When you’re looking to enhance your smile, a dentist can provide a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments. If you’re unfamiliar with the options and wondering whether you’re a candidate for professional teeth whitening or veneers, here’s a helpful guide to lead your decision-making process. 

Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is a simple cosmetic procedure. Using at-home trays or a bleach solution and UV light in-office, a dental care team can remove surface stains and brighten your teeth by several shades. At a dental office, the procedure can be completed in under an hour.

While some patients may experience mild sensitivity and gum irritation, these side effects are temporary. With a healthy oral hygiene routine, the effects of professional whitening can last several months, if not years. Touch-ups and follow-up appointments to remove surface stains may be needed to maintain results. 

Veneers

Veneers are permanent cosmetic solutions that require adhering thin coverings made of composite resin or porcelain to the front of teeth. Instead of bleaching natural teeth, veneers can be customized to the brightness and size of your choosing to conceal stains and other imperfections. They can also fix crookedness, chips, and cracks.

To establish a strong bond with the veneers, your natural tooth enamel will need to be removed. Once this procedure is complete, veneers can last upwards of 20 years and will resist stains with routine oral care. 

If you want to better understand what cosmetic dentistry option is best for you, consult Stephen R. Ho, DDS, With 25 years of experience and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau®, he provides residents across Oahu with comprehensive, stress-free oral care in a welcoming environment. For more information on the services offered, visit the clinic’s website. Call (808) 949-4288 to schedule your first appointment.