What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

It’s important to love your smile. If you are self-conscious, you may try to hide your teeth away behind your lips—never allowing yourself to fully smile. Thankfully, if you are insecure about your smile, there is a solution—cosmetic dentistry.

Defining Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is any form of dentistry that helps to improve the cosmetic appearance of a patient’s teeth and smile. For patients that suffer from low self-confidence that stems from the way their teeth look, cosmetic dentistry can be an excellent option to boost the patients self-esteem and provide them with a full smile that they will love to show off.

Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic dentistry is not simply one thing. Instead, it is a term that is used to discuss a variety of different dental procedures that repair the cosmetic appearance of patients’ teeth. Below are a few different examples of cosmetic dentistry procedures:

Invisalign

Invisalign is a popular option for teeth alignment. Invisalign braces are effective at fixing a variety of alignment issues such as: crooked teeth, gaps in teeth, teeth crowding and more.

Invisalign are a popular alternative to traditional braces due to their appearance, comfort and ease of removal. They are made from clear plastic, and the trays can be easily removed whenever the patient needs to brush their teeth, eat or perform any other activity that is difficult with the braces in place.

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces are what most people think of when they think of braces. These braces can only be removed by a dentist, and consist of metal brackets on the teeth and wires. Traditional braces are more affordable, and are better for certain alignment issues that Invisalign are not able to resolve.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a purely cosmetic procedure that many patients with yellowed teeth enjoy. Whitening returns teeth to their original shine and whiteness through treatments that can either be done at home, or with a dentist in-office.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a tooth replacement option that involve a false tooth placed on top of a titanium rod that is installed into the jawbone. Dental implants help not only with completing a patient’s smile, but also with the overall oral health of a patient. With dental implants, a patient can bite and chew like they used to.

What to Look for in a Cosmetic Dentist

When you are looking for a cosmetic dentist, you’ll want to make sure that you find a dentist that is well-qualified. One thing you can check to ensure the quality of the dentist is whether they are a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Another consideration is how often they perform cosmetic dentistry procedures. You’ll want to make sure you find a dentist with a lot of practice. Finally, you’ll want to find a friendly dentist that you are comfortable with.

If you feel self-conscious about your smile, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to resolve any issues that you may have with your teeth.

Contact Meadowdale Dental Clinic

We offer a variety of Preventative, Restorative, and Cosmetic Dental Procedures focusing on long term relationships built on trust. Contact Meadowdale Dental today at (425) 742-9609 or contact us via our contact form.

Looking for more information on cosmetic dentistry? Here's some tips on finding one near you.