Did you know that your smile can change your entire appearance? Yes, it’s true that changing a small thing such as your smile can drastically change your entire appearance. Improving your smile can brighten your appearance, alter your facial contour, and even make you appear younger. Nowadays, enhancing one’s smile through cosmetic dentistry is a growing trend that is no longer just reserved for the rich and famous. Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry that pertains to improving the aesthetics of your smile while also maintaining your oral health, function and appearance. With cosmetic dentistry, a number of smile imperfections can be corrected to create the perfect smile.
What Cosmetic Dentistry Fixes
Cosmetic dentistry can address both individual tooth issues or a combination of issues. Cosmetic dentistry will often also address the underlying cause of these issues, since the majority of these issues can be caused by dental health issues. Correcting the health issue behind the cosmetic issues is a key element in achieving lasting cosmetic results. Cosmetic dentistry can address and correct the following smile issues:
- Crooked teeth
- Receding gums
- Discolored teeth
- Misshapen or damaged teeth
- Tooth cavities
- Gapped teeth
- Missing teeth
Crooked Teeth:
Besides affecting the aesthetics of your smile, crooked teeth can also cause a number of dental health issues. Because crooked teeth are difficult to clean, there is an increased risk for tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Crooked teeth are also commonly accompanied by malocclusion, which is the improper alignment of the teeth and jaw. Malocclusion can cause issues with the temporomandibular joint that can result in many other complex issues. Treatment options for crooked teeth include dental crowns, porcelain veneers, and orthodontics. The exact treatment needed will depend upon your oral health needs and cosmetic goals
Receding Gums:
Gum recession is most commonly caused by periodontal disease, but can also be the result of bruxism (teeth grinding), gum trauma, or genetics. In cases where the cause is periodontal disease, the infection will need to be treated to prevent tooth and bone loss. Possible treatments for receding gums include scaling and root planing or a gum graft. Scaling and root planing is a conservative treatment that will halt further recession and restore the health of your gums. A gum graft will cover exposed tooth roots, reducing sensitivity and the risk of tooth decay.
Discolored Teeth:
The most common cause of discolored teeth is staining as a result of diet or beverage choices. However, some teeth become stained as a result of medical conditions, genetics, trauma, or medications. Depending on the cause of tooth discoloration, different treatment options may be suggested, including: teeth whitening, dental bonding, porcelain veneers, and dental crowns.
Misshapen or Damaged Teeth:
Teeth can be misshapen due to structural issues or damage. Damaged teeth are teeth that have become chipped, cracked, or worn as a result of trauma or an underlying dental problem. Misshapen or damaged teeth can cause bite dysfunction or the inability of the teeth to make proper contact when biting. Bite dysfunction can eventually lead to premature wear, teeth grinding, and temporomandibular joint disorders. Treatment options for misshapen or damaged teeth include: dental bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns.
Tooth Cavities:
Cavities can be caused from poor oral hygiene or medical conditions that affect the enamel. The most common treatment for cavities are fillings, however and inlay or onlay may also be used. To maintain the aesthetics of your smile, a white or tooth colored filling can be used in place of a metal filling. In the case of larger cavities, an inlay or onlay may be recommended.
Gaps Between Teeth:
Gaps between the teeth most commonly occur in the front area of the mouth, however they can occur anywhere in the mouth. Although gaps are not considered to pose any health threats, many people choose to have the gap corrected. Gaps can be treated with porcelain veneers, dental bonding, dental crowns, and orthodontics.
Missing Teeth:
Missing teeth can occur as a result of trauma or severe tooth decay. Once a tooth has been missing for over six months, the bone tissue in the jaw bone starts to be reabsorbed into the body. This can cause the remaining tissue to deteriorate, which can cause surrounding teeth to be lost as well. Eventually, bone loss can cause the entire facial structure to appear sunken. To correct missing teeth, dental implants are the most common treatment. Depending on the case, dental implants can support a single tooth with a dental crown, or they can support multiple teeth through an implant-secured dental bridge or implant-secured denture.
Finding the Right Cosmetic Dentist:
Another key element of achieving lasting cosmetic results is choosing the right cosmetic dentist. Because cosmetic dentistry is becoming a trend in the dental world, many dentists will offer cosmetic dental treatments without formal cosmetic dental experience. However, Dr. Sam S. Sadati is an Accredited Fellow with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and is the only AACD Accredited Fellow in Southern Florida. In addition, Dr. Sadati is also a Fellow with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (FICOI) and a fellow with the International Academy for Dental & Facial Esthetics (IADFE).
When looking for the right cosmetic dentist, you want to find someone who has extensive experience in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Ideally, you also want to find a cosmetic dentist who is an accredited fellow or accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) who went through a vigorous credentialing exam process to prove their ability to provide the best possible result.
Once you find the best cosmetic dentist, they will help you determine which cosmetic dental treatment, or combination of treatments, is best for your oral health and cosmetic goals. With such a wide range of cosmetic treatments available, they will also help you find an option that fits your budget as well. To determine which cosmetic dental treatment is ideal for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sam S. Sadati of The Sadati Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today!
