Cosmetic Dentistry: Need or Vanity?

So here's a question that a friend suddenly asked me. Knowing that I'm in favor of cosmetic dentistry (I just confirmed that she's not), she wants to hear my opinion about the issue. Do note that this may be biased in some way so feel free to comment if you think otherwise.

As one of the fastest growing areas of dentistry, cosmetic dentistry has caught the attention of supporters and critics alike. A lot of people see a good smile as an asset and therefore think that cosmetic dentistry is needed. On the other hand, there are also people who think that the cost of the treatments do not make up for benefits it provides.

By the way, what is cosmetic dentistry? To put it simply, it is any dental procedure done to improve the way your teeth looks, which affects your smile. More often than not, the procedure is done without any medical reason for doing so and many see it as vanity instead of a need. There are also people who argue that there are psychological benefits to improving one's smile such as improving a person's self confidence especially after a history of being picked on because of his or her teeth.

There are several basic procedures in cosmetic dentistry: tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, tooth shaping, dental implants, and gum lifts. None of these are actually done primarily for the purpose of dental health although it is true that veneers are also used to protect a damaged tooth and tooth shaping can correct a person's bite. These cosmetic dentistry procedures are usually done simply to improve a person's teeth and smile.

Going back to the original question: is cosmetic dentistry a need or vanity? If I were to answer that, I'd say "it depends". Do vain people use cosmetic dentistry? I'd say, yes. But are they the only ones who go through cosmetic dentistry procedures? Nope.

People are different and have different situations. Some people get picked on because of their teeth and end up with low self-esteem. Some people also have a weird bite that could have been easily corrected with a simple teeth shaping procedure or gum lifts. Personally, I believe that the term "need" is subjective. If a person can afford cosmetic dentistry procedures and thinks that it can help him or her in some way, then why not? Alternatively, if someone can afford it but already has a nice smile and is simply aiming to perfect it, still, why not? It's only bad if you put it as a priority when you don't have the budget to do so.