Pink Prescriptions - March 2021
Turn Your Frown Upside Down: Beautiful Smiles Have Never Been Easier With Cosmetic Dentistry
March 2021 Issue - Pink Prescriptions
Turn Your Frown Upside Down:
Beautiful Smiles Have Never Been Easier With Cosmetic Dentistry
by Elizabeth Sugg, DDS
If you feel the urge to hide your smile, now is your time to say cheese! Cosmetic dentistry has never been so accessible, or advanced. Whether a little whitening will brighten your world, or you need to wear braces as an adult, a beautiful, brilliant smile, worthy of that big screen money shot, it easy to attain. And no longer do you have to have a mouth full of metal—or head gear, for Heaven’s sake! Want whiter teeth? You can check it off your to do list in about 90 minutes. There are many new and advanced procedures your cosmetic dentist offers that can help you look younger, healthier,and happier! Find your options and watch that frown turn upside down. Now that’s something to smile about.
Why should I choose a dentist-monitored teeth straightening system over the marketed ones that are just mailed to me?
Many people are tempted to use teeth straightening programs which can be ordered online or over the phone. These products do not come close to offering all the treatment modalities available when visiting a dental office. Patients cannot take their own x-rays and submit them for review to make sure there is adequate healthy bone ensuring teeth are moved safely. Patients are also not equipped to preform clinical procedures that will create space where crowding is a problem. And, they cannot apply attachments to teeth that make the aligners capable of more detailed movement. Most of all, when there is a problem, there is no professional recourse. The over-the-counter products may appear to be less expensive, but in the end, they can cost the patient dearly.
How can cosmetic dentistry make a profound difference in my life?
Cosmetic dentistry can make a profound difference in one’s appearance. Whitening products reverse the aging process of yellow and dingy teeth. Veneers can straighten and correct misshapen teeth, as well as correct discoloration and close spacing problems. When someone’s smile is attractive, studies have shown self-confidence dramatically increases.
My teeth are dingy and yellowed.
Are professional whitening treatments better than over-the-counter products? Should I use a whitening toothpaste? Do they really work?
When trying to decide whether to have your teeth professionally whitened at a dental office versus using an over-the-counter product, there are factors to consider:
> Over-the-counter products are not nearly as strong as prescription strength whitening products received from a dental office. Typically, the average patient will need to use numerous applications of an over-the-counter product to render the same result of one professional whitening session. The cost associated with using multiple applications of over-the-counter whitening far exceeds the in-office expense.
> When applying any whitening product to your teeth it is imperative the teeth are cavity free. Placing whitening product directly onto a tooth with decay can lead to extreme sensitivity issues, if not more severe problems. Having a dentist check your teeth prior to whitening is the best way to ensure a healthy and comfortable experience.
> Whitening toothpastes are mildly useful in removing stains caused by diet and tobacco. They do not seem to be very efficient at whitening actual tooth enamel.
How does everyone in Hollywood have gorgeous teeth?
Can I have teeth like that?
So, if you’re looking for that Hollywood smile, and are unhappy with your teeth’s appearance, a combination of dental whitening, orthodontic movement, or porcelain veneers could very well do the trick for a lifetime of healthy and beautiful smiles. Set up a cosmetic consultation to find out how to achieve your biggest, toothiest smile!
Dr. Elizabeth Sugg, DDS, is a 1989 graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry. For 14 years, Dr. Sugg practiced in Chagrin Falls, OH. In 2008, Dr. Sugg and her family relocated to Hilton Head Island, where she opened her practice, Ocean Dental, located near Hilton Head Hospital at 35 Bill Fries Dr. Unit B. She can be reached at 843-342-6677.