Traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing, diagnosing and treating oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of the teeth, mouth and smile. In other words restorative, general and/or family dental practices address dental problems that require necessary treatment, whereas cosmetic dentistry provides elective – or desired – treatments or services. Cosmetic treatments may also provide restorative benefits. For example, dental fillings are a common procedure used to treat decayed teeth. Previously, most dental fillings were composed primarily of gold, amalgam and other materials that left visible dark spots on the teeth. Todays dental fillings may be considered cosmetic to a certain extent because you can select fillings made of porcelain or composite materials that closely match the color of your teeth, thus maintaining the natural appearance of your teeth and smile. Many people may choose to have their older fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored fillings to enhance their oral appearance.

Finding the Right Cosmetic Dentist Finding a qualified cosmetic dentist requires careful consideration. Although there technically is no recognized cosmetic dentist specialty, there is an increasing number of dentists offering cosmetic treatments. Combine this with the wide variety of procedures to choose from and the possible need for inter-disciplinary care beforehand, your choices can be staggering. There is no referral system in place or third party insurance administrator involvement to assist with the selection of a cosmetic dentist. So what you should know in making your selection?

Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance of teeth, gums and/or bite. It primarily focuses on improvement dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance.