Cosmetic Dentistry: How Does If Differ And Who Should Consider It?
Cosmetic dentistry differs from general dentistry because it focuses on tooth and smile appearance instead of fixing cavities and doing root canals. A cosmetic dentist adds dental material to teeth or gums and improves the smile by removing tooth structures of gums.
So, while general dentistry focuses on the treatment and prevention of oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on the overall appearance of the teeth.
Is Cosmetic Dentistry Necessary?
While not all cosmetic procedures are necessary as it pertains to oral health, a person with missing or failing teeth may find it necessary to make themselves feel better about their appearance and/or their quality of life.
In some regards, cosmetic and general dentistry overlap because when decay leads to tooth extraction, a cosmetic dentist helps fill in the missing teeth, so that the person's smile doesn't change.
Some procedures that primarily fall under cosmetic dentistry include procedures to create a nice smile.
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers
- Onlays and inlays
- Dentures
- Tooth-colored fillings
- Dental implants
- Smile makeovers
Your general dentist can recommend a cosmetic dentist if necessary, to help with appearance issues.
Who Should Consider Cosmetic Dentistry?
There are many reasons a person might want to schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist. When issues with your teeth cause problems with the bite or bad teeth are causing an unsightly smile, a cosmetic dentist can help.
There are also other benefits to cosmetic procedures.
- Fix tooth disorders caused by poor oral health or genetics
- Replacing missing or failing teeth helps eliminate overall oral issues
- Save money by reducing the risk of future oral issues
- Dentures and implants help those enjoy their food more
- Whitening discolored teeth improve your smile
Dental issues are often due to poor diet, smoking, and other bad habits. While a dentist can help patients learn to take better care of their teeth, a cosmetic dentist can restore the smile caused by these factors.
Cosmetic dentistry is a necessary field to help create positive effects on patients' smiles. These specialists work in combination with the general dentist to help patients maintain or improve the health, function, and appearance of their teeth.
Whether a person is missing teeth or just wants to improve the appearance of the teeth they have, a cosmetic dentist can offer patients the information needed to understand costs and procedures to create the smile they want. A person doesn't have to live with a bad bite, smile, or other oral issues.