Whereas traditional dentistry aims at oral hygiene and diagnosing, treating and preventing oral diseases, the primary goal of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the physical appearance and functionality as well as providing a positive change in a patient’s oral health i.e. the mouth, teeth and smile. Generally, cosmetic dentistry refers to all forms of dental procedures that are focused on improving the appearance and not the functionality. It is has become very common for any dentist to refer to himself or herself as a “cosmetic dentist” with disregard to their specific specialty, experience, education and training in the field of cosmetic dentistry. However, this is unethical since its underlying objective is to market oneself to patients.
Cosmetic dentistry is meant to help those with stained, uneven or broken teeth. It includes bleaching the teeth to make them whiter (teeth whitening), replacing rough spots or chips with fillings that match the other teeth, closing gaps between teeth, filling the cavities with tooth-colored materials, covering broken teeth with porcelain crows, and reshaping teeth that do not match with the others. All these procedures gear towards improving the smile, confidence and self-esteem. Application of porcelain veneers, tooth whitening, composite fillings, dental implants, and bonding by cosmetic dentists in Chicago offer unlimited benefits including proper tooth alignment for improved bites, a reduction in oral discomfort, and preservation of healthy jaw-bone.
Cosmetic dentists in Chicago normally employ the use of a wide variety of techniques, tools and expertise at their disposal, all aimed at improving the look of their patients’ smiles. However, before a patient decides to undergo a cosmetic procedure, it’s vital that he/she understands both its benefits and risks. Cosmetic dentists in Chicago usually take their patients through a brief lecture where they explain in details all that the patient should expect during the process. On the other hand, the patient should be clear about what the procedure will cost him/her, the experience of his/her dentist in dealing with cosmetic procedures and whether any special post-treatment maintenance will be necessary. Most cosmetic treatments can be completed in one or two visits.
