A beautiful smile is a boost to self-esteem and also helps maintain oral health. Our cosmetic dentists can help with a number of visual imperfections that may affect your smile.

Cosmetic dentistry treatments are different from preventative or restorative procedures. Cosmetic procedures such as dental bonding and veneers bring symmetry and beauty to the smile, while also helping to address health problems.

Tooth gaps

Gaps between teeth (called diastema) may be a cosmetic concern for some patients. However, they can also create bite misalignment problems that can lead to cracked or chipped teeth and cause pain when chewing. Additionally, gaps can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and affect overall health.

Dental bonding is a common cosmetic dentistry Arlington TX procedure that can be used to close tooth gaps. The process involves applying a tooth-colored resin to the surface of each affected tooth, connecting them with each other and then hardening or setting them with a special light.

An oversized frenum can push the two front teeth apart, creating a gap. The dentist can reduce the size of this tissue through a procedure called frenectomy. This is usually done in conjunction with other treatments like dental bonding or veneers.

Crooked teeth

Crooked teeth affect your appearance, but more importantly, they can also cause problems with your oral health. They make it harder to clean your teeth and may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, temporomandibular joint disorder, and cracked or broken teeth. Crowded, twisted, or overlapped teeth also interfere with proper chewing and may impact your speech.

The most common treatment for crooked teeth is orthodontics. This will reposition your teeth into a straight alignment within your jaw bone. You can choose from traditional metal braces or clear aligner therapy like Invisalign.

Deeply discolored teeth

Tooth discoloration may seem minor enough to ignore from an oral health standpoint, but cosmetic dentistry Arlington TX procedures like dental bonding can fill in cracks, even out misshapen teeth and cover stains. This treatment involves applying a tooth-colored composite resin and using a special light to permanently cure it onto the surface of each affected tooth.

Dentists categorize tooth discoloration into two types. Extrinsic staining is caused by food, drink or smoking and mainly affects the outer layer of enamel. Medications, such as tetracycline antibiotics, can also cause tooth discoloration.

Intrinsic staining happens inside the tooth and affects the underlying dentin. Genetics, poor oral hygiene, and aging can all contribute to intrinsic tooth discoloration. Other causes include illness, certain medications and dental trauma.

Cracked or chipped teeth

Whether you have a small chip or a larger crack, it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible. This is because cracked and broken teeth are susceptible to further damage, especially if you chew on them or expose them to extreme hot or cold temperatures.

The best cosmetic treatment for a cracked tooth is dental bonding, which involves brushing a composite resin onto the affected area and curing it with a high-intensity light. This material can fill in cracks, even out misshapen teeth, and hide stains.

Teeth can be damaged from many sources, including poor oral hygiene, extensive fillings, eating hard foods, and excessive teeth grinding (bruxism). Whatever the cause, it’s important to address them as quickly as possible to avoid further damage, pain, and infections.

Missing teeth

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, our cosmetic dentist in Arlington can fill them with a dental bridge. This restorative procedure will help prevent future issues, such as misalignment or shifting of the remaining teeth.

A common cause of a tooth that requires a filling is decay. We use composite resin to repair the damaged area, leaving a more natural look and preventing decay in the future.

Veneers are a popular cosmetic treatment that can quickly improve the appearance of chipped, cracked, misshapen or gapped teeth. You can also improve your smile with crown lengthening, whitening and dental implants. Lastly, regular family dentistry appointments can catch many cosmetic issues before they become severe. This will help you avoid more expensive treatments down the road.