Sometimes we have patients come into Blossom Dental Care & Implant Studio who desperately want to improve the appearance of their smiles but have some concerns about undergoing orthodontic treatment as an adult. Will the treatment take years? What will people think if they’re seen wearing braces? Isn’t it really expensive? These are all questions that come up time and again.

In addition, people often ask if there are ways to achieve a straighter smile without orthodontics. Our answer is yes and no.

Tooth whitening

Some people, especially those with fairly mild alignment issues, find that having their teeth whitened can give the illusion that their teeth are straighter and healthier than in the past. This is because, when your teeth look whiter, it minimises the appearance of flaws and shadows that can highlight where there are poorly aligned teeth.

If you’ve got a special event coming up and you want to give your teeth a lift without extensive treatment, then teeth whitening is something to consider. We use Enlighten, which can boost the whiteness of your teeth by up to 12 shades.

Dental implants

If you have crooked teeth that are extensively damaged and must be extracted, then we can replace them with dental implants. Not only do these look like natural teeth but they are comparable in strength and function, offering a lasting way to restore your bite. It’s worth noting that we would never extract a healthy tooth just to replace it with a dental implant that sits in a straighter position. Our priority is always on helping you keep your natural teeth at the optimum levels of health and appearance.

Dental veneers

In a recent blog, we explored how dental veneers may be an option to restore your smile. Dental veneers are tooth-shaped and coloured shells that sit on the front of your natural teeth to hide imperfections such as discolouration or a large gap between your front teeth. As well as helping your teeth to look straighter, we can even use veneers to correct the shape, size and colour of your teeth.

Smile makeover

With a smile makeover, we look at how the various treatments and techniques at our disposal can be used to give you the best possible smile. This might involve a combination of treatments such as teeth whitening and dental veneers, as well as dental crowns or a dental bridge. No two smile makeovers are the same. If you would like to correct several aspects of your smile, it’s worth asking about our smile makeover service.

Orthodontics – there’s more than one solution

We can understand that orthodontic teeth straightening treatment can feel daunting to our adult patients. It’s usual to feel worried about what other people will think or to worry that wearing a brace won’t fit with your lifestyle or busy schedule.

The good news is that there is a growing number of brace and aligner systems that have been created with busy adults in mind. Some of these solutions, such as Invisalign, are almost invisible, incredibly comfortable to wear, and offer a discreet but effective method of straightening your teeth. Thanks to the precision of Invisalign, the system of clear aligners can even reduce treatment times and be used to correct more complex orthodontic cases.

Ultimately, if you do need to move your healthy teeth into a new position for a straighter smile and better functioning bite, then orthodontics is your best option.

If you would like to know more about teeth straightening options and orthodontics in York at Blossom Dental Care & Implant Studio, please book a consultation by calling 01904 653356.