Dentists often have a reputation for making people nervous. It’s not really their fault. Nobody likes having a stranger peer into their mouth, poke around inside it with sharp objects, then tell them to stop eating all the sweet treats they love. Perhaps we’d be more likely to make that appointment and stick to it if we thought about how our dentist helps improve our appearance instead.
Dental procedures are about more than simply checking in on your oral health and making any necessary adjustments. Believe it or not, most dentists do want you to leave their clinic feeling good, so they are happy to try and help fix any issues or hangups you have about the appearance of your teeth and smile. Making these as good as possible can make a big difference to your overall appearance.
This article takes a look at what dentists can do to help transform your image.
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Table of Contents
Teeth whitening
Formerly offered only by cosmetic dentists, now everyone from general dentist in Sydney’s Central Business District to big city clinics are able to offer professional teeth whitening.
It is inevitable that people’s teeth discolour over time. Often they appear to turn yellow, or they start to appear stained from the consumption of dark liquids like coffee and tea. Many people dislike the way this makes them look, and it can cause them to become self-conscious about their smile.
Professional teeth whitening is able to overcome years of staining and return your teeth to their original pearly white condition. It is usually quick and relatively inexpensive compared to other dental treatments. There are at-home kits you can also try, although these are usually less effective.
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Dental Bonding
Another common hangup that patients have about their teeth is chips and cracks on their surface. The procedure that treats this is known as dental bonding or composite bonding. This falls into the specialism of cosmetic dentistry and may not be offered by your regular or family dentist. They are often happy to refer you to a cosmetic dentist if they cannot do the procedure themselves.
Dental bonding is a fairly simple process that involves applying tooth-coloured resin to chipped or cracked teeth. This fills in the gaps, and the dentist then dries the resin under a special light so that it bonds firmly to the surface of the tooth. Then they shape and polish it so that it looks natural, and your teeth appear undamaged once again.
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Helping with sleep apnoea
We all know that getting your beauty sleep is essential for looking good, but this can be especially difficult for people with conditions such as sleep apnoea, which involves the airways becoming blocked while asleep.
However, something that many people don’t realise is that dentists can help treat this by constructing oral appliances such as night guards. These make sure that the patient’s jaw rests in a position that prevents the airway from becoming obstructed.
Conclusion
When people want to improve their appearance, few think about booking an appointment with their dentist. However, there are actually a number of things dentists can do to both directly and indirectly enhance your appearance, from whitening your teeth to helping you sleep.