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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Give You A Bigger Smile

by April Myers

Some people have a naturally wide smile. Wide smiles are eye-catching and beautiful to look at. But if your smile is narrow or small, that doesn't mean you have to settle for what you've got. With cosmetic dentistry, you can achieve a wider smile.

A cosmetic dentist can widen your smile in the following ways.

With porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells that attach to the frontal surfaces of your front teeth, from your central incisors to your premolars. Veneers can bring your teeth closer to your lips for a more striking smile. And when placed on the premolar teeth, veneers can help to close the buccal corridor, the dark space between your cheeks and gums.

With porcelain veneers and dental crowns

You can also combine porcelain veneers with dental crowns to make your teeth slightly bigger. For instance, you can place crowns on your premolars and veneers on your incisors and canines. Dental crowns work in a similar way to veneers, but they provide better support since they cover the entirety of a tooth. This makes them a good option for premolars and molars.

With orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic treatment is both functional and cosmetic. If you have a narrow upper arch with large buccal corridors, braces can help you to widen your arch. By widening your dental arch, you also reduce the size of your buccal corridor. When you smile, you'll no longer see the dark areas at the edges of your smile. A wider dental arch also means more support for your facial muscles.

But since teeth tend to shift back to their former positions after orthodontic treatment, you'll need to wear a retainer for a set amount of time following your treatment.

With orthodontic treatment and porcelain veneers

To enhance the effect of your orthodontic treatment, you can combine braces with porcelain veneers. The braces will reduce the buccal corridors while the porcelain veneers add more size and brightness. The best way to combine these treatments is to complete your orthodontic treatment first, and then have your porcelain veneers placed.

If you place your porcelain veneers before orthodontic treatment, the braces could end up pulling on the porcelain veneers and damaging or dislodging them.

Are you thinking of giving yourself a smile makeover? Then find a cosmetic dentist near you. Together, you can choose the treatment plan that gives you a wider and more pleasing smile.

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