Cosmetic dentistry encompasses dental work that aims to improve the appearance of a person’s teeth. Although it is not technically considered a formal dental specialty by the American Dental Association, many dentists list the field as one of their areas of expertise.

For example, prosthodontics and orthodontists both specialize in areas that certainly overlap with the realm of what may be considered cosmetic.

There are several main procedures that are the most common forms of cosmetic dentistry. Tooth whitening or bleaching is the most common of all. This can involve dentist-supervised treatments or self-administered home treatments that involve over the counter products aimed at lightening the teeth and restoring the bright shade underneath stains caused over time. Another common procedure is enamel shaping and tooth contouring or reshaping. This involves fixing or altering the appearance of a tooth or multiple teeth in order to correct crooked teeth, cracked or chipped teeth, or overlapping teeth. The procedure is extremely quick and simple, making it a viable alternative to other corrective procedures that change the shape, length, or position of the teeth.

Bonding is another common procedure in which a composite material is added to the surface of the tooth, sculpted to match the shape and contours of a perfect very of the tooth in question, and then hardened and polished to create an indistinguishable replacement region of the tooth. Bridges take this procedure one step further and actually fuse false teeth between porcelain crowns in order to replace a missing tooth or teeth. A fixed bridge is bonded between the two real teeth on either side of it, so it cannot be removed like dentures can. The purpose of the bridge is to help correct bite issues, fill an open space in the mouth for cosmetic purposes, reduce the risk of oral diseases, and improve speech. Veneers are extremely thin porcelain laminates that are bonded to the real tooth or teeth. They are designed to close gaps or cover discolorations in the teeth that cannot be whitened or bleached. Finally, a gum lift is a common cosmetic procedure that raises the gum line to make the teeth look longer. This procedure is almost entirely cosmetic but can drastically improve the aesthetic appearance of the mouth.