When a patient is interested in cosmetic dentistry, it’s typically because there are areas in their smile they wish to improve. Possible reasons for getting cosmetic dentistry could include:

• Broken or cracked teeth
• Missing tooth/teeth
• Misshapen or disproportionately sized teeth
• Discoloration and staining
• Overcrowded and crooked teeth
• Gaps and spacing in teeth

Depending on the needs of each patient, there are several restoration options for teeth that can enhance the appearance of your smile. Some of the options include:

• Dental Bonding
• Porcelain Crowns
• Veneers
• Dental Implants
• Dental Bridges
• Root Canals
• Lumineers (no-prep veneers)
• Tooth Contouring/Reshaping

Choosing a restoration procedure appropriate to meet your smile goals and dental needs is best decided with professional guidance. Making a consultation appointment with a cosmetic dentist to create a treatment plan and to review the available restoration options is the best start to determining if cosmetic dentistry is right for your smile.

The length of each cosmetic procedure will vary. If a patient requires multiple restoration steps, the process of achieving a radiant smile may take some time. But with dental technology improving on almost a daily basis, the process of completing most cosmetic procedures continues to become more efficient.

Tooth replacement, for example, used to take weeks and months to successfully complete. Now providers are able to replace teeth safely and effectively within the same day! Again, each patient will differ in the procedures they qualify for, but candidates for this procedure can walk out after one appointment instantly confident with their new smile.

Cosmetic dentists and patients who have undergone cosmetic dental procedures will agree- there are valuable benefits to achieving an aesthetically pleasing smile. Some of the most popular advantages of cosmetic dentistry include:

• Natural looking teeth
• Increased function of teeth
• Decreased risk of decay and infection
• Increased strength of the teeth and bones
• Correction and balance of bite
• Decreased wear and tear on teeth
• Protection of existing teeth

Alongside these benefits, your confidence increases immensely when you realize you don’t have to hide your smile any longer! You never have to explain why your teeth are missing, broken, or not as white as you would like them to be. Your smile becomes an asset to show off at social gatherings rather than something to be ashamed of and hide.

There are a few factors to consider when undergoing cosmetic dentistry. Not all procedures are appropriate for every patient, and some patients have severe dental concerns that eliminate treatments from the start. Before any cosmetic dentistry can be performed on a patient, the health and integrity of the bone, teeth, and gums must all be evaluated.

To begin creating your ideal treatment plan, you’ll start by making a consultation appointment with a cosmetic dentist. In this visit,  the dentist will complete a number of examinations to evaluate your mouth in its current state. These exams could include:

• Comprehensive Oral Exam
• X-rays (types ranging depending on need)
• Impressions
• Bite Analysis & TMJ Analysis
• Radiographs
• Periodontal (gum) and oral cancer exam

After the required exams are completed, your dentist will create a cosmetic treatment plan perfect for achieving your desired smile. Some patients will require more extensive restorations due to loss of functionality or spread of disease/decay resulting in extractions.

Other patients with healthy teeth may only be looking for a restoration option that covers abnormally shaped teeth or stains. When it comes to dental procedures, every patient is unique! Therefore, it’s essential for cosmetic dental plans to be tailored to the individual circumstances of each case to achieve the best possible result.