If you want to look after your teeth well, there are loads of options out there to keep your smile wide. Take a look at our picks of oral procedures you should look into.
1. Whitening
Tooth whitening is definitely the most accessible procedure. Specialist salons will charge for teeth whitening but so will kits sent straight to your door. TikTokers, on the other hand, will give you very sketchy at-home remedies for teeth whitening for free!
Teeth can become discolored as we age, stained by coffee, tea, red wine, and blackcurrant. A professional dentist will be able to tell you if you are suitable for professional bleaching, which will see a rubber shield guard your gums as the whitening product is applied to your teeth using a specially made tray which fits you like a mouth guard. It will take two or three visits to the dentist then apply more treatment for 30-60 minutes at home for two to four weeks. The effect can last up to three years.
2. White fillings
Over a century and a half of dark grey fillings made of “amalgam” is finally over. Astronauts on the moon spotting your filling is now a thing of the past. New dental materials mean it is much easier to match your filling to the shade of your tooth. And to add the cherry on top, they last longer than the traditional silver fillings.
If you already have a filling you growl at while brushing your teeth, it is possible to get it replaced, but it you should ask your dentist if it’s a good idea. Some dentists aren’t a fan of the idea because white fillings in back teeth are not always successful.
3. Invisible braces
Clear aligners are another alternative to the traditional braces. They’re an invisible retainer that lines your teeth. Considered the most discreet and most popular they offer a straight smile that’s white rather than silver. Foregoing the metal entirely, a clear sheet of flexible plastic steadily lines up your teeth.
They are removable so they are easier to maintain since you can take them out to eat, drink and sleep and you can clean them in the sink.
They can come in nighttime or general wear. For a minimum of eight to ten hours a night the night only clear aligners will work to straighten your teeth into a perfect smile. They offer all the benefits of a regular retainer only required to be worn while you sleep. This means no interrupting your daily routine.
4. Partial dentures
If you’ve lost a tooth due to tooth decay, gum disease or a wild elbow let loose near a face, consider looking into partial dentures. A removable false tooth on a plate made of plastic and metal. Metal options are much stronger and are lighter to wear. Since it can take up to 6 months for your gums to repair themselves after an extraction, you might need to wait before you can be fitted for a denture, however, temporary dentures are available.