4 Ways to Get a Brighter Smile

Over time, lax oral hygiene or factors beyond our control, including aging, can affect the appearance of our smiles. Teeth can become dull, yellow, or stained, and it can diminish the confidence we have in our appearance. However, cosmetic dentistry can help fix that!

Your dentist can evaluate your smile and come up with a customized treatment plan to whiten your teeth. They will consider your aesthetic goals as well as your medical history to ensure you get the smile of your dreams. Dr. Matthew Gerald, a dentist located in Vienna, VA, describes four treatments available at your dentist’s office that can give you a brighter and more enhanced smile.

4 Ways to Get a Brighter Smile in Vienna Virginia

Professional Teeth Whitening

Your dentist can give you targeted teeth whitening treatment that can brighten your smile with a few easy steps. They will begin the process by providing you with custom-made trays that contain whitening gel.

The gel contains bleaching agents that effectively whiten the color of your teeth. You should wear these trays as directed for two weeks, at which time you will return to your dentist’s office for an in-person visit.

Your dentist will then apply a whitening gel directly to your teeth and activate the ingredients with specified light. With this supervised treatment plan, you will get beautiful, natural-looking results with minimal risk of side effects.

Cosmetic Tooth Bonding

Tooth bonding refers to a cosmetic dental procedure that our dentist provides for patients hoping to amend minor aesthetic concerns in their smiles. The tooth-colored composite resin that dentists utilize with this treatment can whiten patients’ smiles.

In this process, the dentist prepares the patient’s teeth by removing a small amount of enamel. Then the dentist applies resin to the teeth and sculpts it as needed. The resin is cured to harden for a beautiful final result that can last for three to ten years.

Porcelain Veneers

For patients seeking more long-lasting smile enhancement, dentists often suggest porcelain veneers. Our dentist can construct custom-made veneers, which consist of cap-like shells, based on a patient’s smile goals and their natural smile.

When the veneers are ready, the patient returns to their dentist’s office where the dental professional can adhere them to the front of their teeth, creating both a whiter and straighter appearance. With proper care, porcelain veneers may remain in place for fifteen years.

Dental Crowns

Though dental crowns are known to be a restorative dental solution, they are made on an individual basis just like veneers. That means dentists create crowns, or ceramic caps, that can enhance the color of a patient’s tooth.

A dentist will secure the crown over a damaged or severely discolored tooth to preserve its structure and boost its appearance. Like porcelain veneers, this treatment can last for fifteen to twenty years.

To schedule a consultation with us, contact our staff online or reach us by phone at (703) 721-4796.