Teeth Whitening vs. Veneers: Which is the Better Solution?
Ever wondered about the secrets to a radiant smile? Dive into our latest blog as we unravel the pros and cons of teeth whitening and veneers.
What a Smile Analysis Can Tell Us About Your Oral Health
Some smile flaws are obvious. For example, you don’t need a dentist to tell you that you have crooked teeth or a large crack in your front tooth. What might not be as obvious is the oral health problems those flaws cause.
At SmileBoutique in Mount Vernon, New York, Dr. Wayne Hofflich and our team see many patients who ignored dental damage and misalignments, figuring they were just cosmetic issues. Unfortunately, those seemingly minor problems can spell big trouble for your oral health. But we can help.
If you have a few dental issues you’ve been brushing off, our smile analysis can reveal the behind-the-scenes problems and provide a guide for a treatment plan. Here’s a look at what a smile analysis can tell us.
What is a smile analysis?
A smile analysis is our step-by-step evaluation of your mouth that provides critical information about your teeth, gums, bite, and jawbone. It has two main goals: to evaluate your smile aesthetics and identify underlying problems.
We start with a thorough oral examination, including state-of-the-art digital X-rays that use a fraction of the radiation emitted by traditional X-rays and deliver clearer results instantly. This technology lets us see below the surface of your teeth and gums, so we can spot problems in the tooth roots and jawbone.
Dr. Hofflich discusses the results of your smile analysis and lets you know what oral issues he needs to address, such as cavities or gum disease. He also can suggest cosmetic options to improve your smile. Together, you and our team set goals for your oral and cosmetic outcome and develop a smile makeover plan that fits your schedule and budget.
Oral health issues a smile analysis can reveal
Many oral health issues start off without symptoms, so you don’t realize there’s a problem. Even when symptoms appear, you may brush them off or ignore them, especially if they don’t cause pain.
However, it’s only a matter of time before those under-the-surface problems advance into full-fledged dental disasters. Here are some examples of what a smile analysis shows us.
Gum disease
When the bacteria in your mouth linger on your teeth, they form a sticky plaque that infects your gum tissue. At first, the problem is a relatively minor issue called gingivitis, an inflammation in your gums. A smile analysis reveals the signs of gingivitis:
- Red, swollen gum tissue
- Pus between your teeth and gums
- Loose teeth
- Gums that pull away from your teeth
You may notice a few signs yourself, such as bad breath, bleeding when you brush, and sensitive teeth. Dr. Hofflich can treat gingivitis before it turns into periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease.
Tooth decay
That cracked tooth you’ve been ignoring is the gateway for bacteria. It’s an open invitation for millions of tiny pathogens to enter the inner sanctum of your tooth and set up camp. Once infection invades your tooth’s center pulp, it can enter your bloodstream and travel throughout your body, which is why gum disease is linked to heart disease.
We can quickly fix minor cracks and chips with veneers or dental bonding, restoring your tooth’s natural shape and color.
Dr. Hofflich may recommend a root canal to clear away infected pulp inside your tooth, which saves your natural tooth and prevents the need for an extraction and a replacement restoration, such as a dental implant.
Bite problems
When your teeth don’t fit together properly, the misalignment causes a ripple effect of problems in your mouth and the rest of your body. A smile analysis shows us how your teeth meet when you bite and chew, revealing the source of several possible problems, such as:
- Headaches
- Indigestion
- Facial or jaw pain
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Temporomandibular disorder
- Speech impediments
SmileBoutique offers Invisalign® to get your bite back on track. These clear aligner trays snap over your teeth and are removable for eating, drinking, and brushing. It’s a discreet way to realign your bite and resolve the oral health issues associated with misaligned teeth.
Smile analysis for cosmetic issues
In addition to revealing underlying oral health problems, a smile analysis also provides a map for fixing cosmetic smile flaws. For example, we can transform your smile from dingy to dazzling with our professional teeth whitening system — Philips Zoom!®. We can reshape and resize odd teeth using veneers and bonding to give your smile a more uniform look.
If you have multiple dental problems, you may be a good candidate for a full-mouth reconstruction that addresses all your cosmetic and oral health issues in a comprehensive treatment plan.
To schedule a smile analysis at SmileBoutique, call 914-664-7400 or book online.
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