quickly destroy stains.

You can save money by choosing at-home kits from your dentist. These aren't as fast, but they are still effective and faster than over-the-counter options. Teeth whitening is a great choice if you have extrinsic stains from tobacco, red wine, sodas, and other stain-causing foods/beverages.

2. Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are becoming a popular choice because they can quickly correct many cosmetic concerns, such as:

• Intrinsic discoloration
• Gaps
• Mild crooked teeth/overcrowding
• Irregular crown length

They are made from porcelain, so they look like natural tooth tissue. Dental veneers are a good choice if you want to improve the appearance of your front teeth and your front teeth are healthy. To place veneers, some tooth enamel is removed, making this a permanent alteration.

3. Porcelain Dental Crowns

If you want veneers, but your teeth are weak, consider porcelain dental crowns. Porcelain dental crowns are also a great choice for a full-mouth restoration because they work on front teeth and back teeth. On front teeth, the dentist will recommend all-porcelain for the aesthetics. For back teeth, porcelain-fused-to-metal is a better choice for durability unless you have a metal allergy.

Dental crowns fix the same issues as veneers, but more tooth tissue is removed. However, unlike veneers, a dental crown can strengthen teeth that are weak from decay, large fillings, and root canal treatment.

4. Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth, you may be considering dental implants. Dental implants are durable because they use the jaw for support, and the bone fuses to the implant to secure it. You can choose between single implants, implant-supported bridges, and implant dentures, depending on how many teeth you're missing. Since dental implants stimulate the jawbone, they also prevent facial atrophy.

Reach out to a cosmetic dentist clinic in your area to learn more about this topic.