Cosmetic Dentistry Before and After: How Each Treatment Can Transform Your Smile

If you’re not exactly satisfied with the appearance of your smile, you now have more options than ever to get the exact look you desire. This is both good and bad—trying to figure out which cosmetic dentistry service is right for you can be overwhelming!  Knowing how a particular procedure could change your teeth could add some much-needed clarity, which is exactly what you’ll find below.

Veneers

A patient who would be a good candidate for veneers might walk into the dental office with discolored teeth, noticeable chips, minor crowding, and an overall lack of symmetry to their smile. With veneers, they can address all of these flaws with a single treatment, as the custom-made porcelain shells placed on the front of the teeth will change their color, size, and shape for the better at the same time.

Metal-Free Restorations

Traditional dental restorations, i.e., crowns and fillings, are made of a dark metal material called amalgam. While it is incredibly strong, it certainly sticks out compared to natural teeth! Thankfully, there are metal-free, tooth-colored alternatives, such as porcelain crowns and composite resin fillings.

A patient looking to update their old restorations can go from having noticeable dark areas in their teeth to a seamless white smile. These restorations can also be used to repair and cover areas of decay and damage, helping a discolored or misshapen tooth look like nothing was ever wrong with it.  

Cosmetic Dental Bonding

The ideal cosmetic dental bonding patient has a minor stain, chip, crack, or gap that sticks out in an otherwise attractive smile. Small flaws can be covered with tooth-colored composite resin that is sculpted to perfection. A patient can come in with a chipped front tooth or large gap and literally leave in about an hour looking like it was never there.  

Teeth Whitening

With professional teeth whitening, a patient with obviously yellowish or brownish teeth can make their enamel six to eight shades brighter, creating a dramatic difference that people will notice for all the right reasons. This, in turn, takes years off the patient’s appearance and makes them feel more confident.

Gum Recontouring/Crown Lengthening

Before receiving gum recontouring, a patient may complain that their teeth look short, stubby, or small. Whenever they smile, all they can see is their gums. Gum recontouring reveals hidden enamel by removing excess soft tissue, and crown lengthening goes a step further by changing the shape of the bone in the area so there is enough space to place a veneer or crown. The end result is longer teeth that establish a bigger, brighter smile.

Smile Makeover

With a smile makeover, a patient likely has problems not just with individual teeth, but their overall bite as well. In addition to aesthetic issues like stains and chips, they also have several missing and broken teeth. This leaves gaps in the smile, reduces facial height, and allows their lips to roll in, causing someone to look much older than they really are.

Needless to say, a smile makeover that combines the treatments above (as well as ones like dental implants) can achieve amazing results. In addition to giving someone a full smile filled with pristine white teeth, it can improve the proportion of the entire face while also supporting the skin, leading to a smoother, younger, and healthier appearance.

Of course, you don’t have to decide on your own which cosmetic service might be the best fit for you. A conversation with your cosmetic dentist can help point you in the right direction, ensuring you experience a dramatic before-and-after reveal you’ll enjoy for many years to come.

About the Author

Dr. Bianca Sanchez is dedicated to helping patients achieve bright smiles that are also healthy. A graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry at Houston, she has advanced training in all aspects of dentistry. Whether you need a simple checkup or are ready to transform your look with cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Sanchez is ready to lend a hand.

You can book your appointment online by clicking here or calling (210) 690-2727.