Cosmetic Dentistry 411

In the past few years, there have been several companies who have had to downsize, letting go of many of their employees, due to the economy. Those individuals are then left searching for new employment, while competing with those in the workforce. Some of these newly unemployed men and women have not been on interviews for many years, which is why they often visit a cosmetic dentist prior to searching for a new job. Knowing that a first impression is important, job seekers want to rejuvenate their smile.

Some of the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments that individuals opt to undergo include tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, tooth-colored fillings, and dental implants. By undergoing a dental makeover, men and women can regain a whiter, straighter, more aesthetically pleasing smile. At the San Dimas practice of cosmetic dentist Mark R. Gadberry, D.D.S., patients may undergo these treatments, along with other family dentistry procedures. Routine check-ups, cleanings, and oral care are also available at Dr. Gadberry’s practice.

To learn more regarding the cosmetic and family dentistry treatments offered at Premier Esthetics in San Dimas, be sure to browse the website. You may also schedule an appointment with Dr. Gadberry to discuss your personalized smile makeover and achieve the smile your desire.

Like medical surgery, dentistry is a practice which has a distinct cosmetic offshoot. To protect the safety of the public, government agencies oversee the licensing of all practicing dentists and medical doctors. But because artistry and mastery over cosmetic procedures fall into more subjective realms, certification of cosmetic dentists isn’t typically subject to oversight from federal licensing boards.

In other words, while a licensed doctor may be guaranteed to have met the minimum standards and qualifications to perform routine dentistry, their licensure does not speak to their proficiency or academic background in cosmetic work.

In the world of cosmetic surgery, under-qualification is a persistent issue. Doctors from other specialties—such as internal medicine or podiatry—often switch over to cosmetic surgery seeking higher profits. This issue extends into the field of cosmetic dentistry. The responsibility then falls upon the consumer to determine which cosmetic dentists are true specialists.

One sign of a highly qualified cosmetic dentist is training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). This highly acclaimed post-doctoral educational institute exposes dentists to specialized training in cosmetic procedures, such as dental implants and tooth whitening. The beauty of LVI dentist training is that it is an internationally recognized credential that can be easily verified by consumers who are researching a cosmetic dentist. San Diego patients can run a search online to see which courses have been completed by any given cosmetic dentist. La Jolla patients, New York patients, Chicago patients and patients from any city in the world can use the same system in order to verify that their cosmetic dentist has specific training in the procedures they offer.

In summary, it’s important to remember that cosmetic dentists are not required by law to have any post-doctoral training or education in new aesthetic procedures. Cosmetic dentists who wish to provide superior results, the utmost in safety, and more confidence in their services can voluntarily pursue additional training in the procedures and technologies they wish to utilize. By seeking an LVI-trained cosmetic dentist, you can be assured that your doctor has the knowledge and experience required to perform excellent work.

(credit: DrAharonov.com)

It takes an artist to recreate the subtle details that create beauty. When it comes to creating an attractive facial appearance for women or for men, it’s all about the little touché. That’s why plastic surgeons and cosmetic dentists are getting ever more detailed in their work. Once upon a time, it was sufficient enough to simply remove fat using liposuction; today, plastic surgeons are actually shaping and sculpting bodies and smoothing the overlying skin. Likewise, cosmetic dentists have gone beyond straightening teeth and ensuring cleanliness. They’ve moved onto tooth whitening and now, “dimpleplasty.”

Dimpleplasty is exactly what it sounds like—a cosmetic surgery procedure that adds a dimple (or two) to your smile. It’s a logical advancement in aesthetic surgery. With so much attention being lavished on the teeth for the sake of a stunning smile, it only makes sense to take a holistic approach and consider the entire face. The addition of a dimple is a subtle improvement, but it can make a big difference. Perhaps that’s what makes it so apt of a procedure. It is simple, quick, and non-invasive. The surgeon makes a tiny incision in the skin from the outside, which creates a small depression. A temporary suture is then put in place to hold the underside of the skin to a deeper layer. Once the suture dissolves, scar tissue holds the skin in place naturally, creating a permanent, artificial dimple. The procedure is very low risk and has minimal downtime—about a week of bruising is all.

Dimpleplasty is a relatively new procedure, but it’s expected to become a regular complement to tooth whitening. For example, Drs. Scott Meester and Mel Olafsen, two San Diego cosmetic dentists, offer a number of procedures alongside their most popular treatment: tooth whitening. As part of their “full smile makeover,” patients may receive non-surgical gum therapy, porcelain veneers, enamel reshaping and other procedures that contribute to a perfect smile. As dimpleplasty surgery gains popularity, you can expect to see this procedure offered alongside such smile-centric makeover packages.

Seeing all of the famous actresses with teeth whiter than humanly possible, makes you stop and wonder, what did they have to go through to get their teeth to look like that? It must have been an excruciating, torture filled, nail pulling experience…right? I mean a trip to the dentist, is a trip to the dentist, isn’t it? Well maybe for a very small percentage with extra sensitive teeth, but for most patient’s the answer is no.

If considering a tooth whitening procedure, be sure to let the cosmetic dentist know your concerns, and ask how many shades whiter you can expect your teeth to be, once the procedure is complete. This will give you realistic expectations, so even if you aren’t as attractive as Jessica Simpson or Halle Berry , you might be able to match them in one category: blindingly white teeth!