Our first impressions of people can tell us a lot about them, and can even define how we think about or interact with them. For example, if you are considering doing business with someone and your first impression is that they are confident and professional, you will likely determine that it would be wise to do business with them. However, if your first impression is that they are nervous and they lack confidence, you will likely choose not to do business with them. Unfortunately for them, the difference between displaying confidence and lack of confidence can come down to one basic thing: their smile.
The Power of Smiles
One of the first things that we notice about the people we meet is their smile. If the individual is confident about showing off their smile, and even if they have a few minor imperfections in their smile, you will likely come away with the impression that they are friendly, open and confident. However, if the individual is not confident about showing off their smile–especially when they are aware of some imperfections in their teeth and mouth–they may hide their smile altogether and thereby convey a lack of confidence or nervousness that can actually affect their interpersonal relations.
Some of the most common oral imperfections that will drive an individual to hide their smile include:
- Gaps between teeth.
- Uneven teeth.
- Crooked teeth.
- Worn enamel.
- Discoloration.
- Cracked teeth.
- Chipped teeth.
Fortunately, dental veneers can be used to correct these imperfections and can provide you with a smile you’ll be confident to share.
Using Dental Veneers to Improve Smiles
Dental veneers are thin shells that are made from composite resin or porcelain. These shells are custom-made for each individual patient using dental impressions and color charts that are used to match the patient’s veneer color to their healthy, natural tooth color. They are then placed over your natural teeth in order to correct imperfections and improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the mouth. Designed and placed properly, dental veneers are undetectable in the mouth. Furthermore, while some types of dental veneers and certain situations that are being addressed by veneers may require more tooth preparation, there are also some types of dental veneers that are so thin that they don’t require the recipient tooth to be irreversibly shaved down.
Dental veneers work to:
- Close gaps between teeth. Your dentist can design the shape and size of each veneer so that smaller teeth with large gaps between them can be made to appear larger, with no gaps between them.
- Align uneven or crooked teeth. Since dental veneer shapes and sizes can be adjusted, your dentist can use them to cover uneven and crooked teeth and bring about a more pleasing alignment. This can create a more symmetrical smile that is attractive and aesthetic.
- Improve appearance of worn enamel. It’s normal for tooth enamel to become thinner as we age, but unfortunately this can allow the darker dentin underneath to show through more clearly. It can also make the tooth weaker, and more likely to suffer small chips or breaks. Dental veneers can cover up and thereby improve the appearance of teeth that have worn enamel, as well as any small chips or breaks in these teeth.
- Resolve issues with extensive discoloration. In addition to worn enamel allowing dentin to show through, the foods and drinks that we consume can stain our teeth. There are many cases where professional teeth whitening can resolve these issues, but there are also some cases where staining and discoloration are so deep and extensive that they cannot be resolved through professional teeth whitening. This is where dental veneers can be helpful in covering up the discolored teeth.
In many cases, dental veneers are the perfect solution to resolving unsightly imperfections in teeth and improving your smile. To learn more about what dental veneers can do for you, contact Dr. Saferin today!
