Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your teeth aren’t as straight and bright as your favorite beautiful or gorgeous Hollywood actors? If not, then stop reading. For the rest us let me explain what goes into a great looking set of teeth and smile.
First, it starts when your parents take you to the dentist and orthodontist. Most bad bites and crooked teeth can be corrected with braces in two to three years. Take off the braces and bleach the teeth and Voila! You have a Hollywood smile.
Second (if you skipped the first step as a child), talk to your dentist about your smile. There are many types of beautiful smiles. They all have harmony and symmetry. Your dentist will evaluate your smile for lip line, tooth size, gum line, and color to develop an appropriate plan of action. Plans may include braces, bleaching, veneers, crowns, and cosmetic oral surgery.
I have many adults that have opted for braces. Yes, this takes a little longer, but it is often necessary for very badly positioned teeth. If the teeth are not too bad orthodontists can use the Invisalign clear tray method. Even with orthodontic correction your teeth may still be dark and worn.
Bleaching may be all that is needed. I use the “Sapphire” one-hour professional whitening. Other products such as Brite-Smile and Zoom are performed routinely. Take home tray bleaches are great and a little less expensive. The advantage is that you can bleach on your own quiet time and give yourself an occasional “booster” treatment when the teeth start returning to the original shade.
Veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover the front of the teeth. I try not to permanently alter healthy teeth for cosmetic work (sorry-it’s just me) so I use Lumineer veneers wherever justified. These are really thin (.3mm-.5mm) porcelain shells and are placed without the use of shots. I like them so much I have placed them on my staff and family to fill out the smile line and to permanently brighten teeth. Occasionally I must do a minor reduction of the tooth if it sticks out too far. The first veneers that were developed are thicker and require drilling back on the tooth to compensate for the added thickness.
When Lumineers cannot achieve your Hollywood smile many dentists are using ceramic fused to ceramic crowns. These crowns are brilliant and strong. They are more expensive than the old porcelain fused to metal crowns, but you will not get that dark line you see at the gum line when the tissues eventually shrink back.
Finally, oral cosmetic surgery may be required to correct gummy smiles and high lip lines.
So, if you want that “Hollywood Smile” a consultation with a dentist experienced in Cosmetic Dentistry might just start you on the road to the smile of your dreams! For answers to your dental questions, contact Douglas Urban, D.D.S. Cerritos, CA 90703 562 924-1523 www. DrDouglasUrban.com
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