Do I Need a Cosmetic Dentist?
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a broad term for procedures that make your smile and teeth look better. Sometimes cosmetic dental procedures come from problems with your teeth, like the need for crowns or implants. Depending on your overall goal for your teeth these types of procedures can vary in invasiveness and price range. The main goal of cosmetic dentistry is for you to feel satisfied with your smile and confident in your teeth.
General vs Cosmetic Dentistry
When you think of a dentist, generally what comes to mind is someone who cleans your teeth, performs fillings, and cares about your preventative care. That is known as general dentistry. The goal of general dentistry is to preserve your natural teeth as much as possible and to treat what is necessary.
The practice of cosmetic dentistry is everything that a general dentist would do, but with an emphasis on the appearance of your smile. Cosmetic dentists often have a number of procedures available for patients to improve their overall smile.
Common Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures:
If you have cracked, discolored, or slightly misaligned teeth, then you might want to consider veneers as an option. With minimal trimming of the front of your teeth, they fit onto the outside of your tooth and act as an additional layer, rather than a replacement. An added benefit of porcelain veneers is that they are resistant to staining. Once you get your veneers, they will stay pearly white and clean as long as you take care of them. If you have slightly misaligned teeth, veneers can solve the problem without waiting months or years, like with braces. However, veneers will cost more than traditional braces or clear aligners treatment.
Crowns
Dental crowns are a common procedure in both general and cosmetic dentistry. Usually, the recommendation for a crown falls after a root canal to protect the tooth, stress fractures, severe decay or damaged teeth, and even aesthetic reasons. Unlike veneers, crowns are sometimes covered by dental insurance providers if deemed necessary for good oral health. For example, a crown procedure due to severe decay or after a root canal treated tooth can help to reinforce and strengthen the tooth’s overall longevity.
Crowns can come in different types of materials depending on your preference and also what your dentist recommends. A type of porcelain is generally the best choice for front teeth aesthetics. Furthermore, for your back molars, your dentist might consider stronger material due to constant forces from chewing.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular and sought-after cosmetic dental procedures. Nowadays there are so many options available for patients to achieve that fresh bright smile. Products over-the-counter provide ease to at-home comfort in between our busy lives. They are an affordable method whether you are looking for quick results (usually achieving minimal to a shade lighter) or to maintain your look after in-office whitening. With in-office whitening, the price point is higher and requires an office visit, and use a higher percentage of beaching material, but can result in more long-lasting two to three shades lighter. After your visit, your dentist can even provide you with whitening trays to maintain your look. That way, you can skip some visits to the office and maintain a good-looking smile.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a similar type of crown procedure. Instead of trimming down a tooth and placing a cap over an existing tooth an implant crown takes the place of a tooth when it has been missing or recently removed. Dental implants generally have a 97.1% success and survival rate and with healthy oral hygiene can last a longer lifespan than other types of dental restorations. However, unlike crowns, dental implants are not often covered by insurance companies. If you do decide on this cosmetic surgery, then you may have to pay for it out of pocket.
Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is the most widely known and advertised type of Dental treatment. Two treatments procedures that patients can choose are traditional wire braces or clear alignment trays, such as Invisalign or OrthoFX.
Traditional Metal Braces involve brackets that are attached to every tooth, a wire that runs through each bracket for retention and support, and colorless to colored rubber bands to hold everything together. On average, treatment time is approximately 2 years with visits into the office every 1-2 months to have the wires exchanged and new rubber bands.
Clear Aligner Technology, such as Invisalign and OrthoFX, are worn more like removable retainers than braces with a few tooth-colored attachments to hold them in your mouth. You will be provided with multiple sets of aligners that you interchange every week so that movements are consistent and constant; allowing for a faster and biologically healthy way of moving teeth in the comfort of your own home. As a patient, you will come once every ~5-6 weeks for a quick evaluation to continually monitor your progress. This is especially good for clients beyond their elementary and teen years. Many people beyond their teen years feel they’ve missed their chance at straight teeth. A professional business person doesn’t want a mouth full of braces when giving a presentation.
