What Is a Cosmetic Dentist?

A cosmetic dentist is a dentist who helps people enhance the way their smile looks. They offer a range of procedures designed to improve the appearance of the teeth and gums. If you are looking to give your smile a makeover, a cosmetic dentist can help.

Overview of cosmetic dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is not an officially recognized dental specialty. However, it is an area of dentistry that focuses on improving the smile's appearance. Though some restorative procedures can also have cosmetic benefits, if their purpose is primarily to improve the appearance of teeth, they can fall under cosmetic dentistry. Therefore, a cosmetic dentist can be any dentist who provides cosmetic dentistry services such as teeth whitening and veneers.

Services offered by a cosmetic dentist

A cosmetic dentist offers treatments that can address all aspects of a smile's appearance, from tooth color and shape to the gum line and smile alignment. Some of the most popular cosmetic treatments include:

• Teeth whitening. Improving teeth brightness and color with carbamide or hydrogen peroxide.
• Dental bonding. Adding tooth-colored composite resin to fix tooth imperfections or refine tooth shape and color.
• Dental veneers. Thin tooth-colored shells that cover the fronts of teeth and create a smile uniform in tooth size, shape, and color.
• Dental crowns. Tooth-shaped caps that cover misshaped or badly damaged teeth.
• Clear aligners. A teeth straightening treatment using a series of clear and custom-made trays.
• Gum contouring. Corrects the look of excessive gingival display or a “gummy smile.”

Another popular cosmetic dental treatment is a smile makeover. This procedure usually involves combining some of the other procedures performed as part of a plan to improve the smile's overall look.

Education and training or a cosmetic dentist

Since cosmetic dentistry is not an ADA-recognized specialty, there are no set education and training standards a dentist needs to meet to call themselves a cosmetic dentist. However, all dentists must complete undergraduate and dental school and be licensed in the state they wish to practice in. Dentists who cater to patients' cosmetic needs will often pursue additional training programs and even participate in professional organizations focusing on cosmetic dentistry.

What to look for in a cosmetic dentist

Because training can range widely among cosmetic dentists, researching is helpful in choosing a dentist. It is wise for patients to look at a dentist's website, review their credentials, and confirm they offer the services they are interested in. Make a note of any professional organizations the dentist is a member of. Another important thing to look for is before and after photos of the dentist's cosmetic work. If these are unavailable, read the dentist's reviews for clues about how happy former patients have been with their work.