Few people are born with perfectly straight, white teeth. But thanks to the exploding field of cosmetic dentistry, virtually everyone can achieve a gorgeous smile, no matter what the gene pool brings to the table. While teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic treatments you’ve probably heard about, there are also many things that can be done to straighten crooked teeth. According to an independent study conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, respondents reported that the first thing they notice in a person’s smile is straightness, followed by the color of their teeth.
Here are a few options.
DENTAL BONDING
Dental bonding is another relatively low-impact dental treatment. The process involves roughening up the tooth surface and then applying resin that is then shaped, smoothed, trimmed and polished. Bonding can fix chipped teeth, discolored teeth, gapped teeth, small teeth or awkwardly shaped teeth. Fixing these problems might not actually straighten your teeth at the root level, but your smile will appear much more even and uniform. It can easily be done in one appointment and can last for up to 10 years with the proper care.
VENEERS
If you are looking for a more dramatic smile makeover than bonding, veneers are the way to go. Veneers are thin overlays of tooth colored material that cover your original teeth. They are custom made for you in a lab and they are most often made from porcelain because of the natural look it provides.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry reports that porcelain veneers have become twice as popular is recent years. One of the reasons for this is because veneers can give you a perfect smile in a few appointments as opposed to wearing braces for years. And they are stain resistant! Because veneers are more expensive (they can cost as much as $1,000 to $4,000 per tooth depending on your location and how many you need) and permanent, make sure to work with a cosmetic dentist to determine if they are right for you.
TOOTH CONTOURING
Sometimes the jagged or uneven edges of teeth can make your smile appear crooked. One of the easiest ways to correct this is by tooth contouring or enamel shaping. Your dentist will use a drill or laser to shape teeth into a uniform look. This shaping technique can make teeth appear less crowded and is often used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures. The best part? It’s painless and requires no numbing or anesthesia.