Everyone should feel confident when flashing their smile or laughing. But for some, the aesthetic appearance of their teeth may leave them a little shy to show off their lovable grin.
Dr. Chang of Dental Restorative Group understands. From his years of experience at running Cambridge’s best dental practice, he’s treated many local dental patients who have a cosmetic issue that keeps them from grinning in family photos with a smile makeover – a cosmetic dentistry treatment plan that can combine a number of procedures including dental implant placement, veneers, placing white dental fillings, performing crown lengthening, and performing routine teeth whitening.
Here are 6 common cosmetic dental issues that Dr. Chang treats Cambridge dental patients for with a smile makeover.
Cracked Teeth
Despite the fact that our teeth are very strong, sometimes they can’t withstand the elements. Perhaps you cracked a tooth on a very crunchy food. Or maybe you sustained a dental crack as a result of a facial injury or trauma.
Whatever the reason for your cracked tooth, Dr. Chang understands that Cambridge residents may desire a more complete looking smile once again. A dental veneer – which is placed on top of your natural teeth – is a great way to cover a cracked tooth with a realistic looking alternative.
Spaces or Gaps
Whether you never had braces, developed spaces or gaps between your teeth because you didn’t wear your retainer as prescribed, or have new spaces or gaps as a result of periodontal disease, they are a common complaint from Cambridge residents seeking a smile makeover from Dr. Chang. Depending on your unique dental anatomy, it’s possible that veneers can cover these spaces and gaps for good, so you have a straight, in-line smile to flash all over town.
Discolored Teeth
Not everyone was lucky enough to be born with a set of pearly whites. Some dental patients have teeth that are naturally more yellow than the average person’s teeth. Other residents find their teeth have discolored due to habits such as smoking, vaping, or using chewing tobacco or drinking beverages known to stain such as colas, coffee, and red wines.
Transforming the color of your teeth can occur in two different ways. If Dr. Chang determines your teeth are stained, then routine teeth whitening can give you a brighter smile. But if you’re simply genetically predisposed to yellowish teeth, then veneers can give you that bright smile you’ve always wanted.
Missing Teeth
Whether a Cambridge dental patient has sustained a facial trauma or lost a tooth to disease, missing teeth happen. However, there is a state-of-the-art solution for replacing missing teeth that will leave strangers none the wiser.
Dental implants are the latest and greatest tooth replacement system on the market. They are permanently attached to your jaw bone via a titanium rod and covered with a realistic-looking tooth crown. Best of yet, when you care for them properly, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. Talk about a great investment for a smile makeover!
Teeth with “Old School” Metal Fillings
Today, most dentists automatically fill cavities with white, tooth-colored fillings. But if you’re of a certain age, you may have metallic-looking fillings in your mouth that stick out when you’re talking or laughing. These fillings can be easily replaced with tooth-colored fillings, so nobody will know how many times your teeth have been drilled.
Gummy Smiles
Some people are born with what dentists call a “gummy smile” this is when the teeth appear short, and you seem to have a lot of gums that display when you smile. Crown lengthening is an excellent procedure for providing these patients with a smile makeover. The procedure involves removing excess gum tissue so that more of the teeth are shown.
Find Out How We Can Help You With Cosmetic Dentistry
If there’s something about the aesthetics of your smile that you aren’t happy with, Dr. Chang and his team can help.
Contact our practice in Cambridge at (617) 492-5081 today to learn about your options.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is a cosmetic dentistry treatment plan that combines several procedures. Depending on your needs, it may include dental implant placement, veneers, white dental fillings, crown lengthening, or routine teeth whitening. Dr. Chang tailors the combination to the issues you want corrected.
Can a smile makeover fix a cracked tooth?
A dental veneer is placed on top of the natural tooth and can cover a cracked tooth with a realistic-looking alternative. Cracks may come from biting very crunchy food or from a facial injury or trauma, and Dr. Chang can advise which option suits you.
How can gaps between my teeth be closed?
Depending on your unique dental anatomy, veneers can cover spaces and gaps so your smile looks straight and in line. Gaps may develop from never having braces, from not wearing a retainer as prescribed, or as a result of periodontal disease.
Will teeth whitening work on naturally yellow teeth?
Routine whitening works best on teeth that are stained by habits such as smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco, or drinking colas, coffee, and red wine. If your teeth are naturally more yellow, veneers may be the better route to the bright smile you want.
Can old metal fillings be replaced with white fillings?
Older metallic fillings can be replaced with white, tooth-colored fillings so they do not stand out when you talk or laugh. Most dentists today fill cavities with tooth-colored material, and swapping out older restorations is a common part of a smile makeover.
What is a gummy smile and how is it corrected?
A gummy smile is when the teeth look short and a lot of gum tissue shows when you smile. Crown lengthening is used to correct it. The procedure involves removing excess gum tissue so that more of the tooth is shown.
