The difference between getting a beautiful healthy smile and a mouthful of bills for dirty teeth can depend on the skill of your cosmetic dentist. Since the rise in popularity and methods of cosmetic dentistry of the last few years, this field of dentistry is growing faster than the level of experience and certification in new methods can be determined and measured for the whole field of dental care.

What this means is that there has been no long term study of the effectiveness of teeth whitening procedures to find out which ones work the best and what the long term ramifications are. Plus, while some cosmetic dentists are good at what they do, there is no benchmark for what qualifies someone to be an expert in this field due to the different procedures and techniques for teeth whitening.

While one cosmetic dentist might specialize in bleaching, another might just use laser teeth whitening techniques. Each technique is still too new to understand how they affect teeth in the long run.

Before you seek out a professional in cosmetic dentistry, make sure you understand the techniques they will use and the risks associated with these procedures.

When you visit a regular dentist, their overall focus is on your oral hygiene and preventing and treating various forms of tooth decay. They do cleanings, root canals, install braces and when you get old, they help you with making your set of false teeth. But for those that want a brighter, whiter smile, then a cosmetic dentist is the one you need.

Most cosmetic dentistry is considered elective not necessary dental treatment and most health plans do not cover it. There are some procedures which have restorative benefits like dental fillings that maybe covered. Traditional fillings in the past were made of materials that did not match your smile, but cosmetic dentistry fillings use porcelain and other materials designed to closely match the color of your teeth.

There are constant technological breakthroughs in this field and these advancements have helped make today’s procedures more lasting and offered with better consistency then in the past. Cosmetic dentists are now more aware of which practices are beneficial for each patient and can offer the specific treatment depending on the patient’s needs.

According to the American Dental Association, there is currently no recognized specialty in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Even though a dentist has spent time and money in learning various procedures for teeth whitening, there is no certification that can guarantee to his patients that he is indeed a specialist in this form of dentistry.

Because of this lack of certification in cosmetic dentistry, it is real important that you do your research when selecting a dentist for teeth whitening. When you come across a website that offers a cosmetic dentist specialist, this is a self-appointed title and you must look deeper at what they are offering. While they might be a dentist and offer excellent teeth whitening procedures, you have to decide for yourself if they are right.

The good news is that with most laser whitening procedures like Zoom or Brite, they require their own certification for dentists who use their equipment.

Just remember, that in the United States, there is no governing board for determining or endorsing any dentist in the field of cosmetic dentistry.

Today’s cosmetic dentist can offer many options to get the smile you want and deserve. From simple whitening kits to complete mouth restoration, cosmetic dentistry offers a wide range of options for those that want to repair their teeth.

Teeth whitening is probably the most common known and sort out cosmetic dental procedure. Teeth that have become stained over the years from exposure to dark liquids, the harsh acids in some foods and smoking are usually great candidates for teeth whiteners. These procedures can be simple in-home whitening kits, in office bleaching or laser teeth whitening sessions.

Other procedures that a cosmetic dentist can perform are composite bonding for chipped, broken teeth, prosthetic dental implants and complete smile esthetics to improve your overall self-esteem and appearance.

Another procedure performed by cosmetic dentistry is the making of dental veneers. These are custom-made caps of ceramic material that when applied over the surface of the tooth help cover worn enamel and chips and cracks from long time dental abuse.

The two most common forms today are composite resin and porcelain cosmetic dentistry veneers. Both forms are custom made to fit your teeth.  While composite resin veneers can be made in the dentist’s office and are cheaper, porcelain veneers are fabricated by a dental technician in a laboratory. Of these two types of veneers, porcelain veneers are longer lasting and are bonded directly to your teeth.

The downside to cosmetic dentistry is that it is not cheap. Most teeth whitening procedures range from 400 to 800 dollars and usually require several sessions to get stubborn stains out. Laser teeth whitening can cost more, typically around 1000 dollars, but this usually only requires one session.

There are in-home whitening kits that cost between 100 to 400 bucks and are best for long term teeth whitening plans.

The cost of veneers is extremely more expensive. Composite veneers can run between 500 to 1500 dollars a tooth and can last between five to seven years. Porcelain veneers cost average 900 to 2500 dollars a tooth and can last ten to fifteen years a tooth.

Below is a video about overall smile analysis procedure in cosmetic dentistry