Pros and Possible Cons of Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments and Procedures

Did you know that seven out of ten people in the United States are self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth? Sometimes this self-consciousness is so severe that some people may try not to smile or laugh out of fear of revealing their teeth.

With the right cosmetic dentistry treatments, many can feel immediately happier and more confident about their smiles. 

However, what are the different common cosmetic dentistry procedures, and what are the pros and cons of those procedures? Luckily, you’ve found the right article to answer all these questions. Here, we’ll explore the most common types of cosmetic dentistry procedures and what makes them great or not-so-great. 

Let’s start off with teeth whitening, since it is one of the most popular procedures out there, and, after all, who doesn’t want whiter teeth?

The Pros and Cons of Teeth Whitening 

Teeth can become stained in a variety of ways, from not brushing your teeth to drinking too much coffee or red wine. Once those stains form on top of your enamel, it can be next to impossible to brush them away. This does not mean you will be stuck with stained and yellow teeth forever. 

Some people try to whiten their teeth at home, but professional teeth whitening is always the best option. Depending on what kind of whitening treatment you get from your dentist, you could have whiter teeth within an hour or so. For example, many people opt to get laser treatments to whiten their teeth, which can lighten even very dark teeth up to several shades. 

Besides being fast, teeth whitening treatments also tend to be very affordable. This is mainly because it is a non-invasive treatment and does not require much work. However, there is a major downside: teeth whitening cannot always remove all stains. 

For more serious stains, they might be able to be lightened, but not fully removed. Excessive teeth whitening may also cause tooth sensitivity. After you have your teeth whitened, you will also need to take extra care of your teeth to ensure that they will not be stained again, so stay away from dark foods and drinks. 

The Pros and Cons of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are essentially caps to be placed over dead or damaged teeth to protect them. Crowns are important if your dead or damaged teeth are no longer functional, cause you a lot of problems, or are just unattractive. Your dentist can customize your crowns to match the rest of your teeth to achieve the most natural look possible. 

Crowns are very durable and can last a very long time. More than that, no one will ever be able to tell that you have crowns if you ever get them. However, the main downside of dental crowns is that they take a lot of time to get. 

For example, it usually takes around two weeks from your first dental appointment to when you have the crowns in your mouth. Luckily, 3D technology is working to speed up this process, but getting your crowns can still take a long time. 

The Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding

Just because you have a chipped or cracked tooth doesn’t mean you have to go through with veneers or crowns. Instead, you can opt for dental bonding, which, in terms of how much common cosmetic dentistry procedures cost, is quite affordable. Dental bonding usually involves a kind of porcelain or composite resin. 

Your dentist chooses this resin so it is the closest shade to the rest of your teeth, ultimately giving you the most natural result. Your dentist can also apply them very quickly, much more quickly than veneers or crowns. So, if you need to fix your teeth in a hurry or if you have a big event coming up, dental bonding might be the right choice for you. 

As soon as your dentist shapes the composite resin to your broken tooth, and once the resin dries, you’ll be ready to go on with your day. More than that, as long as you take good care of your dental bonds, they can last a long time. The downside is that they may not last as long as other cosmetic dentistry options, such as veneers. 

With bonded teeth, you should also avoid hard foods like nuts, as these can make your bonded teeth crack or chip. 

The Pros and Cons of Veneers

Like with dental bonding, dental veneers are also made of porcelain or composite resin. Veneers are little plates that are placed over your teeth to give you a more attractive smile. Veneers will not help to improve the function of your teeth as crowns might. 

Veneers can fix almost any cosmetic dental issue, from gaps to chipped or yellow teeth. There are a few downsides, however, one of them being that veneers are irreversible. This is because of how your own teeth need to be filed down before the veneers are applied.

Veneers are also very expensive. One tooth may cost you up to a couple of thousand dollars, so you’ll need to have a large budget to work with if you want a full mouth of veneers. Veneers can last twenty years or more. 

After that point, you’ll likely need to get new veneers, because yours will start to chip or crack. 

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Different Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

By the end of this article, you should know all about the pros and cons of various cosmetic dentistry treatments. If you are considering any of these treatments for your own teeth, you now know what you should consider before going through with the procedure. 

To learn more about cosmetic dentistry, contact us here.

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