Cosmetic Dentistry: How Can it Help?

Cosmetic dentistry is more than a fillings-and-root-canal operation. It works on your dental health, but also on your dental beauty, and takes a preventive approach, with up-to-the-minute technology for catching problems before they become problems.

In contrast, traditional dentistry has taken a reactive approach to dental care. Our grandparents went to the dentist when they had a toothache or a loose tooth, or some other perceived problem that needed addressing right away. In more recent years, traditional dentists have encouraged their patients to come for annual check-ups and cleaning, as a way of trying to prevent the dental problems.

More and Better Procedures

Since cosmetic dentistry has grown and become known and popular, it has changed the familiar old dental procedures out of sight, and added many outstanding new procedures. Computers and lasers have helped in this, and so has post-graduate dental education.

The Las Vegas Institute (LVI) for Advanced Dental Studies is the world’s most prestigious school for dentists who want to become cosmetic dentists and/or neuromuscular dentists. It offers rigorous and extensive education, both theoretical and hands-on, and a dentist who graduates from this demanding program is a dentist you can trust completely.

Health and Beauty in Partnership

Cosmetic dentistry can only succeed when it is done on a foundation of good dental health. Before doing a smile makeover, your cosmetic dentist would do a thorough dental examination. He would use top-level technology to check for cavities and early gum disease; do an oral cancer screening, and check your bite.

A misaligned bite continually wears on your teeth and would undo much of the benefit of cosmetic dentistry. Many, if not most, dentists who train in cosmetic dentistry at LVI also train in neuromuscular dentistry. That enables them to diagnose and treat misaligned jaw joints, which is what a misaligned bite is. There may also be misaligned teeth and there are always several painful and puzzling symptoms.

Once these potential problems are corrected, cosmetic enhancements will be long-lasting and sturdy. Your cosmetic dentist would talk with you and answer questions. He or she would explain how various dental procedures could make your smile more bright and attractive.

Some popular procedures

· Porcelain veneers: natural-looking tooth covers for the front teeth. They can correct many small defects in a smile, all at once.

· Replacing old metal fillings with strong white fillings: the old metal fillings are gradually weakening your teeth, so why not replace them with either porcelain or white composite fillings? Nobody will know you have fillings then.

· Dental implants: artificial tooth roots to hold replacement teeth. You can forget about dentures, as implants are permanent and the new teeth will fit perfectly, never coming loose.

· Teeth whitening: forget about the store-bought products which are ineffective. A professional tooth whitening will brighten your smile as many as 12 shades whiter, and you can choose an in-office job or professional-level take-home kits.

Most cosmetic dentistry offices are friendly and comfortable. The staff will understand if you feel apprehensive about dental visits and will work to help you relax. Part of that work is helping you to feel comfortable in the office; part is skilled delivery of anesthetic; and part is making sure you understand what is being done for your dental health and beauty, and why, and that you agree about its benefits.

If you are in the St. Louis, Missouri or Quincy, Illinois areas, you have access to a top-level cosmetic and neurological dentist in Dr. Charles Janes.