Simply put, a dentist's job is to help maintain patients’ oral health by ensuring the form and function of their teeth, gums, and jawbone. This typically involves diagnosing and treating issues through preventive and corrective means like dental cleanings, fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions.
Of course, there’s also an aesthetic element to all this. And if you’re searching for a dental professional whose main objective is maximizing the wattage, alignment, and overall appearance of your smile, then you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist!
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Everyone deserves a million-dollar smile. Unfortunately, however, sometimes what we eat and drink, tobacco use, accidental damage, or genetics stand in the way. It’s in precisely these situations that cosmetic dentistry thrives!
Cosmetic dentistry consists of procedures intended to improve the appearance of teeth, gums, and bite. While cosmetic dentists are also qualified to perform traditional dental procedures, many of the procedures that make up cosmetic dentistry are, as the name suggests, cosmetic.
What Treatments and Procedures Make Up Cosmetic Dentistry?
In case you’re wondering, here are some popular cosmetic dentistry procedures:
- Dental bonding – A non-invasive procedure in which tooth-colored resin is applied to chips and cracks to restore a tooth’s shape and appearance
- Dental veneers – Thin porcelain or composite resin shells bonded to the fronts of discolored or misshapen teeth to improve smile aesthetics
- Gum contouring – Tissue removal to reshape gums, create a more even gumline and symmetrical smile, and make dental care easier
- Invisalign® – An alternative to traditional braces, in which sets of clear, custom-made mouthpiece-like aligners gradually guide teeth into alignment
- Professional teeth whitening – The use of chemical or light-activated whitening agents to reduce and eliminate stains and discolorations on teeth
Finding the Best in Cosmetic Dentistry in Pacifica, CA
If you’re in Pacifica and want to learn more about how cosmetic dentistry can elevate your smile, bite, and oral health to its optimal best, contact Dr. Ryan Henspetter and the friendly and knowledgeable Cabrillo Family Dental Care team to schedule a consultation!