Going to the dentist doesn’t necessarily need to be for professional cleanings or emergency tooth repairs. Although routine visits and restorative procedures help to maintain and/or restore the optimal health, function, and appearance of your teeth and mouth, you can also visit your dentist with the sole purpose of improving your smile. 

Cosmetic dentistry comprises a range of procedures used to whiten, straighten, reshape, and repair your teeth in order to improve your smile and appearance. Some of these procedures serve multiple functions, like repairing damaged teeth using tooth-colored material to improve the appearance as well. Depending on your specific cosmetic needs, your dentist can:

• Close spaces 
• Lighten discolored teeth 
• Restore worn or short teeth 
• Adjust the alignment of crooked teeth 
• Replace missing teeth 

Generally, your dentist can alter the shape, size, shade, and alignment of your teeth, fill gaps, and replace missing teeth to improve your appearance while solving oral problems. 

Preparing for the Initial Consultation 

Thanks to technological advancements, dentists today have access to tooth-colored dental materials that help to deliver natural-looking, long-lasting results. Modern techniques are also less invasive, allowing you to preserve a greater portion of your natural tooth structure during restorations. And with 3D software, your dental team can design your smile and show you the expected results of your treatment plan on a screen before the procedures start. 

To ensure the best results from your cosmetic dentistry consultation, you should have a good idea of what you want – your ideal smile – before approaching the dentist. Generally, you should know:

• What shade of white you would like your teeth to be – natural, ultra-white, in-between 
• Do you want your teeth to be in perfect alignment or slightly varied?
• Do you think your smile is toothy, gummy, or awkward in any other way? 
• What defects do you want to be fixed? – missing tooth, crooked or misaligned teeth, fractured teeth, stained teeth, etc. 

It is important that you have realistic expectations about your cosmetic treatment plan. Schedule your initial consultation today to start the process of getting your dream smile.