Cosmetic Dentist: What Are The Available Options?

Chances are you have probably seen the ads that offer to improve your appearance with a smile make over and maybe you have even been tempted to have something done but you are unsure what your options are. Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way since the days when your only options were dentures or to live with bad looking teeth.

Many of the improvements of cosmetic dentistry are obvious and have helped lure many patients back into the dentist chair who were unsatisfied with what was available to help them in the past. For example it wasn’t that long ago when fillings were obvious- they were the dark or gold spots that showed up every time you opened your mouth. There was no hiding your cavities or dental work. Times have changed and today there is a significant improvement in what is available to patients who can now opt for fillings that are designed to blend in and be almost invisible.

These are called inlays/outlays and they are as easy to put in as the old fillings were. These are indirect fillings made from porcelain or composite material that are shaped and formed to fit in a dental lab and then adhered in place, much like a dental veneer. So instead of having the dentist fill the hole from decay on the spot, inlays/outlays are sent out to the lab to be shaped to your personal tooth.

Cosmetic dentistry can do more than cover up bad fillings though. If you look in the mirror and think you would have a beautiful smile if it just weren’t for those years of smoking or drinking wine, coffee or colas that have stained your teeth, there are two options. You can try teeth whitening or veneers. Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the dentist office and it can be done at home once the cosmetic dentist makes your teeth whitening tray customized to your teeth. Another option is veneers. Veneers are made of a composite or porcelain material and adhesively bonded to your existing teeth to create a perfectly white smile.

If you have missing teeth you may not need dentures, but you probably need dental implants that will put the missing teeth back in your mouth to not only make your smile complete but also to stop bone loss and keep your other teeth in place as well.
Cosmetic dentistry isn’t just about looking good, although it is a definite immediate side effect of having work done. A full mouth reconstruction can correct your bite and correct the structure of your muscles, bones and teeth, which can all help to prevent bone loss, gum disease and other issues that will greatly impact your health down the road.