You may want a smile makeover to give you the smile you’ve always desired, but as a dentist, it’s Dr. Chang’s responsibility to make sure your mouth is healthy enough for one, first. The truth is, there are a variety of oral health conditions that Cambridge residents may need to address before having cosmetic dentistry procedures performed.
Here’s a list of 4 common oral health conditions you might need to have addressed before you can proceed with your desired aesthetic changes.
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You Need a Tooth Extraction
If you want a smile makeover, but you have a badly injured or diseased tooth, it’s time to address it, first. Often teeth in this kind of condition require tooth extractions as they simply can’t be saved. But don’t worry. If you need a tooth surgically removed due to facial trauma or severe tooth decay, you can always add getting a dental implant into your cosmetic dentistry treatment plan.
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You Have Any Stage of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, also known as advanced gum disease, can lead to serious issues with your gums and entire mouth. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to a more serious condition that causes Cambridge residents to develop pockets of pus between their teeth, have teeth move, have gums recede, and even have teeth fall out!
If your gums aren’t healthy, you need to address them first before you can proceed with a smile makeover. See Dr. Chang at Cambridge’s Dental Restorative Group to have proper periodontal treatments before you move forward with your cosmetic dentistry desires.
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You Need a Gum Graft
Some Cambridge residents with advanced stages of periodontal disease have suffered so much gum tissue loss; they need a gum graft surgery to replace their missing gum tissue. Not only does this surgery replace missing gums, but it also protects your teeth roots.
While you may desire a smile makeover, making sure your mouth is healthy is our top priority. Certain cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening may also be too uncomfortable for patients who don’t have adequate gum tissue.
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You’ve Experienced Jaw Bone Resorption
A common cosmetic dentistry desire is getting dental implants placed. When this procedure is desired to replace missing teeth, it’s important that Cambridge patients have Dr. Chang check to make sure they have enough jaw bone tissue to have the implants placed.
You see, your tooth root acts not only as an anchor to secure your tooth in place, but it also stimulates your jaw bone growth. When teeth have been missing for some time, that means the jaw bone hasn’t been stimulated and could have shrunk as a result.
You need a specific amount of jaw bone tissue not only to maintain your facial structure, but also to ensure your dental implants can be surgically placed in your jaw bone, and fuse with them. If you don’t naturally have this amount of jaw bone available, you’ll need a jaw bone graft surgery to “regrow” the jaw bone tissue you’ve lost.
Learning More About Smile Makeover Requirements
If you want to make cosmetic changes to your smile, but aren’t sure if you need some medically necessary interventions first, simply visit our office. Dr. Chang is happy to perform a complete oral exam to discuss any dental needs you may have, as well as your wishes for aesthetic treatments.
