Are you unhappy with your smile, gums, or the shape of your teeth? If that is the case, there are a wide array of procedures that a cosmetic dentist can perform that will completely change your smile. Throughout the course of this brief article, you will learn about just a few common cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Teeth Whitening

If you're unhappy with the color of your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can help you with this matter. Whether your teeth are yellowed due to smoking or years of poor oral hygiene, or if you have a bit of grayness to your teeth due to medication use, a cosmetic dentist can help you out with a teeth whitening process. Teeth whitening is a same-day procedure that involves a rigorous teeth cleaning followed by placing a contoured device onto your teeth that allows them to soak in a cleaning solution. If your teeth are deeply stained, there is a stronger version of the solution that the dentist can employ that includes bleach. Talk to a dentist like J R Gassman Inc DDS if you have any further questions about teeth whitening.

Gum Shaping

Also known as gum contouring, this process can help your teeth look a bit smaller or larger, depending on what you want. Many people believe their smiles are too "gummy" or that they have teeth that are too small, while other people consider themselves to be "buck toothed" or believe that their teeth are too large. Gum contouring is a process whereby your gums are rearranged, so to speak. For those that suffer from gummy smiles, the gums are pulled upwards, while the gums are pulled downward and spread thin for those who believe themselves to have too large of teeth.

Enamel Contouring

Like gum shaping, enamel contouring involves changing the structural integrity of part of your mouth. In this case, it is the shape of the teeth themselves. This is a process that is usually employed for people with misshapen or otherwise structurally unsound teeth. Teeth that are overlapping, crowded, or simply aesthetically unpleasing can be improved by the process of enamel contouring or shaping. During the process, the entirety of the tooth is shaved down using a series of tools. The tooth in question is usually of an odd or malformed shape and is transformed into a more traditional looking tooth.

Hopefully, this brief guide has given you some idea of how a cosmetic dentist can help you out. If you believe that one of the listed procedures can improve your smile, call a trusted cosmetic dentist and make an appointment to speak to him or her at your convenience.