Dental Techniques Enhance Smile & Increase Confidence

What are the characteristics of an attractive smile? While not every person is born with a perfect smile, qualities such as straightness, cleanliness or whiteness of teeth may come to mind. Thanks to developments in the field of cosmetic dentistry, people can change the smile they were born with into a smile they love.

General dentists are able to perform a variety of cosmetic procedures to improve patients' smiles. These procedures range from subtle changes to major repairs, fixing flaws such as discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing teeth.

Cosmetic procedures include bleaching, bonding, veneers, reshaping and contouring. Bleaching is a common and popular procedure that is used to whiten teeth and can be performed by a dentist in the office or under supervision at home. Dentists can also use a variety of methods to correct misshapen or crooked teeth. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or plastic that are cemented over the front of teeth, and bonding is the use of tooth-colored material to fill in gaps or change the color of teeth. Tooth reshaping or contouring are used to alter the length, shape or position of teeth and are ideal for patients with normally healthy teeth seeking subtle changes in their smile.