Health First, Beauty Second: Why Comprehensive Care Comes Before a Smile Makeover
Your smile is a beaming view into your personality and gives the world an impression of you. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on aesthetics and appearance. This is, understandably, a popular sector of general dental services.
However, you can’t improve your pearly whites without getting comprehensive dental care services first. Cosmetic dentistry won’t be successful without a healthy foundation to start with. Here’s how comprehensive care sets the stage for long-lasting, beautiful results.
What is comprehensive dental care?
Comprehensive dental services focus on the sum of all parts of your oral health. Care includes services for your teeth, gums, bite, and medical history, all of which play important roles in your overall oral health.
Here are some of the services and issues comprehensive dental care can address:
- Misaligned bite
- Jaw issues like TMJ
- Cavities
- Gum inflammation and disease (gingivitis)
- Mouth sores
- Oral hygiene
- Routine cleanings
- X-rays
- Oral cancer screenings
- Tooth restoration (crowns, bridges, root canal treatments, etc.)
Before you can achieve a gorgeous smile makeover, your dentist must first address any of these underlying oral health concerns.
Problems like gum disease and tooth decay can’t wait, and they can sabotage your aesthetic results if you prioritize cosmetics first.
Why Oral Health Comes Before Cosmetic Work
Dental decay and gum disease can cause long-lasting health consequences throughout your entire body.
Oral health issues like these are linked to heart health problems and systemic inflammation. These problems can increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and recurring infections that put your long-term health at risk.
Gum disease can also cause permanent loss of gum tissue and tooth loss, which means you’d need more expensive restorative services down the road.
Why Patients Should Consider Comprehensive Dentistry First
You might be surprised to learn that nearly 26% of adults ages 20 to 64 are walking around with tooth decay. Even if you don’t think you need any comprehensive dental work done first, you probably do.
Good oral hygiene helps prevent these dental issues, but unfortunately, some problems stem from genetics and lifestyle factors.
For example, some people are predisposed to get more cavities due to ridges and grooves in their teeth. Brushing and flossing can’t always prevent this type of decay.
Smokers should also be wary of jumping straight to cosmetic dental services. Smoking increases your risk of oral infections and inflammation, which can quickly lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Existing dental problems will affect the success of any cosmetic treatments you get done. Treating underlying dental issues like cavities and infections ensures that your results look and feel great long-term.
Creating a Personalized Treatment Plan
Any good dentist will tailor your treatment plan to your needs and medical history. An effective step-by-step treatment plan blends health and aesthetics. You don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.
The first step is for your dentist to assess your oral health. They use special techniques to screen for gum disease, tooth decay, signs of oral cancer, and other issues.
During your routine cleanings, the dental staff can give you tips on improving your oral hygiene to address some of the underlying oral health concerns you have.
Some treatments are best done in phases to improve outcomes. Treating things like gingivitis and periodontitis takes time, and you may need to come in for follow-up appointments.
Once your gums and teeth are healthier, your dentist can then focus on cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening and aesthetic restoration.
How Cosmetic Dentistry Builds On a Healthy Smile
Your smile makeover is much more likely to last and produce the results you desire if your gums and teeth are already healthy. Once the foundation of your dental health is strong, you can go in for aesthetic treatments like veneers and professional whitening.
Some procedures involved in smile makeovers include:
- Veneers
- Crowns
- Implants
- Gum lifts
- Professional teeth whitening
- Orthodontic treatments (clear aligners or braces)
- Dental bonding
- Teeth contouring
All of these treatments fall under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry, but they also reinforce the structure and strength of your mouth.
The better shape your mouth is in to start with, the more natural your smile will look in the end.
See What’s Possible With Cosmetic Dentistry: Schedule a Consultation at Compass Dental Group
Looking for a good dentist in Maryville, Missouri? At Compass Dental Group, we believe in creating healthy dental foundations to set the stage for breathtaking smile makeovers. You can’t rock a beautiful smile without addressing your overall oral health first.
A healthy smile is the best starting point for a gorgeous one. Experience the beautiful results of comprehensive dental care and cosmetic dentistry services from a Maryville dentist. Book a consultation with us today!
