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What are your cosmetic dentistry options?

By James B. Howell, D.M.D.

May 14, 2014

Tags: cosmetic dentistry Dental Fillings Cosmetic Dentist dental implants

3 Cosmetic Dentistry Options Explained by Dr. James Howell

Your smile is one of the first things a person might notice about your appearance. However, when your smile isn’t all its cracked up to be, you may be searching for solutions to help improve the appearance of your teeth. To help you better understand your cosmetic dentistry options in Louisville, Dr. James Howell offers an inside look at three different options currently available at his dental office.

Dental Implants for the Replacement of Missing Teeth

With age and time, the thin, tough outer surface that coats your teeth, called the enamel, can wear and look dulled, stained and discolored. This can occur naturally with age or as a result of certain medications. However, this change in your teeth is often due to habits such as tooth grinding, poor oral hygiene, and the consumption of carbonated and sugary soft drinks. Tea, coffee and smoking can all contribute to the staining of your teeth as well. Over time, as you grow older, your teeth will naturally wear down just like the wear and tear on a car tire or shoes. As your teeth are used in everyday activities such as chewing, they wear away and can become cracked or chipped.

Dental Fillings to Protect Damaged Teeth

Your lifestyle heavily influences the health of your teeth, and at some point in our lives most of us will end up with a cavity or two. A dental filling is a type of dental restoration that is used to fix minor damaged teeth and other problems that are commonly associated with tooth decay.

There are two main categories that dental fillings fall into: direct and indirect restorations. Direct restorations are fillings that are placed immediately into a prepared cavity in only one visit while indirect restorations may require two or more visits. Indirect includes inlays, on-lays, veneers, crowns and bridges. You have a wide array of choices when it comes to restoring damaged or decayed teeth. Many people will even replace their old silver amalgam fillings with newer white composite fillings.

Without treatment from our office in Louisville and proper oral hygiene, dental decay may continue to advance and can result in the loss of the affected tooth or teeth. It is always important to talk openly with our office to learn about the various ways that you can protect and restore your teeth.

Veneers for an Overall Improved Appearance

Regardless of what causes unattractive teeth, dental veneers may solve most or even all of your cosmetic dental issues. Dental veneers are often used to correct worn enamel. Over time, the thin, hard translucent substance covering your teeth, known as enamel, may become worn, dulled and discolored. This discoloration may be natural, or a result of a genetic predisposition. Worn enamel can also be from the result of consuming soft drinks, tea, coffee, smoking or using certain medications. As you age, your teeth naturally wear down, making them more likely to have chips, cracks or an uneven appearance. Dental veneers can solve these imperfections.

Contact our office today to learn more about cosmetic dentistry in Louisville. It is our goal to provide you with the best in quality dental health care available and that is especially evident through various cosmetic dentistry services, including dental implants, dental fillings and veneers in our Louisville office.

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