Unveiling an Aesthetically Pleasing Smile: Maximizing the Impact of Cosmetic Dentistry Post-Braces
Sometimes, achieving a beautifully straight smile can take a little bit of an effort. But we promise you it is worth it! Orthodontics will give you the tools you need to have a functional, healthy, and attractive smile. Nowadays, you can choose from a wide range of orthodontic appliances that go from traditional braces to clear aligners.
Let’s talk about a couple of benefits of orthodontic treatment, including maximizing bite functionality and aligning your teeth:
Teeth Alignment and Dental Aesthetics:
The principal purpose of orthodontic treatment is to align jaws and gradually move teeth into their correct position. It is important to understand that if teeth are misaligned, you can suffer from several dental issues like tooth decay or gum disease. As a consequence, addressing the alignment of your teeth can benefit your oral health and the appearance of your smile.
Optimizing Bite Functionality:
Another benefit of orthodontic treatment is optimizing bite functionality. Remember that a properly aligned bite is essential for improving chewing, enhancing speech abilities, preventing jaw pain, and protecting tooth structure.
Remember that a beautiful and healthy smile can increase your self-esteem and confidence, allowing you to smile more!
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
You must consult a cosmetic dentist if you want pearly white teeth or a stunning Hollywood smile. Professionals in the cosmetic field will help you fix crooked or chipped teeth and clean those annoying stains on your teeth. To accomplish that, cosmetic dentists use several techniques to make your smile look its best, from reshaping to whitening teeth.
Although orthodontics shares the same principles and techniques, there is an important difference between these two disciplines: we are talking about the purposes of the treatments. While cosmetic dentistry focuses on the aesthetics of a smile, orthodontics improves the position of teeth and jaw to overcome dental problems. Now, imagine what they can do to your smile if you combine them!
In other words, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry can be seen as complementary areas of dentistry. Here, we will explain how they work together to achieve the perfect smile:
Preparation for Cosmetic Procedures:
In most cases, cosmetic dentistry procedures follow orthodontic treatment. For instance, if you suffer from malocclusion, you need to address it before undergoing any cosmetic treatment like porcelain veneers or bonding. This will ensure a more natural and aesthetically pleasing outcome.
Whitening and Reshaping:
Orthodontic treatment makes a healthy foundation for cosmetic dentistry, such as teeth whitening and reshaping. Having straight teeth can maximize the visual impact and enhance the color of the teeth.
Replacing Missing Teeth:
Your dental professional can address a missing tooth with the use of dental bridges or implants. But first, you might need orthodontic treatment to create proper space and alignment for the dental devices. As a result, these replacements will perfectly blend with the rest of your smile.
How to Enhance Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry:
Enhancing your smile with cosmetic dentistry can positively impact your life, giving you the stunning smile you always wanted. Here’s a list of various ways to achieve a more attractive smile with cosmetic dentistry procedures:
- Dental bonding refers to a procedure that will correct minor imperfections, like chips or gaps.
- Porcelain veneers are thin shells that can cover the front of teeth to improve their appearance.
- Tooth reshaping will make minor adjustments to the shape and size of teeth.
- Gum contouring can correct uneven gum lines, creating a more balanced smile.
What Are the Ten Steps to Success for Orthodontic Finishing?
When you are close to finishing your treatment, your orthodontist will make sure that your teeth are properly aligned and function well together. This phase of treatment is known as orthodontic finishing, and it gives your smile the finishing details to look its best! Here are ten steps to success for orthodontic finishing:
Consultation and Treatment Planning:
Your orthodontist will examine your oral situation to design your treatment plan that will indicate the steps needed for orthodontic finishing.
Define Your Goals:
With the help of your dental professional, you will establish your treatment goals and needs.
Appliance Removal:
Once you achieve the treatment goals, your orthodontist will carefully remove your appliances. However, the treatment does not end here!
Professional Cleaning:
After they remove your orthodontic appliances, your dental professional will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove the remaining plaque.
Retainers:
The retainer phase will help you maintain the proper alignment of the teeth.
Compliance:
Make sure that you follow all of the instructions on how often to wear your set of retainers.
Monitoring:
Even though your orthodontic treatment is over, you still need to schedule regular appointments with your dental professional to make sure that your teeth maintain their positions.
Oral Hygiene:
You should maintain great oral hygiene, including carefully brushing and flossing your teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures:
In case you want to address other cosmetic issues, your orthodontist will recommend cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of your smile. If you are still wondering what are the different types of cosmetic dentistry, you can ask for advice or recommendations from a dental professional. Cosmetic dentistry usually includes teeth whitening, veneers, and implants, among others.
Long-Term Maintenance:
Remember that you still need to wear your retainers and attend follow-up consultations if you want to keep your beautiful smile.
What Are the Different Types of Teeth Whitening?
If you are not happy with the color of your teeth, there are different types of whitening procedures that can help you achieve a brighter and whiter smile. We can divide them into two categories: in-office teeth-whitening and at-home kits. Let’s talk about these options:
In-office Professional Teeth Whitening:
Professional teeth whitening refers to the most effective method to enhance the color of your teeth. Remember that only a qualified dentist can apply these procedures.
Laser Teeth Whitening:
For this method, your dentist will apply a bleaching agent to your teeth, and then they will activate it with the use of a specialized laser. Thanks to this procedure, you can enjoy the results after one session.
Zoom! Whitening:
Zoom! Whitening offers you effective and fast results. This method uses a gel based on hydrogen peroxide that is activated with UV light. Usually, patients will go for a session in their dentist’s office and then take home a series of teeth-whitening trays for lasting results.
At-Home Teeth Whitening:
For patients who prefer doing the treatment at home, there are whitening kits available that use bleaching agents in low concentrations. As a consequence, it can take more time to see any changes.
Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash:
Whitening products, like toothpaste or mouthwash, are not as potent as professional methods. However, they can help you maintain or improve the results of other treatments.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Whitening Products:
Over-the-counter products are available in drugstores, and you can buy them without a dentist’s prescription. OTC products include whitening toothpaste, strips, and gels.
Before making any rush decisions, you need to consider that every smile is different, and whitening treatment can depend on different factors. You could try several methods until you find the best option for your unique set of teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry After Braces:
Before undergoing any dental cosmetic procedures, we recommend that you create a solid foundation through orthodontic treatment. Addressing misalignments and improving dental functions will allow you to enjoy a healthy and attractive smile. Although Dr. Reopelle focuses on orthodontics, she recognizes the importance of collaborating with a professional in cosmetic dentistry to achieve the smile of your dreams.
If you are considering starting your orthodontic journey, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at Reopelle Orthodontics. Ask for your initial consultation, where Dr. Reopelle will assess your dental situation, explain your treatment options, and collaborate with other dental specialists to design the best plan that addresses all your needs.
Don’t wait any longer and book an appointment with the team of Reopelle Orthodontics. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve a perfect smile!
