Aging is a remarkable privilege; it brings a beautiful level of maturity, wisdom, and experience. While you may embrace some of the changes that come with advancing age, certain differences in your appearance may not be so welcome. How might aging affect your smile, and how can your cosmetic dentist help you achieve a more youthful look? This blog post explains.
Visible Changes in the Smile
Over time, your smile might change in the following ways:
- Shifting teeth: Teeth may gradually move out of alignment due to changes in your bone structure or other influences, which can impact bite and facial aesthetics.
- Yellowing teeth: Consistent exposure to coffee, wine, and other staining foods, along with changes in tooth enamel, may result in discoloration.
- Worn teeth: Teeth often become shorter or flatter as enamel wears away from years of use. Bruxism (grinding and clenching) can have an especially noticeable impact on the shape of your teeth.
- Receding gums: Gum tissue may pull back, revealing more of the tooth and sometimes creating an uneven gumline. This can be particularly noticeable in individuals with gum disease.
- Tooth loss: Factors such as gum disease, decay, and accidental injury increase the risk of losing teeth, potentially leaving gaps in the smile.
Dental Solutions for a Youthful Smile
While aging can take a toll on your smile, the good news is that modern dentistry offers a number of treatments that can support both your oral health and your appearance:
- Dental implants: Dental implants are replacement teeth that offer stability and strength; they are often regarded as the next best thing to natural teeth. Dentures or dental bridges may also fill gaps left by missing teeth and can look very attractive.
- Veneers and crowns: These are restorations that restore and enhance the look and shape of teeth, providing an even, healthy appearance. Crowns may also protect sensitive teeth and reduce the need for extractions.
- Teeth whitening: Advanced teeth whitening formulas can get rid of stubborn stains and make your smile several shades brighter.
- Orthodontia: Treatments like SureSmile can correct misaligned teeth, improving both appearance and function.
- Gum treatments: Gum disease treatments can stop dangerous infections and prevent gum recession from becoming too severe.
You deserve to have a confident smile that reflects your inner beauty! If the years have been less than kind to your smile, you can trust your dental team to present you with treatment options that will support your oral wellness while also enhancing your appearance.
Meet the Practice
Brookside Dental Care is home to three highly skilled dentists: Drs. Bryan Griffith, Alex Hartgrove, and Meghan Greene. Under their leadership, our team offers a broad range of restorative and cosmetic services for adults of virtually all ages. We love to help mature members of our community discover new confidence! To learn how we may be able to serve you, contact our Prestonsburg office at 606-874-9311.