The What’s and Why’s of Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry can be a very wide term, after all, for most people it would be hard to know the difference between what has medical use and what just makes you look and feel a bit better. At Rocky Mountain Smiles in Loveland, we provide a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services for you and your family in the Loveland and Fort Collins’ area.

If you’re wondering about cosmetic dentistry and wanting to get rid of old stains, fix broken or chipped teeth, or close a gap, but you’re not really sure about the process or if it’s right for you, then we can help clear things up. At Rocky Mountain Smiles, our expert dental team will put you first, and let you know if the procedure you want will work for you. Just to get you a little more informed before your appointment, here are some of our most common questions.

What You Need To Know About Cosmetic Dentistry

The “what’s” of cosmetic dentistry are vast, and there’s a good reason for that. Cosmetic dentistry is a major investment in yourself and it can be costly. Not only that, but with good dental work, many cosmetic dental procedures are permanent. Just like any other long term decisions, you should weigh your questions about permanent dental work heavily. 

• Is cosmetic dentistry different from regular dental work? The answer is yes and no — because there is no special certification for cosmetic dentistry, most dentists can perform cosmetic work, but you shouldn’t trust someone who says they are trained as a cosmetic dentist specifically. What is different is the way the dentist should go about their work when they’re performing cosmetic as opposed to medical dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is all about the looks and aesthetics of your smile, such as position, color, shape, and so on.
• What does cosmetic dentistry include? Cosmetic dentistry can include procedures that are purely aesthetic, but most of them serve some medical purpose as well. Teeth whitening probably has the least medical benefits, as teeth stain naturally over time, but it will involve removing some plaque build up. Other popular cosmetic procedures include composite bonding, veneers, and dental implants. These are all procedures that aren’t always medically necessary, but that can often help with oral health while also improving your smile’s appearance.
• What are the risks of cosmetic dentistry? As with any medical procedure, there are some risks involved in cosmetic dentistry. However, these are mostly a result of human error, overuse of products, or improper care after the fact. For example, with teeth whitening procedures, your best bet may be to go to the dentist because we can do the job well on the first go around, assuring you don’t use a level of teeth whitening agent that is unhealthy for your teeth. Aside from the dentist botching the procedure, you not taking care of your teeth after the fact, or an allergic reaction, there are relatively low risks associated with cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Why You Might Want Cosmetic Dentistry

The benefits of cosmetic dentistry are many, as we’ve covered before, because they bring both aesthetic and oral health improvements. Here are some of the more common cosmetic dentistry procedures and how they can help you.

• Teeth Whitening – We all know the beauty of teeth whitening, it’s the beauty itself! It’s possibly the most widely accepted cosmetic procedure out there. No one can blame you for wanting to have a better looking smile, and there’s good reason for that. Smiling not only makes you feel better by releasing chemicals in your brain, but it also plays a role in improving the mood of others. It’s pretty hard to know that without also realizing how much your smile affects your day to day. When you feel confident enough to smile, you have a life tool at your disposal.
• Veneers – Veneers are thin coverings that are made from ceramic or a composite material and placed over a broken, chipped, or otherwise damaged tooth. A cement like substance bonds the veneer to your teeth, so you can have a confident smile again for five to 15 years. Some of the drawbacks to veneers include that they are temporary, there could be infection if performed wrong, and they could crack. However, this is all also true of your real teeth, so it shouldn’t cause major concern. Plus, not only do they make your teeth look better, but they can also help make chewing and eating more comfortable.
• Dental Bonding – Dental bonding is a teeth whitening and corrective procedure that uses a white composite resin to create a layer of material over your teeth. The composite layer is then bonded to your teeth with a UV light. Not only does this give your teeth an instantly whiter appearance, but it also helps fix cosmetic issues such as cracks, chips, or stains. While bonding is a more immediate fix for your entire mouth than veneers or crowns would be, it’s also less stain and damage resistant.
• Dental Implants – Despite many medical advances, and due to a lack of inclusion of dentistry in american medical care, many Americans suffer the unfortunate loss of one or more teeth due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury. Often people go on for years without fixing their missing tooth, but dental implants can be affordable with the help of insurance and may be worth the investment as a new smile could help change your outlook and station in life. Implants are one of the more stable cosmetic dentistry options, as they stand alone from your other teeth, provide support for the root systems beside them, and require the same care as any other teeth.
• Dental Shaping – Dental shaping is a relatively quick way to fix the natural imperfections in your smile. Also called enamel shaping, unlike our other procedures, this one does not add something onto your teeth, it takes enamel away. While that may sound scary, dentists will first make sure that you have strong and thick enough enamel not to jeopardize the integrity of the tooth. Dental shaping can provide a range of benefits, including, even front or back teeth, lessening of an over or underbite, a whiter smile, and less spaces for bacteria to get stuck in.
• Dental Crowns – A dental crown, sometimes called a cap, is a tooth-shaped cap that rests on top of a broken or otherwise damaged tooth. This is done for a number of reasons. While it could always improve the look of your smile, there are also many medical benefits, such as protecting weak or decayed teeth, to restore a broken or severely worn tooth, to hold a dental bridge in place, and much more. If someone’s suggested a crown to you, it would probably be best for both the health and look of your smile.

Contact Rocky Mountain Smiles for Your Cosmetic Dentistry

We hope you now have a little better understanding of what cosmetic dentistry, both what actually qualifies as cosmetic dentistry and why you might want certain procedures. If you’re still curious about cosmetic dentistry, any of the services we have listed above, or have any other inquiries about dental care in Loveland and Fort Collins, then we want to be your next call. Reach out to Rocky Mountain Smiles in Loveland today.