The field of dentistry is a broad and popular one, and many millions of Americans care a great deal about the health of their teeth. In fact, in the United States today, dentistry ranks in the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions of all. A responsible adult will visit the dentist once or twice per year for checkups, cosmetic dentistry, and more, and parents will take their children to pediatric dentists offices or family dentists. Someone who moves to a new city or county may have to look up local dental practices online, and they can find a whole list of available practices to choose from. Someone who moves to Miami may search “dental office in North Miami beach”, for example, or “cosmetic dental office in North Miami Beach” in particular. Just what is cosmetic dentistry, anyway? This popular branch of dentistry draws in many patients per year, and many patients may be happy with the end result.
Finding Local Dentists
As mentioned earlier, someone who moves to a new area may want to look online to find local dentists to suit their needs. A search can be as specific or general as the client needs, based on what they are looking for. For the whole family, a client who moved to Miami may search “family dental office in North Miami beach” or they may look up “dental office in North Miami beach offering Invisalign retainers”. Doing this may show a whole list of results, and in busy cities like Miami, Boston, or Los Angeles, that list may be fairly long. The seeker may strike out offices that are too far away, those that aren’t accepting new patients, or those that have poor patient reviews. The client may then visit the rest in person.
When visiting in person, the client will get a fair impression of the premises, and they can consult the dentists and dental assistants working there. The clients may review the staff’s credentials, awards and recognition, patient reviews, and more. If the client is looking for a family or pediatric dentist, they should bring their child along, too. If the child feels comfortable there and gets along with the staff, that office may be a strong candidate to consider. The client may do this any number of times until they find the ideal dental office, and sign up.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Tooth infections and the like are a different topic entirely, and most dental visits are in fact for routine cleanings, X-rays, and cosmetic dentistry. A cleaning or checkup is pretty straightforward, but what is cosmetic dentistry in particular? This describes any dental work concerning the appearance and form of the teeth, and it can make a big difference.
Tooth whitening is one such example. Most beauty standards (for men and women alike) call for dazzling white teeth, and teeth discolored from coffee or tobacco are often considered ugly. A patient may visit the dentist to have tooth-whitening gels used, or even have porcelain veneers fitted on. These are thin plates that coat the teeth, restoring their white color.
That’s not all. Teeth can be physically enhanced with cosmetic dentistry, including replacing missing material. While clear plastic retainers and braces can realign the teeth (and orthodontist may help with braces), dental implants can replace missing enamel. Artificial crowns can be fitted over teeth to restore their shape and prevent damage to the enamel. Worn-down or cracked teeth often get these crowns, restoring their function as fully-formed teeth.
If a tooth is missing, it might be replaced entirely. Adult teeth don’t grow back, but a dental bridge or dentures can replace them and restore the patient’s smile. For one missing tooth, a realistic replica called a dental bridge will be fitted in, and that false tooth is secured in place with covers that fit over the real teeth flanking the gap. This restores the patient’s smile and also makes eating and speech easier for them. Meanwhile, elderly dental patients may get dentures fitted in, and these are false teeth and gums that may replace most or all teeth at once. Dentures can be put into the mouth and taken back out at will.
