MAINTAINING SMILE ENHANCEMENT RESULTS

What is a Smile Enhancement?

A smile enhancement is a personalized treatment plan to enhance your natural beauty and make you feel confident for years to come. There are many options for patients who want a brighter, more natural, more balanced smile. You might be considering veneers, bonding, whitening, or a full smile makeover.

Deciding between a smile makeover and a smile enhancement depends on your overall goal, budget, and the condition of your natural teeth. If you want to make a dramatic change and have the time and money to invest in that process, a smile makeover might be the better option. If you want more subtle changes that address minor issues, a smile enhancement would be a better option. During your initial consultation, the dentist will walk you through various smile enhancement treatment options to help you plan and visualize what is possible for your smile. They include, but are not limited to, teeth whitening, veneers, crowns, dental bonding, fillings, gingival sculpting, and braces or aligners.

Smile enhancements offer many advantages beyond improving the appearance of your smile. Numerous smile enhancement procedures can provide long-term oral health benefits. Procedures such as orthodontics, dental bonding, and fillings are a few examples that can be extremely beneficial to your long-term oral health and improve daily function. Unlike a smile makeover, a smile enhancement focuses on less invasive and more subtle methods to enhance your smile. Smile enhancements are oftentimes quicker, simpler, and less expensive than a full smile makeover.

Smile Enhancement Maintenance

With proper care and regular dental visits, many smile enhancements can provide long-lasting results. Whether you have crowns, implants, veneers, or braces, taking care of your enhancement is just as important as the treatment itself to protect your investment and overall oral health.

It is important to practice proper aftercare to protect your cosmetic dental work. Following these universal tips can help protect your smile:

Brush and floss daily, gently, and effectively: Two of the basic steps for good oral hygiene are brushing and flossing. Floss all of your teeth daily. Make sure to gently floss between each tooth, curving the floss into a C-shaped pattern around each tooth while rubbing up and down to get below the gumline.

Watch your diet: It is important to avoid staining foods and beverages such as red wine, coffee, and tea, and rinse your mouth with water after consuming them.

Protect your teeth: Avoid hard foods like hard nuts, candy, or ice, and do not grind your teeth. If you do grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist about a night guard.

After a smile-enhancing treatment or procedure, your dentist will help preserve your new bright smile. Some cosmetic work may need professional attention later on as it ages. If you are experiencing ongoing discomfort, loose or damaged restorations, or redness, bleeding, or tenderness around your restoration site, please call the office to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

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