Just because you are a mature adult, doesn't mean you can't have a beautiful smile. Whether you have staining from years of drinking coffee and tea, or you are missing some teeth, there are cosmetic surgical procedures available for you. Here are some cosmetic dentistry options to consider.
Porcelain Veneers
If you are not happy with the appearance of some of your teeth, ask your dentist about getting dental veneers. Veneers are made with thin pieces of porcelain that fit over your front teeth to improve their appearance. These can help with staining and discolouration that often happens over time and plagues older adults. They can also cover other imperfections of the teeth, including oddly shaped teeth and small gaps or misalignment issues. Veneers only affect the appearance of the teeth and don't provide restorative benefits, so that is something to keep in mind.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a good cosmetic surgical procedure if you have one or multiple missing teeth. When you have just one or two missing teeth, they can help you replace the missing teeth and avoid teeth movement and loss of bone density that often occurs with missing teeth. The dental implant includes a metal post that is surgically implanted into the jawbone of the missing tooth. It then goes through a long healing process that takes a few months, during which the bone heals around the metal post. Finally, an artificial tooth is screwed on top of the post.
Implant-Supported Dentures
If you have multiple missing teeth, it might be a better option to get a partial denture. However, to make them appear more natural and be more secure, you should consider implant-supported dentures. These work for partials and full sets of dentures. You get a minimal amount of dental implants first, then have dentures fabricated with a mechanism that allows it to lock into place on the top of the implant. Your dentures won't move around while eating or talking, and they tend to look more natural than traditional dentures.
Teeth Whitening
You may also want to get teeth whitening if the only issue with your teeth is that they are stained or discoloured. Dentists offer multiple in-office teeth bleaching procedures, including custom tray whitening and laser whitening. Laser whitening takes less time and is completely done in the office. You can be in-and-out in an hour with instant results. Tray whitening is done partially in the office, and partially at home over several days. However, before you can start the procedure, you need to get impressions of your teeth to have the custom trays made. The benefit of these is that the trays are reusable.
Share29 January 2016
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.
