Life in Thailand, the land of smiles, can be a cruel place if you feel self-conscious because you have stained, crooked, chipped, or even missing teeth. When your smile is not as attractive as it could be, it can have a severe effect on your self-esteem. However, cosmetic dentistry has progressed enormously in the past ten years, so after a few simple treatments you’ll be able to turn that frown upside-down and flash those pearly whites with confidence.
The first step towards bright healthy teeth and gums is maintenance, as well as adhering to good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily, a scheduled visit West Cobb Dentistry twice a year for a professional clean, you should also have a healthy diet and avoid excessive amounts of sugary foods and sweet drinks. Smoking is one of the leading causes of stained teeth but coffee, tea and red wine are also major culprits so they should be followed by a quick clean with a toothbrush. Tooth whitening has become a big business, from over-the-counter kits that you can use at home to procedures performed by dentists that can make teeth up to eight shades lighter. Some dentists will also recommend a combination of both, such as the Philips Zoom treatment, which involves a teeth whitening light in the dental surgery and take-home trays and gel that the patient can use at home to maintain the whitening effect. If your teeth are worn, chipped, cracked, faded or overlapping then you will not see any benefit from merely having them whitened.
Dental veneers can help improve the appearance of teeth that are malformed, cracked, or have other types of imperfections. Veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better and stronger than resin composite and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Resin composite veneers are thinner and require removal of less of the tooth surface before placement.
One drawback with veneers is that the color or shape cannot be altered once they have been cemented in place and they are not particularly good for people that grind their teeth since the extra pressure can cause them to chip and fracture. The procedures to put them in place can usually be completed within three visits to your dentist. Maintaining porcelain veneers is actually quite simple because you treat them as you would your original teeth, with routine brushing and flossing. Another advantage is that unlike your natural teeth, veneers are very resistant to different types of stains. With proper care and healthy lifestyle, porcelain veneers can last up to 20 years. So that’s something to smile about!
