Your smile is often the first thing that others notice about you when meeting for the first time. A great smile can make a positive first impression and help you appear more attractive to others. If you are not satisfied with the appearance of your teeth, there are some affordable ways to help improve the look of your smile without investing in a full set of veneers.

1. Bonding

There are many things that can compromise the attractiveness of a smile. You might have a chipped or cracked tooth, a discolored tooth, or a noticeable gap between your teeth. Bonding can make a great alternative to veneers when it comes to correcting these types of problems.

Bonding works in much the same way as a veneer. A shell is created in a lab setting, and the shell is bonded to the natural tooth. Less enamel must be removed when placing a bonded shell versus a veneer, and patients typically don't require anesthesia during the procedure. This helps to keep the cost of bonding low so that patients on a budget can still improve the look of their smile.

2. Preventative Dentistry

It's important that you invest in preventative dentistry over the course of your lifetime. Healthy teeth will often appear more attractive, so preventative dentistry can be useful in improving the appearance of your smile.

Regular checkups with your dentist will help you identify damage before costly dental procedures are needed to correct any problems. Routine cleanings can also help your teeth look their best at all times. It's more affordable to invest in preventative dentistry than pay for crowns or implants to replace teeth damaged by decay.

3. Teeth Whitening

One of the characteristics that people associate with an attractive smile is white teeth. There are a number of things that can affect the whiteness of your teeth. Enamel is a porous material, so drinking soda, smoking, or having a cup of coffee each morning can cause your teeth to take on a yellow tint.

You can invest in over-the-counter whitening strips and toothpaste, but the effects of these products will be minimal when compared with the results you can achieve with an in-office whitening procedure.

Your dentist can use specialized products to help scrub your teeth clean, dramatically improving the brightness and beauty of your smile. The results of a professional teeth whitening will last longer than the results you see with over-the-counter products, limiting the amount of money that you must spend to keep your smile looking its best at all times.

For more information, contact a company like Pacific Ave Dental/Allan L. Hablutzel, DDS.

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