Hesitant about a Cosmetic Dental Makeover? Ask Your Cincinnati Dentist for a “Tweakment”
If there’s an aspect of your smile you’d like to improve, you might consider having a cosmetic dental procedure from a Cincinnati provider. This could involve professional tooth veneers, dental implants, or other cosmetic treatments. But some procedures can get complex and costly.
Perhaps you don’t want to commit to an extensive cosmetic treatment and would prefer a more subtle enhancement to your appearance. That’s where dental “tweakments” come in. With cosmetic dentistry being more popular than ever, tweakments have become part of a trend toward a broader range of services, which include subtle and more natural smile enhancements.
We explain what tweakments are in relation to cosmetic dentistry. We also provide examples of low-commitment tweakments that can improve your appearance without the need for more advanced procedures.
What Are Oral Tweakments?
An oral tweakment is a relatively minor, non-invasive cosmetic treatment that enhances the appearance of your teeth without drastically altering them. For instance, you may like the look of veneers but are uncomfortable with the idea of permanently wearing down your tooth enamel.
Thanks to ongoing advances in cosmetic dentistry, you have options that are less invasive yet still deliver exceptional results. We discuss and compare our most popular tweakments and review other cosmetic treatments to consider:
Our Most Popular Tweakments
Each of our patients has unique dental needs and aesthetic goals. Nevertheless, here are our most popular tweakments:
Whitening
Achieving a brighter shade of white is a subtle yet effective way to enhance your appearance. Perhaps the most obvious tweakment, a professional whitening treatment from a local dentist, involves no tooth alterations but can make a lasting impression. It’s painless, relatively quick, and preserves the natural look of your teeth.
Although you may be tempted to opt for an inexpensive at-home whitening kit from a pharmacy or grocery store, such do-it-yourself treatments can be difficult to use correctly. Also, they’re typically not as effective or long-lasting as the whitening you’d get from a qualified dental professional.
Whitening is a safe procedure with an extremely low risk of severe side effects. However, you may experience slight gum irritation or tooth sensitivity for a day or two. If these symptoms persist, call your dentist.
Veneers
If your primary concern is the appearance of your front teeth, veneers may be the solution. These very thin coverings are customized to fit the front surfaces after some of the enamel is removed. You can get one or more veneers, depending on how many teeth you want to enhance. Veneers are ideal for correcting stains, minor damage or chips, worn teeth, or slight misalignment.
Depending on your dental needs, you typically have four options for veneers:
- Porcelain: Biocompatible, natural-looking, and the most translucent
- Composite bonding: A mix of organic and inorganic materials, less expensive than porcelain, but not as long-lasting
- Lumineers: Ultra-thin, more natural-looking than porcelain, but more prone to chipping
Recovery from veneer placement involves initial healing, followed by adjustment to your new teeth. You’ll typically need only one or two days to heal. During the first 24 hours, you’ll likely experience more salivation, some lip numbness, and increased sensitivity to hot and cold.
Once these symptoms subside, it could take two weeks or more to adapt to your veneers. For a while, it may feel like you have a foreign object in your mouth. During this time, you’ll need to be careful not to accidentally bite your lips or the inside of your cheek. It may also take some time for you to feel confident in your new look, so flashing a big smile might not come naturally at first.
Dental Crowns
For teeth with significant damage or decay, your dentist will recommend a dental crown. This appliance is a permanent prosthetic device attached to an existing tooth or to a dental implant.
To place a crown, the dentist removes some of the damaged tooth, including any decay, to ensure a proper fit. After taking an impression of your remaining tooth, the dentist will send the mold to a lab where the crown will be fabricated. Before you return for a second appointment to get the crown placed, you’ll receive a temporary crown.
Many crowns are composed of porcelain and ceramic, which look more natural. However, if the crown is placed in the back, it may be made of metal or a gold alloy for added strength and durability during chewing.
Once your anesthesia wears off, expect some pain for a few days. Your dentist can recommend over-the-counter pain medications or prescribe a painkiller to ease the discomfort. After you’ve healed from your dental crown procedure, you’ll need additional time to adjust to your tooth. If your bite still doesn’t seem natural after a couple more days, make a follow-up appointment so that your dentist can make adjustments.
Review the chart below to compare whitening, veneers, and dental crowns. Identifying the dental issues you want to address can help you choose the best tweakment for you.
| Best for . . . | Whitening | Veneers | Dental Crowns |
| No tooth alteration | X | ||
| Cost | X | ||
| Color improvement | X | ||
| Shape improvement | X | ||
| Chip or crack coverage | X | ||
| Strengthening | X | ||
| Structural damage improvement | X | ||
| Longevity | X |
Tweakments With More Subtle Enhancements
Whitening, veneers, and dental crowns are excellent ways to significantly improve your smile. However, if you’re looking for more modest improvements, we have other options:
Composite Bonding
Veneers can fix gaps between teeth or address other common dental issues. However, depending on the nature of your cosmetic issue, veneers may not be your only solution. Keep in mind that applying veneers requires removing some of your enamel, and these appliances don’t last forever. They can also be relatively expensive, especially since most dental plans don’t cover the procedure when it’s for cosmetic purposes.
An alternative to veneers is composite bonding, which involves applying a thin layer of composite resin onto your tooth to improve its color or refine its shape. Do you have a large gap between your front teeth? Dental bonding can slightly reshape the teeth to make them appear more even and closer together.
White Fillings
It can be challenging to feel confident in your smile when metal fillings are visible. While fillings serve a vital health function, they can look unsightly if they don’t blend in with the rest of your teeth.
In most family dental practices, it is increasingly common to place porcelain or tooth-colored composite resin fillings to resemble natural teeth. If you have an upcoming cavity filling, be sure to ask your dentist about using porcelain or resin instead of metal.
What if you already have a mouth full of metal fillings? That’s okay. You can replace them with white fillings and improve your look without compromising your oral health.
How Long Will My Tweakment Last?
Tweakment vary in their longevity. On the one hand, the effects of whitening can last for months, whereas a dental crown can last for decades with proper care. Here’s how long you can expect the following tweakments to help you maintain your natural look:
- Whitening: 6 months to 2 years
- Composite bonding: 3 to 7 years
- Porcelain veneers: 10 to 15 years
- Dental crowns: 10 to 30 years
How long your tweakment lasts also depends on your post-procedural care and at-home brushing and flossing habits. You should also stay up to date with your regular dental checkups and professional cleanings. Take care of your dental work, and it will enhance your natural appearance for a long time.
Subtle Enhancements and Stunning Results for Cincinnati Residents
If you want to look 10 years younger or have a cosmetic issue that you’ve wanted to address, you don’t need to resort to a radical, invasive cosmetic procedure. At Beckham Square Family Dental, we offer a wide range of cosmetic services tailored to your preferences and dental health goals. If you’re ready to inquire about a tweakment, schedule your initial consultation with us today by completing our convenient online form.