When you’re a cosmetic dentist, you see a lot of trends come and go. Once in a while however, you see trends that have real staying power—particularly ones that offer both aesthetic and general health benefits while minimizing the potential for serious risks.

It’s up to you to decide what cosmetic dentistry trends you do and do not want to pursue (or if you want to pursue cosmetic dentistry at all). That being said, understanding the basics is essential as you navigate the different options that are available to you.

From understanding the role of a cosmetic dentist to learning about four types of procedures that are gaining popularity right now, keep reading to figure out whether you’re interested in making cosmetic changes to your smile.

What Does a Cosmetic Dentist Do?

Before we get into the trends themselves, let’s talk cosmetic dentistry.

A cosmetic dentist is a dentist who specializes in procedures that improve the overall appearance of teeth and gums—a type of specialty that can include work on the color, size, position, shape, or alignment of teeth, as well as on the general appearance of the smile.

Cosmetic dentists may only do this type or work, or they may offer other services as well, including general dentistry.

So, how popular is cosmetic dentistry? Very! There’s been major growth in the demand for cosmetic dental procedures, in large part due to social media. It’s not just young people however, older generations are making use of cosmetic dentistry as well, and have been for some time.

4 Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

There are a lot of cosmetic dentistry trends taking the stage right now. Here are four of the big ones.

1. Professional teeth whitening

This trend has been popular for quite a while, but new advances in teeth whitening technology mean that we’ve come a long way from traditional bleaching procedures. Expect to see growth in LED light whitening, a new technology that whitens teeth without the need for hydrogen peroxide or a laser—both of which can be uncomfortable and may not offer consistent results.

2. Teeth restoration

Dental bonding is a restorative procedure that can offer a quick and affordable solution for fixing teeth that are chipped, broken, or have other types of unsightly issues. It’s so simple that it can almost always be done in just one dental visit and without the need for anesthesia or a numbing agent, and for many people, it’s covered all or in part by insurance as well.

3. Dental implants

We’ve seen huge advances in dental implant technology. Today’s solutions include Bio Horizon implants, which are considerably safer, faster, and less intrusive than the dental implants of the past. More so than just making implants more accessible, the growing trend in implant technology means a lot less pain for patients—and a lot less back and forth about whether the procedure is worth pursuing.

4. Dental veneers

Veneers have become a hot topic in recent years. In their simplest terms, veneers are fake teeth that are made out of a variety of tooth-colored substances (such as porcelain) and are designed to cover discolored or otherwise unsightly parts of the teeth. Usually, veneers are applied as shells around existing teeth, and are custom made to be the perfect fit for the patient.

If you are interested in learning more about these or other cosmetic dentistry procedures that may be available to you,book a cosmetic consultation with us and get the information that you need. With locations in Miami and Coral Gables, we make it easy and convenient to get the guidance you’re looking for so that you can make the best choices for your oral health—and your smile.