One of the great things about the holidays is seeing people you don’t get to see as often, such as some family or friends who only make it into town around this time of year, or even every few years. It’s a great opportunity to touch base and see how everyone is doing.
But sometimes this comes with a downside: people commenting on how much you’ve aged. Sometimes they let it slip, and other times you can read it in their eyes.
Your smile is one of the things that can make you look older. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry gives us ways to turn back the clock on your smile and help you look younger.
Teeth Whitening: an Easy Way to Look Younger
If you feel that your smile is making you look older, it’s likely that discolored teeth are part of the problem. Tooth discoloration is a natural consequence of aging. But dark-colored foods and drinks, as well as lifestyle factors like smoking can make your teeth turn darker. This can make you look older than you wish.
Teeth whitening is a powerful way to counter the staining of your teeth. Whitening treatments in our office or take-home whitening kits that you use at home can both dramatically lighten your teeth again. This can help your smile look younger. But there’s a caveat: not all sources of discoloration respond to whitening.
Veneers: Fix One Tooth or Get a New Smile
Another way to help your smile look younger is veneers. Sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental veneers, these are thin fronts of ceramic that can be attached to your teeth. They can reshape your teeth, building them up again if they’ve gotten worn down with age. They can also repair minor damage and straighten teeth that might have gotten a little crooked over the years.
With veneers, you can choose how much you want to change. A single veneer can repair a damaged or unattractive tooth, but you can get a set of veneers to completely reshape your smile. Veneers can also help if your teeth aren’t responding to whitening. They can brighten teeth that are discolored by something other than surface stains.
Implants Can Replace a Missing Tooth
You’re likely self-conscious about the tooth or teeth that you’ve lost. It’s probably the most visible smile problem that people experience. Maybe you’ve considered–or even had–partial dentures, but don’t wear them because they are uncomfortable or unattractive. We offer many options for replacing missing teeth.
Dental implants are replacement teeth that are almost identical to your natural teeth. They look natural, function like natural teeth, and are securely attached in your mouth–they don’t come loose or fall out.
So if you’re unhappy with the gap in your smile left by a missing tooth, an implant can help you look younger again.
Remove Damaged Teeth
If your teeth are badly damaged–worn, cracked, decayed, even infected–it can make your smile look old. However, you might not want to remove your teeth because you’ve heard how bad dentures are.
That was true in the past: dentures were uncomfortable, unattractive, and barely functional. But it’s not true anymore. Modern dentures can be beautiful, fit comfortably, and give you adequate function.
And if you want, implant dentures can effectively restore your bite force. It will be almost like having a new set of natural teeth. You don’t have to keep teeth that are unattractive and painful–there is a good alternative.
Rejuvenate Your Smile in St. Louis
If you’re unhappy with how your smile looks, cosmetic dentistry can restore it to a youthful appearance. To learn how we can rejuvenate your smile, please call (314) 678-7876 today for an appointment with cosmetic dentist Dr. Chris Hill at City Smiles.
