omfortable and yields immediate results.

4. Veneers: these are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front side of the teeth. They are made from tooth-colored materials, and can treat spaced between the teeth, chipped or worn teeth, or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or crooked teeth.

5. Braces: these are usually some form of wires that are temporarily atta

One of the first things people notice about you is your smile. Naturally, you would like it to look as good as possible. So you brush and floss and visit your dentist regularly. You even use an ADA approved toothpaste and toothbrush. You even monitor your snacks so that you’re not eating too much sugar when you’re away from your toothbrush. You don’t want sugary snacks coating your teeth and causing bacteria to form. That wouldn’t be good. But even though you’ve done all those things, you’re still unhappy with your smile. Perhaps your teeth are crooked or stained. Maybe some teeth are missing. Maybe you’re just unhappy with the shape of your teeth. Whatever the case may be, cosmetic dentistry may be the answer to all of your dental woes. And here are just some of the options and benefits of cosmetic dentistry.

1. Tooth whitening: professional bleaching brightens teeth that are discolored or stained. It can remove the discoloration that at-home whitening systems can’t. This is usually done at the dentist’s office by the dentist.

2. Bonding: this can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained or have wide, unsightly spaced between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are “bonded” or applied to the tooth surface. It offers immediate results.

3. Enamel Shaping: this involves modifying the shape of your teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring the enamel. This process, which is usually combined with bonding, is quick and comfortable and yields immediate results.

4. Veneers: these are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front side of the teeth. They are made from tooth-colored materials, and can treat spaced between the teeth, chipped or worn teeth, or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or crooked teeth.

5. Braces: these are usually some form of wires that are temporarily attac

g your teeth and causing bacteria to form. That wouldn’t be good. But even though you’ve done all those things, you’re still unhappy with your smile. Perhaps your teeth are crooked or stained. Maybe some teeth are missing. Maybe you’re just unhappy with the shape of your teeth. Whatever the case may be, cosmetic dentistry may be the answer to all of your dental woes. And here are just some of the options and benefits of cosmetic dentistry.

1. Tooth whitening: professional bleaching brightens teeth that are discolored or stained. It can remove the discoloration that at-home whitening systems can’t. This is usually done at the dentist’s office by the dentist.

2. Bonding: this can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained or have wide, unsightly spaced between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are “bonded” or applied to the tooth surface. It offers immediate results.

3. Enamel Shaping: this involves modifying the shape of your teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring the enamel. This process, which is usually combined with bonding, is quick and comfortable and yields immediate results.

4. Veneers: these are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front side of the teeth. They are made from tooth-colored materials, and can treat spaced between the teeth, chipped or worn teeth, or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or crooked teeth.

5. Braces: these are usually some form of wires that are temporarily atta

e are just some of the options and benefits of cosmetic dentistry.

1. Tooth whitening: professional bleaching brightens teeth that are discolored or stained. It can remove the discoloration that at-home whitening systems can’t. This is usually done at the dentist’s office by the dentist.

2. Bonding: this can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained or have wide, unsightly spaced between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are “bonded” or applied to the tooth surface. It offers immediate results.

3. Enamel Shaping: this involves modifying the shape of your teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring the enamel. This process, which is usually combined with bonding, is quick and comfortable and yields immediate results.

4. Veneers: these are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front side of the teeth. They are made from tooth-colored materials, and can treat spaced between the teeth, chipped or worn teeth, or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or crooked teeth.

5. Braces: these are usually some form of wires that are temporarily atta

racked, stained or have wide, unsightly spaced between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are “bonded” or applied to the tooth surface. It offers immediate results.

3. Enamel Shaping: this involves modifying the shape of your teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring the enamel. This process, which is usually combined with bonding, is quick and comfortable and yields immediate results.

4. Veneers: these are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front side of the teeth. They are made from tooth-colored materials, and can treat spaced between the teeth, chipped or worn teeth, or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or crooked teeth.

5. Braces: these are usually some form of wires that are temporarily atta

omfortable and yields immediate results.

4. Veneers: these are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front side of the teeth. They are made from tooth-colored materials, and can treat spaced between the teeth, chipped or worn teeth, or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or crooked teeth.

5. Braces: these are usually some form of wires that are temporarily attached to your teeth. You will recognize them as the metal bars frequently seen on young teenagers. But they’re not just for kids. They are for crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth. The results are not immediate but they are very effective.

If you feel that you have any of the conditions described above, then cosmetic dentistry may be right for you! You dentist can perform many of the procedures needed. If s/he does not feel comfortable doing so, contact a specialist. (For example, most braces are applied by an orthodontist). However, your dentist should be able to answer many of the questions you may have about the techniques used. If you are considering one of these treatments, here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine which one is right for you:

• What will the changes I make look like?
• What should I expect through the course of the treatment and recovery?
• What type of maintenance will be required on my procedure?
• How much time will be involved in the procedure and recovery?
• How much does it cost?

Many of the choices you make are solely based on personal preference. For example, if you are on a time schedule to fix your crooked teeth, braces may not be the best option for you. If you want whiter teeth but don’t want to spend a fortune, perhaps a simple bleaching is the best choice. Discuss these questions with your dentist before making your decision. But either way, there are many benefits to using cosmetic dentistry.