Dentists give youth reason to smile

With a plethora of cosmetic dentistry solutions like smile designing, teeth whitening and maxillofacial procedures, makeovers that were once accessible only to the elite, have now become mainstream.

When Kavitha’s wedding was fixed, she had about three months for the preparations, including shopping and grooming. Her crowded teeth were a big concern, but there was no time for long-drawn procedures, like braces. There was a quicker option: smile design at a cosmetic dental clinic. In a few weeks, she had a new smile. Similarly, when Shyam’s colleague was chosen over him for an on-site job in the US, he knew it was because of the former’s personality. To fix his own yellow teeth, Shyam underwent a teeth whitening procedure, and in two sittings, he was beaming with confidence.

Many options exist: 

Dr B Lakshmi, a city-based orthodontist-cosmetologist, says she has seen a spike in demand for smile design procedures. “We take a photograph of the person and analyse it to see what kind of smiles suits them best. An artificial smile is created and fixed over their natural teeth. They have a new smile within a few days. In some, more gums are visible when they smile and in such cases, we correct the gums. Most of these corrections are done on the front teeth alone.”

One big concern is the discolouration of teeth due to lifestyle habits. Dr B Arun Kumar of Pearl Dentistry, says, “We could attribute this to the selfie culture. People today are far more conscious when being photographed, especially when their teeth don’t look white. Whitening gives them a gleaming set of teeth (three to four shades lighter) in just one sitting at times. It can be maintained well if you have practise oral hygiene.” There are also maxillofacial procedures where the ratio of teeth to face is compared and the proportion of the face is altered.

Saving time and costs: 

One of the reasons for the spurt in demand for cosmetic dentistry is because it is minimally invasive.  Dr Ahmed Hasan Jibran, Clinical Director, 32 Dental Care, says, “Earlier, procedures would involve crowns and root canals, but that’s not the case here.” Dentists also say that many of those who opt for this procedure are predominantly in the age group of 25-40 years. “Since they see immediate results, they don’t mind spending on it. There are equal monthly instalment (EMI) options, offered by clinics, and some don’t mind availing of personal loans for the procedure. They understand that while cheaper alternatives are easy on the pocket, superior procedures offer them better results. Since most of these procedures are done on the front teeth, we have to be particular about the material used,” adds Dr Jibran.

Change in self-image: 

Cosmetic dentistry is largely a choice for many who are under pressure. Before the procedure, dentists conduct a psychometric test to ascertain if the person is undergoing the procedure out of choice or for other reasons. “Most often, people opt for it under pressure. But owing to the positive outcomes, they are ready for it,” says Dr Lakshmi. Dr Arun adds that he has seen visible changes in the person’s personality. “There are behavioural and psychological changes. One look at the pictures they post on social media after the procedure and  you know there is a new burst of confidence in them,” he says.