Aesthetic & Cosmetic Dentistry

Aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry are similar terms that are often used interchangeably. These two terms describe and focus on the practices that make teeth look better. However, there are some differences between cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry in terms of the techniques and main purposes.

Cosmetic white smiles have been becoming more popular over the last few years. Therefore, cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry offers solutions to dental problems related to teeth, gums, and bites thanks to developed technologies. They both help patients have aesthetic smiles and maintain oral hygiene by implying procedures such as dental veneers and implants, teeth whitening, smile makeovers, composite fillings, dentures, crowns, enamel shaping, and gum reshaping.

Before we start with the differences, it should be specified that all dentists who received either a DMD or DDS degree can help you with your dental problems. It means that they have the necessary qualifications. In the beginning, all dentists start as regular (general) dentists. They become cosmetic dentists if they continue their training focused on this specific field.

Shortly, a general dentist focuses on preventing and treating oral disease, and a cosmetic dentist focuses on the general aesthetic look of teeth. However, these two fields sometimes overlap. There is no strict distinction between cosmetic dentistry and regular dentistry.

On the one hand, a general dentist refers to dental issues related to pain, discomfort, and oral hygiene. On the other hand, root canal treatment, tooth extraction, tooth cleaning, filling of cavities, and fundamental techniques are within the scope of general dentistry. In addition, some procedures of cosmetic dentistry, for example, cosmetic teeth whitening or bonding, can be done by a general dentist.

On the other hand, a cosmetic dentist can offer aesthetic smiles and increase self-confidence. In another saying, if your teeth do not look good enough, a cosmetic dentist can help you. Dental veneers, teeth whitening, inlays and onlays, dental implants, dentures, natural tooth-colored fillings, and smile makeovers are the procedures that cosmetic dentists follow.

Lately, cosmetic dentistry has become popular thanks to technological developments. The accessibility of treatment and the number of procedures increased. The procedure that your dentist will follow changes according to your needs and requirements.

Smile Makeovers:

Smile makeover aims to correct tooth and gum problems related to different factors such as oral health, teeth, gum, and tooth enamel. It contributes to your oral health and gives you an improved appearance. To ensure an aesthetically pleasing look, the dentist does alignments by considering the patient’s facial appearance, hair color, skin, tone, teeth, gum tissue, and lips.

Gum Grafts:

Gum recession, which causes tooth loss over time, is a treatable dental problem. In the case of gum recession, sensitivity to heat and cold can be observed as tooth roots are exposed. Also, the tooth may look longer than it should be.

In such cases, cosmetic dentistry offers gum grafts as a solution. It prevents tooth loss by moving healthy gum tissues from one part of the mouth to another and creates a healthy and aesthetically pleasing gum line.

Gum Reshaping:

Sometimes teeth seem shorter than they actually are, or the gum line does not look proper. You may want to change this circumstance as it affects your appearance.

Gum reshaping helps you get rid of the uneven gum line. This procedure can be applied to one tooth or several teeth to give you an advanced smile.

Dentures:

Dentures are removable teeth placement for missing teeth. It includes the circumambient tissue. Dentures can be in a single form or a full mouth form.

Implants:

During the dental implant procedure, titanium implant roots take the place of missing tooth roots. Therefore, dental implants act like real teeth. It removes the problems with your damaged teeth.
Implants provide a strong foundation. Therefore, it is the most appropriate procedure to have healthy and strong teeth.

Composit Fillings:

The fillings you already have may require to be replaced because of wear, chipping, or cracking. And this is an opportunity to replace silver amalgam fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings.

Unlike silver amalgam fillings, composite fillings have a more aesthetic appearance and do not give you concerns over their components. However, composite fillings in large spaces fray out earlier than silver amalgam fillings.

Teeth Whitening:

Teeth whitening can be in different forms, for example, toothpaste, rinses, gels, strips, trays, and whitening agents received from a dentist. If you have yellow-toned teeth, you can do teeth whitening. However, you should ask your dentist first.

Enamel Shaping:

Enamel shaping is a pain-free procedure to improve the appearance of teeth. It is a preferred method for small imperfections. For example, the uneven gap between teeth or teeth that are too closely spaced can be fixed by enamel shaping. Also, it can be combined with other methods such as cosmetic teeth whitening, dental veneers, or bonding.

Crowns:

Crown is one of the procedures used by cosmetic dentists to change the size and shape and increase the strength of the tooth. Metal, ceramic, porcelain, or resin can be the material of crowns. Crowns are attached to teeth with cement, usually lasting nearly 15 years.

Veneers:

Veneers are custom-made, wafer-thin shells covering your teeth’ surface to improve your appearance. Dental veneers are attached to the front of the teeth to change the natural teeth’ color, length, shape, and size.

For those living in countries where dental treatment is expensive, traveling abroad is preferable to undergo any dental treatment. Saving money, a variety of cosmetic dental clinics, and vacation opportunities are the factors that make it attractive to go abroad for dental tourism. In addition, some countries are frequently preferred to receive cheap and quality treatment. Since dental treatment is cheap, you can enjoy a vacation and relax during your dental treatment plan.

Turkey is one of the leading countries in dental tourism with its affordable prices and high-quality treatment opportunities provided by experienced specialists. Especially Antalya attracts people due to great opportunities for cosmetic dental treatment. In addition, Antalya provides amazing vacation routes for tourists. It is a cheap, amazing city with luxury hotels, resorts, and beautiful beaches.

Turkey can be considered one of the best countries in the field of aesthetic dentistry. It is a good option for those who want to achieve the best results with the experience of well-skilled dentists, thanks to rigorous international-grade training. In addition, the overall costs are low due to government support and high competition in Turkey. And this makes high-quality cosmetic dental treatment available and affordable.