Practicing good dental hygiene is extremely important from the time you are a baby and into your adult years. The American Dental Association sets guidelines about the proper ways to brush, floss, and rinse your teeth to keep them healthy and clean. When you neglect your dental health, your teeth can get infected, cavities, and turn yellow. Not only is this extremely painful, but it can also cause self-confidence issues when you talk or smile. Luckily, dentists can fix most of these problems and give you back a healthy, white smile. This list goes over common cosmetic dental procedures and what they entail.

Whitening

There are many products that you can get in stores that offer teeth whitening, like toothpaste, mouthwash, and bleach kits. However, the strength of these products isn't as strong as the ones you can get at the dental office. The dental office does cost quite a bit more than the in-store products, but it is a lot more effective. The whitening can brighten teeth up to multiple levels. Some patients may need to get another session if their teeth are really yellow.

Implants

When you are missing teeth due to accidents or decay, you can have the dentist use an implant to put a fake tooth in place of the missing tooth. The implant is held in place using a screw that the dentist places in the spot of the missing tooth, then secures the implant onto it. The strength of the screw is strong enough to hold the tooth in place just like your actual teeth. The color and material of the implants look natural, so nobody will notice that it is fake.

Inlays

This procedure is done when there is a damaged tooth from decay yet the tooth isn't stable enough to support a filling over it. The dentist will place the inlay directly over the tooth and protect it from further decay or breakage. They add strength to the tooth and aren't as unsightly as metal fillings. Inlays are held in place using an adhesive cement so it will stay on the tooth without falling off.

Conclusion

If you have dental issues or cosmetic problems that you want to be fixed, you should make an appointment with your dentist right away. They will do a thorough examination and be able to give a treatment plan based on which works best for your teeth.

Check out a website like http://www.cresthillfamilydental.com for more information and assistance.