When To Seek a Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic dentists can improve many undesirable aspects of your smile. It is important to remember that they primarily focus on aesthetic impurities rather than function or health issues. Learning what they can address can help you determine when to give one a call.

Damaged teeth

Teeth damage can result from trauma or decay. This can seriously impact the appearance of a smile, even if it is a single tooth. A cosmetic dentist can repair tooth damage with:

• Bonding: Applies and shapes composite resin directly on the damaged area of the tooth and hardens it.
• Fillings: Applies composite resin or porcelain materials directly inside the hole left behind from decay or extensive treatment.
• Crowns: Takes a mold of the patient’s damaged tooth to fabricate a custom tooth-shaped cap that completely engulfs the natural tooth.
• Inlays: Fits like a puzzle piece into the natural tooth to restore damage between the cusps.
• Onlays: Also fits like a puzzle piece into the tooth but can restore a broken cusp.

These restoratives can repair the look of the natural tooth structure and prevent damage from progressing.

Discoloration or staining

There are two types of staining: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic staining builds up on the surface of the teeth. It is usually a result of external factors such as smoking or tobacco use, drinks, and colored foods. It can also result when the teeth face exposure to excess bacteria or certain minerals. Intrinsic stains result from the health of the tooth or its internal structures changing. This can occur from medication use, underlying health conditions, and aging.

Fortunately, cosmetic dentists have ways of combating both types of staining. They can employ professional teeth whitening to brighten natural teeth, which can have lasting results for six months to a year with proper care. They can also provide dental veneers, which do not remove stains from natural teeth but can conceal them.

Excessive gum tissue

Excess gum tissue can cause teeth to look smaller than their actual size. However, this does not always mean there is an issue with the natural teeth. Excess gum tissue is known as a gummy smile. A cosmetic dentist can perform a minimally invasive procedure to reposition the gum line and remove excess tissue in one appointment. Patients should note that they may want to consider professional teeth whitening in the future due to the significant color differences that will be present.

Misshapen teeth

Misshapen teeth, even if they are healthy and straight, can seriously impact the look of a smile. A cosmetic dentist can provide composite bonding or a crown if it is one or two teeth. However, patients may want to consider dental veneers if multiple misshapen teeth exist. Veneers are custom, tiny shells comprising porcelain material that the dentist bonds to the front of the teeth, replacing the enamel. Since they are custom-made, they can be fabricated into any shape and size while still appearing natural.