Teeth change as you age. Even if you’ve been diligent about caring for your teeth by keeping up with exams, cleanings, brushing, and flossing, aging is an uphill climb. Much of the population has gone through life dealing with their share of oral health issues, from cavities to gingivitis. From birthday to birthday you may discover that the years are stomping all over your smile. It’s time to fix it.
What Is a Smile Makeover?
Smile makeovers are customizable. Every person has different oral health needs, from professional teeth whitening to brand new bridgework. You’re not the only person dealing with your oral health problem. Many people drag their feet about getting cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry because they’re embarrassed by the state of their mouth. Rest assured, your dentist has seen it all. Put away the pride and just be smart – a smile makeover can make you look better and make you healthier, whether you’re getting porcelain veneers or dental implants.
Fill in Old Fillings
Old fillings are known to crack, especially if they’re amalgam, or silver, fillings. And, news flash, those mercury-laced fillings aren’t healthy for you anyway. A smart investment is getting all your fillings replaced with composite, tooth-colored, non-toxic fillings.
Fix the Broken Teeth
Even if you showed off back in the day that you could open a bottle or bag with your teeth, men and women of a certain age are especially susceptible to breaking their teeth. Whether molar or front tooth, biting down wrong on a certain type of food or attempting to do things with your teeth that are meant for your hands or a stronger tool can result in a crack, chip, or completely broken tooth. And that’s painful and unattractive. Porcelain veneers are often the best fix for issues like these.
Plump up your lips with this cosmetic dentistry treatment >>
Mind the Tooth Gaps
Missing a tooth, or teeth? Chances are, even if you’ve been able to hide these gaps in your smile, they might be showing themselves in the state of your lips and cheeks. Holes in your smile can make your cheeks and jaw appear sunken (and not in a good way), making you look older than you actually are. So fill in the blanks! Dental implants are easy and permanent so you can eat normally and smile widely, just like you did back in the day.
Correct Gum Disease
If those missing teeth weren’t knocked out by an accident or fall, they may be indicative of a slightly bigger problem – gum disease. When your gums become infected they are no longer as adept at holding onto your teeth, and your teeth will fall out. Before you go after any sort of cosmetic dentistry, it’ll be necessary to restore your foundation, cleaning up any signs of gingivitis or periodontitis so that you have a healthy mouth to hold your smile makeover.
Even if you had cosmetic dentistry decades ago, the methods have improved and changed so drastically that any updates you make to your smile now will be worth the investment. Contact Dr. Ken Cirka at Philadelphia Dentistry to discuss your customized smile makeover.