With summer soon at hand, maybe you’ve recently been hearing talk about cosmetic dentistry. It wouldn’t be surprising – many people want to spruce up their smiles for fun in the sun. That said, just what is cosmetic dentistry in the first place? You’d do well to settle that point before you get a treatment, so your Cocoa Beach dentist is here to address it. Here’s a primer on the field of cosmetic dentistry and some examples of its standard services.
A Definition of Cosmetic Dentistry
A lot of dental work tries to improve (or maintain) oral health, but that isn’t the main goal of cosmetic dentistry. The latter aims to enhance your grin’s appearance – your teeth, gums, and so on.
Given this goal, cosmetic dentistry’s procedures aim to fix smile flaws. These might range from chipped and cracked teeth to tooth stains and “gummy” smiles. It follows that you shouldn’t expect cosmetic dental work to treat cavities and infections; it doesn’t have such preventive or restorative effects.
Cosmetic dentistry has gotten especially popular in recent years, as social media puts a very strong emphasis on one’s looks. People the world over look to it for ways to make their grins gorgeous!
Standard Cosmetic Dental Services
If you see a cosmetic dentist, you can expect them to offer several standard services. These include the following:
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a procedure that directly brightens your smile. To do so, it uses a strong bleaching gel to remove mild to moderate stains from your enamel.
Modern teeth whitening has two forms: in-office and at-home. With the first type, the dentist applies the bleaching gel at their office during a one-hour visit. At-home whitening, though, consists of wearing gel-filled trays over two weeks for a few hours each day.
Porcelain Veneers
In essence, porcelain veneers are thin shells placed on the fronts of one’s teeth. Their main role is to hide a wide range of smile flaws – stains, cracks, chips, etc. – from view.
Since veneers are highly versatile, they often cost more than other cosmetic dental options. You’ll want to note that point as you consider your options.
Dental Crowns
While dental crowns are protective, tooth-colored ones have cosmetic perks. Their placement can hide dark cavities, chips, and fractures from the people around you.
Most tooth-colored crowns are ceramic, but they can also be made from other materials. Key examples would be zirconia and similar substances.
You should have a sense of what cosmetic dentistry is now. Therefore, go ahead and get treatment before the summer fully starts!
About the Practice
At our Cocoa Beach dental practice, we believe quality dental care starts with helping patients feel informed and comfortable about their oral health. From preventive care to cosmetic and restorative treatments, Dr. Jeff Lineberry and our team offer a range of services to support your smile. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (321) 783-7514 or visit us online today.