Cosmetic dentistry helps patients retain or create smiles they are happy with.  There is often a close correlation between restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.  When we use cosmetic restorations, we restore function to a tooth and at the same time, create an aesthetically pleasing smile for a patient.

Most of the restorative dental procedures we do in our office can also be cosmetic.  For instance, when a patient needs a filling and it happens to be on a tooth towards the front of the mouth, they often choose a composite, or tooth colored filling over a silver-colored amalgam filling.  Using a composite filling protects the tooth from further decay (restores its function), but it also provides a more natural appearance for a patient’s smile.

Another example of restorative dentistry being linked with cosmetic dentistry happens when we use our same day crown machine to design and fashion a crown to strengthen and support a tooth rather than using a gold crown.  Gold crowns, while strong and durable, don’t have the aesthetic appearance that ceramic crowns have.  While Dr. Albers sometimes recommends use of a gold crown, ceramic crowns often provide a good option for patients to restore function to a tooth and to protect it, while at the same time maintaining a natural looking smile.

Whether we talk about fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, or dentures, all of these procedures can serve a dual purpose of being both restorative and cosmetic.  We provide information and recommendations to patients to help them determine which procedures work best for them.