Two Cosmetic Dental Procedures Your Teenager May Want Before They Go To College
ShareThe first year of college can be a very stressful time. It is a time to see new places, make new friends, and take on new adventures. Because of this, many teens feel that it is important that they put their best foot forward, which includes having the perfect smile. Here are a few cosmetic dental procedures that your teenager may want to have done before they report for their first day on campus.
Teeth Whitening
No one wants the first thing that people remember about them to be yellow or discolored teeth. Although there are many different products on the market that can produce some results, most of them are not going to produce the outcomes that your teen will be able to get from their dentist. Whitening from your family dentist will provide the following:
More thorough results – Drug store products are one-size-fits-all. They can produce results that are uneven. They do not take into consideration discolorations or stains that may require extra treatment. When your teen has their teeth whitened by your family dentist, they will be able to see and apply whitening as needed to each individual tooth.
Longer-lasting whitening - Dental whitening products will be much stronger than those your teen will be able to purchase on the market. These products normally only contain 10% carbamide peroxide, while professional strength products may be 25–40% in strength. This means that your teen will get longer-lasting results from fewer treatments.
Faster results – When your teen uses some of the over-the-counter products, the product usually has to be used repeatedly and applied for specified periods of time. While they may work over time, your teen will probably not achieve the immediate results they are looking for the first few times they use the product. When they have their teeth professionally whitened, they will usually walk out of the dental office with the results they desire — the first time around.
Safer application – Many users of over-the-counter products report that they experience tooth sensitivity or dental pain when they have used the products. This could be for a variety or reasons that range from existing dental products to incorrect use of the product. A dentist performing professional whitening will not only protect your teen's gums from the whitening agents, but will usually do a brief oral exam prior to applying the whitening agent to look for areas that may present problems. Not only will this provide a better whitening experience, but it will allow your teen to have these problems addressed before they go to college.
Dental Veneers
If your teen has teeth that are less than perfect and they do not want to appear on campus in a full set of braces, you may want to check with your dentist to see if it is a problem that could be corrected with dental veneers. Dental veneers are small, thin pieces of porcelain that can be created to mimic the exact size, shape, and color of your teen's normal teeth. They can then be easily affixed to correct some common dental problems that involve size, shape, color, or length of the affected teeth. Because there is minimal drilling involved, dental veneers can usually be created and affixed in a short period of time, which will mean that your teen still has time to be selfie-ready on their first day of class.
If you think your teenager would benefit from professional teeth whitening or dental veneers before they return to campus this fall, contact your family dentist to see if they provide these cosmetic benefits, or check out websites like https://valleyoakdentalgroup.com/ to learn more.