Your Quick Guide on Cosmetic Dentistry
What is cosmetic dentistry?
Short answer:
Cosmetic dentistry is a type of dentistry focusing on improving the appearance of your smile.
If you don’t like the way your smile looks, this is right up your alley.
Interested in learning more, like types of treatments and benefits?
Carry on reading!
The full cosmetic dentistry definition
Cosmetic dentistry refers to any dental treatment that improves the look of your teeth, gums, and bite.
Cosmetic dentistry is heavily focused on the art or aesthetics of your smile, including color, position, size, shape, alignment, symmetry, balance, and overall appearance.
However, it also uses science and technology to provide treatments that benefit your oral health and function and are effective and long-lasting.
What are the benefits of cosmetic dentistry?
This goes without saying:
#1 Your smile’s attractiveness!
This is the most noticeable benefit of cosmetic dentistry.
Your smile will look better and be more attractive in the eyes of others, but most importantly, yourself.
#2 Self-esteem boost
When you look good, you feel good.
And when you’re able to show off your smile without hesitation, laugh freely, and speak naturally, you’ll instantly have more self-confidence.
#3 Look youthful
Teeth show your age. But with cosmetic work, like whitening your teeth or fixing worn-down teeth, you’ll look years (maybe decades) younger.
#4 Improved diet
When done right, cosmetic dental work will help improve your bite function, making eating more comfortable and helping your digestion.
Plus, you’ll want to preserve your new smile, so you’ll likely keep an eye on harmful foods and drinks like soda.
Click here to hear how we improved this patient’s ability to chew with dental implants.
#5 Better oral health
Again, your dentist can use cosmetic treatments for another reason: Improve your dental health! Such as removing decay or aligning your teeth to make cleaning easier.
Click here to see how this Invisalign patient improved his oral health.
What can cosmetic dentistry fix?
From minor smile flaws to full-scale smile makeovers, cosmetic dentistry does it all.
Most commonly, cosmetic dentistry fixes teeth that are:
- Stained
- Discolored
- Chipped, cracked, or fractured
- Broken
- Too short or long
- Too small or big
- Misshapen
- Irregular shaped
- Uneven
- Misaligned
- Crooked or crowded
- Gapped or spaced
- Gummy-looking
- Worn-down
And the list goes on!
Types of cosmetic dentistry treatments
In alphabetical order, cosmetic dental treatments include:
Crowns
These tooth-shaped caps cover your tooth’s entire circumference, making them look better while also benefiting the structure and function.
Dental bonding
Also referred to as tooth bonding or cosmetic bonding, it adds tooth-colored material onto your tooth to change its shape and size.
It’s affordable and quick!
Enamel shaping
Also called enamel contouring, this involves reshaping a tooth along its edge.
It’s also affordable, quick, and painless!
Gum reshaping
Removing excess gum tissue (gummy smiles) helps your teeth look longer. Gum contouring is also used when the gum line is unsymmetrical.
Orthodontics
Braces and clear aligners (like Invisalign®) straighten teeth to improve functionality, oral health, and appearance.
Smile design
This uses a combination of dental procedures to create the ultimate smile makeover.
Teeth whitening
Tooth whitening is a cost-effective way to enhance your smile without making any structural changes.
Veneers
These thin-shells get placed over the front of your teeth to subtly or dramatically improve your smile. This is often the secret to getting that celebrity-worthy smile!
Other treatments that improve your smile but are officially classified as “restorative dentistry” include:
Dental implants
When you’re missing a tooth or have a severely damaged or decayed tooth, a dental implant will replace it entirely from root to crown. It’s built to last and looks completely natural.
Metal-free fillings
Composite fillings use tooth-colored material to restore a tooth after a cavity instead of unsightly metal fillings.
What’s the difference between a general dentist and a cosmetic dentist?
Quick answer:
Skills and experience!
Cosmetic dentists don’t require additional certification like periodontists or orthodontists. So when you’re looking for the “best cosmetic dentist near me,” make sure you look for:
- Years of experience
- Training
- Real results (view a before-and-after smile gallery as proof)
Speaking of…
Looking for a cosmetic dentist in the Greater Seattle Area?
Our Ballard cosmetic dentist comes highly recommended by countless happy, smiling patients.
Or contact us via one of these other convenient means:
- Call us: (206) 784-6310
- Email us: info@smileballard.com
Our dental office is located in Ballard, WA… This text opens a new tab to our Google page…, and serves communities across Seattle, including Greenwood, Queen Anne, West Seattle, Fremont, Northgate, and Shoreline.
A cosmetic dentistry is an umbrella term for procedures that make your teeth look better. Sometimes cosmetic dental procedures stem from underlying problems with your teeth, like the need for crowns or veneers.