Aesthetic dentistry combines art and science to improve your teeth. Aesthetic dentistry helps correct teeth that are:
- Crooked
- Missing
- Stained
- Cracked
- Chipped
Some people mistakenly believe that a perfect smile is the primary focus of aesthetic dentistry. However, while improving the look and brilliance of your smile is part of the equation, it’s not the ultimate goal. Instead, this philosophy of care pays special attention to the natural health and function of your mouth.
By blending cosmetics with this focus toward dental health and wellness, the result is a smile that is naturally beautiful, healthy, and long lasting.
The benefits of aesthetic dentistry
To understand the benefits of this approach, let’s look at an example. Pretend you’re unhappy with your smile — you want it to be brighter and less crooked.
A cosmetic-only approach might produce a celebrity-status, Chiclet-white smile that is symmetrical and visually appealing (if not a little fake looking). The smile is correct, but it may not look natural or real.
An aesthetic approach, on the other hand, strives to do more than just produce a perfect smile. It combines various scientific techniques and artistic skills to ensure you achieve a smile that matches and fits with your natural features and personality, helping you achieve dental wellness.
Common aesthetic dentistry techniques
Aesthetic dentistry can be as simple as replacing an old discoloured and cracked filling with a more natural-looking one that blends seamlessly with your natural tooth. It can also involve more complicated procedures like replacing a decaying or damaged tooth with a dental implant and natural-looking crown.
- Veneers — A porcelain shell attached to the front of your teeth. Corrects gaps, stains and discoloration, chips or cracks, and crooked teeth. Helps restore the shape and function of your smile.
- Dental crowns — A cap for severely damaged teeth to restore its shape, function, and color. Helps stop decay and is durable, too.
- Dental implants — A biocompatible titanium post placed in your jawbone to act like the natural root and restore missing or damaged teeth.
- Cosmetic bonding — Touches up dental imperfections by closing gaps, filling in chips, smoothing rough edges, and brightening teeth. Is minimally invasive and strengthens teeth.
- Invisalign — The minimally-invasive way to fix crooked teeth, closing gaps or providing crowded teeth with more space. Increases dental health and your ability to property clean and care for your smile.
- Dentures — Strong and stable solution for missing teeth. Restores functionality like chewing and helps minimize issues like gum disease and TMJ.
- Teeth whitening — The minimally invasive and highly effective way to restore your smile to it’s bright and natural color
Aesthetic dentistry is for everyone
Many people assume they can’t afford the investment it takes to improve their smile. They view these improvements as frivolous and unnecessary. Aesthetic dentistry is here to change that perspective.
This approach does more than just beautify your smile. In fact, an aesthetic restoration is usually rooted in repairing a severe dental issue that may be causing you dental and whole body health issues.
Let’s say you want to correct crooked teeth. While the end result will look better, did you know that a perfectly aligned smile also has many benefits in and of itself? In fact, crooked teeth can put you at risk for:
- Gum disease
- Bad breath
- Tooth wear and decay
- TMJ and other jaw pain
- Difficulty chewing
The same can be said of countless other aesthetic dental treatments. Veneers restore the shape of your smile and enhance their brightness, but also provide additional support to prevent further damage. Dental implants restore missing and severely damaged teeth and also prevent bone loss and gum disease.
The point is, don’t assume that aesthetic dentistry is out of reach. In fact, this type of care may be just what you need to achieve total dental wellness (and as a bonus, it will improve the look of your teeth, too.)
What to expect from aesthetic dentistry
Aesthetic dentistry is more than just an end result — it also encompases the type of care and overall dental experience you’ll receive.
