Cosmetic Dentistry Both Health and Beauty

Some regard cosmetic dentistry is "just cosmetic", meaning not necessary

Some regard cosmetic dentistry is "just cosmetic", meaning not necessary. That is far from the truth. A cosmetic dentist has more training than a general dentist because most dental schools do not offer cosmetic dentistry. To gain knowledge and hands-on training in cosmetic dentistry, a general dentist has to obtain further training.That further training includes a wider perspective on dental health and dental attractiveness. Those two go together, as a beautiful smile must first be a healthy smile. So cosmetic dentistry makes sure there is a solid foundation of dental health before embarking on any "purely cosmetic" work such as a smile makeover. No smile can be well made-over unless the bite is correct, the jaw muscles are relaxed, and the gums are healthy. Your cosmetic dentist will attend to those issues before doing anything like tooth whitening or porcelain veneers.Dental Work Both Strong and AttractiveAll cosmetic dentistry has a health aspect and depends on excellent dental health for its success. If you are told you have a cavity and it should be filled, a cosmetic dentist will give you options as to how it is filled. There will be no metal filling done on the assumption that you want that. Many cosmetic dentists do not offer metal fillings.Instead, you would have a white filling - done with white dental composite or with dental porcelain. Both methods create a filling which is an integral part of the tooth and strengthens the tooth. They prolong the tooth's life by holding it together and cannot be identified as fillings. In contrast, a metal filling is obviously a filling and it eventually fractures the tooth and shortens its life.Looking at the Larger PictureA cosmetic dentist does more than look at your teeth and gums. He or she looks at your whole face -- the jaw joints, your bite, the shape of your face, how it moves when you smile or laugh, and your coloring. When planning any improvements to your smile, those things are considered as part of the whole picture. For example, if your teeth are being slightly reshaped, that will be done with an awareness of how your lips cover or uncover your teeth when you smile. No one tooth will ever be treated in isolation. If one tooth must be given a dental crown or a porcelain onlay, which are both large repairs, the surrounding and opposing teeth will be included in the planning. Some of them might need a little modification to make the crown blend in well and keep the bite comfortable. Teeth and gums can both be easily recontoured with a dental laser - a soft-tissue laser for the gums and a hard-tissue laser for the tooth enamel.A cosmetic dentist will always have your smile's beauty in mind when doing any type of dental repair or improvement. To be long-lasting, dental beauty must be built on a strong health foundation. Never assume that any general dentist down the street can give you good cosmetic work. You would be risking your dental health and inviting future corrective procedures and increased expense.