Many dental patients that I talk to about cosmetic dental procedures are in conflict internally over getting their smile improved.  The conflict is that they actually would love to have the smile they dream of, but being an elective procedure, an optional expense, makes them feel wasteful or selfish or vain if they spend that money on themselves.  Other times the conflict is caused by simple fear of the dental procedure.

The conflict usually gets expressed as “I don’t know, I’m really not that vain”, or “I’d do it in a minute if I were younger, but not at my age”, or “I don’t think people notice that much”.  Of course, sometimes these are very valid reasons for the person stating them.  But often, they are covering the conflict that they feel uncomfortable revealing.

My role in this situation is to do my best to facilitate discovery of the choice that is optimal for that person, from their perspective, not mine; the choice they would make if they could clear away misconceptions or emotional obstacles such as fear or guilt, and see clearly the pros and cons of what they are considering.  If I succeed in doing that, whatever that person decides is the right choice.

For some people the best choice is to do nothing or to do mimimal dentistry.  For others the only choice they will not regret is to go all out with a smile makeover.

As the dentist/facilitator, I can do my job best with someone who trusts me enough to discuss what they are thinking and, yes, feeling.  If we can both look together at the obstacle that stands between them and what they truly want, we can reach the decision that both of us will feel good about; whether it is to go ahead with treatment or to do nothing.

If you can identify with the description of internal conflict around cosmetic dentistry, let me help.  First, don’t underestimate or overestimate what cosmetic dental procedures can do for you.  You won’t become an instant hottie or hunk, you won’t automatically get promoted.  But some people will see dramatic improvement in their entire facial appearance.  Some people will see  a part of their personality released that has been locked up for years (yes, I’ve seen this more than a few times).  And some will see minimal change.  You need to know if the changes will acheive the goal you have in mind.

How do you know going in?  One of the best tools to find out if cosmetic procedures will be worth it for you is to see a computer simulation we call imaging, of your teeth in your face with the proposed changes.  In my opinion, this must be done on a full-face photo and without anything changed but the teeth that will be worked on.  Because, if you only see your teeth close up before and after, you can’t envision what that will do for your overall appearance.  And beleive me, there is a huge range of what it will do for different people.  Even after years of doing this, I’m still sometimes surprised by the results in facial results when I do the imaging.  Once you’ve actually seen yourself with the proposed changes, it is much easier to determine if this is for you.

If your conflict is that cosmetic procedures are only for vain people, I will remind you that there are many studies that show that people who are happy with their appearance are more confident, have higher average incomes, and healthier relationships.  While of course, we all know people who are overly/neurotically concerned with their appearance; improving your appearance does not cause narcisism.  It can lead, for some, to a more fulfilling healthier life.  It can actually improve health.

If your conflict is fear, the answer can be found in detail elsewhere on this website under sedation dentistry.  For thousands of dental patients who could not face a dental visit, sedation has been a safe and practical solution.  It can be used for cosmetic procedures as easily as for any other dental procedure.  When you really think about it, it seems very strange that sedation is routinely used for minor medical procedures like a colonoscopy, but has not been used very much in dentistry in the past, for even long complicated procedures.  That has changed in our practice and we now sedate many if not most adults, even those without fear, who want more done in one visit than can usually be done in multiple visits.  Sedation is a perfect companion to cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry is not for everyone.  You need to weigh whether making permanent change to your teeth is really what you want.  You need to look at all the options and decide just how far you need to go to get the result you want.  You can do a lot of research on the web and find a lot more information than you can ever find time to look at, but the only way to find out if it is for you is to make the appointment to discuss the procedures, the costs and the likely results relating to you.  We would love to be the dental office that has that privilege.

Call us for a free cosmetic consultation.  This visit won’t include x-rays or imaging, but it won’t cost you anything and we can tell you some of your options, give you an idea of cost and help you decide if you want to take the next step to pursue your goals. Call 207-839-2655 today.

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