Cosmetic Dentistry Can Improve Your Life

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t just about making your smile look picture perfect. Believe it or not, that brighter, whiter smile can actually improve your life in some pretty powerful ways. Here are just a few of the ways cosmetic dentistry benefits you, and why you should find a dentist in your area who can help you reach your smile goals.

Improve Self-Esteem

Being able to smile without worrying about how your teeth look can do more than make family picture day less stressful. Having a mouth full of clean, healthy white teeth can improve your self-esteem, since you won’t have to be self-conscious about how your teeth look.

Cosmetic dentists can improve the look of your teeth using a wide number of techniques, including whitening, dental bonding, and contouring. In addition to changing the color and surface texture of your teeth, cosmetic dentists can align your teeth with orthodontic procedures, making them easier to clean.  

Climb The Corporate Ladder

If it seems like your yellow teeth are holding you back, it might not be your imagination. One study that focused on job applicants and their dental appearance found that candidates with straighter, whiter teeth were 58% more likely to be hired and had a 53% chance to earn a larger salary than other applicants with unsightly smiles. Although the exact reason for the difference is unclear, researchers suspect that applicants with more beautiful smiles might be more likely to exude confidence and happiness. Since confident employees tend to represent their companies in a more positive light, employers are more likely to hire you if your smile looks well-kept and professional.

Cosmetic Restorations Protect Your Smile

Cosmetic restorations help to protect your other teeth and oral tissues, since smooth, straight teeth are less likely to collect debris or cause oral lacerations. Simply having your teeth repaired by a cosmetic dentist can help you to prevent oral injuries and lend you a hand against decay.

If you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry, look for dentists in your area by searching for “dentists near me” in your favorite search engine, or allow Opt-In Dental Advantage to help. We can give you a way to narrow down dentists in your area to find the ones that would be a good fit for your family. Dentists who are a part of the Opt-In Advantage network have promised to abide by a code of ethics, helping you to keep your family safe, happy, and comfortable during your appointments. Find an Opt-In dentist today!

Got Gum Disease? Get Treatment Promptly.

Gum disease may start slow, but if an infection is left to run its course, the damage will be serious and permanent. If you have even an early stage of gum disease, the best course is to get treatment before problems multiply. If you have gum disease, find a dentist or periodontist quickly to save you from worse problems later on.

The Stages of Gum Disease

Gum disease begins when plaque (a sticky, colorless, bacteria-filled film) isn’t removed from teeth. When you don’t brush and floss, plaque builds up on your teeth and hardens into tartar, which can’t be removed with simple brushing. This tartar and the bacteria it contains start to irritate your gums. Without professional help, this infection will turn into the first stage of gum disease: gingivitis. The symptoms of gingivitis include gums that appear bright red and swollen, and often bleed during brushing and flossing. At this point there is no permanent damage to teeth or the underlying support structures. With proper daily dental hygiene and regular cleanings, gums will heal.

Unfortunately, if left untreated, gingivitis will progress to a more serious stage of gum disease: periodontitis. Once infected with periodontitis, the gums pull away from the teeth and pockets start to form between the root of the tooth and the gum. Periodontal pockets shelter bacteria that can’t be reached with brushing.

After this point, periodontal disease can progress rapidly as the body’s immune system releases antibodies to kill the harmful bacteria. These antibodies are actually harmful to the sensitive bone and tissue found in your mouth, breaking them down and removing support for the teeth, which can eventually fall out.

Consequences of Periodontitis

Tooth loss is the most obvious result of untreated periodontal disease. A smile full of gaps is a blow to self-confidence, but can also make it much harder to maintain a healthy, varied diet. This is reason enough to take gum disease seriously, but research shows that gum disease may also affect your overall health. Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis and premature birth are all correlated with gum disease. The bacteria that infect your gums can have serious and possibly life-threatening effects on the rest of your body, so protecting your gums is protecting your health.

If you have gum disease and are scouring the internet for a quality “dentist near me,” consider using the Opt-In Dental Advantage network. We work to help patients find dentists dedicated to quality care, allowing each patient to get the treatment they deserve. Use our free Find a Dentist tool today to find a periodontist in your area.