Do you like going to the dentist? Few people do, even though about 32% of us are worried about how our teeth look. Regular trips to your family dentist can help keep teeth healthy, but healthy is not the end of the story. We care about the appearance as well. The stereotypical “Hollywood Smile” is achievable naturally for the very few who were genetically blessed. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry helps even the playing field.
General dentistry is concerned with the health of our mouths. The routine is fairly simple: twice a year cleanings, with fillings, crowns, or other treatment as needed. If you are doing everything prescribed, meaning brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing with mouthwash, and are still having problems, it is okay. There are some estimates that about 47% of adults over 30 actually struggle with periodontal disease. So you have company in your struggles.
But what if you have a healthy mouth and are still unsatisfied with your smile? Well, your family dentist will likely steer you to cosmetic dental procedures. For imperfectly shaped teeth, the fix may be as simple as carefully sanding down or reshaping what is already there. If the problem is one of size, particularly a lack of, it will be necessary to look into veneers.
Veneers are actually quite popular for obtaining a more uniform grin. The fix a variety of problems: chipped teeth, discoloration, gaps, and misaligned teeth. They can be expensive though at between $925 and $1000 a pop. However, on the bright side veneers do last about 10 years, or more as your family dentist will tell you. That comes out to about $100 each year, if it lasts on the shorter side. So it becomes a question of how much a new smile means to you.
A perfect smile may not make your life better. It does make you more attractive to the opposite and same sex though, at least for 96% of the population. A nice smile goes a long way in life. How much do you value yours? Whether the problem is discoloration, misalignment, or gaps, these are problems that are actually very easy to fix. Invest in yourself by caring for the most human aspect of your appearance: a happy smile.
