My missing teeth always embarrassed me, and I never even smiled in pictures. Sick of feeling shy, and awkward at most social events, I decided to do whatever it took to get a great smile, even if it meant getting dentures. My orthodontist warned me before getting into everything that things might get expensive. In fact, the average cosmetic dentistry patient spends between 5000 and 6000 dollars on procedures to improve their smile, but I was ready to do whatever it took.

The orthodontist reassured me that it was not that I had bad teeth that needed fixing. It was that I wanted to have a better smile. Many women do, he said, as shown by a study of the AACD, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Apparently, two third of patients that seek cosmetic dentistry, like dentures or teeth in a day procedures, are female.

He told me that what I needed were dental implants. They are exactly what they sound like, he told me. It is a literal implant to replace a neutral teeth. These implants are used to replace roots of the missing teeth, and are usually made out of titanium. I would need mini implants, which had a smaller diameter of about less than three millimeters. This was good, since I was very nervous that I would need dentures.

Even though I knew that dental implants have a success rate of up to 98 percent, I was still nervous. The orthodontist told me that they can last a lifetime with proper care, which made me feel better. Now, I have a great smile that I proudly show off everywhere I go.

So please, if you have any fears or anxieties over your smile, get the help of an orthodontist. Whether you need dentures or dental implants, please go and invest in your self esteem! You will be glad that you did.

If anyone has any questions about dental implants or dentures, feel free to ask. If you have dentures or dental implants, please share your experience and stories in the comments!

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