The Substance of Cosmetic Dentistry
So, what exactly is cosmetic dentistry? Defined as a subfield of dentistry that focuses on the appearance of the teeth and gums, most likely, teeth whitening and porcelain veneers come to mind – that perfect straight, bright, full smile. And that’s probably what your insurance company is thinking, too – do you really need those implant crowns? Is a chipped tooth really a dental necessity to fix with bonding or onlays?
Well, as a cosmetic dentist, obviously we think that cosmetic dentistry is necessary; it’s an important field. After your eyes, the first thing people look at when they meet you is your smile. It’s human nature; it’s how we instinctually communicate friendliness to new people. A crooked, broken or unhealthy smile can be detrimental to your life and livelihood; a healthy smile is a real factor in your quality of life. And just because it’s beautiful, doesn’t mean the beautiful smile your cosmetic dentist gave you is only on the surface.
Cosmetic Dentistry is Often Also Restorative Dentistry
Most often, cosmetic dentists perform procedures that either add to, adjust or remove unhealthy, injured or poorly-placed tissues in your mouth – both teeth and gums. The goal is a perfect set of teeth, but getting there also provides health benefits to our patients. After all, it really just makes sense that the better your smile looks, the better it’s built, so the better it works for you as far as biting, chewing, speaking, etc.
So let’s look at the restorative benefits of some common cosmetic dentistry procedures:
Teeth Whitening: The dental cleaning and exam you get beforehand optimizes the health of your mouth, and the peroxide solution in the whitening gel sanitizes your entire mouth during the procedure.
Tooth Veneers: Dental veneers can stabilize weak teeth, especially teeth with cracked tooth syndrome, a condition where micro cracks form throughout a tooth, leaving it prone to breaking.
Dental Bonding: Bonding can repair chipped or broken teeth, as well as damaged fillings. It protects your other teeth and gums from jagged edges, and protects your bite from additional accidents that might further damage the damaged tooth.
Implant Crowns: Implant crowns not only physically replace the tooth, but the implant they cover replaces the tooth’s roots, protecting the health of your jaw bone, other teeth, bite, and gums.
Dental Bridge: A dental bridge replaces several missing teeth, restoring your ability to chew and speak properly.
Dentures: A full set of dentures can completely change a person’s life, restoring looks but also function of the missing teeth.
The Link Between Look & Function
Here’s the thing; the way you look matters – it’s just a fact of life. And one of the paramount preoccupations with looks in our culture is the state of your smile. But that doesn’t mean a pretty smile is just about vanity. Real-life consequences of having cosmetic procedures done to improve your teeth include:
- More success in your professional life
- An improvement in your dating life
- Higher self-confidence
We’d argue that any physical changes that are good for your mental health aren’t vain; wellness is about the mind and body. Between these advantages and the functional benefits of cosmetic dentistry, it seems like it’s anything but unnecessary.