Why do patients choose to have an aesthetic dental consultation? 

Careful planning is essential if you want to improve your smile through aesthetic dentistry. The first step is scheduling an aesthetic dental consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. Whether you want whiter teeth or a straighter smile, you’ll get the answers you need at your consultation with a Trent Woods cosmetic dentist.   

Every dental office is different, but you can expect most consultation visits to follow a similar pattern.

Everyone wants to have a stunning smile that makes a great impression. But many people have concerns with the way their smiles look. Common concerns include:

• Gaps
• Cracks
• Visible cavities
• Stains 
• Misshapen teeth 

Nearly 80% of Americans want whiter teeth, and cosmetic dental treatment can absolutely address this issue. By opting for an aesthetic dental consultation, you can show your dentist what you’re worried about and explore all of your treatment options.

Before the consultation, you’ll want to have a clear picture in your mind of what results you’re looking for. Think about what shade of white you want your teeth to be. Do you want them to be ultrawhite or more natural? Are you happy with the amount of gum tissue that shows when you smile, or do you want more tooth structure to show?

Answering these questions before your appointment will help you get the best results from your consultation and subsequent treatment.  

What To Know Before Your Aesthetic Dental Consultation

A consultation involves an evaluation of the current state of your oral health as well as a discussion of your concerns, goals, and potential results. There are 3 key things you need to know about aesthetic dental consultations:

1. What Happens During a Consultation 

If this is your first visit to the office, you’ll need to complete some paperwork. This documentation will include forms that collect your basic information. Be ready to answer questions about your health and dental histories, and bring along any insurance information. 

A teledentistry appointment may be your first step if you’re an established patient. You can discuss your concerns with your dentist, who will determine whether the treatment is minimal or if you’ll need an additional visit for a complete evaluation before you can begin treatment. 

Your dentist may want to have a more thorough discussion about your goals and desires at your evaluation. Understanding exactly what you want helps your dentist formulate a custom treatment plan to ensure that you reach those goals. 

Your dentist will physically examine your gums, teeth, and bite. You can also expect them to take some X-rays and dental photographs to be used during your aesthetic dental consultation.

X-rays allow your dentist to gain information about your oral health that isn’t visible to the naked eye. Some of these issues may be the critical factor in determining the possibility of treatment. Additionally, if insurance is involved, X-rays and intraoral photos are often required in order for them to cover their usual portions of treatment costs.

2. The Purpose of the Physical Evaluation

Your dentist will want to choose the best and healthiest treatment options for you. That treatment begins with a good picture of the problem and an understanding of your overall health. A physical evaluation gives your dentist a baseline of your dental health to help guide your treatment plan. 

Cosmetic dentistry is an art, so each patient’s smile design plans must be unique. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Every patient has a different size mouth, tooth-to-gum ratio, and facial shape. What works for one patient won’t always work for the next. 

Your dentist considers many factors when creating your cosmetic treatment plan. Texture, alignment, spacing, and color are all parts of designing a new smile. However, any restorative treatment, such as fillings or crowns, may be prioritized over whitening procedures or veneers. 

3. What Developing an Aesthetic Treatment Plan Involves

After completing the discussion and physical evaluation, your dentist will have a foundational knowledge of what you want and what treatment options will achieve a smile that you’ll love. You can then begin discussing which cosmetic procedures you’d benefit the most from. 

Sometimes there will be multiple potentially successful solutions, and your dentist will explain the pros and cons of each. For example, should you complete a teeth whitening treatment or opt for veneers? Or is cosmetic bonding a better solution for you? 

Your treatment plan may include one or more recommended treatments, like fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, or orthodontics. 

Scheduling Your Cosmetic Dental Treatment in North Carolina

Once your dentist completes your smile design plan, you can begin scheduling treatment with your Trent Woods cosmetic dentist. Your unique treatment plan determines how many visits you will need to make to the office. At Oxley Comprehensive Dentistry, we use the latest technology to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that addresses all of your dental concerns, from cosmetic to restorative. Contact us today to schedule your aesthetic dental consultation.