You might be surprised to learn that Americans are much more expressive when they smile than other cultures. We love to smile wide and big, showing off our white teeth.
Well, that’s if we have been taking care of our teeth.
But what if you are ashamed of your teeth because they aren’t as white or straight as you would like them to be? Well, then, it’s time for a smile makeover.
On a budget? Below we share some affordable smile makeovers that will allow you to fix your smile without getting into debt.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening at the dentist’s office is a safe, effective way to brighten your smile and make it look healthier than ever. The process begins with a professional cleaning to ensure the tooth’s surface is free from plaque, and then the dentist applies a powerful whitening agent to the surface of each tooth.
The whitening agent typically contains high levels of hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down, releasing oxygen to whiten the enamel and make your teeth look brighter.
After the application, the dentist uses a laser to activate the whitening agent and enhance the whitening effects, before finishing the process with a whitening gel application to further protect your teeth.
Clear Aligner Therapy
Clear aligner therapy is an orthodontic treatment that uses digitally-produced clear aligners to gradually straighten teeth. Clear aligners are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional braces as they are both virtually invisible and are removable, meaning that they can be taken out for eating, brushing and flossing.
The aligners are designed based on 3-dimensional images of the patient’s teeth and must be worn for a minimum of 20-22 hours a day for the best results. Through careful and gradual movement of the teeth in a specific direction, clear aligner therapy can be used to improve the smile of most people.
Dental Bonding
If you have a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth and it’s causing your smile to be less than perfect, then you don’t need to get dental implants which are pretty expensive. You can ask your dentist for dental bonding, which lasts 3 to 10 years before needing to be touched up.
With this affordable procedure, you can even repair the gap between teeth, lengthen a shorter tooth, or help discolored teeth.
Botox Injections
Most people don’t know this, but Botox injection can also help improve your smile. It reduces aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles and relaxes the facial muscles, enhancing your smile.
If you have a gummy smile (showing too much of your gum tissue when smiling), you can also use Botox to fix that. And it’s not an expensive procedure at all. Certain dentists will offer this service at their offices and the options mentioned above.
Smile Makeovers – Combine Procedures to Gain the Greatest Benefit
If you want a new smile, then smile makeovers at your local dentist are the best option. But you don’t have to restrict yourself to one procedure.
Mix and match different restorative dentistry options to create a straighter smile. Your dentist will be able to give you more guidance regarding this.