Can I Go to My Normal Dentist for Cosmetic Dentistry?

Who should you trust to perform cosmetic dental procedures that will help you achieve smile goals? The answer may surprise you.

Your general dentist, the one who cleans your teeth, fills cavities and helps you improve your oral health, may be able to help you transform your smile. It all depends upon how you want to change your smile, the procedures that need to be performed and whether your general dentist has undergone specialized training in cosmetic dentistry.

Specialized Training in Cosmetic Dentistry

General dentists can, and often do, perform certain procedures that are considered cosmetic. For example, teeth whitening, correcting cavities with tooth-colored dental fillings, and placing dental crowns on severely damaged teeth or those that have recently undergone a root canal. No additional training or education is needed for these procedures.

However, for other cosmetic dental procedures, such as dental implants, Invisalign and full mouth restoration, specialized training is needed.

• Through fellowships – specialized medical/dental training that focuses on developing skills and knowledge needed to offer cosmetic dentistry
• Residencies – training that your dentist took part in after they have completed their medical/dental school. Residencies allow your dentist to gain hands-on experience working in specialized fields, such as cosmetic dentistry.
• Advanced courses – advanced training and educational courses are often necessary for dentists who wish to offer oral surgery, surgical tooth extractions, dental implant placement, dental implant restoration and bone grafts.
• Attending courses offered by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)

Specific Dental Procedures Performed by Cosmetic Dentists

A number of different cosmetic dental procedures may be needed to help you achieve your smile goals. Some of the dental procedures, such as fillings or basic tooth extractions, may be able to be performed by both a general dentist and a cosmetic dentist. However, some procedures may require the experience and knowledge of a specialized cosmetic dentist.

Dental procedures that both general dentists and cosmetic dentists can perform to improve your smile include:

• Dental fillings
• Dental crowns
• Basic tooth extractions
• Professional cleanings
• Teeth whitening

Procedures that are often performed by a dentist with additional or specialized training include:

• Dental implants
• Dental bridges
• Porcelain crowns
• Veneers
• Teeth bonding
• Some types of professional teeth whitening
• Dentures

Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Determine if You Should See Your General Dentist for Cosmetic Dentistry

Whether or not you choose to use your general dentist for cosmetic dental services will depend upon your own personal comfort level. To help you determine if you should use your general dentist for cosmetic dentistry or instead visit a dentist with specialized training, ask yourself the following questions:

• How comfortable are you with your dentist? – You want to feel comfortable and at ease with your dentist who is performing the cosmetic dental procedures. You should feel able to ask questions and voice concerns.
• Are dental procedures explained to you in a way you can understand?
• Do you feel welcomed at the dental office? – You may be visiting the dental office several times while undergoing a smile transformation. You will want to feel welcome at the dental office as you will be spending a lot of time there.
• Are you able to see before and after pictures of your dentist’s work? – Ask to see before and after pictures of your dentist’s work. This will help you get a better idea of what type of results you can expect to experience.
• Do you know what type of results you expect to see from your dental procedures? – Most experienced cosmetic dentists use a smile simulator to help patients visualize what their smile will look like after completing treatment. The use of a smile simulator allows patients to see how their smile will change with treatment. If any problems arise or results aren’t as expected, patients and their dentist can work together to find a treatment option that will procedure the desired results.
• Does your dentist work together with you as a team? – It takes teamwork to achieve your smile goals. Find a dentist listens to you, asks questions and creates a customized treatment plan so both your clinical dental needs and aesthetic goals are being met.

Let Our Rockville Dentists Help You Reach Your Smile Goals

Whether you are looking to make minor adjustments to your smile or whiten your teeth or you want a full smile makeover, our team at Pike & Valega, DDS is there to help. We offer a wide variety of general, cosmetic and restorative dental services that can not only transform and change your smile, but improve your overall oral health.

One of the benefits of choosing Pike & Valega, DDS to help with your smile transformation is we rarely have to send you out to a specialist. Our dentists have experience performing various general and cosmetic dental procedures that range from dental fillings and root canals to veneers and dental crowns.

In the event that you need surgical tooth extractions or placement of dental implants as part of your smile transformation, you won’t have to be sent out to a separate dental office for these procedures. Dr. D. Timothy Pike has extensive experience with implant dentistry, oral surgery procedures such as bone grafts and sinus augmentations, and surgical tooth extractions.

Curious to see how we can help you improve your smile? Call us to schedule a consultation. During your consultation, we will discuss your aesthetic goals and help you explore various treatment options that will help you improve your smile. We take the time to answer questions and help you make informed decisions regarding your dental care.

Call our Rockville dental office or Poolesville dental office to schedule a complimentary consultation. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how we can help you get the smile you have always wanted.