5 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Cosmetic Dentist
Hopefully, the majority of people are continually going for regular dental cleanings each year. The usual recommendation is one every six months. These dental cleanings monitor the health of both your teeth and your gums. Many people consider it a necessary evil, as you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who is gung-ho about heading to the dentist.
But just as other medical professions, there are plenty of different types of dentists. The dentist you see for your cleaning is a general dentist while an endodontist will perform a root canal if you need one. While both can advise on the other’s practices, you’re not going to go to a heart surgeon asking for dietary advice.
Cosmetic dentists are a completely different type of speciality that perform tasks you’re not going to find with a general dentist.
What exactly is a cosmetic dentist?
First things first, the proper name for cosmetic dentists are prosthodontists. Their schooling is similar to regular dentists until after they finish dental school, where they will have to enroll in an approved three-year program to finish their training.
Some relate prosthodontists to the quarterback or CEO of a dental team, as they regularly oversee dental procedures involving a team of dentists.
But now that we know what they are, or at least the general idea, let’s find out why you may need one.
You’ve Lost Teeth
Losing a tooth before a big photo day, like a wedding or school picture day, is a nightmare that few of us ever hope to live out. It’s one thing if you’re a nine-year old kid and a couple of missing teeth still looks cute, but it’s another thing entirely if you’re a full-grown adult.
Cosmetic dentists help those who have either lost teeth naturally or through accidents. They will help insert crowns, bridges or dentures so you can get back to showing off your pearly whites.
In addition to those treatments, cosmetic dentists also specialize in dental implants, technology that has improved greatly over the last decade and a half.
This is usually one of the only practices of prosthodontists that is fully covered by dental insurance, but that can vary greatly depending on the dentist and type of insurance.
You Need Your Teeth Repaired
There are some people that snore while they sleep and there are others that continually grind their teeth. While both are horribly annoying, grinding your teeth can have long term effects on your dental health.
The proper name for teeth grinding is bruxism and it can eventually wear your teeth down to nothing. It can also happen over time if you’re someone who routinely clenches their jaw and teeth.
Cosmetic dentists, while not the only solution here, will often put porcelain inlays on your teeth, helping keep them straight and limit your grinding.
They also specialize in veneer installation, putting those small porcelain shells on the front of a tooth. This helps cover up any missing bits of the tooth as well as masking any discoloration.
You Want to Brighten Your Smile
While beauty and fashion standards may change with passing seasons, almost everyone can always agree that a little black dress never goes out of style and clean, white teeth make for a great smile.
Cosmetic dentists offer a wide range of teeth whitening options from bleaching to laser treatments. Most clinics have a variety of whitening options, so you can even have your favorite colors put on (just kidding).
You Need Your Teeth Straightened
This is where cosmetic dentists and orthodontists overlap in a way. The majority of people may be used to strictly using an orthodontist for braces or brackets, turning your teeth into a perfectly straight set.
Applying braces is pretty straight forward, as the dentist will have to place metal, ceramic or even plastic brackets on your teeth. Through various tightenings and adjustments, braces not only help straighten teeth but can also help fix jaw alignment and correct any over or underbites.
You Want a Small Touch Up
Besides the main reasons above, cosmetic dentists also help with a number of other procedures. They can fix an uneven gum line, exposed roots and more. The best thing to do is start by asking your general dentist for recommendations and any ideas on what you can do to improve your smile.
