Are you also someone who started to avoid ordering red wine with your meal at your corporate dinners? Although you love it, your teeth made this choice for you somewhere in the back of your mind. Handing this much decision-making power to a drink seems odd, doesn’t it?
Was it the coffee? The years? That image that your friend took of you at their birthday party, where all of that bright fluorescent lighting was caught in all of your glory and wasn’t kind to you? Or it could be a wedding photo or a job interview, where you couldn’t smile freely.
Perhaps it was something more sudden. A bite into something too hard, a minor fall, or a knock during a weekend sport that left a crack or chip you can’t stop running your tongue over.
Maybe it was nothing at all. Just a quiet and persistent feeling that your smile stopped representing who you truly are.
This is not vanity, but a very real and human concern. And that is why cosmetic dentistry exists. Your smile impacts much more than just how beautiful it looks.
Your smile impacts how confidently you act when in others’ company, how much you laugh with those closest to you, and how you feel about yourself at seven in the morning.
We have had this conversation at McCallum Dental, Langford, BC, with hundreds of patients. This is everything that you’ll need to know about the causes and treatments of cosmetic dentistry.
What are the signs that you’re a candidate for cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic concerns do not have abrupt presentations. They appear gradually over the course of your life, and people have adapted to how they appear. An example of this would be covering your mouth with your hand when you smile, or not smiling at all.
Listed below are some signs that you should be aware of:
- Discolouration or stubborn staining
Examples include coffee, tea, wines, and certain types of medications (i.e., tetracycline), which can stain your teeth over time and will cause appearing dull and yellow. The use of over-the-counter whitening products is generally not effective, while professional whitening solutions are much more effective.
- Chipped, cracked, or worn-down teeth.
It’s too common for accidents and incidents to happen at any time. And this can lead to chipped, cracked, or worn-out teeth. However, wear and tear can happen over a long period of time. Other reasons for this can be grinding of teeth or acidic food that can wear teeth away.
- Gaps and spacing issues
Gaps in between your teeth and spacing problems. Whether you have had them your entire life or they develop over time due to teeth shifting can trap food in between your teeth, and they will affect your confidence when you smile and open your mouth.
- Uneven or disproportionate teeth
Teeth that have different shapes, sizes or appear uneven. For example, some will be longer than others, while others will be much shorter. Such variations can lead to the appearance of a less attractive smile than desired, even when the teeth themselves are sound.
- Gummy smile or visible gum irregularities
If the gums are easily seen when you smile or have become irregular in appearance. It will detract from the overall balance of your face, regardless of how healthy your teeth are.
What’s Behind These Issues? The Possible Causes
By understanding the reasons behind these discomforts, you can make better decisions on what to do about them.
- Genetics
Genetics plays a bigger role than most people realise. As you inherit the shape, size, and natural colour of your teeth from your genetic lineage. If your parents had misaligned teeth or had naturally thin enamel, chances are you will have similar problems with your own teeth.
- Dietary and lifestyle habits
Dietary and lifestyle habits can cause damage to your teeth gradually. One cup of coffee will not stain your teeth, but consuming multiple cups daily over several years will. The same is true for wines, berries, tomato sauce, and cigarettes. Eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks erodes your enamel without you realising it, and does so daily.
- Grinding and clenching (bruxism)
Many people clench their teeth while they are asleep and are not even aware of this. Over time, this causes significant wear to the surface of your teeth, leading to sensitivity, cracks, and a shorter and flatter smile, which can make you look older than you really are.
- Aging is unavoidable
Aging is a natural process. As we grow older, our enamel progressively becomes thinner and discoloured (i.e., it becomes yellow). Over time, the outer layer of our teeth wears down and exposes more of the dentin (the inner layer). Therefore, no matter how many teeth are brushed, the underlying dentin remains darkened.
- Past dental treatment
Prior dental treatments such as fillings, caps, and other restorations done years back may now be mismatched to your present tooth color or have been worn down in some visible way.
- Injury or trauma
Injuries to your mouth from accidents like falling or playing sports, or from chewing on something too hard, can cause an immediate occurrence of a chip or crack in the affected tooth. The affected tooth may still darken over time following an injury.
When Should You Go to the Dentist About This?
Rule of thumb: if your teeth are affecting your ability to smile, talk, eat, or feel good about yourself every single day, talk to your dentist.
You may need a consultation if:
- You’re starting to hide your smile when taking a picture or at social gatherings.
- You’re experiencing pain, sensitivity, or discomfort in the chipped/cropped/worn-down areas of your teeth.
- You have had noticeable changes in color, shape, or alignment of your teeth over the past few years.
- You are continuing to grind your teeth, or someone has pointed it out to you, and this has never been addressed by a dentist.
- You have been experiencing jaw pain, headaches, or TMJ discomfort along with other aesthetic issues.
- You have a major life event that you would like to feel more confident about, such as a wedding, a new job, or a milestone birthday.
Many cosmetic dental problems become a bigger issue if you do not address them soon enough. A small chip in your tooth can become an even larger crack. Grinding your teeth away from the enamel can ultimately lead to a more significant problem down the road.
Most issues are better treated sooner and are less complicated to treat than waiting until the problem has advanced to the point of more severe effects.
Cosmetic Dentistry Options: Which Cosmetic Dentistry Option is Right for You?
Cosmetic dentistry has many different kinds of procedures to enhance the beauty and function of your smile through the various types of cosmetic dentistry.
Below, we will look at some of the most popular:
- Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to give your smile an upgrade. Professional teeth whitening will produce results that are brighter than using over-the-counter products, and usually always better results than at-home products. After you get your teeth professionally whitened, most people are surprised at how white their teeth can actually be when comparing their old whiteness to their newly whitened smile.
- Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are a thin, custom-made shell that is placed on the front of your teeth to improve the shape and color, or minor imperfections of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are a great option for people who want to have a more dramatic smile transformation while still looking as natural as possible.
- Dental Bonding
Tooth bonding is a tooth-colored resin that is used to repair small gaps, chipped or uneven edges, or other small cosmetic issues. Tooth bonding is an easy and inexpensive procedure that can frequently be done in one visit, and generally requires little or no preparation.
- Invisalign Clear Aligners
If you are looking for a way to get straighter teeth without using traditional metal braces, then Invisalign may be the answer for you! These clear, comfortable, and virtually invisible clear aligners can help gradually reposition your teeth into their proper position.
- Dental Botox
While most people know Botox primarily for its cosmetic uses, many do not understand how it can also be used in the field of dentistry. Dentists use medical-grade Botox to treat patients experiencing jaw muscle tension, teeth clenching, TMJ pain, chronic facial muscle tightness, and to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles while allowing for the natural range of motion in the face.
The Way McCallum Dental Views Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry at McCallum Dental is all about you! We focus on listening to what your concerns are, providing you with information about your options, and assisting you with selecting a cosmetic treatment plan that meets your lifestyle, goals, and budget.
The starting point for every cosmetic consultation is an examination of the health of your teeth and gums. If we discover dental issues that require treatment prior to any aesthetic enhancements being completed.
After the initial assessment is completed, we begin a conversation about the type of changes you want to see, what type of final result you envision having, and what type of cosmetic options are realistic for you.
McCallum Dental will then work with you to go through all possible options openly and honestly, and provide the pros and cons, as well as provide the opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have, so you are completely informed.
To further assist you with what you can expect upon completion of your aesthetic enhancements, we incorporate the use of state-of-the-art digital imaging technology to show you how your smile will look before treatment and to help you to feel more comfortable in deciding to begin treatment.
Cosmetic services offered by McCallum Dental include:
- Professional teeth whitening
- Porcelain veneers
- Composite dental bonding
- Invisalign clear aligners
- Dental Botox for cosmetic and therapeutic use
- Full smile makeover planning using several cosmetic services
Would You Like to contact us? Schedule an Appointment
At McCallum Dental in Langford, BC, we would love to sit down with you to answer any questions you have, listen to your concerns, and help you figure out what options may work best for you.
With no pressure and zero unwanted upselling, we aim to provide real guidance and support from a friendly team of people who want you to feel good about yourself and your beautiful, new smile.
FAQs
Ques. 1: Will teeth whitening work on my grayish-yellowish teeth?
Ans: Professional whitening may work on some teeth but not all cases. If your tooth is discolored with a grayish appearance, you may require techniques such as bonding and veneers to help create better results.
Ques.2: Will my teeth appear fake because of the cosmetic dentistry?
Ans: The goal of modern cosmetic dentistry is to create a natural-looking result that complements your existing smile.
Ques.3: Will I be able to fix a chipped tooth or uneven teeth with cosmetic dentistry?
Ans: Yes! Bonding and veneers are two popular options available to patients to repair chipped teeth or correct the shape of their teeth.
Ques.4: Is Invisalign limited to teens only?
Ans: No! Adults frequently select the use of Invisalign for discreetly moving their teeth into alignment.
Ques. 5: Will the process of whitening my teeth during a professional treatment harm my enamel?
Ans: As long as your teeth are treated by a qualified professional in accordance with industry standards, then teeth whitening will not harm your enamel.
Ques. 6: Can I use the services of a cosmetic dentist to relieve myself from teeth grinding?
Ans: Yes! Dentists may provide services such as Botox, night guards, or other restorative dental solutions to relieve tension on worn teeth and protect them from further damage.
