5 Signs You May Be Ready for Cosmetic Dentistry

If you don’t feel confident in your smile, you’re not alone. Approximately 32% of people say they’re concerned by the look of their teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can help you regain the love you have for your smile so you can show your teeth with pride.

Here are five signs you may be ready for cosmetic dentistry if you’ve been considering making an appointment with a cosmetic dentist.

1. You Hide Your Smile in Photos

Up to 96% of adults believe that an attractive smile makes a person more appealing. Unfortunately, when we don’t find our own smiles appealing, it can keep us from expressing our joy to the fullest. Instead of laughing with our friends, we may hide our mouths to keep anyone from seeing our teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can help restore confidence in your smile so you can “say cheese!” without holding back. Whether you’re interested in teeth whitening, getting rid of a gap, or repairing crowded teeth, the cosmetic dentists at Railroad Dental Associates have you covered.

2. Your Coffee Is Catching Up to You

Our enamel does a lot for us to help protect our teeth. However, our enamel is also porous and soaks up the colors of the foods and beverages we regularly eat. Over time, that color starts to show up on our teeth as stains. Two of the most popular tooth-staining beverages include coffee and red wine. While giving up your morning cup of coffee may not be in the cards, you can definitely do something about those stains. Cosmetic dentistry can help whiten your teeth again so you don’t have to worry about unsightly stains.

3. You’re Worried About Gingivitis

If you have a gap between your teeth, you may not necessarily need it filled if you take good care of your dental health. However, depending on the size of the gap, it may put you at greater risk for oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. This is because food is more likely to get caught in these gaps, which provides food for the bacteria in your mouth. Gaps also give bacteria full access to the sides of your teeth, which can increase your risk of side cavities. Cosmetic dentistry can fill these gaps with a tooth-colored composite resin in a procedure called dental bonding. Dental bonding is also used for chipped teeth to restore the appearance of the tooth.

4. You’re Missing a Tooth

Approximately 120 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth. You may have had a tooth pulled due to decay or damage due to an accident. Like dental gaps, missing teeth can put you at greater risk for gingivitis and periodontal disease. However, missing teeth pose a slightly more unique risk, which is that the surrounding teeth can begin to shift to take the spot of the missing tooth. This is a problem because it can negatively impact your bite, making it painful to chew. It can also even change your face shape over time because of bone loss in the jaw. Cosmetic dentistry can help to restore your smile by replacing your missing tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants look and function just like natural teeth. And, because they’re embedded into the jawline, you don’t need to worry about them coming loose.

5. Your Teeth Have Jagged Edges

When we crack or chip a tooth, oftentimes the side or top of the tooth is left jagged. This may not necessarily hurt unless the chip or crack has reached the nerve, but it can pose a couple of problems. The first problem is that a jagged tooth can cause you to cut your tongue or lip while you’re chewing. The second is that it can make you uncomfortable with your smile as your tooth now looks different from the ones surrounding it. Cosmetic dentistry can use dental bonding or veneers to correct the appearance of a jagged or chipped tooth.

Ready to Visit a Cosmetic Dentist?

If you’re looking for a professional and experienced cosmetic dentist in Manassas Park, VA, you’ve come to the right place. Railroad Dental Associates has years of experience in both cosmetic and general dentistry so you can feel confident knowing your smile is in the right hands. To learn more about our cosmetic dentistry services or to schedule a consultation with us, contact Railroad Dental Associates today.