Cosmetic Dentistry

A cosmetic dentist and a regular dentist both focus on dental health, but they have different areas of expertise and emphasis in their practice.

A regular dentist, also known as a general dentist, is primarily concerned with the overall health of your teeth and gums. They diagnose and treat common dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and perform routine cleanings and check-ups. Their main goal is to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy and functioning properly.

On the other hand, a cosmetic dentist specialises in improving the appearance of your teeth, gums, and smile. While they also address dental health issues, their focus extends to enhancing the aesthetic aspects of your smile. Cosmetic dentists offer services such as teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants, and orthodontic treatments like braces or Invisalign to straighten teeth.

In essence, while a regular dentist concentrates on maintaining dental health, a cosmetic dentist focuses on enhancing the appearance of your smile. However, many dentists are trained in both general and cosmetic dentistry, providing comprehensive care that addresses both health and aesthetics.

Cosmetic dental treatment refers to procedures and treatments aimed at enhancing the appearance of a person’s teeth, gums, and smile. While traditional dentistry focuses on oral health, cosmetic dentistry places emphasis on the aesthetics of the smile.

Some common cosmetic dental treatments include:

• Teeth Whitening: This is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures, aiming to lighten the colour of teeth and remove stains and discoloration.
• Dental Veneers: These are thin, custom-made porcelain or resin shells, bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance by altering colour, shape, size, or length.
• Dental Bonding: Using a tooth-coloured composite resin, dental bonding can repair chipped, cracked, or discoloured teeth.
• Dental Implants: Dental implants provide a strong foundation for replacement teeth, such as crowns or bridges, restoring both function and appearance.
• Dental Crowns: Also known as caps, dental crowns are tooth-shaped prosthetics that are placed over damaged or decayed teeth to restore their shape, size, strength, and improve appearance.
• Orthodontic Treatments: Braces and clear aligners like Invisalign are used to straighten misaligned or crooked teeth, improving both function and aesthetics.
• Gum Contouring: This procedure reshapes and sculpts the gum line to create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile.
• Smile Makeovers: Comprehensive treatment plans tailored to address multiple cosmetic concerns and achieve a desired smile appearance. These may involve a combination of different cosmetic dental procedures.

Cosmetic dental treatment can have a significant impact on a person’s confidence and self-esteem by creating a more attractive and radiant smile. Please contact us to discuss your smile.

In general, cosmetic dentistry procedures are not typically covered by the NHS. The NHS primarily covers dental treatments that are necessary for maintaining oral health, such as routine check-ups, fillings, extractions, and some orthodontic treatments for severe cases.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures, which focus on enhancing the appearance of the teeth and smile rather than addressing urgent dental health issues, are considered elective or cosmetic treatments. Therefore, they are usually not covered by the NHS.

However, there may be exceptions in certain circumstances where cosmetic treatments are deemed necessary for functional or health reasons. For example, if a cosmetic procedure also improves the functionality of the teeth or gums, or if it is required to correct a significant dental defect or disfigurement that affects a person’s quality of life, it may be eligible for NHS coverage.

It’s essential to consult with us and we can offer guidance on whether a particular cosmetic procedure is covered by the NHS or if private dental financing options are available.