I finally have money to do something about my hideous smile and wanted to find out what my options are. My teeth are both stained and crooked. What are some ways I can approach this?
Mindy
Dear Mindy,
You actually have a couple of good options. The first is porcelain veneers and the second is Invisalign combined with teeth whitening.
Option One: Porcelain Veneers
A skilled cosmetic dentist can use porcelain veneers to do a total smile makeover. This can make your teeth look straight while making them any shape, size, and color you want. The key to this is the dentist who does the procedure. You need someone who has advanced training in cosmetic dentistry. This would need to be post-doctoral training because it is not adequately taught in dental school. Unfortunately, it is not a recognized specialty. This means any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount of training they have invested in. So, how is a patient supposed to know whether or not a dentist is truly qualified to give them a smile makeover?
The simplest way is to look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. This is different than just being a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. To receive accreditation, they not only have to pass difficult exams on the procedures and technique but also have to demonstrate their artistry in a demanding number of cases with visual evidence of their results. These are among the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country.
Option Two: Invisalign and Teeth Whitening
Invisalign uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth. They are a huge improvement on braces. No one will even know you are straightening your teeth because they are even invisible at a conversational distance. Additionally, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays, which means you can do them simultaneously instead of one at a time.
This is something I would recommend if you can’t afford (or don’t want) porcelain veneers. They don’t need someone with special cosmetic training. You simply have to find a dentist that offers Invisalign.
Enjoy your new beautiful smile whichever procedure you decide on.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.