A study in 2013 found that a little over two-thirds of Americans had at least one cracked tooth. Almost half of the studied patients also had more than one damaged molar.
That makes tooth breakages the third leading cause of tooth loss in the US!
Speaking of tooth loss, around 178 million people in the US are now missing at least one of their pearly whites. Forty million of them have even lost all their natural teeth!
Sounds familiar? If so, then you may want to consider getting a smile makeover, which can address all these concerns (and a lot more).
Ready to learn all about how this extensive treatment works and the dental problems it can fix? Then let’s dive right into it!
The Ultimate Goal of a Smile Makeover
A smile makeover aims to address multiple dental cosmetic or structural flaws. It’s a multi-procedure treatment done either in a concurrent or a successive manner.
With a smile makeover, you can have all cracked, chipped, broken, or stained teeth fixed up. The treatment can also correct crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth.
At the end of a smile makeover process, you can expect to have strong and straight white teeth.
Why Consider Making Over Your Smile?
Cracks, chips, and breakages on the teeth can make your pearly whites more prone to decay. For starters, these damages create more indented surfaces on the teeth. These surfaces, in turn, can then collect and build up more food debris and bacteria.
Keep in mind that the mouth is already home to at least 700 different types of bacteria. Many of these are the “bad” kind, as they produce dental plaque as they feed on the food “leftovers” in your mouth. Plaque, in turn, contains acid powerful enough to break down the tooth enamel and cause decay.
Also, physical damages to the tooth remove part of the enamel. The enamel, the hardest tissue in the human body, is the outermost layer of the teeth. With this gone, the innermost parts of the teeth then get exposed to more bacteria.
Over time, all these effects take a toll on the affected teeth, causing them to weaken. Leaving them unfixed then makes the teeth even more prone to further breakages. The decay itself can cause so much havoc on your teeth that you may end up losing them.
Procedures like dental veneers and composite bonding can correct such damages. That’s why most smile makeovers start with these treatments.
Fixing physical damages, however, is just one part of a smile makeover. Here are other reasons you’d want to consider this multi-procedure treatment.
Bridge Spaces That Can Make the Teeth Shift
Diastemas are spaces between the teeth. In most people, these gaps occur between the central incisors (the upper front teeth). While it’s not an oral health concern in itself, a diastema can still cause problems along the way.
For starters, if there is a big enough gap, this may cause the other teeth to shift or move. These movements can then lead to more of your teeth becoming misaligned or crooked. Improperly-aligned teeth, on the other hand, are more prone to decay.
Straight Teeth Are Easier to Maintain
For many, teeth crookedness or misalignment is a primary cosmetic concern. So much so that some of them have lower self-esteem, which can then lead to a lower quality of life. As such, many who have “bad teeth” search for ways on how to get straight teeth.
However, misaligned teeth can also result in actual dental problems such as decay. That’s because they’re harder to clean and way more difficult to floss. All those additional crevices also give bacteria more places to hide and thrive.
All these make teeth straightening a crucial part of a smile makeover. Don’t worry: you may not have to wear braces just to get your teeth all lined upright. There are now removable, invisible aligners that can do the job.
Getting Started With The Makeover Process
Now that you know the benefits of a smile makeover, let’s talk about what the process entails.
It all starts with figuring out what you don’t like about your smile. Make a list of them, such as which teeth have cracks, chips, or severe stains. Be sure to include which teeth have gaps between them or aren’t in line with the rest of your pearly whites.
From here, you can then decide to have the following procedures done to correct your concerns.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are super-thin shells made of either composite resin or porcelain materials. A dentist bonds these on the front (visible) surface of the teeth. The process is quick and easy, although it does require the removal of a tiny portion of your teeth.
Dental veneers can help correct minor issues like small cracks and chips. They can hide stains, especially the stubborn ones that don’t go away with teeth whitening. Dentists can also use them to reshape smaller-than-normal teeth.
Dental Crowns
If you have badly worn or damaged teeth, dental crowns may be more appropriate than veneers. Unlike the latter, which only goes on top of the tooth, a crown covers the entire structure. In this way, it protects more of the tooth and can also reinforce its strength.
Dental Implants
Dental implants replace lost or missing teeth. They involve surgery, as the implant itself would have to go into or above the jawbone. This surgically-placed device then replaces toot roots that you’ve lost.
An implant dentist then affixes a post (also called an abutment) onto the implant. This device will hold and secure the prosthesis (artificial tooth) in place.
The placement of dental implants does take a long time (a few months). However, they’re often better than dentures, as they last way longer, sometimes up to 20 years or more! They also look and act much like natural teeth, helping preserve gums and bone.
Teeth Whitening
There are two types of teeth stains: extrinsic (external) and intrinsic (internal). Extrinsic stains are easier to get rid of, as they only affect the top-most layer (or surface) of the teeth. In this case, whitening toothpaste or strips may still work in reducing the blemishes.
Intrinsic stains, however, are a discoloration that occurs deep within the teeth. They’ve already invaded the dentin, which is the tooth layer below the enamel. Because of this, they require specialized whitening agents that can penetrate the enamel.
Teeth Straightening
No matter how old you are, you can get your teeth aligned with modern teeth straighteners. In North America, for example, 27% of patients getting their teeth all straight are adults! Many of them aren’t wearing the traditional wire braces, though.
Much thanks to dental innovations, you now have the choice to wear clear aligners. Unlike conventional braces, these are removable oral appliances. They also use a particular type of plastic that gives them a see-through appearance.
Because they’re “see-through,” they “blend in” with the rest of your mouth. So much so that other people are unlikely to notice that you’re wearing them! This, in turn, can make you more confident to smile, knowing that there won’t be a glint of metal when you do.
Moreover, the treatment time with invisible aligners can be shorter than with braces. Some will only require you to wear them at least 10 hours a day, but you’ll still see the results within 4-6 months on average.. Know, however, that some types of aligners require wearing for at least 22 hours a day.
What If You Only Need to Straighten Your Teeth?
You don’t have to undergo all these procedures just to makeover your smile. If you only have a gapped smile, for instance, then you may want to go only for teeth straightening. In this case, consider the cost- and time-saving benefits of at-home teeth straighteners.
When it comes to dental braces alternatives, ALIGNERCO is one of your most ideal options. It often requires less treatment time to demonstrate results. They’re completely removable, allowing you to maintain optimal brushing and flushing habits.
In addition, ALIGNERCO aligners cost much less than your other options. For instance, it can cost less than half of what other brands of clear aligners charge. Moreover, it’s about three to five times more affordable than going to an orthodontist.
Start Your At-Home Smile Makeover Now
There you have it, your ultimate guide on what a smile makeover is, and its many benefits. Now that you know what the entire process entails, you can then decide if you need everything in the package. If your only concern is straightening your teeth, then consider using clear aligners.
Ready to transform your teeth and start beaming at everyone? Then please don’t hesitate to schedule your video call with us here at ALIGNERCO as soon as possible! This way, we can help you decide which invisible aligners are most appropriate in your case.
