Deciding to schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist is not a decision that should be taken lightly. For many patients, choosing cosmetic dentistry requires careful consideration and research to decide which dentist is right for them, and which treatments they are interested in.

Most cosmetic dental treatments are elective, and less concerned with the health of your teeth, and more with the appearance of your teeth.

At the same time, some cosmetic dental treatments have the offhanded effect of improving your dental health, while also having a positive impact on your overall life.

For instance, reshaping and aligning teeth can make cleaning your teeth easier, as well as reduce the effects of teeth grinding. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of cosmetic dentistry is that it can restore your confidence to smile as big and bright as possible.

Today, we’re going to discuss the nature of cosmetic dentistry at our Vero dental office, so you can weigh your options and make an informed decision on choosing a treatment.

Difference Between Cosmetic and General Dentistry

All dentists begin as general dentists, then most dentists will go on to pursue a speciality. Cosmetic dentists are primarily concerned with helping the appearance of their patient’s teeth, rather than implementing general treatments, like cleanings and cavity fillings.

As cosmetic dentists, we attend a variety of training programs and courses to help improve our cosmetic techniques and learn new treatments. However, sometimes general dental treatments and cosmetic dentistry lapse over one another, so patients are able to have functional and beautiful restorative treatments.

For instance, common general dental treatments, like fillings, root canals, and crowns are often performed by cosmetic dentists, when patients want their restorations to remain discreet and match the rest of their smile. It’s not uncommon for patients to have old restorations, like amalgam fillings and gold crowns, replaced by a cosmetic dentist with tooth colored fillings and porcelain crowns.

Teeth whitening is another common treatment that is offered by both cosmetic dentists and general dentists. Professional teeth whitening can whiten your teeth by about 16 different shades.

While it is possible to receive whitening treatments with almost any general dentist, it is a good idea to choose a cosmetic dentist, who will whiten your teeth to a natural shade without harming your enamel.

Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry

Are you unhappy with certain aspects of your smile, like a gap between your teeth, or a tooth that just looks too small? As we mentioned earlier, cosmetic dentistry can improve the function and health of your smile. Depending on the condition of your teeth and the treatments you are interested in receiving, it can also provide the following benefits:

• Help improve your dental hygiene choices. When you invest in your smile, you will be more likely to make lifestyle choices that are better to maintain your hygiene. For instance, patients who undergo routine teeth whitening, are more likely to avoid coffee, soda, sugary foods, and cigarettes, so they see a more positive impact with their teeth whitening.
• Reduce headaches. Temporomandibular disorder, misaligned bites, and crooked teeth are all common conditions that cause headaches and toothaches. By fixing these issues at the source with cosmetic dentistry, you are more likely to reduce your frequency and severity of headaches.
• Improve your relationship with food. Cracked, decayed, pained, and damaged teeth can make eating difficult. Beyond making it difficult to chew, it can also lead to digestions and other appetite problems. Fixing your chipped teeth with veneers and crowns can make it easier to chew by covering your damaged teeth and reinforcing your bite.
• Reduce your stress levels. Making a good first impression begins with a happy, healthy, and beautiful smile. When you’re unhappy with your smile, you will be more likely to avoid social situations and put yourself in contexts that force you to smile, which can end up making your social interactions incredibly stressful. By fixing your smile with cosmetic dentistry, you will feel comfortable smiling around others, and reduce your overall stress levels!

Beyond the above benefits, treating certain cosmetic issues, like a missing tooth or puffy gums from gum disease, can help prevent larger dental health problems.

What to Look for in a Cosmetic Dentist

There are many general dentists, who are trained and talented in providing cosmetic dental treatments. When it comes to choosing the correct cosmetic dentist for you, one of the most important things to research is the dentist’s experience. Before picking any discount dentist, it’s a good idea to research your potential cosmetic dentist to determine their education, experience, and the cosmetic results they have achieved practicing dentistry.

Skilled cosmetic dentists will provide their patients with before and after photos of previous treatments. This way, you can not only see what the treatment will look like, but how well the dentist executes it.

At Vero Dental Spa, all of our dentists are trained and experienced in the latest and most effective cosmetic dental treatments with portfolios to prove it. Want to learn more about cosmetic dentistry at Vero Dental Spa? Call us today or check out our before and after photo gallery of cosmetic dental work.