The first cosmetic dentist trip you make will be an exciting time, almost as exciting as when you will leave with a much-improved smile. People come in to see the cosmetic dentist because they know we have the techniques and treatments that can help make your teeth absolutely spectacular, such as dental veneers. In the modern world, the cosmetic dentist has a great deal of latitude and tools like dental veneers to help you have the teeth you want, so there is really no reason why a person has to suffer with crooked, misaligned, or even stained teeth. Often, we get patients coming in who are worried about the overall condition of their mouth and concerned they will not be able to get some of the treatments we offer, like dental veneers. As a cosmetic dentist, we know there are a few issues that can cause you to be ineligible for cosmetic treatments; however, we also know that the vast majority of these issues can be treated and dealt with quickly, which will then allow you to proceed with getting your better-looking smile.
When we do a procedure that involves any level of permanence – like dental veneers, which require us to shave away a portion of your tooth enamel in order to properly place them – we will always start the process with a comprehensive examination. This examination is to detect underlying problems that could cause unnecessary complications unless we address them before starting you down the road with cosmetic treatments. More often than not, patients who have some kind of challenge find that the solutions are not complicated, but must be done with the overall health and oral well-being of your teeth in mind. Once we have cleared up whatever this underlying problem is, we can start doing what we as a cosmetic dentist love to do, which is improving your teeth. Since we are determined to not only give you a smile you will love but also give you a smile that will stand the test of time, we want to start out with a clean bill of health and a mouth free of any additional challenges.
The most common reasons why your cosmetic dentist may call a pause when treating your mouth are decay and infections. With decay, there is the element of aggressive bacteria that has already caused your teeth to lose some of its enamel. We do not want to place a cosmetic solution into a situation where the bacteria might spread and damage your new tooth. As such, we will remove the cavity, clean out the bacteria, and then fill it with a tooth-colored filling. In the case of an infection, it almost speaks for itself. We cannot do any procedure that may require exposing any part of the tooth or gums if there is an active infection in the mouth. This could lead to the infection spreading, which is what we do not want. So we need to treat the infection with antibiotics or other remedies before proceeding.