When it comes to dental care, cosmetic dentists are the ones who care most about how your smile looks. In the field of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, dental bonding, and veneers are the most commonly used procedures by cosmetic dentists. At Discover Dental, our cosmetic dentists are more than prepared to provide you with a confidence boosting smile makeover you can be proud of.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is dentistry that can improve the appearance of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry offers a variety of advantages, such as making routine cleaning easier, boosting a patient’s confidence, and even lowering bruxism (grinding).
Cosmetic Dentistry Vs. General Dentistry
General dentistry is a form of dental care that encompasses several standard family dental services, such as; general cleaning, tooth colored fillings, root canals therapy, and even tooth extraction – all for the improvement of the oral health of a patient.
However, with cosmetic dentistry, you have a specialized field whose primary focus is in providing a patient with the best smile makeover possible. This field caters for chipped, cracked, broken, misaligned, crooked, gapped, discolored and/or missing teeth with a number of cosmetic dental practices including teeth whitening, the use of veneers, implants, porcelain crowns and so on.
While most dental offices offer general dentistry, not all dental practice may provide dental care for smile makeover. Also, dental implants, porcelain veneers, and crowns which are all part of cosmetic dentistry are often not covered by dental insurance.
Who can Benefit from Cosmetic Dentistry?
You are a prime candidate for cosmetic dentistry procedures if you have experience one or more of these dental conditions;
- Where you have chipped or broken tooth or teeth
- Where you have noticeable gaps between your teeth
- Where you are struggling with discoloration or staining of the teeth
- Where you have an irregular tooth structure
- Where you have a bad bite, or your teeth aren’t properly aligned
Is Cosmetic Dentistry Ideal for Everyone?
It is possible to get cosmetic dental work done if your teeth and gums are in good health. But, if your dentist finds significant tooth decay or gum disease, he or she will want to focus on those issues first before providing cosmetic solutions. When your teeth are healthy again, you can then think about aesthetic options. Cosmetic dentistry is typically ideal for patients with chipped, broken, misaligned, gapped, missing or crooked teeth. It is for anyone looking to improve their smile with cosmetic solutions provided by a cosmetic dentist.
The Different Types of Cosmetic Dentistry
The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the appearance of one’s smile by making it more even, symmetrical, and attractive. Teeth bleaching, dental bonding, veneers, and gum and tooth contouring are all common aesthetic dental procedures.
Teeth Whitening
The discoloration of your natural teeth can come about by a number of factors, such as; cigarette smoking and the consumption of tea and coffee over time. You can resort to teeth whitening as an effective, but safe cosmetic dentistry procedure to greatly enhance your appearance by improving your smile.
Whitening your teeth is a service that many dentists offer, both in-office and as a take-home kit. While in-office whitening typically lasts for an hour, having your teeth whitened at home can take a few weeks. Teeth whitening is also arguably the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure available today.
Dental Bonding
The composite resin used in dental bonding is designed to blend in seamlessly with natural teeth. Cracks, craze lines (hairline cracks), discoloration, and other flaws in cosmetic appearance can be hidden using this material, which your dentist can apply to your teeth. A tooth’s shape can also be altered through dental bonding to become longer, wider, or more uniform – although in about every five to seven years, you’ll need to get new dental bonding. However, dental bonding is reversible because your natural tooth enamel is not removed.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin, durable shells made of medical ceramic that are bonded to the front of teeth. Veneers, much like dental bonding, can cover a variety of cosmetic imperfections, such as chipping, cracks, and discoloration.
Veneers come in a variety of forms, including those that require little to no preparation before placement. Since all veneers include the removal of at least some of the tooth’s natural enamel, the procedure may be reversible depending on the kind used. Porcelain veneers typically need to be replaced every ten years.
Tooth Contouring
In order to alter the appearance of your teeth, a small bit of enamel will be removed during this process although there’s a cap on the amount of tooth structure that can be extracted so as not to completely erode the natural enamel. A tooth contouring procedure can be completed in just one visit to the dentist.
Gum Contouring
Excess gum tissue may be present at birth in some people making their smile look “gummy” or lopsided. Gum contouring is a procedure in which your cosmetic dentist reshapes your gum line by removing extra tissue. This will greatly improve your smile and self-confidence.
Can Cosmetic Benefits be obtained from Restorative Dental Procedures?
All of the different types of cosmetic dentistry procedures mentioned above are purely for aesthetic purposes. Nonetheless, there are cases in which restorative dental procedures meant to fix teeth can also make your smile a whole lot more attractive. Repairing a damaged tooth, for instance, with a dental crown, boosts the aesthetics of your smile in addition to the health and function of your teeth.
Dental braces, in a similar vein, function to better the bite and the oral health of their wearers. But, braces can also make a huge difference in how your smile looks from an aesthetic standpoint.
The Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry
In many cases, patients who seek out cosmetic dentistry services can benefit in the following ways:
Cosmetic dentistry will…
- make your smile more attractive
- improve the color of your teeth by removing or covering up discoloration
- align your teeth and brighten up your smile
- hide any dental imperfections
- make your smile nice and even
- boost your self-confidence
Is there any Drawback to Cosmetic Dentistry?
Insurance policies typically do not provide coverage for procedures deemed to be “elective”, such as cosmetic dentistry. This is due to the fact that cosmetic operations are not viewed as medically required by insurance providers. However, at Discover Dentist, we offer flexible payment schemes to balance your need for a smile makeover, but with a suitable payment schedule consideration.
How Long does it Typically take to Recover from a Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure?
The number of teeth that need to be treated and the specific cosmetic operation required are the two most important considerations for estimating the average time of recovery. Dental bonding on a single tooth, for instance, allows the patient to instantly resume their regular daily routine. Someone who has gum contouring done, however, may need to rest for a day or two after the cosmetic procedure. Your cosmetic dentist will be able to give you a better idea of how long your recuperation will take after your peculiar cosmetic dental procedure.
When should I next see my Cosmetic Dentist?
Those who are self-conscious about their smile due to flaws, such as; chipped, cracked, crooked, or discolored teeth should consult a cosmetic dentist. To enhance the beauty of your smile, you can choose from a number of different available cosmetic dental options. Discussing your aesthetic desires with your dentist will help him or her advise you on the best course of action for your case.
You should keep up with your regular dental visits, including cleanings and general checkups. Maintaining a healthy mouth and set of teeth between dental checkups requires diligent oral hygiene, so make sure you brush your teeth regularly (at least twice daily), floss (also a minimum of two times a day), and avoid nasty habits like cigarette smoking, teeth grinding, and even using your teeth to open soda bottles.
FAQs About Houston Cosmetic Dentist
Which cosmetic dental procedure is the most common?
Teeth whitening is arguably the one cosmetic dental procedure that most people need. Teeth whitening will help to improve the appearance of your teeth to leave your pearly whites looking clean and bright.
Just how long do the effects of cosmetic dentistry last on average?
Cosmetic dentistry will help to give you a brand new smile by covering up years of wear and tear and dental flaws including stains, chips, cracks, gaps, and so much more. If you maintain good oral hygiene, you can expect your cosmetic dental procedure to last for upwards of ten years. However, the longevity of your cosmetic dental procedure may be derailed due to several factors, such as; teeth grinding or bruxism, teeth trauma, and general poor oral hygiene.
How does one become a competent cosmetic dentist?
When looking for a cosmetic dentist to give you a smile makeover to be proud of, it’s important to consider the professional’s skill, experience, portfolio, personality, philosophy of care, and educational background of the cosmetic dentist.
Does cosmetic dentistry have the ability to close gaps?
Gaps in teeth can be remedied with the use of cosmetic dentistry techniques. Because there are many choices, it’s wise to talk to a cosmetic dentist before making any decisions. They are able to make tailored treatment suggestions that balance aesthetics with practicality.
Does a cosmetic dentist treat tooth decay?
Your dentist can usually fix any cosmetic issue you’re having with your teeth thanks to the wide array of cosmetic procedures available to them. However, cavities are one problem that can’t be fixed with cosmetic dentistry. In order to save a tooth that has been damaged by decay, restorative dental care may be required at first before any consideration is made for cosmetic improvements to your teeth.
Discover Dental Center Home of the Best Houston Cosmetic Dentist In Texas
Discover Dental Center is where you can get the best in cosmetic dentistry with a highly qualified, well trained, professional and experienced dental team to call upon to cater for your smile makeover and all your dental needs. With the use of advanced technology, you can be sure of only the best dental services from general dentistry to dental implants, our cosmetic dentists assure you of a beautiful smile and natural look today. If you need a Houston dentist, then you are welcome to our dental office in Houston TX. A cosmetic dentist in our dental office will provide you with consultation for preventative care, implant dentistry, veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry dental services. Schedule your appointment now by calling (713) 997-9390 or making an online appointment request today.
