Most people tend to view cosmetic dentistry as elective dentistry or upgraded dentistry. This is because of the miss-belief that cosmetic treatment isn’t covered by dental insurance. But without getting into a discussion about insurance, the bigger concern is whether you should allow your dental insurance to dictate what treatment option is best for you. Wouldn’t you agree that the right treatment option should always be one that is both effective and provides the best long term benefit? We agree too. And that’s exactly what cosmetic dentistry is all about. To understand the full scope of cosmetic dentistry we really need to understand the basic premise of it.
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is any positive change that will improve your overall smile. Whether its whiter teeth or fixing a gummy smile and allow a more natural smile line, cosmetic dentistry’s primary focus is to improve the appearance of your teeth, which can help lead to a better smile, more confidence, and a higher self-esteem. Basically, there are 3 main components that make up cosmetic dentistry, and they are:
1. White fillings. Resin composite material used to restore decay.
2. Porcelain. Includes crowns, veneers, bridges, and inlays/onlays.
3. Teeth whitening. Any method of teeth bleaching.
These 3 components are the foundation for cosmetic procedures used to restore your teeth to look as natural as they once were. White fillings, or composite resin is typically used to fill smaller cavities or treat minor gum recession. They blend in nicely with the color of your teeth. For bigger or more significant cavities, inlays/onlays and crowns made of all porcelain material are used for treatment. Porcelain is strong and durable and is the closest match to the look and feel of natural teeth. And lastly, teeth whitening procedures improve your current teeth color. Your teeth are very prone to staining due to the porous nature of the enamel. With the use of whitening agents, we can clean out the pores in the enamel, and make your teeth brighter.
Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry
There are many benefits of cosmetic dentistry and it doesn’t always have to cost you a fortune. Getting your teeth whitened is a simple and cost effective way to really brighten your smile. Another benefit of cosmetic dentistry is the ability to treat dental problems like cavities or a chipped tooth with teeth-colored material like porcelain. Beautiful porcelain crowns and veneers provide superior strength and offer the most natural looking solution. Cosmetic dentistry is also a much healthier alternative, providing the benefit of mercury and metal free treatments.
The greatest impact of cosmetic dentistry is still the intangible boost in confidence and self-esteem that you will experience. People with more confidence tend to achieve greater success and enjoy a higher quality of life. When someone gets to smile again for the first time, the feeling is priceless. You will look better in pictures because you’re smiling more naturally. You will reach out to old friends and reconnect lost relationships because you’re not embarrass of your teeth anymore.
Contrary to the belief that cosmetic dentistry is an elective treatment, the reality is that it may be the superior choice for treatment. Cosmetic dentistry provides a much more natural looking finish and also effectively treats the concerned area of the tooth. With cosmetic treatment, you will be able to smile freely without the fear of anyone knowing that you’ve had any work done.
Let’s Talk About The Picture, A Real Life Example
The picture you see above is from a patient that had severe discoloration to 6 of the top front teeth. The discoloration was a side effect of taking prescription antibiotics for many years. This is different than regular teeth staining, which is on the surface of your teeth. This is staining from within the tooth structure. Standard whitening procedures will not be able to improve the condition. The patient had expressed the difficulties and challenges of getting through the work day without feeling embarrassed and self conscious. Social events were difficult to enjoy, as the patient felt uncomfortable and lacked the confidence to laugh and smile freely. What was done to help the patient was cosmetic treatment. We placed 6 veneers from canine to canine, all in a couple of visits. The patient was over the moon happy with the results. The patient smiled for the first time without any reservations and hindrance, and that was amazing to witness!
This was a case of cosmetic dentistry being more than just about the looks. We were able to improve the patient’s quality of life and confidence. A beautiful and healthy looking smile is life changing!
Cosmetic Dentistry, Think Home Improvement
A great analogy for cosmetic dentistry is repairing your wood floor in your home. If you had to repair a portion of your beautiful wood floor that was damaged, would you use just another material, and risk leaving the finish floor with patches of varying shades and material? Probably not. Instead, you would use a very similar material that best matches your existing floor and would also meet the strength and durability standards to ensure that the repair lasts. Basically, you would want your floor to be repaired so that it looked like it was never damaged. That is the essence of cosmetic dentistry.
The Myth About Cosmetic Dentistry
The biggest myth about cosmetic dentistry is that it isn’t needed because insurance won’t cover it. This could not be further from the truth. Cosmetic dentistry offers a superior solution to repair damaged teeth, in terms of effectiveness, strength, and durability. Insurance companies will look to pay out the least. That’s their business. Unfortunately, sometimes their coverage is not consistent with the best treatment plan for the patient.
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Written by Dr. Kim H. Nguyen
Owner of Mint Dental OC and is a leading dentist in Southern California.
