Aesthetic dentistry is one of the fastest growing trends in healthcare today. Patients are realizing that they no longer have to live with unsightly gaps or missing teeth, stained teeth or ugly silver-mercury fillings. The advancements in dentistry have nearly eliminated the use of metal of any kind in restoring teeth. Instead, patients can expect natural, tooth colored restorations, smooth, white porcelain veneers and crowns, and a more beautiful end result that will last for years to come.

More than just semantics, there is a big difference between a "cosmetic" dental practice and an "aesthetic" dental practice. Cosmetic procedures just make teeth look better, while aesthetic dentistry makes teeth look good, it takes in more than just "looks". An aesthetic dentist must be able to combine artistry with science to create a smile that is undistinguishable from one created by nature. It takes years of experience and advanced training to be able to design such a natural looking smile.

Modern technology is an integral part of aesthetic dentistry. The use of intra-oral cameras, for example, allows the dentist to see your teeth magnified on a high-resolution monitor, allowing for better diagnosis and more conservative treatment. Soft tissue lasers provide for gum surgery to heighten or even out a smile line with no need for anesthesia. And of course, the labs and materials used must be highly trained and state-of-the-art as well.

Ultimately, every smile is as unique as the person who wears it. It takes time and great care to design smiles that suit the individual patients. Factors such as facial measurements need to be taken into consideration in order to create a smile that is in proportion to your bone structure, age and gender. More than just making teeth "look" better (better then what?) the advances in technology, materials, and techniques create results that in trained, capable hands create aesthetic restorations that rival or surpass conventional treatment.