Cosmetic Question: Can My Teen Enhance Their Smile?

One of the first things others notice about your teen is the quality of your smile, and it’s natural for young adults to want to make a good first impression. During adolescence, many people with dental issues start to worry about how others might perceive them. If their anxiety gets bad enough, they might avoid social encounters or extracurricular activities, which can detract from their quality of life.

Thankfully, your dentist offers several cosmetic services that can upgrade their grin, but are they safe for teenagers? Continue reading to learn about 3 popular treatments that won’t harm your youth’s smile!

Procedure #1: Teeth Whitening

Years of eating and drinking darkly pigmented foods can tint your teen’s teeth a different color. Instead of looking pearly white, they can take on a yellow or brownish hue. Although many over-the-counter products claim to be able to brighten their grin, these typically include diluted bleaching agents that often don’t provide the desired results. Unfortunately, plenty of patients have overused or misapplied these cheaper whiteners, which can cause tooth sensitivity.

Meanwhile, your dentist can provide everything your teen needs to professionally lighten their smile from home. This will include ultra-concentrated whitening gels designed to optimize results while mitigating potentially negative side effects and custom-fitted applicator trays to reduce room for error.

Procedure #2: Porcelain Veneers

If your high schooler has chipped or cracked teeth, their dental health can be as impacted as their appearance. Not only might they feel self-conscious about these unsightly flaws, but once the structure of their teeth is compromised, bacteria are more likely to penetrate the enamel. This can cause cavities, toothaches, gum disease, and an increased likelihood of sustaining additional injuries.

Your family dentist is happy to help boost their confidence and oral condition with porcelain veneers. These thin shells are customized to match (or improve) the shade, shape, and size of their pearly whites and then bonded to their front surfaces to mask imperfections. Plus, they’re coated with a glaze durable enough to resist a certain amount of damage and discoloration to preserve your teen’s grin moving forward.

Procedure #3: Dental Bonding

Getting veneers requires that some of your child’s enamel is removed so that the restorations sit flush against the gumlines without looking too bulky. This protective outer layer doesn’t grow back, making it a permanent change to their teeth. If you’re nervous about allowing your teenager to make irreversible changes to their grin, they might be a better fit for dental bonding.

For this treatment, your dentist applies tooth-colored composite resin to your teen’s enamel to rebuild it to address aesthetic concerns like cracks, chips, mild gaps, and misshapen teeth. It doesn’t require any permanent preparations and can last 10+ years with the right care, making it a great long-term solution.

If you’re still unsure of whether your dentist can upgrade your teen’s smile, the best way to find out is to schedule a consultation!

About the Author

Dr. Terry Rakowsky has 35+ years of experience helping patients improve their lives by enhancing their dental condition. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and is committed to ongoing education at prestigious institutions like the world-renowned Dawson Academy. He provides a full array of services conveniently under one roof, including cosmetics, and utilizes state-of-the-art technology to deliver accurate, long-lasting results. You can request an appointment on the website or call (215) 348-2224.