Myths About Cosmetic Dentistry Debunked
Like general, preventive, and restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry is its own focus in dental medicine that focuses on the aesthetic appearance of the teeth and gums. Despite this fairly simple definition, there are quite a few myths and misconceptions concerning cosmetic dental care that our experienced Scottsdale cosmetic dentist is here to debunk and set straight.
A wide scope of cosmetic treatments that can enhance, revitalize, and improve the look of your smile are available, and these treatments vary not just in scope and complexity but also in cost. There is a wide array of options and treatment price points available to help patients achieve comparably desirable results.
Additionally, patients often think that insurance never covers the cost of cosmetic dental treatments. This, however, is inaccurate. While some cosmetic treatments are purely elective and performed for purely aesthetic purposes, others offer restorative and/or preventative benefits to a patient's oral health. In these cases, the cost (or at least part of the cost) of cosmetic treatments might actually be covered by dental insurance.
Many people mistakenly believe that teeth whitening treatments can harm their teeth. When performed in a dental office and monitored by a professional dental care team, teeth whitening is completely safe for your teeth and will not harm your tooth enamel.
That being said, it is important to use extreme caution when using over-the-counter teeth whitening products at home. Many of these are mild and not nearly as effective as professional whitening treatments, but since they are purchased over the counter, these products are not always completely safe or harmless to use.
Be sure you select products that have been approved by the American Dental Association, check with a dental care professional before using the products on your teeth, and closely follow all of the manufacturer's instructions.
Dental implants are a popular tooth-replacement treatment option that replaces a missing tooth with a natural-looking and natural-feeling alternative. While they aren't made from living tissues like bone, dentin, and tooth enamel, dental implants still require care. You should continue brushing and flossing your dental implant as you would a normal tooth. This keeps the gum tissues healthy around the implant, preventing it from becoming compromised due to periodontal disease.
While some cosmetic treatment plans can be complex, others are surprisingly quick, simple, and non-invasive. Plus, simple cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening or dental bonding can have a big impact on a smile's appearance.
Modern dentistry offers new imaging and computer-aided design tools in addition to superior dental materials that enable dentists to create quite natural-looking results so that patients can enjoy newly stunning smiles that look like they could have had since birth.
We believe that every smile is beautiful, and part of that beauty comes from its unique look and appearance. Your smile gives you personality and contributes to your overall look. Cosmetic dentistry will not ruin this. Instead, cosmetic dentistry seeks to enhance what makes you uniquely you.
Experienced cosmetic dentists work with patients to understand their treatment goals in order to help them design the treatment outcome they desire. Plus, we can use new three-dimensional treatment modeling techniques to help patients visualize their treatment results before they decide.
While some cosmetic treatments are purely cosmetic in purpose, others actually have restorative and preventative oral health benefits. For example, treatments like dental bonding, dental crowns, and dental implants all offer oral health benefits to patients as well as aesthetic improvements.
No matter how complex or invasive a cosmetic treatment might be, our dentists take special precautions to ensure patients experience no pain or discomfort during their treatments. We also provide detailed instructions to help patients mitigate any potential pain during their recovery period. Additionally, we can use sedation dentistry to reduce stress and help you relax during your cosmetic treatments.
At Sarko Dental Associates, we believe that good health and beauty are inextricably linked. That's why we take a health-based approach to the cosmetic treatment plans we design for our patients. This means that we help each of our patients achieve the beautiful and aesthetically pleasing smile of their dreams by focusing on the health, restoration, and enhancement of their teeth, gums, and naturally stunning looks. By pairing preventive and restorative treatments with cosmetic enhancements, we help our patients turn their smile dreams into reality.
To learn more or request a consultation, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Scottsdale today.
Call (480) 951-2782 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
