Pros and Cons on Common Treatments Used to Fix Your Smile

When you are trying to fix your smile, there are a wide range of options available. Many dental issues can be treated with a range of procedures, so it is typically up to the patient to consider what they are more comfortable with and what their budget allows for.

Without any further ado, here are both the benefits and disadvantages of the most popular treatments used by cosmetic dentists to help fix your smile:

Common procedures performed in cosmetic dentistry

1. Teeth whitening

This is one of the more affordable treatments offered by cosmetic dentists, and it can help restore the natural color of a person's teeth. The bleaching agents used by dentists are much stronger than the products found at a grocery store. A single treatment is enough to get significantly whiter teeth.

Pros:

Affordable solution
Often leads to significantly whiter teeth
Fast results

Cons:

Not all cases of discoloration can be treated with whitening treatments
The patient needs maintenance treatments to retain the improved appearance of their teeth
It can lead to tooth sensitivity

2. Veneers

Here is another great way to instantly improve the appearance of a person's teeth. Veneers are thin, tooth-shaped devices that cover the front of the patient's teeth, hiding any flaws. They can be used to address many dental issues like crooked teeth, discoloration, stains, malformed teeth and certain alignment issues.

Veneers are usually made out of porcelain and ceramics, two materials with stain-resistant properties. That means these devices not only help patients get perfect-looking teeth, but they also make it easier to keep them that way.

Pros:

Instant solution
Stain resistant
Used to address a variety of dental issues
Last a long time

Cons:

A small portion of enamel is removed during the installation of veneers
It can lead to tooth sensitivity
Veneers are one of the pricier solutions

3. Crowns

If a patient is only dealing with a few teeth that are disfigured, crowns can be an effective way to hide and protect them from further deterioration. Also called caps, crowns are protective covers that serve two purposes: protecting the tooth from irritants in the person's mouth and restoring the appearance and function of the tooth.

Pros:

Protect the tooth it covers
Help restore tooth appearance and function
Look just like natural teeth
Do not require specialized cleaning

Cons:

Crowns are one of the pricier solutions
A crown is not as durable as a real tooth
Habits like tooth grinding can damage crowns

There is no need to be unhappy with the appearance of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry now has multiple solutions to treat any dental issues you might be dealing with. Schedule a consultation with one of our dentists to learn more about ways to fix your smile.