Have you always dreamed of having a brighter, more attractive smile? You don’t have to be a movie star or celebrity to achieve a picture-perfect grin; you just have to visit your cosmetic dentist! However, before they can approve you for some of these confidence-inspiring elective treatments, they’ll want to ensure that your smile is healthy. Continue reading below to learn a little more about cosmetic dentistry and why it’s in your best interest to make sure your smile is problem-free before kicking off its transformation!
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a method of professional oral care that focuses on improving the appearance of the teeth, the gums, and the smile’s general aesthetics. These procedures include things like veneers, teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, and several others. Keep in mind that these procedures are not geared toward improving the health of the teeth or gums – while some procedures do end up benefitting a patient’s oral health, it’s often a happily accepted byproduct. Cosmetic dentists must undergo additional elective training to become well-versed in these aesthetic procedures; however, one thing they will always do before they begin improving your smile is ensure that it’s healthy.
How Does Poor Dental Health Interfere with Cosmetic Dentistry?
A number of different cosmetic dental procedures, such as veneers, teeth whitening, and even Invisalign clear aligners rely on healthy teeth and gums to deliver optimal treatment outcomes. Two of the largest threats to these procedures are gum disease and cavities, which are both often the result of chronically poor oral hygiene. If either of these issues are detected, or any sort of other ongoing oral health issues, treatment is going to be recommended first since these issues could spread to other areas of the mouth. Needless to say, these issues can also impact both the look and feel of the teeth after they’ve undergone cosmetic work; there’s no sense in treating troubled teeth! It is much more sensible to address the issues and ensure optimal dental health before focusing on the looks.
How Can I Preserve My Cosmetic Dental Results?
It’s not just about having a healthy smile before undergoing cosmetic dentistry – you will also want to maintain your dental health after your teeth have been made to dazzle! In fact, most patients who undergo cosmetic dentistry end up highly motivated to brush and floss more diligently and maintain their dental checkups, in order to preserve their new smile for as long as possible. Other ways to ensure your teeth continue to look their best include avoiding bad oral habits like smoking and using tobacco, refraining from using your teeth as tools, wearing a mouthguard during sports, and of course, cutting back on sugary or acidic foods and drinks that may cause staining.
If you need to have a cavity filled or have your gum disease addressed before you can undergo cosmetic dentistry, don’t fret – though it may delay your dream smile slightly, it’s worth it, since your results won’t just look great; they’re certain to also feel great!
About the Practice
Under the talented leadership of Dr. Farshad Bakhtyari and Dr. Pooyan Refahi, the team at Premier Dental Care has served the needs of patients and families in Herndon for several years. They offer a wide variety of cosmetic dental services, including veneers, Lumineers, teeth whitening, cosmetic dental bonding, and beyond – everything you need to achieve your smile goals! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with the team to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (703) 860-8860.