What is a Cosmetic Dentist?

A smile is worth a thousand words. In a society that focuses so much on looks and staying young, cosmetic dentistry is on the rise. In the past fillings were made with gold and amalgam (silver), leaving its patients with visible dark spots on the teeth. With technology on the rise, dental fillings can be made entirely of porcelain. This makes the tooth look similar to the normal teeth in a patient’s mouth. This makes the dental fillings fall under the category of cosmetic dentistry, because you can select fillings that closely match the color of your teeth, therefore maintaining the natural appearance of your teeth and smile. Many people have replaced only “silver” fillings with the new composite fillings to enhance their oral appearance

Traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral diseases. Teeth whitening and veneers are considered to be cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is classified as a procedure done for “vanity purposes only”. This means that most insurance companies will not pay for cosmetic dentistry procedures. A cosmetic dentist is different from a general dentist. A cosmetic dentist focus on your smile and making you look good. Here are a few things a cosmetic dentist focuses on:

Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening is normally done to patients who have stained or discolored teeth. A smile is worth a thousand words and many patients are opting to use this procedure to brighten their smile.

Veneers – Veneers are a thin shell made out of porcelain or composite material. They are custom made for your teeth and cemented to the front side of your tooth. Many general dentists can perform this procedure if you have a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth. Veneers are also recommended for patients who have a gap in their teeth.

Implants – A dental implant is a metal device designed to replace a missing tooth. It is a surgical procedure that places a metal device in your jawbone where the tooth is missing. Unlike a dental bridge, a dental implant is permanent. It is designed to act as a normal tooth and can even anchor a bridge or a crown.

Crowns – If you have ever broken a tooth to a large degree, chances are you have a crown. Crowns are often referred to as caps and are designed to fit over your whole tooth after your dentist has prepared the tooth. If you have a root canal, you must crown the tooth within 6 months to one year to prevent further infection to that tooth. Crowns are usually made of metal and covered in porcelain. Many dentists will use crowns to replace teeth that are poorly shaped, decayed, broken or cracked, or have had large fillings.

Shaping – Commonly referred to as “enamel shaping”, this is when the dentist can reshape your tooth by removing some of the enamel. Typically, this is not a painful procedure since the dentist is not touching the nerve of the tooth and many patients like it because they experience immediate effects.

Bonding – This is when a dentist applies tooth colored material to the tooth. Typically a dentist with use bonding on a tooth that is badly stained, broken or chipped. Patients who have had braces and did not take proper care of their teeth often have bonding done to fix the decay spots on the front of their teeth.

Orthodontic Treatment – Many people use orthodontists to straighten their teeth or large gaps in their teeth. Most orthodontic patients are younger, in elementary, junior high, or high school. With recent trends in society to focus on your appearance, many adults are turning to orthodontic procedures to straighten their crooked teeth as well. Orthodontic treatment has become so advanced that they can now straighten teeth with “clear” braces that are un-noticeable.

Cosmetic dentistry is also used for patients who need full mouth reconstruction. This includes patients who have problems with the bite, muscles, teeth and bone structure. Full mouth reconstruction involves advanced restorative treatment methods. Many patients will visit the cosmetic dentist several times within one period of time to receive this treatment. Most dentists who perform full mouth reconstruction have specific areas of expertise and additional schooling to keep up with the latest technology.

As you can see, cosmetic dentistry provides many opportunities for people who are unhappy with their smile. Cosmetic dentist use the latest technology to keep up with the growing demands of their patients who want to improve the way they look.

A few things you need to know before taking advantage of cosmetic dentistry.

If you decide you want to improve your smile and enhance your looks through cosmetic dentistry, you need to be aware of a few things:

• Cost. Most insurance companies will not pay for cosmetic dentistry. Any procedure that is classified as “vanity purposes” is not covered by insurance. Insurance companies will pay for porcelain or composite fillings, but may not pay for teeth whitening. As a result, many patients are forced to pay these costs. Depending upon your dentist, cosmetic procedures can be quite pricy.
• On-Going Work. Just because you have crowned a tooth or had a veneer placed on a tooth, doesn’t mean you are off the hook for follow-up procedures. Most crowns are expected to last about 8-10 years. This means you will be crowning your teeth every decade or so. With dental costs on the rise, you could be looking at paying a lot of money to keep your teeth looking good.
• Training. Most dentists who practice cosmetic dentistry need to attend several training courses each year to keep up to date with the latest technology. In return for the high costs of attending these yearly training courses, you will be charged larger fees for procedures.
• Legal protection. As a patient, you are not protected from substandard cosmetic dental care. If you end up with low quality esthetic dental work, you have no recourse if the work does not meet your expectations

Finding a Cosmetic Dentist

Finding a good dentist can be a difficult task, especially if you are looking for a dentist who practices cosmetic dentistry. Many people have taken to the internet to find a good dentist. While this is a great way to research information about dentists; you may become overwhelmed with all the dental sites and directories on the internet. With the use of the internet, you are able to find information about various dental procedures, pricing, and qualification pertaining to that dentist. Here are a few key questions you need to ask yourself when seeking a dentist:

• How convenient is the dentist’s location to your home or work?
• Does the dentist specialize in cosmetic dentistry?
• Does the dentist accept your insurance?
• How helpful are the dental assistants and hygienist?
• How long does it take to get an appointment with the dentist?
• Does the dentist have a nice, comfortable office environment?

Once you have found a couple dentists you are interested in, you need to ask them the following questions:

• Is the dentist accepting new patients?
• How long has the dentist been in practice?
• What types of relaxation techniques does the dentist offer for patients with phobias?
• Is there a charge for a missed or cancelled appointment?
• Does the dentist take educational classes to stay up with the latest technology?
• Does the dentist provide emergency care hours? Do they provide a phone number to call for dental emergencies?
• What types of payment plans does the dentist offer?
• What types of dental insurance does the dentist accept?
• What types of procedures is the dentist qualified to perform? For example, many dentists do not offer root canal services and will refer you to an endodontist.
• Does the dentist specialize in cosmetic dentistry?
• Does the dentist attend regular training classes?
• How do their prices compare to those of other cosmetic dentists?

Here are a few places you can go to when looking for a dentist:

American Dental Association

The American Dental Association provides a free listing of all qualified dentists in your area. Approximately 7 out of 10 dentists belong to the American Dental Association. Dentist’s who are members of the American Dental Association adhere to high ethical standards of conduct.

1-800-DENTIST

Many people call 1-800-DENTIST to find a qualified dentist in their area. 1800dentist.com also provides you with the same information you can get from the phone operators. They will match you with a dentist that fits your needs pertaining to insurance, financial assistance, dental needs, and family issues. If you are looking for a pediatric dentist, you should research them on 1800dentist.com as they can provide patient testimonials about a particular dentist.

The Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry provides you with a complete listing of general dentist’s and what types of procedures they practice. The Academy of General Dentistry provides you with recent podcasts, blogs, and articles pertaining to dentistry. You are also able to search for a general dentist in your area.