Smile Makeover : Treatment, Recovery, and Aftercare
May 24, 2022
Yellowed, missing, broken, misaligned, chipped, or poorly gapped teeth are sufficient reasons to consider cosmetic dentistry. Apart from ruining your appearance, dental flaws can make you self-conscious about your smile and even affect your oral functions, such as chewing and speaking. Fortunately, a smile makeover can correct your cosmetic imperfections and give you a reason to smile again with confidence.
A smile makeover improves the look and feel of your teeth and restores confidence in your smile. The treatment incorporates various cosmetic procedures and techniques such as teeth bonding, dental veneers, implants, and Invisalign. You can benefit from a smile makeover treatment if you have:
- Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth
- Eroded enamel
- Improper teeth gaps
- Teeth stains, yellowing, and discoloration
- Unevenly sized teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Decayed teeth
Smile Makeover Treatments
Since every patient’s needs are unique, your dentist will work with you to establish a customized treatment plan best suited for your condition. The dentist will inspect your mouth for signs of oral problems. The exam may involve visual, physical, and x-rays techniques. Depending on your needs and budget, the dentist may develop several treatments options. Contact us for a smile makeover near you.
Standard smile makeover treatments that a dentist can use to enhance your smile include:
- Dental crowns
A dental crown may be your last resort to saving a severely damaged, discolored, or decayed tooth. A crown is placed over a damaged tooth, covering it entirely for a more appealing and whiter smile. Apart from improving the tooth’s aesthetics, a crown also offers restorative benefits. Depending on your condition and budget, your crown can be metal, ceramic, porcelain, zirconia, gold, or resin materials.
- Braces and Invisalign®
Crooked or poorly gapped teeth can significantly affect your smile and oral health. Fortunately, you can correct these flaws with orthodontic treatments such as traditional braces and Invisalign. The dentist uses traditional braces to move the teeth to the desired positions with metal wires and brackets. Invisalign is a clear brace that uses clear aligners worn over the teeth to move them to the desired position.
- Teeth Whitening
If you’re struggling with teeth stains, discoloration, or yellowing, teeth whitening near me is one of the most basic options to whiten your smile. You can opt for professional whitening from your dentist, over-the-counter whitening products, or home remedies. Professional whitening offers the most effective, quickest, safest, and most long-lasting results.
- Dental Veneers
Veneers are thin tooth-colored coatings made of porcelain or composite placed over the front of a tooth to repair the damage. Veneers can correct several dental flaws such as minor misalignments, improper teeth gaps, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, and stained teeth.
- Dental Implants and Bridges
Missing teeth can make you feel unhealthy and self-conscious to smile and interact in public. Fortunately, your dentist can use dental implants or bridges to replace the missing teeth and restore your beautiful smile. Dental implants fix into the jawbone of the missing teeth through surgery. Dental crowns attach to healthy teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. Besides improving your appearance, implants and bridges also improve your bite and speech abilities. Contact a prosthodontist near you to determine which option is suitable for you.
- Gum Reshaping
If you have a gummy smile, the dentist can reshape or remove excess gum tissues to expose more of your teeth for a natural and brighter smile. Gum reshaping is also called gum contouring, and it only requires a single dental visit.
Recovery and Aftercare after a Smile Makeover Treatments
Once you’ve your new smile, good aftercare habits are essential to promote quick healing and recovery. Since every patient’s treatment is unique, the recovery time may also differ. For instance, getting a dental implant requires surgical intervention, meaning that the recovery process will be longer than whitening your teeth.
In general, use these tips to care for your new smile and promote faster recovery:
Immediately After the Procedure
- Take medication as prescribed by your dentist.
- Eat soft foods such as eggs, soups, and yogurt.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Avoid hot or cold items to prevent sensitivity.
- Contact your dentist if you experience severe side effects.
- Use ice packs to manage pain and swelling.
- Rest adequately, especially for surgical treatments.
- Follow your dental appointments.
After Healing
- Brush at least twice daily and floss daily.
- Use the right dental products.
- Use a mouth guard for sports and bruxism.
- Schedule regular dental checkups.
- Avoid chewing hard items.
- Avoid smoking and highly pigmented items to prevent staining.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Contact Northwest Prosthodontics for more information about a smile makeover in Calgary.