Cosmetic Dentistry, not just for Hollywood anymore...

Whether you are a woman shopping for a formal gown or a man trying on a nice business suit, we all reach the decision point when we have to weigh fashion vs. function. Great looking clothes don't always feel great and it's rare to find comfortable couture. If you don't believe me, then when was the last time you saw a runway model smile? While Hollywood and ABC's Extreme Makeover have familiarized Americans with the term "Cosmetic Dentistry", its definition is most likely misunderstood as dental procedures exclusively for the rich and famous that demand teeth as white snow and absolute perfection in shape and form. A more realistic understanding of cosmetic dentistry is better defined by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) as comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, aesthetics and function.

Take for example, Meg. Meg came to my practice through the AACD's Give Back a Smile Program. I have been blessed to participate in this voluntary program for victims of domestic violence. The theme for this program is "Restore a smile, restore a life." The motto is fitting as there is something magical about watching a person's self-worth being rehabilitated as we restore their damaged smile. Meg's motivation was purely needs driven, but cosmetic dentistry was required and did indeed improve a life. Another patient, Kelli, "just wanted to look as good as she felt on the inside".

On the spectrum of my patient's motivators, I have various types of people. On one end, there are patients that have great function (don't grind, clench or chip teeth) that want to have beautiful, bright smiles with veneers, whitening, bonding or other cosmetic procedures and on the other end, there are those patients that have complex bite issues (natural or trauma related) that cause them pain and discomfort on a daily basis. These patients have more complex needs that often require comprehensive treatment and meticulous communication and coordination with multiple dental specialists. Even when the issues are complex, it's important to maintain an artistic sensibility that ultimately restores beauty along with function.

The new cosmetic dental trend today has moved from flawless, sugar-white teeth to a more natural-looking smile. Natural teeth are rarely uniform in appearance but rather have a graduation of color from top to bottom and from front of the mouth to the back. Real teeth have some translucency as well. Slight imperfections in shape are simulated so that the teeth are not perfectly symmetrical or artificial in appearance. The most stellar results are achieved when a cosmetic dentist can engineer and design the smile with a highly skilled lab technician who uses only the best quality porcelain systems.

Whether your dental needs are simple or complex, it's important that the end result is a clean, natural and functional smile that will last a lifetime and project your happiness in the process. With dentistry's many clinical advances and patient financing programs specifically created for cosmetic and complex restorative care, today is a great day to explore your unique cosmetic needs and desires.

As a professionally trained cosmetic and restorative dentist, cosmetic dentistry is more of a theme or philosophy in my practice than it is a definition. I believe beauty should come standard whether a patient is replacing a crown in the back of their mouth that only a dentist can see or their front teeth. My heightened sensitivity to beauty motivates me to deliver the highest aesthetic results possible. Call it an obsession with dentistry, but I don't think Hollywood is the only place where people can reinvent themselves with a beautiful smile. We all like to feel confident, healthy and laugh out loud. It feels good. Health and happiness go hand in hand. In the world of cosmetic dentistry, attractive, healthy and functional smiles do too.

—Amanda Seay, DDS

Please contact us with any questions by phone at (843) 375-0395, or by email at frontdesk@amandaseay.net.