New Year, New You: Transform Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

posted by Dr. Beau Beecher, DDS on 1/1/2024 in General

The New Year provides a time to reset and focus on the goals we want to accomplish in the months ahead. For many, resolutions revolve around improving health and self-care. If you’ve been wanting to enhance your oral health and transform your smile, there are many cosmetic dentistry options available. Read on to learn how the dentists at Kimball & Beecher can help you reach your goals this year.

Explore Your Cosmetic Dentistry Options

Cosmetic dentistry covers a wide range of issues. From repairing chipped and cracked teeth to achieving a brighter white smile, modern treatments can often be completed quite easily. These are some of the most popular options to discuss with your dentist.

Teeth Whitening

Perhaps the most popular cosmetic dentistry practice, teeth whitening is fast, affordable, and can give your confidence an immediate boost. Although there are many at-home toothpastes, strips, and kits, professional teeth whitening from your dentist is typically the most effective method. At Kimball & Beecher, we offer a unique Whitening for Life program. With a low, one-time enrollment fee, you’ll receive custom bleaching trays and materials at your regular visits to maintain that sparkling smile.

Dental Tooth Bonding

Tooth bonding is a fast-growing treatment that can help address a number of different issues. The process uses a resin that is precisely color-matched to the natural shade of your teeth to repair cracks or gaps, fill cavities, hide discoloration, adjust tooth shape, and much more. Tooth bonding is an especially easy process that’s practically pain free and can typically be completed with just a single visit to your dentist.

Veneers

If there are imperfections in your teeth you’d like to hide, veneers are a strong option. They are coverings – commonly made of porcelain – that fit over the front of your teeth, concealing things like gaps, chips, and discoloration. However, veneers can only be applied if you are free of cavities and gum disease. Should your dentist determine this is a safe option, they’ll take impressions of your teeth for a perfect fit, remove a small amount of enamel, and permanently bond them into place. Veneers are a long-term cosmetic procedure that with proper care can last up to 20 years.

Invisalign® & Orthodontics

Orthodontics have made serious strides forward in the last 20 years. While traditional braces are still a highly effective way to treat overbites, underbites, crooked teeth, and gapped teeth, you’ve probably seen the multitude of commercials for modern teeth aligners. Products like Invisalign use clear trays that are similar to mouthguards to gently shift your teeth into the desired position. This has become an increasingly popular straightening option because it’s more comfortable, less visible, and requires minimal maintenance. At Kimball & Beecher, our team is highly skilled in working with Invisalign, offering numerous providers at our multiple locations throughout Iowa.

Dental Crowns

When you have a weak, broken, or decayed tooth, your dentist will likely recommend a dental crown. These tooth-shaped caps fit snugly over the existing tooth to provide protection and enhance appearance. Crowns can be matched to the natural color of your teeth and last as long as 15 years depending on the material they’re made from. Some dental offices – including some Kimball & Beecher locations — even have same-day crown fabrication capabilities thanks to modern computer-aided design technology.

Gum Contouring

It’s not uncommon to have excess gum tissue that covers your teeth, giving them a short or boxy appearance. Through gum contouring or gum reshaping, a dental professional can help remove this tissue to provide a more uniform smile. This is a surgical procedure, so most patients opt for sedation during the process. Gum contouring offers dramatic results, but can be invasive and typically requires up to a week of recovery time.

Dental Implants

For those with missing teeth, dental implants are a popular choice due to their permanent nature. Using artificial tooth roots made of titanium, implants are grafted to your jaw bone to fix them into place. This reduces the need to adjust them over time, and makes them much stronger than other tooth replacement options like dentures. With the right dental care and oral health, many patients can expect their dental implants to last a lifetime.

Schedule an Appointment With Kimball & Beecher

If this is the year you’re ready to transform your smile, the skilled dentists at Kimball & Beecher are here to help. We’ll carefully examine your options and create a custom treatment plan that meets your needs. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call at any of our locations across Iowa to get started today!