3 Cosmetic Dental Procedures To Fix Crooked Teeth

Having crooked teeth is not only embarrassing to some people, but it can make it more difficult to keep your teeth clean. When one tooth overlaps the other slightly, it is difficult to get it clean, and even hard to get thin dental floss in between them. For cosmetic and oral health purposes, you should consider visiting a clinic like Blundell Dental to fix your misaligned teeth. Here are three options available to get this done.

Porcelain Veneers

When you want to fix crooked teeth and make them look flawless, porcelain veneers are the way to go. While they are not the most inexpensive option, they will give you fast results. Porcelain veneers are made from thin pieces of porcelain that are cut and shaped to fit over your current teeth. The teeth that are crooked will first need to be filed down in order to make room for the veneers. If you have large gaps between your teeth, they might not be an option, but for misalignment, they are often recommended.

Once the teeth are filed down, impressions are made and sent to the dental lab. In a couple weeks, you return to the dentist, where they use a strong bonding agent to apply the veneers to the tops of your teeth. They are dried and polished to look just like natural teeth. Keep in mind filing down of the teeth is irreversible, so be sure this is what you want.

Bonding

If you want immediate results, dental bonding is going to be your best bet. It is less expensive than the other options, and can be done during a single dental visit. The bonding material is made up of composite resin that is mixed to match the color of your teeth. It is added to the front surface of your crooked teeth, then filed and shaped. This lets the dentist reshape your teeth and make it appear as if they are straight without gaps. This is also a good option if you have gaps that are difficult to fix with veneers. A benefit to bonding, aside from how fast it is done, is that it is minimally-invasive. There is no excessive filing to be done or surgical procedures. You won't even need anesthesia for the procedure.

Invisalign

For a more permanent option, you can choose Invisalign. While you can also get other orthodontia work for repairing crooked teeth, many people prefer Invisalign. With Invisalign, you wear plastic spacers over your teeth at all times, except when eating, brushing or flossing your teeth. They are comfortable and help to gradually straighten your teeth. While they are not completely invisible, it is hard to see you are wearing them from a distance. You don't have to deal with painful rubber bands or awkward brackets, and you don't have the look of "metal mouth" when you choose this option. Over the course of treatment, you will get multiple spacers that continue shifting your teeth so eventually they are in the right position.