Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry

How Long Does It Take To Improve A Smile?

Are you a go-go-go person who is looking for a smile pick-me-up? Maybe you are more the “let’s not be hasty” type, who considers a decision for months, before deciding to collect more information and move forward. When it comes to cosmetic improvements to a smile in Houston, TX, there are timelines that may take just an hour or so, or several appointments, when making more extensive improvements. At your cosmetic consultation, we can help you determine the best process, and the timeline, to improve your smile.

One Visit: Bonding and Contouring

If you have a tooth with a nick, chip, small crack or uneven surface, we may suggest bonding or contouring to restore the pleasing shape and symmetry of your tooth. We will either carefully remove a small amount of enamel (contouring) to smooth out chips, or add a patch or thin layered area of special reflective resin, tinted to match your natural tooth color (bonding) to build out or cover over an area. Bonding and contouring can generally be done in one office visit, which makes it a fast fix to create an improved smile.

Two Visits: Teeth Whitening, Especially for Stubborn Stains

If you have had disappointing results with over-the-counter whitening, or light-activated in-office whitening, the two-appointment Deep Bleaching process, followed by two weeks of at-home whitening may provide the results you are looking for. This process is highly successful at reducing or erasing stains from food and drinks, and brightens teeth discolored by age and tobacco use as well.

About Three Visits: Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a choice we recommend for patients needing to address problems with tooth size, shape, color and more. Veneers are thin, reflective shells, bonded to teeth that show when you smile. A veneer can help close small gaps between teeth, reshape teeth for a more even smile and cover a discolored tooth that does not respond to whitening. Lumineers are an option for some patients, and require less tooth preparation than porcelain veneers. 

Your Improved Smile Could Happen Sooner Than You Think

Contact Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to learn more about how we can help improve your smile, whether you have a time line of about an hour, or more.

Dr. Richardson

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