There are 44 muscles in the human face that are capable of producing over 5,000 expressions, including smiling. The act of smiling is credited with sending a direct link to the brain that increases feelings of happiness and allows you to project a more confident you. However, when your teeth are chipped, cracked, discolored or gapped, leading to feelings of self-consciousness about your smile, you are less likely to indulge in this activity. Fortunately, these issues can be corrected with the right dental procedure and some money. 

Teeth whitening

Foods such as red wine, tea and other intensely colored foods, that can create a stain on cloth, can also stain your teeth.  The discoloration can be extrinsic or intrinsic. Intrinsic discoloration is discoloration of the inside of the teeth, related mainly to aging, while extrinsic discoloration can extend from the surface of the teeth to the dentin. These can be addressed either through in-office whitening or using whitening agents at home. 

A good in-office whitening procedure will cost about $650 for each one-hour visit. Take-home whitening kits, with custom-fitted mouth trays, can cost anywhere from $100 to $400, while over-the-counter whitening options vary in cost at about $20 to $100. These each use varying concentrations of peroxide to whiten your teeth, with the strongest, most expensive and most effective option being used in the dental office.

Using veneers

While teeth whitening can only address the problem of discoloration, applying veneers can make your cracked, chipped, or discolored teeth look better and give you a more confident smile. Teeth whitening can also be combined with the use of veneers to ensure better results when wear and tear of teeth are accompanied by discoloration. Teeth can become chipped or cracked from trauma, or from natural wear and tear that occurs as you age. 

A veneer is a thin layer of tooth-colored porcelain or composite that is placed over the teeth. Porcelain veneers cost between $925 and $2,500 per tooth, but are worth their weight in gold as they can last from 10 to 15 years. Composite veneers are cheaper at $250 to $1500 per tooth but they only last for about 5 to 7 years. The total cost of the procedure would include dental services, the material used to make the veneer as well as the number of teeth to be covered.

While money may not be able to directly buy happiness, it can certainly help to get you a whiter, brighter, more perfect smile, which is likely to boost your confidence and your feelings of contentment. For more information, contact a clinic such as Dentistry For the Entire Family.