As a cosmetic dentist in Encino, we specialize in transforming the appearance and function of our patients’ teeth. As a specialty, cosmetic dentistry has come a long way from being a purely aesthetic enterprise to having some serious practical elements as well. We perform many procedures that are essential for the mouth to be in good health. The existing definition of our form of dentistry often leads people to assume that we perform dental work that improves the appearance without fundamentally influencing the functionality of the teeth, gums, or bite. This thinking discounts the vital work we do to ensure that our patients have the ability to chew and speak correctly. These procedures can include gingivectomies, the placing of dental bridges, and installing crowns.
An example of how we, as a cosmetic dentist in Encino, improve the function of our patients teeth includes the installation of the humble crown. The crown is actually the perfect example of how a purely cosmetic device can become so important that most people cannot conceive of a world without it. Can you imagine a world where your child falls and breaks off a part of their tooth and there is no way to replace it – leaving them to spend the rest of their life with a broken half tooth? Neither can we. However, placement of crowns is still classified by many, including some insurance companies, as being purely cosmetic in nature. For the people who have lost a tooth and had to deal with the ramifications of that tooth loss, this is not a cosmetic procedure. When you lose a tooth, you cannot eat the food you like, your speech patterns are influenced negatively, and you lose the confidence to smile. A crown, however, can save a damaged tooth and prevent subsequent tooth loss and inconvenience, demonstrating how helpful cosmetic dentistry can be.
Another great example of cosmetic dentistry overlapping with practicality is the people who suffer from misaligned teeth. This is one of the most common occurrences, and a large number of our patients come in to see us because they suffer from this malady. On the outset malocclusion, as misaligned teeth are professional known, is not a practical problem and so fixing them has been deemed to be purely cosmetic. The fact is that people with malocclusion are not suffering from a life-threatening illness, but they do have an increased chance of losing teeth, suffering from cavities, and even getting gum disease. This is because when your teeth are misaligned it is much harder to clean all the hard to reach places. A toothbrush may not be able to get between the teeth, and flossing is often out of the question because it is simply too hard. When you stop cleaning all the spots on your teeth, plaque build up occurs which eventually leads to the bacteria on your teeth causing cavities, decay, bacterial infections, and even gum disease. As a cosmetic dentist in Encino, we can help to straighten teeth so that these issues don’t develop.
In our dental office, we blend the practical applications you will find in a general dentist office with the skill and expertise of cosmetic dentistry. As such, we can ensure that both the form and function of your teeth are in perfect order.