Acquire The Perfect Smile: Consider a Smile Makeover Consultation

According to research, one-quarter of people avoid smiling because they don't like how their teeth look.

Moreover, 28% avoid smiling on social media for fear that their smile is unattractive and a staggering 81% think their teeth look bad in photographs.

Do you share these sentiments?

If so, you know that being self-conscious about your grin can be isolating and debilitating. It can also lead to long-term physical and emotional health issues.

The good news? There are plenty of ways to achieve the perfect smile you desire.

Today, we're sharing a few ways a smile makeover consultation can transform your look. Ready to learn more? Let's dive in!

What do 80% of Americans ages 18 to 49 have in common?

They all want whiter teeth, according to a recent survey.

If yours are more yellow than you'd like, take heart. Our teeth should be a shade or two darker than pure white. This is because the enamel layer of our teeth is translucent, allowing the yellow dentin layer to show through.

Yet, it's easy to equate a dazzling white grin to confidence. In addition, there's research that it can even help you achieve greater success at work and in your personal life.

If your teeth are well-aligned but not the shade you'd prefer, there could be a few culprits at play. Red wine, coffee, and cigarettes will discolor them, as will certain medications and even old age. The first few factors are extrinsic, while aging is an intrinsic factor.

You have a few options when it comes to whitening them. Let's take a look at each.

At-Home Whitening Systems

From adhesive strips that affix to your teeth to solution-filled molds, there are myriad drugstore kits that promise you a whiter smile.

For the most part, these at-home systems are safe. Yet, they aren't without their risks.

Before beginning one, speak to your dentist first. If you see yellow when you smile, it could be because your dental hygiene isn't up to par and you aren't brushing your teeth as you should. When this is the case, your teeth can become weakened, riddled with cavities and decay.

If you were to put bleach or whitening solution into these compromised areas, the result would be excruciating pain and/or damage to your teeth.

On the other hand, if your teeth and gums are healthy and in good condition, over-the-counter products can help. Yet, because you aren't using them in a dentist-monitored environment, odds are high they won't be effective. For the best results, it's wise to go in for a professional consultation.

In-Office Professional Whitening Services

For a whiter smile you can count on, head into your dentist's office. These experts have solutions that are leaps and bounds above the drugstore versions in terms of effectiveness.

The highest-quality ones consist of a peroxide-based formula that beats anything you can buy at your local pharmacy. Office staff will keep the solution refrigerated from the second it's created until it's time for your treatment. This preserves the solution, keeps it fresh and boosts its performance.

This is one way in which professional whitening services differ from at-home whitening kits. That drugstore solution you paid upward of $100 for? It's been sitting at room temperature since it left the manufacturing plant.

By the time it ships out, makes it to the store, sits on the shelf and finally makes its way into your cart and home, it's lost a majority of its potency.

Rather than spending weeks on messy strips and flimsy trays, one expert whitening treatment is often all you need to see a noticeable difference.

Take-Home Whitening Kits

Want to extend the results you see in the dentist's chair? Speak to yours about taking home the solution for daytime and nighttime treatment.

For the most part, night whitening is the most affordable and effective route to take. However, you can also opt for daytime whitening if you don't want to wear the trays overnight or are physically unable to.

At our office, you can choose from a few hybrid treatment solutions that combine at-home and in-office whitening.

When you think of braces, do you picture jarring metal brackets with brightly-colored rubber bands? If so, the idea alone may send you running, especially if you're an older adult.

Now, however, that's far from your only option in orthodontics.

Today, there's Invisalign. This clear solution gives you the same improved appearance as traditional braces, minus the awkward look and feel of those versions.

How does it work?

Your dentist will use 3-D imaging technology to create a mold of your smile, then create a treatment plan timeline to reveal how Invisalign can reshape it.

You'll achieve your goals via a series of clear, FDA-approved aligner trays. These fit over your teeth and your dentist will trim them to your gumline so virtually no one can tell you're wearing them.

Every two weeks, you'll go in for new trays that fit your changing smile. When the process is over, you'll reveal a new and improved look.

Often your dentist might steer you toward investing in permanent veneers for your teeth. These are usually made of porcelain and engineered in a special dental lab.

If you're serious about a permanent solution to transforming your look, this is the way to go. Damaged teeth harm your appearance, but that's not all. They can also have a direct effect on your speech, as well as your biting and chewing techniques.

The theory behind the method is quite simple. If you've ever applied a wood veneer, you know how it works. You lay a piece of top-quality wood on top of one that's not so great, such as particle board.

Dental veneers work on the same concept, to an extent.

Your dentist will apply a healthy-looking tooth surface over your own, compromised one. This is medical-grade porcelain, engineer-designed to fit over your individual tooth and stay in place with cement.

Not only do they improve the shape of your teeth, but veneers can also help fill in gaps and address alignment issues, as well. Have you considered orthodontics to enhance your smile? You can possibly achieve the same look with veneers at a fraction of the time investment.

The Process Behind Veneers

Veneers work best when they fit your teeth to a "T."

To achieve this alignment, your dentist will ask you to come in for a series of measurements. As she designs your new smile, she'll take into account the color of your existing teeth, along with their shape and the form of your face.

Then, after an in-depth consultation and a series of X-rays, she'll send the results off to a dental lab, where professionals will create your custom veneers. To give you a general feel for how the permanent solution will look, you'll often receive temporary veneers. Made of plastic, they'll fit over your teeth so you can ensure a proper fit and get a sneak peek of the real deal!

Your dentist will then prepare your teeth for the veneers by roughing and reshaping them a bit. This will help the porcelain adhere to them better. Using a medical-grade bonding agent, she'll then apply the actual veneers and harden them with a curing light.

While all of the above-mentioned techniques can help turn your smile from drab to fab, it's best to come in for a smile makeover consultation first.

Here, you'll speak one-on-one with your dentist to determine the cosmetic dentistry approach that's best for you. At this time, your dentist will examine your teeth and speak with you about your main concerns.

Then, she'll create a plan that's tailor-made for you. This might include a combination of a few different treatments designed to give you the smile you want. For instance, you may need veneers to address your stained teeth but bonding if you have chipped teeth.

Why is this so effective? The consultation isn't about your teeth alone. Rather, your dentistwill also take into account your skin tone, face shape, lips, gum tissue and more to make sure the plan is right for you.

We all wish we were born with a Hollywood-style smile. It would be nice to flash our pearly whites without fear or embarrassment. Yet, the reality is that most of us have at least one dental feature we'd like to fix.

If you're ready to improve your look, start by coming in for a smile makeover consultation. We'll help you find and achieve your perfect smile, one treatment at a time.

From there, you can be confident that you're in the right hands. Our qualified and experienced staff is adept at every facet of the industry, including emergency, general, cosmetic and some specialty dentistry.