Good dentistry can be likened to fine dining. Just like a meal in a fine restaurant is prepared specifically for the individual, allowing time to prepare with great attention to detail and service, so also is good comprehensive dentistry. There are times, however, where an individual might need, or want, that fast food burger and fries. In the world of dentistry, the same concept exists. Sometimes fast food is just right.
When a patient is approaching a big event, he may decide that he would like to improve his smile – without investing a lot of time or money. The dentist can work with the patient to determine the cosmetic issues and offer some suggestions that fit the time and money criterion.
One obvious option is bleaching. This can be done in-office in one visit or at home over a period of several weeks. Bleaching works best with natural teeth because restorative materials do not respond to the bleach in the same way and the result may be a little uneven. Your dentist can advise you on this.
Patients with slightly misaligned teeth, old fillings in the front, or gaps between teeth could benefit from bonding with tooth colored cosmetic materials. This, too, can be done in one visit in the office.
Teeth that are irregular (maybe with small chips in the enamel) can often be improved with contouring, where the dentist, with an artistic eye, evens out the smile and smooths the irregularities.
A final suggestion is a “Snap-On Smile”. This is a dental prosthesis, constructed in a dental lab, which fits over the teeth. No preparation of the teeth is needed. This option is more expensive because of the lab bill, but is a quick fix that will not interfere with comprehensive care later.
In a perfect world, the patient would approach his dental care like a fine dining experience. When that is not possible, “fast food dentistry” may be a viable option.
