After years in the beauty wilderness, cosmetic dentistry is starting to become mainstream – to the point that 60 per cent of Irish adults have recently said they’re considering cosmetic dentistry, with Gen Z and women most likely to take the plunge.
Some dentists put the sudden increase in interest down to the “Zoom boom effect” – so named after we started paying more attention to our smiles as a result of the increase in Zoom calls that we experience daily since the pandemic, not to mention short form videos on social media.
Meanwhile, dental professionals say the increase can also be attributed to the advancement in technology – which has upgraded cosmetic dentistry beyond recognition. Minimally invasive treatments which produce maximum results are now commonplace – helping to move the dial on the perception of dentistry.
For Sarah Flannery – owner and principal dentist at Azure Dental – improvements in composites and their ability to bond to teeth, alongside advances in 3D printing and digital dentistry, are making treatments more precise. With these advancements, says Flannery, also comes greater responsibility to the patient.
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“In my opinion all dentistry should be cosmetic, or a better word for it is biomimetic, which means to copy nature,” she explains. “I feel that every treatment should only be done if it is going to improve the health and wellbeing of the patient. Often there are alternative ways to enhance the smile in a minimal, noninvasive way and I will always encourage the patient to have as little treatment as possible.”
This approach is one that’s echoed by Morgan O’Gara, owner and principal dentist at Blackrock Dental, who says: “When a dentist picks up a drill to a tooth there is no going back. We see plenty of examples of overly aggressive treatment and unfortunately a lot of these cases result in teeth needing to be extracted and further, very detailed invasive treatment for patients. Your natural tooth is the best tooth you can have, so look after them and, where possible, protect them.”
He goes on to explain that cosmetic dentistry no longer needs invasive treatments to be effective, saying: “The bonding ability and protocols with modern ceramics and composites have improved and simplified greatly. They are stronger, more aesthetic and easier to work with. Our ability to now mill or 3D print ceramic restorations, such as crowns, in-house in 90 minutes is a game changer for us.
“There has been a huge shift to minimally invasive treatments. There is still a time and place for crowns and veneers and, when done well, we can achieve fantastic results. However, there is a biological cost with these restorations and, if the patient has a minimally restored dentition, then these treatments are routinely not the correct options. Options such as tooth alignment with aligners, tooth whitening and simple restorative treatments such as composite bonding or minimal preparation veneers now allow us the option to treat a lot of cases, and patients will often prefer these minimally invasive options.”
For both O’Gara and Flannery, the improvement in teeth whitening protocols over the past number of years makes it an ideal starting point for patients looking to improve their smiles.
“Tooth whitening is always the first step in cosmetic dentistry,” explains Flannery. “Whiter teeth have been scientifically proven to enhance confidence and wellbeing. When done properly, whitening will not harm your teeth. I always advise to start with whitening and if the patient is happy at that stage then that is fantastic. Often, no further treatment will be needed.”
The first step to a beautiful smile is good oral health. Flannery advises to start with a check-up to assess the overall health of the mouth.
“Healthy tissues in the mouth are far more beautiful than inflamed and bleeding ones. A healthy mouth will also eliminate or reduce halitosis [bad breath].”
O’Gara agrees, urging dentist-avoiders to brave a visit.
“Please come in for a chat and a consultation. In my experience people are hesitant because they think they aren’t a good candidate or it will be too invasive or expensive. Patients are always amazed that there are simple options there for them. Taking the first step is always the hardest.”
