What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is a specific area of treatment that deals with aesthetic issues and rebuilding smiles that have been damaged due to decay or trauma. All cosmetic dentists will be familiar with other routine procedures, such as extractions or root canals, but they generally only deal with patients who are looking to improve the appearance of their teeth with things like orthodontics and dental veneers. Typically, a cosmetic dentist will charge more money than one who has a broad spectrum of treatments available, simply because the work of cosmetic dentistry is sought after and highly specialised – it takes a great deal of extra training to place veneers and implants successfully; and that costs money.

What treatments can a cosmetic dentist provide?

There are lots of things a cosmetic dentist can do to help their patients rebuild damaged teeth or improve dental discolouration, let’s take a look at the most common ailments that this type of medical practitioner deals with;

Veneers – Porcelain veneers are very popular and they are often referred to as ‘instant orthodontics’ because of their ability to transform misaligned, discoloured teeth into a beautifully straight, white smile in a short period of time. Veneers are expensive and most fitting procedures are irreversible due to the removal of the enamel, so you should think about your decision very carefully first; make sure you ask all the relevant questions at your initial consultation. Many patients will choose veneers over braces because they don’t want to wear ‘train tracks’ or they just don’t have the time to wait for orthodontics to do the job when veneers can provide the desired changes in a matter of weeks.

Orthodontics – If you need braces, your regular dentist will probably refer you to an orthodontist who specialises in straightening crooked or crowded teeth. This type of treatment is usually considered cosmetic because it is primarily the appearance of the teeth that is troubling, however, it can also be considered medical due to the fact that misalignments can be very unhealthy or even painful – this is why orthodontic appliances are paid for by the NHS for patients under the age of eighteen. There are various different systems available for this purpose, such as traditional metal braces – suitable even for extreme conditions, and clear aligners – good for mild cases that don’t require a lot of movement.

Dental implants – It’s not just unpleasant to have missing teeth, it’s also unhealthy; without teeth sitting in the jaw bone it starts to deteriorate and will eventually break down into the facial tissue. In this respect, implants are both cosmetic and medically necessary. Implants are made up of a titanium rod, which serves as the ‘root’, and a porcelain cap, which is the ‘crown’ – this creates an accurate representation of a tooth which is not only aesthetically pleasing, it is also functional. Because they are the most effective way to replace missing teeth for the long-term, implants are generally much more expensive than most other types of restoration.

Bridges/dentures – If you don’t have the money to get dental implants, your cosmetic dentist will build you a bridge or a partial denture, which is a small appliance that anchors the weight of a synthetic tooth against the surrounding teeth. This type of device doesn’t replace the tooth as permanently as an implant would, but bridges and dentures are a cost effective way to perform the same treatment for about five or six years. There are lots of different types of dentures, some are made of durable acrylic resin and others are made out of cobalt chrome mesh, which is moulded to fit perfectly over your teeth.

Teeth whitening – This is a purely cosmetic procedure that is non-invasive and can improve the appearance of your teeth by up to eight shades in just one hour long session. Although this process is not surgical, it does use a small amount of peroxide to break down the stain molecules and restore the teeth to a natural finish. Thanks to the popularity of ‘Hollywood white’ teeth, whitening treatments have become very popular and are now available at thousands of clinics and salons up and down the country; if you want the best results, you should make an appointment with the Pearl Dental Clinic, where you can be sure you are in the safest hands.

Composite repair – Dental damage is not always dangerous for your health, but it usually doesn’t look nice and it can be hard to live with if the effects are very noticeable. Fortunately, cosmetic dentists can fix this problem very quickly whether the damage is superficial or further-reaching. Cracks and chips are repaired using composite bonding material – a malleable substance that matches the natural teeth in colour and hardens to a durable finish. This process takes no longer than an average check-up, providing there is not extensive work to be done, and should leave you with a natural-looking smile that doesn’t show any of the previous damage. Furthermore, most cosmetic restoration jobs are non-surgical so an anaesthetic is not normally needed.

Fillings – Although fillings are not technically cosmetic in function, they can sometimes require maintenance. Metal alloy restorations can occasionally cause problems with staining or allergic reaction – or some patients just don’t like the way they look; a cosmetic dentist will remove these unsightly fillings and replace them with one made from composite material, which is virtually invisible next to the natural enamel. Other restorations like crowns and caps can also be purchased from the dentist, either for medical reasons or purely as a visual improvement.

Contouring – This simple procedure can eliminate the need for things like veneers or braces if you don’t have extreme misalignments. Tooth contouring is quite simple to explain; the dentist uses a small sanding tool to remove sections of the enamel that are sticking out or creating obvious malocclusions – you might be surprised how much difference removing just a millimetre can make to the appearance of your smile. It’s important that not too much of the outer shell is shaved away or the inner pulp will be unprotected and the teeth will feel more sensitive to hot and cold stimuli. This procedure is not very invasive and an anaesthetic is not usually necessary.