Cosmetic Dentists are those who specialize in improving a person’s facial structure by means of correcting and enhancing the formation and function of his teeth. These dentists are more inclined to creating beautiful smile than just doing mere tooth extraction and prophylaxis as a regular dental routine of a patient. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes Prosthodontists and Orthodontists as cosmetic dentists to set them apart from the general dentists who also refer themselves as cosmetic dentists. Prosthodontics is a dental specialty that pertains to diagnosing, treatment planning, rehabilitating and maintaining oral function, appearance, comfort, and health of patients. These dentists have 3 years of additional dental studies. The Orthodontists on the hand, are the ones in-charged in diagnosing, preventing, intercepting, and correcting malocclusion and neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities of the orofacial structures. They also have 3 years of additional training in cosmetic dentistry.
There are various cosmetic dental procedures available. The most popular one is the laser teeth whitening. Stained teeth affect a person’s confidence to smile; thus many are opting for this procedure. Some habits like smoking, drinking coffee, soda or prolonged intake of antibiotics cause stain to develop. There are different types of teeth whitening procedure available; however, the laser procedure is more recommended if patients want to see immediate result.
Another popular dental procedure is veneers. A veneer is a mega thin layer of curative material placed over a tooth or between gaps to improve the aesthetics of the teeth. Most Hollywood actors undergo this procedure to help them create that sparkling and perfect smile. Basically, there are 2 main types of material used in making veneers – composite and porcelain. The composite veneers are fabricated by a dental technician using resin cement. These veneers can also be directly fabricated inside a patient’s mouth in the dental clinic. The porcelain veneers can only be indirectly fabricated as it is more complex to engineer. These veneers are said to last longer.