Are you struggling with the way your teeth look? Do you often cover your mouth while laughing? Are your teeth hurting your confidence or self-esteem? If these questions sound familiar, do not worry, as you’re not alone! Millions of people suffer globally from self-esteem issues due to their teeth.
This can be a source of embarrassment and discomfort. It can impact your overall oral health and lead to more serious problems if left untreated. Fortunately, several options are available to help improve the appearance and health of your teeth.
A healthy and beautiful smile is a confidence booster. It will boost your self-esteem, confidence, social life, and professional life and help you battle your insecurities. A healthy set of teeth gives off a positive impression wherever you go.
Fortunately, with technological advances in modern-day dentistry, the perfect smile and gorgeous healthy teeth are accessible to most people.
Bad teeth can be due to various reasons that we’ll be discussing today, and finding ways to solve these problems so you and your loved ones can give your teeth the treatment and love they deserve.
Crooked or Malaligned Teeth
Crooked or Maligned teeth can be highly detrimental to a person’s self-esteem and aesthetics. Children are subject to bullying in schools due to their malaligned teeth that they’ve acquired through no fault of their own.
Even adults with crooked teeth suffer from these issues. Dentistry allows people to have their teeth aligned and get that picture-perfect smile they’ve always dreamed of.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialized field of dentistry that addresses malaligned teeth and jaws while also addressing abnormal facial growth patterns.
If you choose to have orthodontic treatment done, your dentist will align your teeth using wires and brackets or clear aligners. On average orthodontic treatments take about 1-3 years, depending upon the severity of your misalignment.
Veneers
Some patients with minor misalignments and esthetic concerns will qualify for porcelain veneers to make their smile look straight, symmetric, and beautiful.
Veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that are used for aesthetic purposes. They cover the visible portion of the tooth, and your dentist can use them to make your smile appear more straight and visibly pleasing.
Discolored teeth
Discolored teeth can be due to a plethora of reasons. These reasons can be related to your social habits, like drinking and smoking, or they can be genetic in nature.
Discoloration of teeth can occur due to both intrinsic and extrinsic stains. A qualified dentist can treat them, and intrinsic stains are tougher to fix.
- Tetracycline staining
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco and betel nut
- Poor oral hygiene (Plaque and Calculus)
- Drinking tea, coffee, and wine
- Metabolic condition
- Dietary intake
- Developmental deformities or by birth
Discolored teeth have multiple treatment options depending on the type of stains you have and how easily they can be removed.
Bleaching
Bleaching is a technique that uses hydrogen peroxide to bleach your teeth and make them whiter. It can be used for intrinsic and extrinsic stains.
Your dentist will decide what type of bleaching is necessary for you and whether to bleach your teeth from the inside or outside. Your dentist can also formulate trays for whitening that you can use at home.
Scaling and Polishing
This is a routine procedure that removes plaque and tartar build-up from your teeth. Dental cleaning and scaling involves using special tools to gently scrape away the plaque and tartar from your teeth, both above and below the gum line. It’s typically performed by a dental hygienist and can be done in a single appointment.
This will remove any superficial stains caused by smoking, poor oral hygiene, and drinking tea or coffee.
Veneers
As previously discussed, they tend to cover up the surface giving an aesthetic appeal. Veneers are the best option to fix discoloration due to genetics that cannot be cured.
Missing teeth
Missing teeth can be due a plethora of reasons. You most commonly lose teeth due to;
- Trauma or Injury
- Tooth decay and infection
- Gum disease
- Genetic disorders
If you have missing teeth that bother you, there are plenty of treatment options to replace them.
Bridge
A dental bridge is a false tooth (or teeth) that is supported by crowns on either side. It’s used to fill the gap left by one or more missing teeth. Bridges can be made from a variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, and gold.
They can be anchored to natural teeth or to dental implants. Dental bridges can help to restore the function of your teeth and improve your appearance.
Implant
Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth. They involve the placement of a titanium screw in your jawbone, which serves as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth. An artificial tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the implant, providing a natural-looking replacement for the missing tooth.
Dental implants are a popular option because they look and function like natural teeth. They also help to preserve the integrity of your jawbone and prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting. They are currently the gold standard in the replacement of missing teeth.
Acrylic Dentures
For patients who have lost the majority of their teeth, dentists advise acrylic dentures that can be removable or supported by implants.
Dentures act to replace the whole dentition as a whole and are custom-made for each patient.
Decayed or Fractured Teeth
The tooth is an extremely resilient and stong structure, but due to bacterial activity, trauma, or physiological wearing off, a tooth can appear discolored, broken, and disintegrated.
Dental decay and fractured teeth can be addressed with the following treatment modalities.
Fillings
If you have cavities, your dentist may recommend filling the holes in your teeth with a special filling material. There are several types of filling materials available, including amalgam (a mixture of metals), composite (a plastic resin), and gold.
Your dentist will recommend the best option for you based on the location and size of the cavity, as well as your budget and personal preferences.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatments or RCTs are used to cure tooth infections that have infiltrated the pulp space and lead to severe pain and swelling if left untreated.
Your dentist will use special instruments to grind off all the decayed structure and then clean the root canal space of all infection. Once the root canal is completed the tooth is either filled or fitted with a crown to restore it to its original appearance.
Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that covers the entire surface of a tooth. It’s used to protect and restore a tooth that is severely damaged or decayed. Crowns can also be used to cover a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, or to improve the appearance of a discolored tooth.
There are several materials available for crowns, including porcelain, ceramic, and gold. Your dentist will recommend the best option for you.
Looking for a Consult?
If you’re worried about the appearance and health of your teeth and want to get them back to their pearly white appearance, look no further than Vue Dental.
Get a consult with Dr Keshavi Patel today by calling us at 512-888-9340 or book an appointment online via our website. We offer all sorts of dental services, so feel free to contact us with any query related to your smile!