Everyone’s seen a dentist before in their lives; the appointments usually follow a pretty simple structure. You have your teeth examined by the dentist; they ask a few questions about your cleaning regime and make a few recommendations; and if all is well, they send you on your way and tell you to come back in six months. Some people barely ever visit the dentist, relying on good hygiene and a low sugar diet to keep their pearly whites sparkling and healthy. But what happens when a regular dentist checkup isn’t enough to fix the problem? It might be time to see a cosmetic dentist.
What Is A Cosmetic Dentist?
A cosmetic dentist is a fully qualified and practicing dentist who specializes in procedures which affect the appearance of your teeth. Don’t be fooled, though – these dentists don’t just work to make you look pretty. Many procedures done by cosmetic dentists are crucial for tooth health in the long term. Here are three signs you should consider seeing a cosmetic dentist.
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Overcrowding
What are overcrowded teeth? This is when you have, essentially, too many teeth for the size and shape of your mouth. This is very common, and goes untreated in many people. However, overcrowded teeth can cause detriment to the health of your teeth, gums and mouth over the course of your life. This can include plaque buildup in places you cannot reach due to the overcrowding, chronic bad breath, speech impediments and problems chewing.
How can dental crowding be sorted? There are a few ways. Firstly, a cosmetic dentist will likely suggest a few teeth be removed so that the others have space to move back. They may then refer you to an orthodontist for braces which will help space out your remaining teeth.
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Discoloration
If your teeth have yellowing, brown or black staining, this could be due to a few reasons. Perhaps you are a smoker, which causes damage and staining; discoloration could also simply be a product of old age, daily coffee-drinking or weakened enamel. Many people feel self-conscious about discoloration and want to alleviate it.
A cosmetic dentist will offer a wide range of teeth whitening options which suit you, and carry out this simple treatment with care.
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Chipped or Broken Teeth
If you have a chipped or broken tooth, it is important you visit a cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist can fit a crown or bridge over the missing or broken tooth, reinforcing it and helping you go back to normal eating and speaking. Untreated, a broken tooth can become inflamed, extremely painful and in rare cases cause very serious infections. A cosmetic dentist will provide solutions to chipped, cracked or broken teeth by removing any infected or beyond-repair pieces and fitting a replacement which will last a long time, as well as looking, acting and feeling like a real tooth.
Visit a cosmetic dentist today if you have any of these common problems, and you will be surprised at how easily you can find a solution!
Photo by Anna Shvets
It’s helpful to know that it’s a cosmetic dentist that I should see when it comes to a chipped tooth. I noticed that I have a very small chipping on one of my front teeth when I tried eating ice cream the other day and felt how sensitive my tooth became due to how cold it is. I do hope I can get the chipping fixed as soon as possible because I don’t want to give up ice cream for good.
It’s great that you mentioned coffee-drinking and other reasons for discoloration as a sign of needing a cosmetic dentist trip. This is because my eating and drinking habits have gotten the best of me and I am not so confident that my relatives will appreciate it when I show up to the dinner table for Christmas with discolored teeth. If I can find a cosmetic dentist in my area, I’ll make sure I consult them about this so I can have a more confident smile to bring to the family dinner.