Cosmetic Dentistry: Put your best smile forward

In our endless quest for attractiveness we spend millions on clothes, gadgets, jewellery and beauty products neglecting the most important feature—our teeth. A beautiful smile adds to our social, professional and economic success, yet many people pay no attention to that utterly critical smile and the teeth that make our smile look good.

A recent independent study reveals that more than 90 per cent people believe a smile is an important social asset. A healthy, confident and dazzling smile not only increases our self-confidence but also boosts our social status and helps forge a long-lasting relationship.

Many people feel awkward to smile freely because they do not have a good set of teeth. They are embarrassed because of dental gaps, stains or discolouration. However, we don’t have to deprive ourselves and others of a heart-warming smile. The advancements in dentistry can now give people a smile that they have always wanted. Most dental defects can be easily treated by one of the following procedures:

Teeth whitening

Commonly known as bleaching, it is one of the commonly sought after dental procedures for whitening discoloured teeth. It is a simple, fast and effective way to alter dark teeth. Just two, ten minute sessions with the dentist is enough to bring back the sparkle to your teeth. You can conveniently do it even at home or in office and the procedure has no side effects.

Dental bonding

This is a good corrective procedure for filling your teeth. A mix of composite paste is expertly matched to the colour of your natural teeth. It is then moulded into place over the defect and then hardened with high intensity light. Once dry, the tooth looks perfectly smooth and flawless.

Porcelain crowns

If you have extensive tooth damage, decay, split teeth, or have fractured your teeth then they may be too weak for dental bonding. In such cases, a crown is used. A crown is essentially a prosthetic sleeve that slides over the top of your existing tooth to create a more attractive, healthy, symmetrical looking tooth. Porcelain crowns have the same look, shape, and function as a natural tooth.

Veneers

If you want to fix teeth, veneers are an excellent solution. Also known as laminates—veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front of your teeth to get that perfect smile. Veneers give you a mega-watt smile—a big reason why it is so popular among Bollywood stars.

So the next time you want to look your best, wear your brightest smile.