I Want to Fix My Smile. What Procedure Should I Get?

Mullins SC Dentist Office

Cosmetic Front Teeth Dentist Mullins Sc

Nothing lights up a room like a great smile. Unfortunately, it may not be your smile that’s lighting up the room. In fact, there is actually a scientific reason why people with less-than-ideal smiles are generally less happy and have lower self-esteem.

You see, smiling releases endorphins (a natural “feel good” hormone), but when you smile less you may not be releasing as many endorphins (here’s a great article from Psychology Today on how it all works).

The bottom line is that smiling more can make you happy, but if you aren’t confident in the appearance of your teeth and gums, then you probably don’t want to smile very much.

It’s like the chicken and the egg…isn’t it?

If you’re struggling with your smile and self-confidence and want to know what cosmetic options are available to help you achieve the smile of your dreams, keep reading.

Dr. Todd Blevins is known as “South Carolina’s Smile Makeover Artist” and has helped countless patients transform their smiles at his practice in Mullins, SC (patients frequently come from all around the state to see Dr. Blevins).

Here are a few of the most common cosmetic procedures performed at Blevins Dentistry that will help you transform your smile.

Cosmetic Bonding – For Minor Issues

Cosmetic bonding (also referred to as “dental bonding” or just “bonding”) is a common procedure that will fix very small imperfections. The most common uses for cosmetic bonding are to fix small chips or cracks in teeth.

While this procedure is perfect for those with minor issues, if you have damage to multiple teeth or are looking to completely transform your smile, bonding probably isn’t going to be the best option for you.

Porcelain Veneers for Cracked or Chipped Teeth

If you’ve ever seen a friend, family member, or celebrity who has seemingly transformed their smile overnight, there is a chance that porcelain veneers played a role in their cosmetic restoration.

Porcelain veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain that adhere to the front of your teeth. While that may sound a little odd on the surface, what you have to understand is that in order to get veneers, some tooth enamel will need to be shaved off to make room for your veneers.

Here are a few of the common problems that can be corrected with porcelain veneers:

  • Front teeth that are misshapen
  • Teeth that are cracked, chipped, or broken
  • Teeth that have too much space between them (known as “gapped” teeth)

At our office, Dr. Blevins carefully crafts each veneer to precisely match the size, color, and shape of your ideal teeth using CEREC technology. The result is that you can actually walk into our office and walk out with your new set of veneers on the very same day.

Most dental practices require a lab to manufacture your veneers, but since Blevins Dentistry invests heavily in our on-site dental technology, we can create a brand new set of veneers on the same day.

Here is a page that details our “veneers in a day” process (including several videos from Dr. Blevins):

Single-Visit Veneers

Dental Implants to Replace Missing or Damaged Teeth

Dental implants with crowns, a bridge, or a fixed denture are the gold standard for replacing several missing or decaying teeth and restoring your smile.

Dental implants are titanium screws that are surgically placed into your jawbone (don’t worry, you’ll be sedated the whole time and won’t feel a thing) to mimic your natural tooth roots.

They are commonly used to:

  • Secure a loose-fitting bridge or denture.
  • Replace teeth that are missing or need to be extracted.
  • Restore the functionality of your teeth so that you can eat those “difficult-to-chew” foods once again.
  • Improve your facial structure and avoid a sunken jaw.
  • Help to combat bone loss.

Without a solid foundation, your smile will never reach full potential. While many patients will not require dental implants, those who do will have the foundation they need for a great smile (topped off with crowns, a bridge, or an implant-supported denture).

To learn more about getting dental implants at Blevins Dentistry or to book your consult with Dr. Blevins to see if implants are right for you, click here.

Snap-in Dentures – A Great Solution for Those on a Budget

Snap-in dentures typically snap into place over dental implants and can be a great solution for patients who want a removable device.

What’s important to remember about snap-in-dentures is that you won’t have the same functionality as you would with a more permanent restoration, and you also must clean your denture regularly to get rid of bacteria.

When you meet with Dr. Blevins, he’ll discuss all of your options, including an overdenture to see if this may be a good treatment option for you.

Gum Contouring

A common complaint that many people share is that their smile is “too gummy.” What they usually mean is that the smile shows too much of their gums and not enough teeth.

At Blevins Dentistry, we offer a very unique service where we can use a laser to recontour and reshape your gums.

It’s a fast, easy process with little pain and your gum tissue heals quite quickly! So if you feel that your teeth appear too short or you want to remove a little gum tissue to expose more of your pearly whites, gum contouring may be the perfect solution for you.

Smile Makeover

Want to have your cake and eat it, too? Then you may be interested in learning about a complete smile makeover.

While individual treatments are great to correct specific issues, many patients who see Dr. Blevins for a consult say something like, “Doc, I don’t care what procedures you use, I just want my gums and teeth to look great and feel great!”

When Dr. Blevins hears this he smiles because he gets to really roll up his sleeves and play architect on your new smile! To learn more about the procedures that may be involved in a smile makeover, visit the link to our smile makeovers page below:

Smile Makeovers

So what is your next step?

At this point, you can either back out of this page and say, “Thanks for the information.” Or you can schedule your consult with Dr. Blevins at our Mullins, SC dental practice.

You’ve probably been thinking about fixing your smile for a long time and if you’ve got to the point of researching your options, now is the perfect time to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consult.

During your appointment, Dr. Blevins will meet with you to evaluate your current smile, as well as discuss your wants, needs, and goals to take your smile from where it is now, to where you want it to be.

There’s also no pressure whatsoever at this consult. Dr. Blevins will simply present a few options and then it’s up to you to decide what option is best for you. Whether you choose Blevins Dentistry or not, we want you to know that you don’t have to live the rest of your life with a smile you don’t love!

We want you to be happy, so contact us to schedule your appointment!

Schedule Your Appointment Now

We Can’t Wait to Help You Create Your Dream Smile!

Make Your Appointment