Most of us know that traditional metal braces can be used to effectively straighten teeth. While this treatment is most common in teens and young adults, braces can still be a great way for adults to transform the appearance of their smiles. However, if you’re looking to get straighter teeth without the use of braces, your dentist in Chapel Hill has some good news for you.
Straightening Teeth Without Braces
There are tons of different ways your dentist can take crooked teeth or gapped teeth and create a flawlessly straight smile. It’s important to know that not all of these treatments will be the best solution for everyone, so make sure you talk to your dentist in Chapel Hill about your smile goals before starting any treatment.
Tooth recontouring and bonding can be used alone or together to fix minor overlapping or crookedness. Tooth recontouring is a type of cosmetic dentistry that can reshape a tooth’s appearance. During the procedure, a small amount of tooth enamel is removed in order to change the shape of a tooth. Dental bonding is another form of cosmetic dentistry that is sometimes used after a recontouring procedure to smooth out unevenness. It can also be used on its own to build up a tooth that sits too far back, away from its neighboring teeth.
Dental veneers are perhaps the most versatile cosmetic dentistry solution offered by your dentist in Chapel Hill as they can help cover up discoloration, repair minor chips, and yes, even help straighten teeth. These thin pieces of porcelain are made custom to match the appropriate size, color, and shape for you. Once fixed to the front of the teeth, unevenness, and crookedness can disappear.
Dental crowns are typically used to restore teeth that have large areas of decay or to cap a tooth following a root canal treatment. However, these custom-made crowns may also help correct a tooth that’s twisted. The procedure is fairly simple and involved removing some tooth enamel and adding a super-solid crown on top of the tooth.
Those with several crooked teeth or more severe overlapping teeth may find a solution in the form of clear aligners. Made with durable plastic, clear aligners should be worn for several hours a day to gently shift teeth into their ideal position. Working with your dentist is the best way to make sure you get the results you want without the risk of potentially causing other problems such as a misaligned bite. For this reason, we caution anyone from using DIY mail-order orthodontic treatment.
Having a straight smile is beneficial for many reasons. Of course, there are cosmetic, confidence-boosting benefits. But straighter teeth can also help protect oral health in the long run. Straight teeth are easier to clean and there are less hidden nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide. This can mean fewer cavities and a reduced need for dental treatment.
If you’ve been waiting to get the straight smile you deserve, call your dentist in Chapel Hill to schedule a consultation today and start exploring your options.
