Everyone wants to look their best, and as we age some things like yellowing teeth or sagging skin can add years to our appearance. However, a visit to your cosmetic dentist can help in reversing those signs of aging with just a few safe and effective treatments. Dr. Paul Koch of Koch Aesthetic Dentistry gives his tips on procedures like teeth whitening, a “lip flip,” and Botox for sagging areas that (especially when used in conjunction with each other) can take years off.
Teeth Whitening
First impressions are everything, and your smile is one of the first things that people notice. What does the world see when you smile? Tooth discoloration is when the color of your teeth change. They don’t look as bright or white as they should. Your teeth may darken, turn from white to different colors, or develop white or dark spots in places. Unfortunately, teeth yellow with age and can also become stained by some foods, drinks, and tobacco.
Do whiter teeth make you look younger? According to research conducted by the experts at Oral B, the answer is yes. In a recent study, they asked participants to estimate the age of a model in a photo. However, the two photos that were shown were of the same woman - the only difference being the color of her teeth. Researchers found that the model with whiter teeth was estimated to be 13 years younger on average!
One of the fastest and easiest cosmetic dental options for brightening your smile is teeth whitening. You may have seen commercials for various tooth bleaching products such as toothpastes, paint-on gels, or tooth-whitening strips. Certainly, over-the-counter products are less expensive and easy to access. However, most of these have a fairly low potency.
There are numerous advantages to having a professional teeth-whitening appointment like KöR Whitening. Because the professional formula of the gel is more potent than the over-the-counter type, your teeth whitening process takes far less time while also being far more effective.
A dental professional can also prescribe custom, at-home tooth bleaching kits. A popular and effective method of teeth whitening at Koch Aesthetic Dentistry is called the Zoom! Whitening System.
Lip Flip and DAO Botox
Now that you have beautiful, whiter teeth - you may want to address any sagging or volume loss around your mouth that can also add years to your appearance. Botox, when used by a professional, can be an effective treatment to reverse the signs of aging.
A “lip flip” involves Botox being injected into specific muscles to help relax the top lip and “flip” it out, thereby creating the illusion of a fuller upper lip without actually having to add volume (like you would with fillers). A lip flip can be more cost effective than dermal fillers, and it also won’t cause a drastic change to the appearance of your lips.
DAO stands for Depressor Anguli Oris and is the muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth down when you frown. As we age, these muscles begin to sag and can cause us to have the look of a perpetual frown. Botox injections in this area (also known as Marionette lines) can relax the muscle enough to let the corners of the mouth resume their normal contour and give a more youthful look.
Dr. Koch is offering an exclusive offer for About Town readers: CUSTOM ZOOM! WHITENING TRAYS + 2 AREAS OF BOTOX (maximum of 30 units) $435, savings of $200+. For details contact Koch Aesthetic Dentistry at (205) 729-7785.
For information on these treatments, visit Koch Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Paul Koch has been a practicing dentist since 1989. The practice is locally known as “The Dental Spa.”
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