Services

Cosmetic dentistry is a division of dentistry that takes care of the general appearance of your teeth, gums, and bite. A cosmetic dentist rectifies not only the teeth’s appearance but also their function. Dental treatments are considered cosmetic when they include aesthetic enhancements to your teeth.

What Does Cosmetic Dentistry Do?

Many people turn to cosmetic dentistry to correct certain aesthetic imperfections, including the following:

• Teeth that are stained or discolored
• Gaps between teeth
• Misshapen or worn-down teeth
• Crooked or misaligned teeth
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Severely worn-down enamel

Your dentist may recommend cosmetic procedures to improve your smile’s appearance, but your dental health always comes first. Veneers and other lasting treatments cannot fix underlying issues like decay and gum disease. This is why it’s recommended that you schedule regular checkups with your dentist to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean. Only after these conditions have been addressed should you consider undergoing cosmetic treatments to improve the appearance of your teeth.

What Are the Different Types of Cosmetic Dental Procedures?

Cosmetic dentistry requires advanced technical skills and a creative eye. Though a few cosmetic procedures need specialized care and are more complex, most of them are relatively simple.

Teeth whitening: One of the simplest methods to improve your smile, this procedure is where the dentist removes any plaque or tartar and then applies a whitening solution to the teeth multiple times to get the desired shade for your smile.

Dental veneers: Composed of porcelain or resin, these customized paper-thin shells shield the surface of the teeth. They are secured to the front of the teeth after removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth. Veneers can also fix issues like crooked teeth, cracked enamel, or a gap between the teeth. 

Dental bonding: In this procedure, a tooth-colored composite resin bonding is applied to the tooth and then solidified with a special curing light. Then, it is shaped, trimmed, and polished by your dentist. Bonding can repair cracked, misshapen, chipped, or decayed teeth.

Dental crowns: These restorative appliances — fabricated from metal, ceramic, ceramic-on-metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or resin — are fitted over the entire damaged or decayed tooth above the gum line. Crowns can be used to conceal severely discolored or misshapen teeth or to hold a cracked tooth together. 

Inlays and onlays: These indirect fillings — primarily composed of porcelain, composite materials, or gold — fill decayed or damaged teeth. They are manufactured in a dental lab and shaped into place by your dentist. When the filling is bonded in the center of the tooth, it is referred to as an inlay. On the other hand, when the filling includes one or more points of the tooth, it is called an onlay.  

Dental implants: In this process of replacing missing teeth, a small titanium screw will be surgically inserted into your jawbone. Once the screw has bonded, and the bone has healed, it will serve as an anchor for the implant’s crown.  

What Are the Advantages of Cosmetic Dentistry?

There are many advantages to cosmetic dentistry, especially when you consider how important your smile is to your self-esteem and overall health. Here are just a few of the ways that cosmetic dentistry can improve your oral health and overall well-being:

Improve Your Confidence: A beautiful smile isn’t just about looks; it’s about how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you as well. When your teeth are discolored or misaligned, it can impact your self-confidence in social situations as well as professional ones. Even mild misalignments can affect how you eat and speak, while severe malocclusions can make it difficult to chew and even speak normally. By investing in quality cosmetic dentistry procedures, you can give yourself every reason to smile more and feel good about the way you look.

Improve Your Oral Health: Many common cosmetic issues are actually symptoms of other dental health issues like gum disease or tooth grinding. For instance, teeth that are stained yellow from years of smoking or drinking coffee are often the result of built-up plaque on the enamel that is caused by poor oral hygiene. Likewise, teeth grinding can lead to worn-down molars and can eventually result in broken teeth and tooth loss if left untreated. Investing in quality cosmetic dentistry treatments can help you improve both the appearance of your smile and its overall health.

Better Dental Hygiene: Good oral hygiene will help keep your teeth looking and feeling great, but cosmetic procedures can help give you a smile you’ve always wanted. Some cosmetic dentistry treatments can improve your overall dental health in addition to making your smile look great. For example, if you have several teeth that are missing or cracked and you’re interested in getting dentures, getting them at the same time as your dental implants may prevent the jaw bone deterioration that can occur when missing teeth are not replaced.

A Lasting, Beautiful Smile: What cosmetic dental treatments can do for your oral health is endless! From teeth whitening to dental crowns and everything in between, having a healthy smile is important to your overall health and well-being, and cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve that smile you’ve always dreamed of.