Late Spring and Summer bring warmer weather, family vacations, backyard BBQs and of course - big events! From high school and college graduations to baby showers and summer weddings, important summer events may have you looking to improve your appearance. Whether you are the guest of honor, maid of honor, or just a guest, there are many ways that an experienced cosmetic dentist like Dr. Peck and his team can have your smile looking brighter than the summer sun. Read on to hear some of our recommendations for improving your smile this summer!
Teeth Cleaning
If it’s been a while since your last cleaning, it may be time to stop in for an appointment! In addition to tartar and plaque removal, a cleaning can remove minor staining with polishing, leaving your smile cleaner and brighter than it was before! Plus, cleanings are recommended every six months, so you can check that off your to-do list!
Teeth Whitening
If you have more significant staining, professional teeth whitening can give you much more dramatic results than over-the-counter products. Our whitening services can make your teeth several shades lighter, whether the discoloration is age-related, from staining food and beverages, or prior oral injury. A dentist can lighten deeper staining that whitening toothpastes or even whitening strips can’t touch while avoiding damage to your mouth.
Professional teeth whitening is customized to you. After taking a mold of your teeth, we’ll order the best-fitting trays for your whitening treatment. We will also provide you with recommendations to get you the exact level of brightness you want. The length of time you wear the trays, the numbers of days in row you wear them, and the frequency of whitening cycles per year can all affect the whiteness of your teeth.
Our dentist-prescribed whitening trays use a gel with a lower concentration of peroxide, reducing the risk of gum sensitivity. For those with more sensitivity, we offer a sensitivity reduction gel that you can alternate with whitening gel to make it more comfortable.
Veneers
If you have gaps between your teeth, teeth that are stained, badly shaped, or crooked, veneers can correct these imperfections and help you achieve a beautiful smile! Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front and top surfaces of the teeth. You can choose the level of whiteness, as well as the size and shape of the veneers. They are natural-looking and virtually undetectable when professionally placed.
The number of veneers is also customizable. You can have them placed on all of your visible teeth, or just on a few teeth that need imperfections corrected.
The process is very simple, the first step is diagnosis and planning to ensure your teeth are healthy and to plan out your new smile. The second appointment is veneer preparation where a tiny amount of your enamel is removed (if necessary) to allow for the added thickness of the veneer. Molds are taken and sent to our professional veneer fabrication lab. You will also have temporary veneers placed while you wait for your permanent veneers (about 3-4 weeks). Then your veneers are placed and adjusted to your liking. And voila! A beautiful new natural-looking smile.
Gum Contouring
If you are unhappy with the way your gums look when you smile, you may not realize that the appearance of your gums can be changed. Whether you have a “gummy” smile, uneven gum lines, or undersized teeth that are hidden by your gums, laser gum contouring can reshape your gum line for dramatic cosmetic improvements.
Using advanced techniques—such as laser therapy or traditional surgical tools—a skilled clinician carefully removes or repositions gum tissue to create a symmetrical gum line, expose more of the tooth when a “gummy” smile is present, or even correct gingival overgrowth caused by medications or genetics. The procedure is typically quick (expect one to two hours), can often be performed with local anesthesia, and involves minimal discomfort and a short recovery period.
Total Smile Makeover
When a single dental procedure can’t achieve your desired results, a smile makeover is worth considering. A smile makeover is a series of dental procedures utilized primarily for cosmetic purposes. It combines a variety of cosmetic dental procedures, including:
Teeth whitening, to brighten up discolored teeth;
Porcelain veneers, which are a thin, shell-like, layer of porcelain that are placed over existing teeth that have flaws, such as chips or discolored spots;
Crowns can correct severely damaged teeth with a natural appearance;
Gum Contouring to reshape the gum line to be more symmetrical
The timeline to complete a Total Smile Makeover will vary based on the type and number of procedures included, although some procedures can be completely at the same time.
If you are worried about the way your smile is going to look this summer, there are many options to correct and improve it! Schedule an appointment with Dr. Peck at our office in New Braunfels and he’ll discuss all the cosmetic dentistry options with you. Your smile will be hotter than the Texas sun before you know it!
