It’s common to feel unhappy or uncomfortable about the appearance of your teeth. But not everyone who feels this way should get cosmetic dentistry. So how do you decide whether you should get cosmetic dentistry? Here are a few key questions to ask yourself before deciding to get cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry patient

How Often Does the Appearance of My Teeth Bother Me?

Make a true assessment of how often you’re really bothered by the condition of your teeth. This partly determines the overall impact the appearance of your teeth has on your overall quality of life.

If you find yourself being bothered every day, even multiple times a day, then it’s probably time to get cosmetic dentistry. You’ll see a big improvement in your quality of life.

How Bad Do I Feel about the Appearance of My Teeth?

The other component to the emotional impact of your tooth appearance is how badly you’re struck when you’re reminded of the condition of your smile. If you feel extreme depression and cannot continue on with normal life activities, then you should definitely get cosmetic dentistry. But if you feel lower-grade depression that diminishes your joy, you should still consider cosmetic dentistry if these feelings recur often enough. Even minor bad feelings can justify getting cosmetic dentistry if you’re experiencing them several times a day.

Does the Appearance of My Teeth Keep Me from Activities?

Perhaps even more important than how you feel about your appearance is how those feelings get translated into actions. If the appearance of your teeth is keeping you from important or enjoyable life activities, you should strongly consider cosmetic dentistry. Some of the common things that people avoid if they are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth include:

  • Smiling
  • Laughing
  • Meeting friends
  • Going out in public
  • Eating in public
  • Getting your picture taken
  • Interviewing for a job
  • Seeing the dentist

Avoiding things like smiling, laughing, or seeing friends can significantly diminish your quality of life. If you don’t go out in public or eating in public, you can feel trapped or limited in your life. Avoiding job interviews because of the appearance of your teeth can significantly limit your prospects for advancement in your life. Even if you show up to the interviews, a lack of confidence could make it harder for you to get a job. And if you are too embarrassed by the appearance of your teeth to see the dentist, your health may be endangered.

Is the Function or Health of My Teeth Compromised?

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on the appearance of your teeth, but there are many common functional and health problems that are related to the appearance of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can typically fix these at the same time as your appearance is improved.

If your teeth hurt, you experience jaw pain, have difficulty chewing, get food stuck in your teeth, bite your tongue, or have chronic bad breath, you should definitely talk to a cosmetic dentist.

A cosmetic dentist will be able to tell you if these issues are serious, and resolve them at the same time they improve the appearance of your teeth.

Is It Time for Cosmetic Dentistry?

Once you’ve decided that it’s time for you to get cosmetic dentistry, it’s important to choose the right cosmetic dentist. In the Detroit area, please call (248) 656-2020 today for an appointment with a cosmetic dentist at Rochester Advanced Dentistry.