We all have an uncommonly groundless fear of dentists. This probably dates back to the time when our parents have taken us there for our first tooth extraction. We get anesthesia for it and in truth, we have probably not felt a thing or even a small sting but this has not changed how we view dentists in general. This time, however, dental procedures have become all the rage and people have suddenly forgotten their fear of the dentists. Besides the “dentists” now have a new and more fancy name, cosmetic dentists. This is also different from what we call orthodontist. So what’s the difference between these three?
There is actually little difference in the procedures that they perform. They actually do the same procedures except that ordinary dentists are more focused on keeping our teeth healthy and free from the cavity. They mostly do cleaning and tooth extraction and most of their clients are kids and teens. Orthodontists, on the other hand, are more trained in putting in braces and retainer and making sure that the teeth is aligned. A cosmetic dentist is basically a more experienced orthodontist and is more trained in reconstructing the teeth.
What he does is not your ordinary alignment of the teeth. He tackles cases that are very complicated. This is why a cosmetic dentistry procedure can involve a lot of extraction especially if your teeth are too many and the space inside the mouth is too cramped for all your teeth. It can also involve braces and elastic bands and sometimes, replacing the whole teeth with a fake one that is inserted into the gums. This is an improvement from the false teeth that most need to remove at night.
So what exactly can you expect with a cosmetic dentistry procedure? It all really depends on how much work your teeth require. Some people, who have already worn braces in high school will probably require little work. They will probably just need to do some minor cleaning and some whitening procedures to make their smiles whiter and brighter. They would probably not even need any work at all.
Usually, people who go to cosmetic dentists require major work and reconstruction on their teeth. These are the people who have too many teeth or those with twisted teeth or gaps. With those whose mouths are too cramped, they will probably have a lot of tooth extractions which will give your teeth space to move and adjust. Those who have rotting teeth and have had missing tooh inside may need to have tooth insertions or false teeth.
Afterward, they will be made to wear braces to help move the teeth and align them together. This can take a few weeks or even months. Most will need to wear retainers after wearing the braces as teeth tend to move if they do not have some sort of metal that will keep them in place. But don’t worry, often these retainers will only be worn at night when sleeping.