Getting a Perfect Smile With Dental Laser Surgery

If you look in the mirror and feel disgusted by your smile, you will be happy to know that there are a number of procedures your dentist can perform in order to help you gain a smile you can be proud of.

Stained Teeth

Stained teeth are a common occurrence as we get older, particularly for those that drink coffee or pop and for those that smoke. Years of indulging in these activities can lead to teeth that are yellow or even brown. Even those that do not drink pop or coffee and that do not smoke can experience discoloring just from regular use of their teeth.

There are a number of teeth whitening products currently on the market, but all of them require placing something on your teeth for a period of time for multiple sessions. In addition, they are generally not very effective at whitening teeth and certainly do not get them to the level of whiteness most people desire. Luckily, your dentist can help bring back that shine to your teeth, and he or she can do it with lasers. The laser is simply targeted toward the teeth and breaks down the discolored areas, allowing the white beneath to shine through.

Ugly Gums

Another area that causes a smile to be less than perfect is the gums. If your gums are overgrown, they may cover up your teeth, causing them to look too small and unhealthy. Laser gum contouring allows the dentist to reshape your gums into the shape you desire, giving you the smile you had always dreamed of.

Laser gum contouring involves cutting the gums and reshaping them into a more desirable shape. Generally, a local anesthetic is used during this procedure and it takes about one week for the gums to heal to the point where normal eating can be resumed. For some patients, this process causes the nerves of the teeth to be exposed and causes sensitivity to hot or cold foods. This problem, however, can be resolved by using a special prescription toothpaste to build up a protective layer on the teeth. Over time, this toothpaste is generally no longer needed to desensitize the teeth.

Deciding if Dental Laser Surgery is Right For You

If you are unhappy with your smile, it may be worthwhile to discuss dental laser surgery with your dentist. Generally, teeth whitening is not covered by the insurance company and can be somewhat expensive to have done. By maintaining a regular brushing schedule after the procedure is completed, however, they should be able to stay pearly white for years to come.

Gum contouring laser surgery can be painful, particularly on the day it is done and on the day following surgery. It can, however, give a whole new look to your mouth. In addition, it may be covered by your insurance company if your current gums are weak or problematic for the overall health of your mouth. If you think it might be a good choice for you, be sure to discuss it with your dentist and then contact your insurance company to see if you can have the procedure covered.