Types of Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is its own type of dentistry, separate from general dentistry, endodontics or other specialties. This type focuses on creating a brighter, more beautiful smile. Nonetheless, it also includes the health of your mouth. While cosmetic dentistry is its own specialty, it can be broken down into different services that your cosmetic dentist can perform.
Whitening Service
Over time, teeth easily become discolored and darkened because of the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. You might notice stains from coffee, red wine and other favorites you like to consume, as well as tobacco.
To gain a brightened smile of pearly whites again, you can get teeth whitening from a cosmetic dentist. Your dentist could provide bleaching in the office to lighten the teeth, or you could opt for a kit you can take home to do the whitening yourself.
Teeth Straightening
Aligning the teeth is one of the ways a cosmetic dentist can improve your smile. While an orthodontist would often turn to braces for this goal, a cosmetic dentist could turn to clear aligners like Invisalign instead. This option works much faster than braces, within weeks or months rather than years, and a clear aligner looks better during the straightening process.
Veneers give another option for gaining a straight smile. If you have a slight misalignment, veneers could be used to cover the teeth for a straight, beautiful smile. Veneers are porcelain coverings that are bonded to the teeth, providing an appearance just like natural teeth.
Additional Fixes
A cosmetic dentist can provide other solutions to improve the look and function of your mouth as well. Not only do veneers help with slight misalignments, they can also solve other dental issues, such as discoloration, chips, fractures, gaps and aged teeth. By covering up imperfections and problems, they can give you a brighter look and better function for improved oral health.
Also, dental implants are a popular way of filling in missing teeth, while other options are available as well for improving your smile. Talk to your cosmetic dentist about the options available for your desired smile.
