Looking for a memorable holiday gift? How about the gift of a new smile?
Seriously, most people know of a close friend or family member experiencing crowded teeth, awkward overbites, gap teeth, overly yellowed teeth or unsightly wrinkles on the lips or around the mouth. Dentists are trained experts in remedying these situations.
Here’s an easy gift: teeth whitening.
While some people think they can brighten their smile for that New Year’s Eve party by brushing on a concoction of baking soda, lemon and other ingredients suggested on the Internet, this can be dangerous. Various household products actually strip teeth of their protective enamel. The failsafe method is to have your teeth whitened by a dental professional. This is a gift that will bring you overwhelming gratitude from teens to senior adults.
If your loved one has an impending wedding, graduation or other special occasions where they want to look their best, Botox treatment from your dentist is a safe and reliable gift. As professionals in the area of the oral and maxillofacial areas (chin to forehead), dentists are the true pros at Botox. In fact, dentists deliver millions of injections each year. The procedure takes just 5-15 minutes and lasts three to four months.
Clinically, Botox is used for TMJ cases and facial pain as well. You can make prior arrangements for your loved one’s treatment and either the office will make a gift certificate or you can make one easily on the computer.
Another popular gift is Invisilign. This revolutionary alternative to unsightly metal braces is perfect for adults whose teeth have shifted since they had braces as a youth. It’s also used to correct overbites, underbites, crossbites, tooth gaps and open bites.
The Invisilign procedure starts with a smile scan so the patient can see their future new smile on a screen before work is even started. The excitement it generates is always a highlight of any dentist’s day. 3-D imagery has come a long way! The clear aligners are then created using the latest dental technology for a perfect fit.
Patients with Invisilign rave about how invisible the aligners are. There are no wires, the wearer can continue to eat their favorite foods and continue to floss and brush as if the aligners weren’t even there. The aligners are worn 20-22 hours a day. The typical patient will go through a few sets as the teeth and jaw begin to reposition to their correct alignment.
So how about Santa bringing a gift people at any age can use: the route to a new, glorious smile.
Dr. Shelley Shearer is a graduate of the University of Louisville Dental School and Founder of Shearer Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Florence, the largest all-female dental practice in Northern Kentucky.
