What is cosmetic dentistry?

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and one of your most important assets. Smiling is not only good for your health and wellbeing, but it affects how others perceive you.

Studies have proven that smiling not only makes you appear more attractive, but also more likeable, confident and conscientious. In situations where you need to look good, such as job interviews or first dates, a smile is the first thing you should put on.

However, many people do not have the self-confidence to show off their best asset. If you hate seeing photos of yourself smiling, or often cover your mouth with your hand when smiling or laughing, then you’re not alone.

Only a fortunate few people are blessed with naturally white, straight and healthy teeth. Many people are too embarrassed about their unsightly teeth to be confident about their smile, which has a bit effect on how others will see you. Hiding your smile says you lack confidence, assurance and poise – and you really can’t underestimate the importance of confidence in your quality of life. Confidence leads to success; and your smile plays a big role in that.

It’s much easier to smile if you’re not embarrassed about people seeing your crooked, stained or chipped teeth. But if you’re one of those people for whom smiling is a problem, never fear – there is a solution. Cosmetic dentistry can help to give you an amazing smile that you won’t be embarrassed to show off – and it’s not as expensive as you might think either.

Common problems with your teeth

If you have any of the following problems with your teeth, then you might want to consider cosmetic dentistry:

Worn teeth
Broken, chipped or cracked teeth
Crooked or misaligned teeth
Discoloured or stained teeth
Uneven or irregularly shaped teeth
Gaps between your teeth
Excessively short teeth

What causes these problems?

Stained or discoloured teeth can be caused by things such as smoking, drinking excessive amounts of red wine or coffee, side effects from certain medications or simply genetics.

However, aging is the most usual cause for tooth discolouration, as your tooth enamel weakens as you age, making your teeth look dull.

Broken, chipped or cracked teeth are often the result of accidents – sporting or otherwise. Teeth can become worn through excessive use, such as always chewing on one side of your mouth, or clenching your teeth. Misaligned, uneven, short or gappy teeth are usually the result of genetics.

What happens if I don’t deal with these problems?

Damaged teeth don’t only affect your appearance and self-confidence, they can also affect your general health. And if you don’t correct these problems now they will usually worsen and become far more expensive to correct in the future. You’re much better off dealing with them at the earliest opportunity, before they become a bigger problem.

So, what is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry covers a range of elective procedures that improve the way your teeth look, giving you beautiful and natural-looking teeth that you’ll be proud to show off. Cosmetic dental procedures can include:

reshaping uneven teeth
rebuilding chipped, broken or worn teeth
whitening your teeth
replacing missing teeth and filling gaps
replacing old amalgam silver fillings

From small and subtle changes to major repairs, these cosmetic procedures will improve the colour, shape, alignment and appearance of your teeth. And aside from improving your self-confidence, cosmetic dental procedures can also improve your dental health, make cleaning your teeth easier and reduce the effects of clenching and grinding your teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures

There are various methods cosmetic dentists can use to modify and enhance your smile, such as:

porcelain veneers
porcelain crowns
porcelain bridges
teeth whitening
gum lifts

Here is a rundown of each of these cosmetic procedures.

Veneers

Covering the front surfaces of your teeth, porcelain veneers are ideal for concealing dental imperfections such as:

Discoloured or stained teeth
Broken, chipped, cracked or worn teeth
Irregularly shaped, crooked or uneven teeth
Teeth with gaps
Excessively short teeth

Veneers can change the size, shape, length or colour of your teeth by using thinly constructed, custom-made shells to conceal these imperfections. They are a quick and painless way to achieve flawless teeth without undergoing invasive or complicated dental procedures.

Because they look just like your natural teeth and can be matched to the colour of your teeth, no-one will even know you have them. You can achieve a whiter, more even and more confident smile without a great deal of time, cost or pain.

Only basic preparation is needed before veneers can be attached. Around half a millimetre of enamel will need to removed from your teeth to ensure the veneer fits perfectly. And with proper care, veneers can last between seven and twenty years, and are durable enough to handle most of the forces a normal diet will subject them to.

Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that fully encases the entire tooth, improving its appearance, size, shape or strength. For teeth which are cracked, chipped, broken or otherwise beyond repair, a crown is a great choice as it supports and protects the damaged tooth, as well as making it look better. Crowns can be colour-matched to your existing teeth so that they blend in perfectly.

Crowns can be used to:

Hide a discoloured or misshapen tooth
Restore a fractured or broken tooth
Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
Cover a dental implant
Attach a dental bridge
Replace a large filling
Cover a tooth after root canal treatment

Crowns are a durable and long-lasting solution, and with proper care, can often last a lifetime. You will need to do all the usual things such as brushing and flossing daily, and visiting your dentist regularly for cleaning and check-ups, to ensure the longevity of your crown. Try to avoid chewing hard objects or food too, as this can damage the crown.

Fitting a crown is a relatively simple procedure, and is a quick and highly successful restoration method. The tooth in question must first be reduced in size to allow the crown to fit properly.

The crown will be individually created from an impression taken by your dentist of your tooth or teeth, and colour-matched to your teeth. It is then cemented onto your tooth. Crowns feel and function like a regular tooth within days, and you will barely notice it after a short while.

Bridges

Dental bridges are used to fill the gap between missing teeth, creating the illusion of a tooth where no tooth actually exists. If you don’t fill these gaps, the surrounding teeth are prone to drifting across into the empty space, which will create further problems for your mouth.

The best solution is to use these surrounding teeth as anchors for the custom-made bridge, which will keep all your teeth in place and prevent them from shifting. Bridges can also be colour-matched to your existing teeth, so that they are virtually unnoticeable and will fit in perfectly with the rest of your smile. They are extremely durable and with proper care and good oral hygiene, can often last a lifetime.

Not only will a bridge improve your self-confidence, it will also work to reduce uneven wear and damage on your teeth caused by the remaining teeth compensating for any missing ones. Missing teeth can also make eating difficult and cause people to have speech problems, in which cases a dental bridge is a great treatment option.

Dental Implants

If you have lost any of your natural teeth, dental implants can restore your smile to its former glory and prevent surrounding teeth from drifting into the gap. A dental implant involves inserting an artificial tooth into your gum to replace one that is missing or too damaged to keep. The implant is made up of two parts – a titanium post which is surgically inserted into the gum, and an artificial tooth construction, which is attached to the post.

The procedure for receiving dental implants is as follows:

Removal of the remains of the damaged tooth or teeth by tooth extraction surgery (if the damaged tooth is still in your mouth)
The gum is prepared to allow the bone to be drilled at the site of the missing tooth
The implant post is inserted into your jawbone and then covered for up to nine months while the bone fuses to the implant
An operation to uncover the top of the implant may then be necessary (although not in all cases)
The artificial tooth (a crown or bridge) is constructed by a dentist using x-rays of the patient’s mouth to ensure a perfect fit
The artificial tooth is attached to the post to complete the restoration

The recovery after implant surgery can take up to a week for the swelling and discomfort to disappear, although you will be able to perform your usual duties sooner than that.

As dental implants are individually constructed to fit and match your teeth, they are virtually indistinguishable from your other teeth and look extremely natural. They are also very long-lasting and durable, so they are well worth considering. While they cost more than other cosmetic dental procedures, there’s a reason for that – because they have the highest success rate of any dental treatment.

Teeth Whitening

Having your teeth whitened is one of the easiest ways to restore a whiter and brighter appearance to your smile. Your teeth will be coated by a whitening gel that will enhance their colour and your confidence. You can have your teeth whitened by a dentist or do it yourself at home with a take home whitening kit.

If you choose to whiten your teeth yourself, custom trays will need to be made for you, to be used for around 30 minutes daily over the course of a few weeks. Research has proven that having your teeth professionally whitened by a dental practitioner is safer and more effective that using DIY solutions, but DIY solutions are much more cost effective. Whitening is a very popular procedure with few side effects – usually only mild tooth sensitivity for a short time.

Gum Lifts

If you have an uneven gum line or shorter teeth which give you a “gummy” smile, you could consider having a gum lift. This procedure uses a dental laser to raise, sculpt and contour the gum line to improve the appearance of your smile. A gum lift procedure is relatively superficial, and there is minimal swelling and bruising involved and the recovery time is usually short.

In fact, you should be well able to eat and drink within hours of having a gum lift. However, for this procedure to be successful, you must have strong and substantial tooth roots, so that they won’t be structurally compromised by the gum lift.

Which procedure is best for me?

What treatment is most suitable for you will depend upon your individual situation, circumstances and budget, so you’ll need to consult your local cosmetic dentist to come up with a treatment plan that will give you the best result. Here are a few questions you should ask your cosmetic dentist to help make the best decision for you:

What does the procedure in question involve?
What will the changes look like? (Ask to see before and after photos).
How long will the procedure take?
How many visits to the dentist will be necessary?
What is the cost of the procedure?
What are the benefits of the procedure?
What are the risks of the procedure?
Are there any pre-requisites necessary before the procedure can take place?
What are the side effects?
How long is the recovery process?
What post-treatment maintenance will I need to do to ensure my procedure lasts for a long time?

What does cosmetic dentistry cost?

While cosmetic dental procedures sound like they are going to be expensive, they may be much more affordable than you might think. In the past, cosmetic dentistry was considered to be something only rich and famous people could (or should) afford, as the cost was prohibitive for most ordinary people.

However, modern advancements in cosmetic dental technology and material sciences have placed cosmetic dentistry within reach of the average person, and treatments are much more affordable than in the past. There’s really no reason why anyone should have to be unhappy with the way they smile, when there’s so many cosmetic treatment options available.

The cost will be a very individual thing however, and will vary widely depending on a patient’s unique circumstances, needs, goals and treatment plan, so you will need to talk to your cosmetic dentist to determine which procedure is best for your budget. Another thing to remember is voluntary cosmetic dentistry is often not covered by medical insurance companies, so make sure you check exactly what’s covered with your insurance provider.

How do I care for my teeth after having a cosmetic dental procedure?

While your cosmetic dentist will fill you in on any specific after-care guidelines and requirements for the procedure you’ve had.

There are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:

Daily brushing with a fluoridised toothpaste is an absolute non-negotiable, to ensure you maintain your oral hygiene and gum health. Try and brush for two minutes morning and night, and get your dentist to show you the correct way to brush if you’re unsure.
Daily flossing should also be part of your dental care routine.
Schedule regular dental check-ups so that your teeth and gums stay healthy and to ensure that your cosmetic dental treatment is functioning well.
Have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year.

You don’t have to let unsightly teeth prevent you from showing your best side. If you want to rediscover your smile and your self-confidence, consider cosmetic dentistry. With such a range of cosmetic treatments available, almost any dental problem can be fixed so that you can confidently show off your improved smile and enjoy living life to the full.

What is cosmetic dentistry and do I need it?