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Health & Fitness

Cosmetic Dentistry - More than Just a Beautiful Smile

Dr. Todd Pizzi explains the health benefits of cosmetic dentistry.

What is a smile? According to the Webster's dictionary the word smile is a verb. It is a form of non-verbal communication and makes a person appear pleasant or agreeable. But what if you hate your smile; if you refuse to show your teeth for fear that the recipient will run screaming from the horror of your face. Then, my friend, you may want to consider cosmetic dentistry.

Although most view cosmetic dentistry as aesthetic - as noted in the above paragraph - there are actually numerous health reasons to consider cosmetic dentistry as well. Yes, it's lovely to have movie-star white teeth, but more importantly, you want to have your teeth function properly. Often the leading cause of someone entering a cosmetic dentist's office is due to malocclusion or bad bite.

Correcting a bite is vital for the sake of proper jaw functioning as well as a guarantee that the work you are about to have done will maintain longevity and durability.

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Restoring and realigning teeth is often a complex and lengthy process that may require orthodontics as well as dental work.  Reconstruction of your teeth may also be necessary.

The dentist is an expert at evaluating the best course of action to get you the smile you want, but you must be willing to go through a myriad of tests and procedures to help us get a feel for what the underlying cause of the poor bite may be – is it a misaligned jaw? The result of an injury? Overcrowding of the teeth? Determining what makes your teeth work and fit together is imperative if the cosmetic dentistry is going to be successful.

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Cosmetic changes in your appearance can also make home care of your teeth more effective. Straightening teeth with veneers or invisible braces rather than the old fashioned metal braces makes brushing and flossing much easier; thereby decreasing tooth decay and gum disease.

The bottom line is that cosmetic dentistry is good for self-esteem, but it also contributes to the overall health of your mouth – and with gum disease and other mouth issues linked to diseases like heart attacks and stroke- a healthy mouth is more than just a pretty smile.

 

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