Braces, Veneers or Implants? How to Uncover Your Best Smile by Shana Grant

It’s easy to get tired of going to great lengths to hide your smile because you’re ashamed of how your teeth look. An unattractive smile affects people in many professions. If you’re an actor or a model, there’s only so far you can go with your scowling, serious face. As a salesperson, it’s harder to make a sale if you’re relying on a tight-lipped grin. Anyone who’s been on job interviews knows you need as few distractions as possible to put your best foot forward, and worrying that the interviewer is looking at your crooked, chipped or gapped teeth will make you come across as awkward and unprofessional.

Forget the new looks of the season: focus on the look that will last your whole life. Confidence is essential to success in virtually any profession, and a beautiful smile will help you project poise. Your options aren’t as limited as you might think. Meet with a dentist who specializes in both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to talk about your options. There’s no such thing as a smile that’s unfixable. Nor is the answer necessarily one method of cosmetic dentistry. The right dentist will help you discover the combination that will work for your individual issues.

Braces… Or Aligners?

Of the veneer, implants and braces options, braces are the only way to keep your natural teeth entirely. That may or may not be the best thing for your smile, but it’s something to consider either way. Braces take the longest to work by far and require months or even years of treatment. They also will require you to wear retainers for the rest of your life afterward, otherwise the teeth could move back to their natural positions. (Over time, however, you’ll only need to wear the retainer at night or even every other night.)

If crooked teeth or teeth that are otherwise out of alignment are your primary concern, braces – or aligners – are the way to go. Aligners are the clear alternative to braces that may interest you if you don’t want to deal with the inner cheek and gum scarring metal braces may lead to and you don’t want to draw attention to your mouth. The only disadvantage to them is you have to keep the aligners in full-time except when you eat and brush your teeth.

Veneers

Veneers are fast – you get instant results. After your consultation, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and order veneers made to fit perfectly into your mouth. Veneers are ideal for closing small gaps and covering up slightly crooked single teeth. Plus, no one can tell they’re fake, and you keep most of your real teeth intact beneath. You may have to replace them every few years, but they don’t require special maintenance and they’re the only way to get great-looking teeth in minutes as opposed to weeks or years. However, they’re not the answer if your crooked teeth make up most of your mouth.

Implants

A dentist won’t recommend implants unless you’re missing a tooth or one of your teeth has become so decayed or broken it would be better for it to be removed. It’s also a quick procedure – it only takes one consultation and one procedural visit – but it’s better to work with your existing teeth if at all possible.

If you’re self-conscious about your smile, you probably don’t want to walk around with braces on your teeth for months or even years. Luckily, there are ways to fix your teeth that won’t draw attention to your mouth. There’s no reason to avoid the dentist because you think your teeth would require too much work. Make an appointment today.

About the Author: Shana Grant is a fashion and makeup consultant from New York City. She refers all her clients to Park Slope Dentistry for their cosmetic dental needs.