Frequently Asked Questions
Although very similar, the difference between cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry comes down to the philosophy.
Cosmetic dentistry is about cutting teeth down and replacing them with what is meant to be ideal and perfect. What we often see is toilet bowl white porcelain teeth with shapes with no character to them. It is like a copy and paste smile. This is the stereotypical ‘Hollywood’ smile look.
Aesthetic dentistry focuses on mimicking nature and enhancing what is already there. Rather than trying to make everything perfect and the same, we are trying to improve upon what is already there and fill in the missing pieces. The final result is a smile that is uniquely your own, and one that can be maintained for years to come, without compromising your health and well-being over the years to come
From experience, I have found that it takes about 3-6 months for my patient’s to feel like their new smile is their own. Similar to any other aesthetic surgery, there is a period where the natural tissues heal and the new work integrates with the person and their body.
Due to the detailed planning process we undertake before starting any treatment, we can create an accurate picture of what our final result will look like. This removes the unpredictability and uncertainty that came with cosmetic dentistry 10-20 years ago, which will help you feel more confident in what your final smile will be.
Thanks to advancements in engineering, materials and digital technology, we are now able to replicate the look and properties of natural teeth. In the past, metal had to be used to give strength to the tooth restoration. However metal does a poor job in replicating the colour & optical properties of a tooth, so materials had to be designed to hide the greyness. This gives the unnatural that is common with traditional cosmetic dentistry.
Natural teeth are very different and complex, and light is able to pass through them, which creates a different texture to a metal restoration. Modern ceramics copy this texture very closely, making smiles and teeth look natural and allow us to seamlessly blend the restorations with the natural teeth.
No, I am a dentist with a special interest in aesthetics. An orthodontist is a dentist who has taken a Masters degree, to focus solely on aligning teeth and improving bites. They cannot perform other dental procedures such as crowns and root canals.
I am currently studying a graduate diploma in Aesthetic Orthodontics. This is one of the most in depth training programs available for dentists in Australia, which follows strict government regulations.
This course enables me to align and position teeth to create beautiful smiles. If the smile issue is related to the bite and alignment of the jaws, this falls outside of the scope of what is possible with clear aligners, and I may need to refer to an orthodontist.
In the past, dental materials were not always safe. For example, all silver fillings were made of 50% mercury, which has a long list of health effects. This is why we must take extra precautions when removing these materials from the mouth.
Modern materials have been created to mimic the chemistry and biology of the natural tooth. Modern ceramics are the safest dental materials to ever be created (apart from gold). They leach no toxic chemicals and bond securely and intimately with the tooth, making it close to impossible for bacteria to accumulate. There are no documented or known side effects of dental ceramics in the mouth.
No! There is mild discomfort at the start of your aligner journey which is easily overcome once the teeth start moving. Some mild sensitivity is noticeable after brightening procedures.
All composite bonding/contouring procedures are done with no local anaesthetic, as no drill touches to the tooth. And because we have focused on alignment, all veneers are prepared to remove a very minimal (typically half of one millimetre) amount of tooth structure.
In the past, a lot of tooth structure was removed for cosmetic dentistry which would result in pain, sensitivity and often teeth dying from the trauma of the drill.
Although very similar, the difference between cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry comes down to the philosophy.
Cosmetic dentistry is about cutting teeth down and replacing them with what is meant to be ideal and perfect. What we often see is toilet bowl white porcelain teeth with shapes with no character to them. It is like a copy and paste smile. This is the stereotypical ‘Hollywood’ smile look.
Aesthetic dentistry focuses on mimicking nature and enhancing what is already there. Rather than trying to make everything perfect and the same, we are trying to improve upon what is already there and fill in the missing pieces. The final result is a smile that is uniquely your own, and one that can be maintained for years to come, without compromising your health and well-being over the years to come
From experience, I have found that it takes about 3-6 months for my patient’s to feel like their new smile is their own. Similar to any other aesthetic surgery, there is a period where the natural tissues heal and the new work integrates with the person and their body.
Due to the detailed planning process we undertake before starting any treatment, we can create an accurate picture of what our final result will look like. This removes the unpredictability and uncertainty that came with cosmetic dentistry 10-20 years ago, which will help you feel more confident in what your final smile will be.
Thanks to advancements in engineering, materials and digital technology, we are now able to replicate the look and properties of natural teeth. In the past, metal had to be used to give strength to the tooth restoration. However metal does a poor job in replicating the colour & optical properties of a tooth, so materials had to be designed to hide the greyness. This gives the unnatural that is common with traditional cosmetic dentistry.
Natural teeth are very different and complex, and light is able to pass through them, which creates a different texture to a metal restoration. Modern ceramics copy this texture very closely, making smiles and teeth look natural and allow us to seamlessly blend the restorations with the natural teeth.
No, I am a dentist with a special interest in aesthetics. An orthodontist is a dentist who has taken a Masters degree, to focus solely on aligning teeth and improving bites. They cannot perform other dental procedures such as crowns and root canals.
I am currently studying a graduate diploma in Aesthetic Orthodontics. This is one of the most in depth training programs available for dentists in Australia, which follows strict government regulations.
This course enables me to align and position teeth to create beautiful smiles. If the smile issue is related to the bite and alignment of the jaws, this falls outside of the scope of what is possible with clear aligners, and I may need to refer to an orthodontist.
In the past, dental materials were not always safe. For example, all silver fillings were made of 50% mercury, which has a long list of health effects. This is why we must take extra precautions when removing these materials from the mouth.
Modern materials have been created to mimic the chemistry and biology of the natural tooth. Modern ceramics are the safest dental materials to ever be created (apart from gold). They leach no toxic chemicals and bond securely and intimately with the tooth, making it close to impossible for bacteria to accumulate. There are no documented or known side effects of dental ceramics in the mouth.
No! There is mild discomfort at the start of your aligner journey which is easily overcome once the teeth start moving. Some mild sensitivity is noticeable after brightening procedures.
All composite bonding/contouring procedures are done with no local anaesthetic, as no drill touches to the tooth. And because we have focused on alignment, all veneers are prepared to remove a very minimal (typically half of one millimetre) amount of tooth structure.
In the past, a lot of tooth structure was removed for cosmetic dentistry which would result in pain, sensitivity and often teeth dying from the trauma of the drill.
