Treatable Common Dental Conditions Which Cause Patients to Be Self-Conscious About Their Smile

It’s not uncommon for people to be self-conscious about their smiles. There are many reasons someone may be hesitant about showing their teeth or want to keep their mouth closed when smiling for pictures.

Fortunately, many dental conditions that cause patients to be self-conscious about their smiles are entirely treatable. Advanced cosmetic and restorative dental treatments, in conjunction with regular preventive and hygiene care, can both address and prevent these conditions for people of all ages. The following are some of the most common treatable dental problems that can impact patients’ confidence and quality of life.

A Dull or Discolored Smile

Teeth naturally discolor with age, taking on more of a yellow or darker appearance rather than staying white. However, some people have more severe tooth discoloration due to smoking, tetracycline staining, or years of drinking coffee, red wine, or tea.

Regardless of the reason for your tooth discoloration, teeth whitening is an option to help lighten your smile and improve your appearance.

Professional teeth whitening is a simple in-office procedure where we, at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, will lighten your teeth to your preferred shade will lighten your teeth to your preferred shade without over-whitening them so they still look natural yet bright. Some patients may also qualify for custom bleaching trays that can be used at home to lighten teeth.

Professional teeth whitening can improve your self-confidence, giving you your beautiful smile back [1]. Advancements in teeth whitening can also help reduce the appearance of dental fluorosis, which presents as chalky white spots on the teeth.

Failing Dental Implants or Restorations

A failing dental implant or bridge can cause discomfort. Particularly, dental bridges make it difficult for proper oral hygiene, when compared to dental implants, and are more prone to tooth decay. It can also result in gum recession, dark areas around the restoration, or even an improper bite where teeth don’t fit together correctly.

Dental implants can fail because of improper placement and poor bone or crown quality. Fixing failing dental implants and other tooth restorations is best done by an experienced dentist.

If you have a dental implant, bridge, or veneers that feel loose or are causing pain, inflammation, and difficulty chewing it is highly recommended you seek professional consultation. Getting these restorations repaired by a specialist, such as a prosthodontist, can help restore not only the function of your smile but your appearance and self-confidence as well [2].

A Missing Tooth or Teeth

Missing teeth are one of the common factors that affect self-esteem in patients [3]. If you’re missing a permanent tooth or several teeth, restoring your smile can improve speaking and chewing as well as your confidence and appearance.

Depending on your unique smile and oral health, you may have several options for replacing your missing tooth or teeth. Dental implants are an excellent option for replacing one or multiple missing teeth and provide the strength and security of a permanent restoration.

At Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, your dental implant procedure will be completed with our in-house custom-crafted dental crowns. Our restorations will harmoniously fit with the rest of your teeth so you can eat and smile with confidence. 

Misshapen or Irregular Gums – ‘Gummy Smile’

If you have what’s called a “gummy smile”, you’re not alone—around 10% of the population show excessive gum tissue when smiling, and women are more at risk than men of having a gummy smile [4].

However, a gummy smile isn’t the only dental condition that can affect your self-confidence when it comes to periodontal tissue. Some people may have receding gums, which show too much of the teeth and can lead to an abnormal appearance.

Other patients have gum tissue that looks uneven or excessive only in certain places. All of these conditions are treatable with gum contouring. The specific treatments for gum contouring will vary from patient to patient but may include laser therapy, dental crowns, or gum grafting. [4]

Gapped or Worn-Down Teeth

Although some people are not self-conscious of minor gaps in their teeth, large, noticeable spaces can affect their confidence about their entire smile. This can be treated with orthodontics, dental bonding, and even dental crowns or veneers to restore your appearance.

Worn-down teeth are another cosmetic and functional issue people may have with their smiles. Worn-down teeth can happen from an improper bite, teeth grinding, or poorly placed dental restorations.

Both worn-down teeth and gapped teeth can be treated with dental crowns, veneers, or other restorations. Veneers can also correct chipped or cracked teeth and last for over a decade with the proper care [5].

Are You Unhappy With Your Smile?

If you have any of the above conditions that are affecting your confidence about your smile, don’t wait to schedule a consultation with Dr. Marlin or Dr. Talmazov at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry. We work with patients experiencing a wide range of dental conditions to correct and restore their smiles, improve their quality of life with self-esteem and proper oral function. It’s never too late to improve your smile!

References:

1. Bersezio, Cristian et al. “The effects of at-home whitening on patients’ oral health, psychology, and aesthetic perception.” BMC oral health vol. 18,1 208. 11 Dec. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12903-018-0668-2

2. Levin, Liran. “Dealing with dental implant failures.” Journal of applied oral science : revista FOB vol. 16,3 (2008): 171-5. doi:10.1590/s1678-77572008000300002

3. Kaur, Puneet et al. “Impact of Dental Disorders and its Influence on Self Esteem Levels among Adolescents.” Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR vol. 11,4 (2017): ZC05-ZC08. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/23362.9515

4. Brizuela, Melina et al. “Excessive Gingival Display.” StatPearls Publishing (2022)5. Alenezi, Ali et al. “Long-Term Survival and Complication Rates of Porcelain Laminate Veneers in Clinical Studies: A Systematic Review.” Journal of clinical medicine vol. 10,5 (2021): 1074. doi:10.3390/jcm10051074