Maybe you noticed a few stains on your teeth in pictures and selfies. Or perhaps you just chipped a tooth during a basketball game? Or you want a little cosmetic help for a special event or your wedding?

Either way, cosmetic dentistry services may be the way to go for you and your needs.

But, first off, what is cosmetic dentistry?

According to a survey, people understood cosmetic dentistry to mean a “method to improve a patient’s smile, self-image, or both.”

So, dentistry services that enhance a person’s self-esteem as well as their dental health.

Interestingly enough, more and more people are turning to cosmetic dentistry to correct and help them with their unwanted oral problems.

What studies show

In fact, according to this survey, the age groups most in demand for these services are people 31-40 years old (38%).

At a close second comes baby boomers, who are now beginning their retirement years (32%).

Younger millennials in their twenties shouldn’t be counted out, as the age of selfies has given rise to cosmetic dentistry.

It’s safe to say this trend is not going down anytime soon.

And this is a good thing—because people are beginning to feel comfortable in asking for these services.

6 Cosmetic dentistry services

Should you decide to schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist, or are on the fence but curious in whether to go through with a booking, we’ve created this post to give you some information about cosmetic dentistry services.

1. That Hollywood smile

Red lipstick may be able to brighten the appearance of a smile, but you want the real deal: to actually have whiter teeth.

This can be done with teeth whitening.

In fact, whitening is the most requested service (29%).

There are many ways you can whiten your teeth, however, the results will be more dramatic if a dentist does it.

(Very mild) teeth whitening can be achieved with a tooth-whitening toothpaste, but the results (as mentioned) won’t be very dramatic or may not be noticed at all.

Other ways of whitening involve dentists giving their patients an at-home tooth whitening kit, with custom whitening trays.

Then, for a week, patients administer the kit.

This will give better results than the tooth whitening toothpaste, however, not nearly as much shine as a cosmetic dentist whitening your teeth.

Especially if your gums are sensitive, you may want to look into teeth whitening at the office.

While dentists use stronger solutions than those they provide in the at-home trays, he or she can ensure your gums aren’t irritated.

Plus, your smile will be whiter faster.

2. That chipped tooth from that soccer game

Chipped teeth are relatively common, especially today.

Cracked teeth now are the third leading cause of tooth loss in industrialized nations.

This is because we are living longer, and the level of stress in our lives is much higher, resulting in repeated grinding and clenching of teeth.

Also, if you’re a sports player, you may encounter a chipped tooth, as this type is the leading dental injury.

Nonetheless, cosmetic dentists can fix this problem, returning your smile to the way it was before.

This can be done a number of ways.

Through dental bonding, where a custom-color resin that matches your teeth is used to treat the chipped or cracked tooth.

Composite bonds can last up to 10 years.

Also, dental veneers.

A white, ultra-thin sheet that looks like teeth is bonded at the front of the tooth.

Dental veneers can last as long as 10-15 years, or even up to 30 years.

3. Special event

Your wedding day is coming up, and you want everything to be perfect, including your smile.

A simple teeth cleaning may be all you need.

However, many brides (and grooms) prefer to get their teeth professionally whitened before the big day.

It could be any big special event: graduation, vacation, or even a promotion.

Doing a little something extra special can help improve your mood and that day.

If this is you, take a look at our prior point about teeth whitening.

4. Need braces, but don’t want to don the wire look?

So, you have some crooked and gapped teeth that need some fixing.

While braces is a great option, it can be a bit more intrusive than some people may like.

Not to mention, the wire look may not be so desirable, especially in school or work settings.

To bypass this look, consider clear braces.

This is another one of the cosmetic dentistry services your dentist can offer you.

Clear braces are less intrusive than regular braces.

And, the best part is, they are less noticeable.

5. Lengthen those crowns

You may have a lot of gum showing, and don’t feel comfortable smiling.

Some of the causes could include genetics, age, and gum health.

To cosmetically correct the off smile, many people look into crown lengthening.

This is an invasive procedure, where the dentist removes part of the gum, tooth, or both to expose more of the tooth.

6. You’re just not confident about your smile

When the camera (or cell phone) flashes, you’re the one off to the side with the lips pursed smile.

You don’t want to show off your pearly whites, and are, in fact, a bit self-conscious.

This self-consciousness about your smile has persisted for a couple of years and have impacted your life.

In this case, it may be best to have a cosmetic dentist evaluate what can be done to physically improve your smile and, in doing that, improving your self-confidence about it.

You may be a great candidate for lumineers, a cosmetic dental service that involves a thinly shaped porcelain structure is bonded to your teeth.

There’s little preparation needed and, because of this, normally little discomfort throughout the procedure.

This procedure normally takes 1-2 visits.

But the results, especially if you’re someone not confident with your smile, can be life-changing.

Know that your dental problems can be solved. If you’re still unsure about going through with one of the cosmetic dentistry services, feel free to contact us.