Cosmetic dentistry (CD) involves dental procedures with the aim of improving the overall look of your smile. CD aims to create a beautiful smile which can have numerous knock on effects in an individual’s self-confidence, self-esteem and even personal relationships. TV shows such as “extreme makeover” has created a public awareness about CD and its accessibility.
Why have Cosmetic Dentistry?
Are you unhappy with your smile? Do you want to change your smile to improve the colour, shape or length of your teeth, change the appearance of your gums or lips to give your overall smile a more aesthetically appealing look?
A recent survey revealed that:
o Over 75% of people don’t feel confident to smile in photographs
o Over 45% of people make judgments about people by the look of their smile
o Over 75% of people think that a beautiful smile helps people psychologically
o Over 65% of people think that an attractive smile helps romantically
Cosmetic dentistry or smile makeover involves one or more cosmetic dental procedures to improve the aesthetics of your smile in a way that you want. CD or a smile makeover to one person could mean something completely different to another person and it is a very individual choice e.g. some people want the perfectly white “Hollywood smile” with pearly white porcelain veneers. Other people may just want a simple improvement such as the replacement of silver fillings with cosmetic white fillings and teeth whitening. What ever the reasons for you disliking your smile there are many different ways in which you can improve it using modern CD:
Cosmetic dentistry for Crooked teeth.
Crooked teeth can be straightened with Invisalign braces or conventional orthodontics. They can also be covered with porcelain veneers for a faster solution, often referred to as “instant orthodontics”.
Cosmetic Dentistry for broken teeth.
Chipped, broken teeth can be repaired – the treatment available will depend on the extent of damage but the options include cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.
Cosmetic dentistry for Missing teeth.
Missing teeth can be replaced – gaps between your teeth can cause functional problems as well as being unsightly. Solutions include dental Implants, a dental bridge or a denture.
Cosmetic dentistry and ‘gappy teeth’.
Gaps between your teeth can be closed to give your smile a more evenlook. This can be achieved instantly with porcelain veneers. Orthodontics can also be used to move the teeth and close the gaps between them.
Cosmetic dentistry for Gummy smile
If you have a gummy smile, this can easily be remedied by surgical or laser gum contouring. This is known as a Gum Lift.
Cosmetic dentistry for Discoloured teeth.
If you are not satisfied with the colour of your teeth or if you have badly stained teeth they can be treated with professional teeth whitening.
Cosmetic treatments for facial lines
If you have deep smile lines, frown lines or lips that have lost their fullness, these can all be improved using a combination of Botox and dermal filler treatments.
The end result of CD or a smile makeover for many people is to have a smile to be proud of that is straight, white and perfectly aligned.
How much does a cosmetic dentistry or a smile makeover cost?
This will depend on many factors:
o The treatment required
o The skill of your cosmetic dentist
o The clinic where the treatment is carried out
o The quality of materials used for your work
