Six smile makeover tips from your Grand Rapids cosmetic dentist

A brilliant and attractive smile is not only nice to look at but also boosts your self-confidence, self-esteem, and overall sense of well-being. A smile is for life and is an integral and essential part of your health. There are several new possibilities for enhancing your smile that are available due to improved dental technologies.

Are you wondering what’s involved in getting a smile makeover? There are several different ways a dentist can improve the overall look of a smile. Our experienced dental team in Grand Rapids might be just what you need to finally achieve that million-dollar smile.

Here are a few tips!

You deserve a fabulous smile! Patients with crooked teeth who want to improve the appearance of their smile but are reluctant to use traditional braces may be interested in clear aligners, also called invisible aligners. An ever-increasing number of adults have decided to go for straight teeth and enhance their smile using this aligners for teeth straightening. Unlike traditional braces, aligners can be removed when necessary, making them much less intrusive around mealtime.

Aligners work by applying constant pressure to the teeth to push slightly protruding or crowded teeth into the right spots. The treatment is completed far more quickly than standard orthodontics, only lasting 4-16 weeks. However, consistency is key, so to get the results you’re looking for, it’s important to wear them every day without skipping so that the teeth can be gently moved into the desired position.

More and more people are opting for cosmetic dentistry procedures to give themselves a great smile, and dentists are finding more advanced ways to help their patients achieve this.

Among advanced technology, Dental Veneers are a popular way for people to improve their smiles’ aesthetics. Porcelain veneers are thin, stain-resistant shells that blend naturally with the surrounding teeth. Veneers are bonded to your teeth with a fine, cement-like paste and are indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Nothing can take a damaged smile and turn it around like porcelain crowns and bridges. Unlike veneers, crowns and bridges are designed to restore a compromised tooth or several teeth, rather than just cover them up.

A crown is a protective shell for a compromised tooth, designed to look like the natural one. It can cover chips and cracks, uneven wear, and other dental or cosmetic issues.

A bridge is similar to a crown but is designed to help stabilize your smile if you’ve experienced losing one or more of your teeth. A dental bridge involves placing a cap over one or two teeth beside a gap, attached to a false tooth to cover the open space. This strategy can help brace your smile and retain proper alignment.

Are your teeth too small or undersized? Just like everything else about the human body, teeth can come in all different sizes. The condition in which teeth are a bit bigger than average is known as macrodontia. Microdontia is when your teeth are smaller than average in size. You may not realize you have teeth that appear smaller, but this could still be affecting your smile in various ways.

Dr. Burton and the team offer various cosmetic and general dentistry treatments in addition to porcelain veneers to help diagnose and remedy teeth size issues.

1. Your dentist can diagnose macrodontia by performing a dental exam and taking X-rays of your teeth. Specific courses of action can include tooth extraction, recontouring, or specialized orthodontic treatment.
2. Dental Bonding: The dentist applies a composite resin to the afflicted tooth’s front. Though similar in a few ways to veneers, dental bonding is more suited for teeth that are weak or have eroded enamel.
3. Dental Implants: If, for some reason, the tooth or teeth that are too small need to be removed, dental implants are inserted in the jawbone to hold your restorations. Dental implant-supported prostheses are typically more aesthetic, comfortable, and functional.
4. Gum Contouring: Gum contouring is typically used when the tooth appears too small because of excess gum tissue. Gum contouring can be combined with other procedures if desired.

Tooth discoloration is when the color of your teeth change. They don’t look as bright or white as they should. Many elements can make your teeth lose their luminosity. Here are a few tips to reverse teeth stains and prevent them from happening in the first place.

1. Avoid tooth-staining substances like coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce, dark berries, and other dark foods and drinks that tarnish the tooth enamel. It’s most desirable to avoid these things if you want to prevent tooth discoloration.
2. Tobacco can severely degrade the teeth. It can also affect the oral health and entire health of the body. So, it’s advisable to avoid tobacco use altogether.
3. Whitening toothpaste can remove surface stains on the teeth and ensure the white smile you want. Whitening toothpaste can help you avoid the need for frequent teeth whitening treatment.

You are what you eat; that’s even more true for your teeth, gums, and ultimately, the radiance of your smile and your personality. Some foods can harm and decay your teeth, while others contain vital nutrients to keep them healthy and strong.

Some foods invite tooth decay. Excessive sugary foods can cause the bacteria in plaque inside our mouths to release acids that attack our tooth’s protective enamel. When the enamel breaks down, tooth decay and cavities can set in.

Again, some foods, such as fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, help fight plaque buildup. Here are some foods to seek out for long term oral health and some to be avoided.

Teeth healthy food

Dairy products such as cheese, milk, plain yogurt

Foods with fluoride such as spinach, grapes, raisins and potatoes (especially russet potatoes)

Whole Grains

What to avoidSticky candies and sweetsCarbonated soft drinksLemons, citrus fruitsAcidic food

The results of a smile makeover can have a transformative effect on your overall personality. If you have been thinking about improving your smile, rest assured that your Grand Rapids dentist, Dr. Burton, and his team at Midtowne Smiles are ready with the required treatment.

Our team works hard to ensure you get answers and solutions for teeth restoration, dental health, comfort, and appearance. Some patients may need to address multiple problems that affect the appearance and function of their smiles.

We can assist you with the right interventions to improve the smile’s aesthetics and repair damage to teeth or replace missing teeth. We also offer other cosmetic dentistry treatments, such as clear aligners, dental veneers, dental bonding, inlays, onlays, teeth whitening, and more.

Dr. Burton will assess your teeth, recommend a solution, and deliver treatment, working with you to achieve your goals.

If you need to take your smile quotient up a few notches, schedule your appointment with us today! Call us today or complete our online appointment form.