What Does a Cosmetic Dentist Do and The Services That They Offer

The best way to describe a cosmetic dentist is this: a qualified professional who does dentistry that is intended to improve your smile. In other words, this is a dentist who does not perform dentistry for health, but rather to improve looks. They deal with things like chipped teeth, slightly misaligned teeth, stained teeth, teeth that have small gaps and so on.

A cosmetic dentist has to be trained and certified just like other types of dentists. They could handle procedures like Invisalign, dental bridges, crowns or implant restoration as well but those are usually done by a general dentist.

Here are some of the procedures that cosmetic dentists frequently perform:

Teeth Whitening

This is a procedure that many people are having done on their teeth. In some cases, the teeth need to be whitened because they have yellowed with time or have been stained by things like coffee or smoking. In other cases, teeth can be whitened because they developed strains due to the use of certain medications or a lack of fluoride in drinking water. Whatever the case, cosmetic dentistry is able to make teeth whiter and provide patients with better looking smiles.

Veneers

These are thin porcelain shells that attached to teeth to hide defects such as cracks, chips and even discoloration. One of the most common types of Veneers is Lumineers. Veneers are easy to install and in most cases a cosmetic dentist will install them in one visit. All that is needed is to file away a little (very little) enamel to make room for the veneer after which he uses a special bonding agent to attach it.

Veneers are not cheap and are not usually covered by insurance so you should shop around to find a good deal. That said, there are many dentists who are happy to provide payment plans for their patients.

Crowns

These are also used to correct defects in teeth but because of their cost cosmetic dentists only use them when all other procedures cannot fix the problem. They have the longest lifespan of any cosmetic restoration, they can last for up to 30 years, which explains why they are so expensive. In addition to that, they are not easy to install like veneers, they take a much longer time and several visits are needed.

Teeth Straightening

Not everyone is born with perfectly straight teeth and those who want to avoid the humiliation and discomfort of traditional braces, opt for the clear braces known as Invisalign. These are an alternative to metal braces and help the teeth align over stages has proven to be very successful.

How do you know that a cosmetic procedure is right for you?

If you are not sure which cosmetic procedure is best for you the best thing to do is talk with your regular dentist. He can advice you as to how to best correct your smile. He can also recommend a good cosmetic dentist who can get the job done. When you visit him make sure to explain your expectations – what do you want your smile to look like once he is done?

Ask to see photos of other patients who were looking for something similar to what you want, do their smiles depict the results you are looking for?

Compare several cosmetic surgeons because some are unnecessarily expensive. Contact us today to learn more of visit the find a cosmetic dentist near you page to find a professional that you can trust.