|
Back To Patient Education
Cosmetic dentistry is
an area of dentistry in which a patient often aides in their own diagnosis
by identifying changes they would like to make in their smile and overall
facial appearance.
Cosmetic dentistry is
one of the most exciting, cutting edge areas in oral health today. The
importance of cosmetics in dentistry has grown, as the esthetic condition
of the mouth has become an increasingly essential part of an individual’s
total oral health. As a dentist, my job is to keep teeth and gums healthy.
As a dentist, however, my job also involves creating and enhancing smiles,
and I believe that I would be remiss in not familiarizing my patients with
this area of dentistry. Patient education in this area is extremely
important as cosmetic dentistry is an area of treatment that every patient
of the practice will at one time or another question and explore.
The need for cosmetic
dentistry arises as cosmetic deficiencies occur and the appearance of a
person’s teeth and consequently their smile changes. Such changes occur as
the outer layer of the tooth known as enamel becomes worn. While enamel is
the hardest substance in the human body, it can and often will break down
through various means such as decay, normal wear and tear, and grinding.
Additionally, over time teeth can chip, the edges and surface of teeth
become worn, and teeth can become discolored. In other instances an
individual’s smile is changed by cosmetic deficiencies such as spaces
between teeth, rotated or malpositioned teeth or teeth that give a “short”
or “long” appearance in relation to adjacent teeth.
Almost uniformly
patients complain that cosmetic deficiencies “age” their appearance. All
too often they are right. Deficiencies create a dull and lackluster appearance
that matures the overall expression of the smile. Simply put cosmetic
restorations enable a dentist to recreate a smile, and, in doing so, negate
the effect deficiencies have on the youthfulness of a smile. The end result
is an overall improvement in an individual’s appearance.
Advances in technology
and materials now make it possible to transform the appearance of teeth
through various treatment methods which include the use of porcelain
veneers, onlays, crowns, and tooth colored bonded fillings. In addition,
the appearance of discolored teeth can be changed through whitening
treatments.
Most importantly,
advances in technology and materials have improved cosmetic materials so
that long-term results that resist wear and staining can be achieved.
Restoring the
esthetics of an individual’s mouth is very complicated and involves
intricate work and technology. My main goal in this letter has been to
present an overview of common esthetic deficiencies and inform you that in
most instances a deficiency can be corrected or at least improved. I am
always happy to set up a consultation and address any specific questions
involving esthetic restorations.
Back To Patient Education
|
