Although the American Dental Association (ADA), the California Dental Association (CDA), and the state of California are allowing dentists to start offering routine and elective care, we understand that many people are still limiting their dental care to urgent, if not necessarily emergency, dental procedures. This includes restorative dentistry.
However, that doesn’t mean that you should resign yourself to getting unattractive restorative dentistry. There are good reasons why restorative dentistry can and should be cosmetic dentistry.
Many Procedures Are the Same
First, it’s important to understand that the procedures used in restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry are actually very similar. They have many of the same goals and use the same basic procedures.
One of the big similarities is the emphasis on reshaping the teeth. While restorative dentistry focuses on reshaping damaged teeth, cosmetic dentistry focuses on reshaping unattractive teeth, which might have been damaged.This damage might come from trauma, but it might also be due to long-term wear or even health conditions like bulimia nervosa.
In a cosmetic smile makeover, we might often use, for example, the common restorative dentistry tool: a dental crown. We can use this crown to not just repair your smile, but to beautify it at the same time.
Beautiful Teeth Are Functional Teeth
It’s also important to note that the principles of beauty and function in dentistry have a high degree of overlap. For example: straight, even teeth are considered attractive, but they’re also functional, being more efficient at biting and chewing.
The evenness of teeth also helps them avoid damage, which extends the life of your teeth and your dental restorations.
Whiteness of your teeth is also a great indicator of health. If your teeth are white, it’s easy to detect the presence of demineralization and decay (cavities). Dental restorations should match the ideal whiteness of your teeth, helping facilitate this identification.
Beauty Is Its Own Function
And, of course, it’s important to remember that being attractive is an important part of what your teeth are for. Your smile is your calling card–it’s an important part of how people identify you and think of you.
And in many ways it’s more important now than ever, as so many of us are conducting business by video calls such using Zoom, Hangouts, and other tools. These put your smile front and center, giving everyone a close-up view of your teeth.
If restorative dentistry doesn’t help you maintain or achieve an attractive smile, it hasn’t actually restored your teeth to full function.
If you are looking for a dentist who can restore the beauty as well as the health and function of your teeth, then you are looking for Rice Dentistry. Our Orange County cosmetic dentists are prepared to offer you the best restorative and cosmetic dentistry from our office in Irvine.
Please call (949) 551-5902 today for an appointment.
