When you visit a cosmetic dentist, this is your opportunity to transform the appearance of your smile and correct anything that you don’t like. With most things in life, you can fix some problems but not all. This is not the case with a cosmetic dentist. You can have a complete smile makeover if you want one, or you can simply whiten your teeth. The range of options available to you are vast so it is important to understand what it is that you are trying to accomplish so that we can create a customized treatment plan for you.
Start by considering what you do like about your smile. For example, you may like the current size and shape of your teeth. If you do, let us know so that we can focus on other areas instead of addressing things that you already like. Next, make a list of everything that you don’t like about your smile and would like to improve. This can include your “must have” list and a secondary list of things that you would like to accomplish. During your consultation, we will want to discuss all of this so that we can address each problem individually or as a group.
Some of the things that we will want to know are:
How white do you want your teeth? This is based on personal preference so what works for one person may not for someone else. You have to live with your smile, so it is important that it is a shade of white you are comfortable with. While some people like brilliantly white teeth, others do not so it helps to look at samples. This will give us a benchmark for how white to get your teeth.
Are you comfortable with the shape of your teeth? It is common for teeth to be too large or too small for a person’s mouth. This creates problems with appearance as teeth can look immature like baby teeth or too large like rabbit teeth. If you have either of these issues, they can be corrected in our cosmetic dentistry office.
Do you have anything that needs replacing? If you have had a restoration in the past few decades, it may be worn out and need to be replaced. Things like dental crowns, for example, are only supposed to last for up to fifteen years. Once they reach that point they can start to wear away, and your teeth can become sensitive again. Let us know if you are experiencing any irritation or sensitivity so that we can look at your old restorations during your dental exam. Simultaneously, if you have any new health concerns, we want to know so that we can address them.
Are your gums the right size? If your gums are too large, you will see more of your gums when you smile than is visually appealing. If this is happening to you, we can correct them with a cosmetic dentistry procedure.
What don’t you like about your teeth? Make a list that you can share with us when you visit our dental office so that we can plan for how to address each issue.
As a cosmetic dentist, we can transform your smile but it starts with a dental exam and good communication. Think of us as your teammate in good oral health, one that can take you over the finish line as long as we know what the finish line is.
