Your smile is one of your most important features. They’re the first thing people see when you introduce yourself, it’s how you tell the people you care about that you love them, and it’s what shines through in the best moments of your life. You should feel confident in your smile, and cosmetic dentistry can help make that happen.
But there are a lot of myths floating around about cosmetic dentistry and what it does. Read on to learn the truth behind these myths and why cosmetic dentistry is more approachable than you think.
1. It’s Expensive
One of the biggest myths about cosmetic dentistry is that it’s prohibitively expensive. While the work you’re getting done can come with a large price tag, you may not have to pay for it all out of pocket. And even if you do, many practices offer a payment plan that allows you to make manageable payments on a regular schedule.
But in many cases, cosmetic dentistry work is considered to be restorative rather than elective. This means that it may be deemed necessary by insurance standards. So it’s worth checking with your insurance company to see if they will cover some or all of your cosmetic dentistry expenses.
2. It Involves Major Procedures
When many of us picture cosmetic dentistry, we imagine having false teeth implanted, having caps or crowns put on, and undergoing anaesthesia. And while cosmetic dentistry does certainly cover those things, it also handles smaller procedures, too. Many of them are painless, so you won’t have to worry about dealing with either local or general anaesthesia.
Tooth whitening and dental bonding, a procedure to fix a broken or chipped tooth, are both painless procedures. Although they’re simple, they can drastically change the look of your smile in just a few minutes. And because they don’t require a local anaesthetic, you can get back to your day as soon as the procedure is done.
3. It Damages Your Teeth
Horror stories of tooth whitening gone wrong have given a lot of people the false perception that cosmetic dentistry damages your teeth. And it is true that it’s not a good idea to try home remedies for tooth whitening without first consulting a dentist. But when you’re in the hands of the professionals, your teeth are in no danger.
Whitening tools at a cosmetic dentistry office are more sophisticated and gentler than those that you can get over the counter. One approach uses a special gel that breaks down stains on teeth when exposed to certain types of light. Another involves a custom tray with a whitening gel that you apply at home for two weeks, but unlike the over-the-counter varieties, these trays won’t expose your gums to the whitening agent.
4. Crowns Don’t Need Maintenance
If you have one or more crowns put in, you may be under the impression that you don’t need to worry about those teeth anymore. After all, they’re made of a material designed to last for years, right? So other than regular brushing to get the gunk out, why should they need to be cleaned?
But crowns do require maintenance just like the rest of your teeth. Not only can failing to take care of your crowns make them break down faster, it can also cause cavities in your tooth under the crown. And it’s a good idea to get these crowns tended to by a dentist who is familiar with them.
5. The Results Look Fake
We’ve all seen the photos of celebrities whose too-straight teeth and too-white smiles cross the line from Adonis-like perfection to uncanny valley creepiness. Thanks to these, many of us have been left with the impression that any cosmetic dentistry you get done will look fake. But the field has changed a lot in recent years, and new technologies and materials are better than ever at creating genuine smiles.
If you’re having a tooth replaced or veneers put in, new porcelain technology will make the results look like real teeth. These materials come in a variety of colours, so you can match the shade of your existing teeth. No one will be able to tell that your dentistry is anything other than a miracle used to restore your teeth to their natural beauty.
6. It Takes Away Your Unique Smile
Many people may say that cosmetic dentistry strips away the things that make your smile unique. That little snaggletooth, the chip on the corner of a tooth, or the gap between your teeth are what give your smile character. But if you have a cosmetic dentistry procedure done, won’t that strip away all of that unique beauty?
Not a bit! One of the great things about cosmetic dentistry is that you get to choose what the results look like. If you need a crown but you like the gap in your teeth, it can stay, and if you love your snaggletooth, cosmetic dentistry can help give it all the glory it deserves.
7. It’s All About Looks
And finally, perhaps the biggest myth about cosmetic dentistry is that it’s all about looks. There’s this misconception that it’s all bleach-white smiles filled with fake veneers and shallow vanity. But cosmetic dentistry is here to restore your smile from the inside out.
Maybe you never smile in pictures because you’re worried about the colour of your teeth. Or maybe when you do smile, you cover your mouth with your hand because of the gap in your front teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can give you the confidence you need to grin as much as you want, because the world needs your smile.
And if you’d like to see proof that cosmetic dentistry is about more than just looks, watch Season 3 of Netflix’s Queer Eye. Mary Jones’s reaction to her new smile is the power of cosmetic dentistry in action.
Learn the Truth About Cosmetic Dentistry
There are a lot of myths about cosmetic dentistry floating around. So whether you’ve been avoiding it because you think it’s too vain or it’s too expensive, now you know the truth. Cosmetic dentistry is powerful, completely personal, and approachable for anyone who needs it.
If you’d like to discover what cosmetic dentistry can do for you, check out the rest of our site at Coogee Plaza Dental. We offer everything from routine dental care to emergency care and sleep dentistry. Book an appointment with us today and keep your smile gorgeous.