If you cover your mouth when you laugh, or angle away from the camera at family gatherings, you already know what an unloved smile can cost. Chipped, crooked, or discolored teeth, gaps, and missing teeth leave many people feeling awkward in social situations, and some avoid those situations altogether. None of that is permanent. At Smile Arts Dental, Dr. Alex Balaban, DDS provides a full range of cosmetic dentistry services in Carmel, IN, in a practice built around Fear-Less Dentistry, so arriving nervous or embarrassed is a normal starting point rather than a barrier.
Here are four treatments that do the most for self-conscious smiles.
Start with the fast wins: whitening and bonding
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments at Smile Arts Dental, and often the simplest place to begin. You may have already tried over-the-counter whitening toothpastes, strips, or trays. Products approved for home use are far weaker than professional formulas, which is why their results tend to disappoint. In-office whitening is much more effective, and a single appointment can send you home with a visibly whiter smile.
Cosmetic bonding is another popular option, and one of the most affordable. Dr. Balaban can use bonding to repair a wide range of cosmetic concerns, including chipped teeth and gaps between teeth. It can even cover stubborn discoloration that does not respond well to whitening.
Straighten your teeth without metal braces
Crooked teeth are a common cosmetic complaint, and they are a health concern as well. When teeth overlap or crowd together, they are harder to clean thoroughly, especially in the spaces between them. Straightening your teeth improves how your smile looks and how easy it is to keep healthy.
If the thought of wearing metal braces as an adult is what has kept you from acting, clear aligners remove that obstacle. With CandidPro clear aligners, you wear a series of clear, comfortable plastic trays that straighten your teeth discreetly. You take the aligners out before every meal and snack, so there are no food restrictions and your favorite meals stay on the menu.
Trade dark metal fillings for white ones
Metal amalgam fillings make some people hesitate to smile at all, worried that a dark spot will show whenever they laugh. Smile Arts Dental offers white composite fillings as an aesthetically preferable alternative. Composite fillings do the job just as well as metal ones, and they blend in so completely that no one needs to know they are there.
The first step is a conversation
You do not need to know which treatment you want before you call. Tell us what bothers you about your smile, and Dr. Balaban will walk you through the options that fit, with your health, safety, and satisfaction ahead of everything else. Our office accepts most insurance plans, and the whole practice is designed to put nervous patients at ease. Request an appointment online, or call (317) 575-1995, and take the first step back to a smile you are glad to share.
This article is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. For guidance about your own smile, talk with your dentist.