A practice known as "anti-aging dentistry" is picking up traction, with more dentists focusing on the form of dentistry that has both clinical and cosmetic goals, according to Coveteur.
Four things to know:
1. "Anti-aging dentistry is an aesthetic change in the lower third of a patient's face to improve and reverse the signs of aging through veneers," Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, aesthetic dentist and co-founder of Apa Aesthetic LA and Smile Makers LA, told Coveteur. "They can address wrinkles, lip fullness and cheek support for a more youthful smile and face as a whole."
According to Dr. Hakimzadeh, patients seeking a smile makeover typically have tooth discoloration, erosion and grinding.
2. "The objectives of cosmetic dentistry are twofold: to turn back the hands of time by brightening the smile with teeth whitening options and to rebuild the worn conditions of the teeth," said Gisella Angarita, DDS, a cosmetic dentist in Canada.
3. "What we do in our practice for patients seeking cosmetic treatment is to do what is called facially generated treatment planning," said Lawrence Fung, DDS, cosmetic dentist and founder of Culver City, Calif.-based Silicon Beach Dental. Dentists examine the teeth and surrounding structures to determine what other specialists should be involved in treatment.
4. Anti-aging dentistry can involve veneers, teeth whitening and composite bonding, among other treatments.