The Cosmetic Dentist: Improvement Beyond Whitening
When most people think of a cosmetic dentist, the first procedure they think of is tooth whitening.
As anyone in the specialty will admit, this is by far the most popular service they provide.
One need only look at the shelves in any supermarket or drugstore to see that Americans are highly concerned about the shade of their teeth.
But the field is much broader than simply tooth whitening.
If you didn't know there was more to it than that, here are some procedures you might not be familiar with.
Veneers A cosmetic dentist will use veneers in cases where a patient has one or more teeth that have an unattractive appearance for one reason or another.
In some cases, this could be because of discoloration that cannot be solved through whitening.
In others, it may be due to a crack or even variations in shape and size.
Veneers are exactly what they sound like: applications that go over the tooth and present an artificial front to the world.
There are multiple choices when it comes to the material used for the veneer, so it's important to speak with a health care provider in the field and determine what the right solution is for your purposes.
Implants Sometimes a cosmetic dentist will be called on to handle tooth replacement.
While many patients will be advised to get a partial denture or attempt to restore the tooth with a root canal, a dental implant is sometimes a better option.
However, due to its increased cost and demand for healthy gums and bone, it isn't always the right solution for everyone with a missing tooth.
Instead of simply sitting in the recessed hole where the former tooth was located, an implant will actually be drilled into the jawbone, more closely mimicking the presence of a real tooth.
This solution can prevent many of the unpleasant side effects that come with tooth loss, such as bone disintegration.
Gum Manipulation It isn't talked about much in the more popular cosmetic dentist blogs and articles, but there are plenty of people who could benefit tremendously from gum reshaping and contouring.
Much like a hairline, everyone has a different gumline.
In most cases, it has a negligible effect on the appearance of the smile.
In others, the gumline comes too far down the teeth, creating an effect that isn't desirable.
Many people think this is just something they have to live with, but a good cosmetic dentist can change your gumline and give you the smile you've been missing.
As anyone in the specialty will admit, this is by far the most popular service they provide.
One need only look at the shelves in any supermarket or drugstore to see that Americans are highly concerned about the shade of their teeth.
But the field is much broader than simply tooth whitening.
If you didn't know there was more to it than that, here are some procedures you might not be familiar with.
Veneers A cosmetic dentist will use veneers in cases where a patient has one or more teeth that have an unattractive appearance for one reason or another.
In some cases, this could be because of discoloration that cannot be solved through whitening.
In others, it may be due to a crack or even variations in shape and size.
Veneers are exactly what they sound like: applications that go over the tooth and present an artificial front to the world.
There are multiple choices when it comes to the material used for the veneer, so it's important to speak with a health care provider in the field and determine what the right solution is for your purposes.
Implants Sometimes a cosmetic dentist will be called on to handle tooth replacement.
While many patients will be advised to get a partial denture or attempt to restore the tooth with a root canal, a dental implant is sometimes a better option.
However, due to its increased cost and demand for healthy gums and bone, it isn't always the right solution for everyone with a missing tooth.
Instead of simply sitting in the recessed hole where the former tooth was located, an implant will actually be drilled into the jawbone, more closely mimicking the presence of a real tooth.
This solution can prevent many of the unpleasant side effects that come with tooth loss, such as bone disintegration.
Gum Manipulation It isn't talked about much in the more popular cosmetic dentist blogs and articles, but there are plenty of people who could benefit tremendously from gum reshaping and contouring.
Much like a hairline, everyone has a different gumline.
In most cases, it has a negligible effect on the appearance of the smile.
In others, the gumline comes too far down the teeth, creating an effect that isn't desirable.
Many people think this is just something they have to live with, but a good cosmetic dentist can change your gumline and give you the smile you've been missing.
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