Ideally, your teeth should be evenly spaced with minimal room between them, and your upper and lower teeth should be aligned to meet comfortably with their opposites when your jaw is closed. Malocclusion, the more official name for crooked teeth, can affect patients of all ages to varying degrees. When serious, treating malocclusion often requires orthodontic braces consisting of a series of brackets and wires designed to gently move teeth into a more desirable position. For many patients with crooked teeth, however, Downey dentist, Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, can help straighten a smile’s appearance without the use of braces, or without orthodontic treatment at all. If your condition is minor, cosmetic dentistry may suffice to restore your smile’s balance.
Cosmetic Improvements
If your teeth are visibly out of line, but don’t necessarily affect how well your mouth functions, then there are a few cosmetic options that can improve their appearance. Cosmetic dental bonding involves the use of white composite resin, the same material used for tooth-colored dental fillings, which Dr. Hakimzadeh can place on the tooth, then shape it to the tooth’s desired shape. After the resin is artfully sculpted and polished, the dental bonding can correct slight misalignment to smooth the contour of your smile. Often, Dr. Hakimzadeh may recommend porcelain veneers—wafer-thin shells of dental porcelain that are bonded to the front surfaces of one or more teeth. The porcelain is tinted to match your teeth’s color and layered to reflect light the way tooth enamel does, creating a lifelike visage for your smile that’s evenly proportioned.
Invisalign Clear Braces for Teens & Adults
If your malocclusion is too significant for cosmetic procedures, then Invisalign clear braces may still help you avoid the need for braces. Instead of brackets and wires, Invisalign uses a series of acrylic aligners that fit snugly over your teeth. The aligners are clear to avoid the conspicuousness of traditional orthodontics, and you can temporarily remove them to brush your teeth and eat comfortably. After a personal consultation and thorough evaluation, Dr. Hakimzadeh can help you determine if your smile can be straightened with cosmetic dentistry or Invisalign, instead of metal braces.
About Downey Family & Cosmetic Dentistry:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health and function and help them enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
