The Art and Science of a Healthy Smile

Explore the Art and Science Behind a Healthy Smile: How Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry Work Together

Our team at Helfner Dental Associates loves how each smile we see tells a story, and this often means that the story involves more than just a singular focus on aesthetics or function. Today, advances in the field of dentistry are blurring the lines between restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Advanced dental techniques now allow our dentists to make smiles healthy and beautiful at the same time. When we blend the best of both worlds, we like to call this a smile makeover.

Whether you need to fix a small chip in your tooth or whiten your smile, we love being able to tell you that many treatments serve double duty. Improving your appearance while also improving your oral health seems too good to be true. But, we’re here to make it happen!

How Are Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry Different?

Let’s start with a quick breakdown of the basics:

• Restorative dentistry involves focusing on fixing damaged teeth and making them functional again. We include fillings, bridges, crowns, root canals and implants in this category.
• Cosmetic dentistry involves improving the overall appearance of your smile. You’re most likely familiar with these popular treatments: teeth whitening, bonding, and veneers.

Now, here’s the fun part: many dental procedures achieve both goals. For instance, your new dental crown adds strength to a damaged tooth while also giving it a better shape and color. Meanwhile, veneers cover up imperfections and also protect the tooth surface.

How Do Smile Makeovers Bridge the Gap?

Every smile makeover is different, and your personalized plan may include both cosmetic and restorative treatments. Here are just a few ways that we can blend both types of dental care together:

1. Dental implants: We use implants to replace missing teeth and maintain proper bone mass in the jaw. Also, we’ll match your implants to your natural tooth color for a beautiful finish.
2. Dental crowns: Matching crowns to your other teeth allows us to protect a weak tooth and enhance your smile.
3. Tooth-colored fillings: New composite fillings address cavities and blend in with your other teeth to eliminate outdated silver fillings.
4. Teeth whitening before restorations: When you want to restore several teeth, we’ll offer to whiten the others first to match your ideal shade.
5. Veneers: Dentists use veneers to fix cosmetic blemishes such as chips, but they also protect sensitive teeth and beautify worn-out enamel.

When you need to correct missing, worn out, or discolored teeth, our team is here to provide a custom treatment plan for refreshing your smile. We love combining restorative and cosmetic techniques at Helfner Dental Associates that allow you to enjoy a smile that is just as beautiful as it is strong. To schedule your consultation, please call us at (631) 247-0977 or visit www.bonniehelfnerdds.com