What is Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry has become one of the most popular fields of dentistry available today. The demand for cosmetic dentists has been continously increasing as more and more individuals than ever before are looking to improve their physical appearance.

Technological advancements in recent years have made new dental materials and restorative techniques available to dentists. This progress has helped dentists to address new challenges in cosmetic dentistry and provide to a wider range of their patients much more and affordable options for creating a more attractive appearance through a beautiful smile.

Cosmetic dentistry covers a broad range of dental services and procedures that can help to restore a beautiful and healthy smile, often referred to as a "smile makeover". They may include whitening, restorative, prosthodontic, orthodontic, periodontic or even surgical procedures.

Although the purpose of cosmetic dentistry is different from that of traditional dentistry that focuses on the prevention and treatment of dental problems, some of the cosmetic dentistry treatments can also offer an improvement in the overall function of the mouth. On the other hand, many conventional dental treatments may also provide cosmetic benefits.

We may seek cosmetic dentistry for a variety of reasons. The truth is that most of us would like their teeth to be straighter and whiter, giving us a beautiful smile. Many people who feel uncomfortable with their smile, will rarely laugh and smile or they will cover the mouth with their hand when laughing. An unattractive smile can have negative effects on an individual’s self-confidence, self-esteem and personal or proffesional relationships. As we get older, cosmetic dental treatments can help us to hide the signs of aging on our teeth (such as yellowish color and worn tooth edges).

A beautiful smile can make everyone to feel better physically and mentally. A bright healthy smile may boost a person’s self esteem and confidence which could improve his/her performance in every area of life.

Cosmetic procedures can improve imperfections caused by genetics, environmental factors, injury, neglect or age. There are many different cosmetic problems that cosmetic dentistry procedures can fix. Common aesthetic issues that can be corrected with the help of a cosmetic dentist include :

• Stained or Discolored Teeth • Teeth may lose their white color and become stained for a number of different reasons such as smoking, staining foods and drinks , trauma or medications with a negative effect on the overall appearance of the mouth.
• Missing Teeth • Even a single missing tooth can dramatically affect the way we look. If several teeth are missing the remaining teeth tend to shift position towards the gaps, altering the whole facial appearance.
• Gaps between teeth • Large spaces between front teeth (diastema) may look unattractive.
• Uneven teeth • Some teeth may be a little shorter or longer or have a different shape than the rest.
• Crooked or Crowded Teeth • Problems with crooked or crowded teeth are the most common ones for starting a cosmetic treatment. Modern cosmetic dentistry can offer more options than classic orthodontic treatment such as cosmetic dental restorations.
• Broken – chipped teeth • Even a minor chip or crack on the front teeth may be noticeable from others when we smile.
• Silver Fillings • The common silver amalgam fillings may work fine, but they are not the best choice if we are concerned about the look of our smile. If you have any of these dark fillings, especially in the front more visible teeth, you may have to consider replacing them with modern tooth-colored fillings.
• Gummy Smile • Gummy smile is caused by excessive gum tissue that covers a large part of the teeth’s crown. In other cases this problem appears only on some of the teeth so that the gumline is uneven and some teeth look smaller than normal.

Although many of the procedures that may be part of a smile makeover could be performed by other dental specialties, it is extremely important that the treatment plan has been prepared by a cosmetic dentist. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration before deciding what procedures will be needed in order to achieve the best final cosmetic result. Cosmetic dentistry is also an art beyond science.

If you wish to improve your smile, you should visit first a specialized cosmetic dentist who has the necessary training and experience to assess all these factors and propose the necessary treatments, some of which might be performed by other dental specialists who he will recommend.