Aesthetic Dentistry vs Cosmetic Dentistry: What Are the Differences?
The simplest definition of aesthetic dentistry is dentistry that’s designed specifically to make your mouth and teeth look more beautiful. Many patients then wonder if this is the same thing as cosmetic dentistry. The answer is yes and no. While it may be interchangeable, the word “cosmetic” tends to imply work that’s on the surface, such as adding dental veneers, while aesthetic dentistry make deal with more significant changes, such as dental implants.
Different services offered in aesthetic dentistry
If you do decide to move forward with aesthetic dentistry, there are numerous options for you. They include:
- Teeth whitening. Teeth can get stained for any number of reasons, including smoking, tobacco use, eating or drinking certain things, and even specific medications. You can use an over-the-counter whitening treatment but working with a professional will ensure faster, longer-lasting, and more powerful results.
- Dental bonding. If you have teeth that are broken or cracked, but not completely gone, then dental bonding may be the right choice. It involves using a resin material that’s colored to match your current tooth. Dental bonding makes your mouth not only look as good as new, but it restores complete functionality so that your teeth work perfectly.
- Dental implants. If you’ve lost a tooth to decay, accident, or for any other reason, you likely wish you could have it back. The good news is that it’s possible. A dental implant involves screwing a tooth into the bone tissue. We then attach a crown and you have a new tooth that looks and functions as good – or better – than the tooth it’s replacing. Remember that missing teeth is more than an inconvenience, it can actually cause damage to other teeth.
- Dental veneers. These are very thing overlays made from porcelain or other hard materials. They are made specific to your needs to be the right shape, color, size, and strength. They can greatly improve your smile without requiring changes to the actual structure of your teeth.
There are more benefits to aesthetic dentistry than you may think
It can seem like a waste of money to have your teeth improved in these ways, but it’s actually more important than you may think. If you think that it does nothing more than change your looks, first understand that this can be powerful. It can improve confidence, which can improve a person’s relationships with friends and family, and can even help improve their career.
Aesthetic dentistry also helps to improve speech. How? It’s simple. If a person has teeth that are missing or poorly aligned, then the result may be a lisp or other special issues. Once these dental flaws are dealt with, the speech may improve. Finally, improvements to your teeth can improve your overall health. The straighter, and more evenly aligned teeth are, the easier they are to care for. The easier they are to care for, the less likely they are to suffer from decay, gum disease, and other health issues.
