What are the Procedures in Cosmetic Dentistry/ How can I Find a Good Cosmetic Dentist?

If you want to know the answers to these questions then this article is for you.

Dental Aesthetics and Oral Rehabilitation are areas that I have always been passionate about and to which I have dedicated much of my training and clinical practice over 35 years.

If we go to Wikipedia we see the definition of “Cosmetic Dentistry”: dental procedures that improve the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a patient’s teeth and gums.
This is not my reading, for me Dental Aesthetics is inseparable from function and oral health and, only by imitating nature (function included), can we reach the desired result: aesthetics.
Today we have many solutions for those who are not particularly satisfied and confident with their smile, which can range from a simple whitening to a smile makeover or a smile lift.

Some of the treatments available to us are:

 

Inlays/Onlays:

Laboratory-made composite or ceramic fillings provide an aesthetic and long-lasting alternative to amalgam (“lead”) fillings in the treatment of dental cavities. They differ from classic fillings (amalgams) made directly on the tooth by the dentist, requiring impressions, and done in the laboratory and bonded to the tooth in a 2nd appointment.
Direct Composite fillings , made by the Dentist and requiring a single appointment, are also a very important part of Cosmetic procedures.

 

Teeth whitening:

It is one of the most known and used procedures. It has the advantage of being economical, non-invasive and making the smile brighter by correcting tooth color changes that appear over the years.
It should always have to be done by a dentist as there are contraindications for whitening that only a professional can detect.

 

Dental Veneers or Ceramic Veneers:

They are, without a doubt, the golden standard of dental aesthetics, being a true “time machine” erasing “tooth wrinkles” :
color changes, small fractures, gaps between teeth, crowding, etc.
I use this technique whenever possible as it provides maximum esthetic results with minimal tooth wear.

 

Dental implants:

Dental implants are titanium screws placed in the bone that work as artificial roots over which crowns or bridges will be placed to replace lost teeth. The replacement is is very important not only for Function but also for Dental and Facial Aesthetics (missing teeth causes facial collapse and premature ageing).

 

Gum Surgery:

Procedures at the level of the gums, whether gingivoplasty or gingival grafting, are sometimes essential to achieve a good “Pink Aesthetics” which, together with the “White Aesthetics” of the teeth, will give the perfect, harmonious smile that we seek. I use it in many of my cases and it is, without a doubt, a detail that makes all the difference.

 

Smile Makeover and Oral Rehabilitation:

We are often faced with cases where there is a great deterioration, not only in aesthetics but also in function, here, the important thing is for the Dentist to know the various techniques and know how to execute them correctly in order to be able to provide his patient with an aesthetically and functionally impeccable result.
Procedures may involve several or even all of the previously mentioned treatments.

 

How to choose a good “Cosmethic Dentist”?

When you are choosing a Dentist for an intervention in Dental Aesthetics, you are choosing someone who is supposed to help you change your appearance and improve your self-esteem.
It is a very personal and important decision. Most procedures are not reversible so you should really feel confident in who will change your smile.
Perhaps the most effective way to evaluate a dentist’s work is to ask to see their before and after cases.
Any dentist who works in this area will have his cases documented photographically and will be happy to share them and help the patient visualize the possible results.
Check if the results shown match your notion of aesthetics.
Clarify any doubts about the treatment.
This initial phase of treatment plan and case presentation is of the utmost importance for both the dentist and the patient. Personally, I invest a lot of time in it.
This makes everything easier as, before beginning, we know exactly where we want to go!

With the proliferation of Clinics and promises made on the market today, with results that can range from great to catastrophic, it is important that you spend a little time finding the person whose work you identify with, who inspires you, who gives you confidence and who answers your questions, so that in the end the result is the best possible for your case!