Age changes your body in many ways that can impact your daily quality of life, including problems with your smile. Whether you have darkened teeth or a gummy, toothless grin, dental issues can leave you looking older than you feel. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry offers several different solutions that can reduce the appearance of aging. Keep reading to learn about 3 changes that occur in your teeth as you age, and how your dentist can help.
Change #1: Enfeebled Enamel
Did you know that tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body? It isn’t entirely impervious to harm, though, and decades’ worth of use can wear it down. That means your pearly whites are much more likely to chip or crack which can be painful in addition to visually displeasing.
Thankfully these types of minor aesthetic flaws can be addressed with dental bonding. Your dentist can apply a composite resin material to your tooth and then shape it accordingly. It’s then cured with a special light so that it hardens and bonds with your tooth. It’s a convenient treatment that usually only takes 30-60 minutes and will hide blemishes as well as protect your teeth from further destruction.
Change #2: Tinted Teeth
Even if you have perfectly healthy teeth, their shine starts to fade after years of consuming foods and beverages that stain. While you may be tempted to purchase whitening products from your local grocery store, this comes with risks. The ingredients are known to cause tooth sensitivity, and you might not even get the results you’re hoping for.
Your dentist, meanwhile, can provide take-home whitening kits that can remove years’ worth of discoloration from the comfort of your own home. The bleach is professional-grade, and the custom-fitted trays are more likely to successfully lighten your teeth without causing any discomfort.
Change #3: Crooked Corruption
Though we think of our teeth as immovable objects in our mouths, the truth is that they continue to shift slightly throughout our adult lives. Repetitive movements over time, like chewing, apply pressure in different ways that can push them out of their ideal placements. This can result in gaps or a slightly misaligned smile. Luckily for you, your dentist can address it with porcelain veneers.
These thin, ceramic shells are fixed to the front of your tooth to cover breaks or small gaps to perfect your appearance. They’re coated with a glaze so durable that they resist additional damage or staining, and they can last 15+ years with the right care. They can shield your teeth from potential injury down the road and are customized to match your natural pearly whites, making them both beautiful and functional.
About the Practice
At JL Dental, patients of all ages benefit from the expertise of a husband-and-wife dental team who provide a full range of services including cosmetic dentistry. They believe that your emotional health is connected to your smile and can help you improve your well-being by enhancing your teeth. Their up-to-date technology ensures that you get the most effective treatments meant to last. You’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (636) 464-6668.