If you’re looking for a way to improve your appearance and your confidence in your smile, you may want to consider cosmetic dentistry.  Some people shy away from altering their smiles cosmetically because they fear their smile may become unnatural or obviously cosmetically altered.  No one wants big fake white “Chiclet teeth.”  Today’s best cosmetic dentistry is subtle and restrained and natural looking.  Your dentist will want to make you look just like yourself only better.

The goal would be to achieve a natural looking yet stunning smile.  This can be achieved in a number of ways including through the use of whitening, bonding, straightening with braces or veneers—and that only names a few options for cosmetic enhancement.  Your dentist has a huge variety of techniques and technologies available today to give you a dazzling smile, all while remaining natural and beautiful looking.  The goal would be to have a friend see you and say, “You look great!  What’s different?” because they know you look fabulous but your smile isn’t screaming “I had something done!”

If you would like to cosmetically improve your smile, your first step would be to visit your dentist for a consultation.  If you need to find a new dentist, you can visit www.SmileMichigan.com to find a member of the Michigan Dental Association in your area or www.1800dentist.com to be matched with a pre-screened member.  Of course your dentist’s primary goal will be for you to have a healthy smile so you’ll need to be up to-date on your regular cleanings and free of decay or gum disease before you have anything cosmetic done.  You’ll have a consultation and together you and your dentist will determine what will work best for you.

A few cosmetic possibilities to discuss with your dentist:

Bonding

If you have gaps between your teeth or chipped or stained teeth, bonding may be the solution for you.  It is cost effective and long lasting.  Your dentist bonds a tooth colored material over your teeth in a simple procedure that only requires one appointment.

Whitening

Nowadays you can whiten on your own at home with strips, toothpastes and mouthwashes but nothing compares to the results your dentist can give you with professional whitening systems.  Your dentist may offer an at-home system (stronger than anything offered over-the counter) where you wear custom made trays with gel nightly for a few weeks.  A faster and more convenient option is the in-office professional whitening system called Zoom (visit www.ZoomNow.com) where you leave the office in one visit with a smile up to eight shades whiter.

Straightening

You can go traditional and opt for wire-and-metal braces.  You also have the option of exploring the Invisalign system (www.Invisalign.com) which uses a series of clear custom made plastic aligners to straighten your smile.  They are virtually undetectable (perfect for adults uninterested in “metal mouth”) and can be removed to eat, drink, brush and floss as usual.

Veneers

Veneers are thin shells placed directly over your teeth and can improve the appearance of crooked, misshapen, stained, gapped or chipped teeth.  They can completely transform the appearance of your smile.

Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan. Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.

Well we’re nearly through the first month of the New Year and I can’t help but wonder if any of you have managed to stick to your resolutions?  You know, those promises you made yourself before the ball dropped and we welcomed 2012.  Maybe you resolved to be healthier or save more money or spend more time with your family.  Whatever you resolved, did you stick to it?

I resolved to be healthier.  This meant cleaning up my diet and making a true effort to be more physically active.  Changing my diet will benefit more than my jean size, it also helps my smile.  My teeth are benefitting from a healthier lifestyle.  This is because I have cut out sugary beverages and treats that I used to sip and snack on throughout the day that only left my teeth vulnerable to developing cavities.

It’s not too late to resolve to have a healthier smile for 2012 and for life!  As with making any goal, developing a plan will help you achieve your desired results.  Make a plan and commit to it and you will see that having a healthier smile is easier than you thought.

My plan for a healthier smile:

1. Arming myself with necessary tools: I couldn’t remember when I last replaced my toothbrush so I started by treating myself to a new one.  I even splurged a little and got an electric toothbrush.  There is a large selection of electric toothbrushes at your local drugstore that range from pretty inexpensive (around $8) up to professional standard.  You can talk to your dentist and ask for a
   recommendation.  Your dentist may even sell electric toothbrushes right in his or her office.  Electric toothbrushes just do a better job of
   cleaning your teeth and gums.  Some electric toothbrushes also have neat features like timers to make sure you’re brushing for the recommended full two minutes to really ensure clean teeth.
2. Making friends with floss: I’ll admit it…I wasn’t always so good about flossing.  Flossing is completely nonnegotiable when it comes to having healthy gums and teeth.  Brushing alone does not clean your gums and the space between your teeth therefore leaving perfect hiding places for decay to form.  I am much more diligent about flossing regularly and I now keep floss in my purse so I can take care of my teeth after lunch and I religiously floss before bed.
3. Cutting out unnecessary sugar from my diet: This means cutting out treats, snacking, sugary beverages, etc.  I was notorious for having a sugary snack in the afternoon with a pop in order to combat the sleepiness that sets in for me at that time of day.  Swapping sugary drinks and snacks for water and a healthy snack with protein like yogurt or veggies and hummus has benefited my waist and my smile.
4. Checking my calendar and making a phone call: Do you remember when you last had a cleaning and checkup at your dentist office?  Look it up in 2011’s calendar or call your dentist office and ask them to find out for you.  If it’s been longer than six months, it’s
   time to set up your next appointment!

Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan. Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.