How a Smile Makeover Can Restore the Functionality of Your Teeth

A smile makeover is performed primarily to address issues that affect the appearance of your teeth, but they also often come with restorative treatments. Many of the treatments used for cosmetic dentistry, like the placement of crowns, also provide restorative benefits.

Improving the functionality of your teeth with a smile makeover

A smile makeover consists of multiple cosmetic treatments performed to restore the way a person’s teeth look. These treatments are strategically performed in a way that saves the patient time and money.

Popular smile makeover treatments that also restore the functionality of your teeth include:

1. Composite bonding

This treatment can be used to rebuild and restore damaged teeth. It can also be used to cover up stains and other imperfections on a tooth. It is a non-invasive procedure that is completed during a single visit. The composites used are made from mixtures of plastics and glass, and they are color-matched with the patient’s teeth.

Cosmetic issues that can be tackled with composite bonding include broken, chipped, decayed, or stained teeth. Restoring the tooth with a composite also restores its function.

2. Crowns

Crowns are arguably the most commonly used restoration in dentistry due to their many uses. A crown can be used to cover up cosmetic problems like discoloration, deformities, decay, or structural damage to a tooth. The crown restores the appearance of the tooth and protects it from further damage. The crown also restores the tooth’s function and helps to keep it intact.

Getting a crown placed on a tooth usually requires at least two trips to the dentist. The first visit is used to prepare the patient’s tooth for the restoration by removing enamel from its sides. The patient then waits up to two weeks while their customized crown is being made. A temporary crown will be placed on the prepared tooth to protect it while waiting for the custom crown.

3. Implants

Implants are a popular way to replace missing teeth since they allow patients to forget they have lost a tooth. These oral prosthetics do not require any special care like other tooth replacement options like dentures.

The implant replaces the lost tooth’s root, while a restoration like a crown is placed on it to replace the tooth's visible part. Other restorations like bridges and dentures can also be attached to implants.

Implants are the only tooth replacement option that helps to avoid the bone tissue loss that takes place when a tooth is lost. It can take up to six months to complete the process of getting implants.

4. Orthodontic treatments

Teeth straightening treatments can also be performed as a part of a patient’s smile makeover. These treatments often involve wearing appliances like braces and clear aligners for up to three years. Teeth straightening treatments improve the functionality of teeth while making it easier to keep them clean.