Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry

The importance of a healthy, bright smile is hard to overestimate. Clean, bright teeth indicate good health, and smiles are interpreted positively the world over. Anyone who has seen a “makeover” reality show has seen what an enormous difference a great smile makes to a person’s look and their confidence. Dentistry in general and cosmetic dentistry in particular has advanced significantly in recent years.

Perhaps the original “cosmetic dentistry” was dentures. But dentures are not just cosmetic. A decent set of dentures can make the difference between a healthy individual who is able to eat a healthy diet and an unhealthy individual whose diet is very limited.

Another process that falls somewhat into the category of “cosmetic” dentistry is orthodontics, commonly known as “braces.” Again, there are a number of cases in which braces are necessary for a healthy mouth. Very crowded teeth are difficult to keep clean and can therefore decay more easily. Large overbites, underbites, and crossbites make chewing difficult and can make it difficult to consume a good variety of healthy foods.

Many people get braces solely to have a more beautiful smile, and they can make an enormous difference in a person’s overall appearance. The confidence that comes from having cosmetic dentistry can do wonders for a person’s appearance as well.

One of the newest types of cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening. It started out as a system of custom mouth trays containing hydrogen peroxide gel that came home from the dentist with the patient and took several days or weeks to complete. Now the in-office procedures only take an hour or so, and over the counter whitening products can lighten teeth by several shades. They have become quite inexpensive, too, starting at around $ 15 to $ 20.

Cosmetic dentistry encompasses a number of dental procedures, some of which have overall health benefits as well.