Back in the early months of the pandemic, plastic surgeons reported surging interest in cosmetic facial procedures – a side effect of so much more time spent on Zoom. Seeing our own faces much more than usual, every little imperfection can come to seem huge after a while.
Now, dentists are reporting a similar trend.
“It is an interesting phenomenon that patients have realized how bad their teeth have gotten as they see themselves on Zoom calls,” [dentist Dr. Wynn] Okuda said.
The “Zoom boom,” as it has been dubbed by the media, has boosted sectors of the economy dedicated to making people look better, including cosmetic dentistry and plastic surgery. Some suspect that having to rely on facial features instead of complete outfits and accessories to boost their looks has led people to scrutinize their smiles and teeth more intensely.
In addition to those who have grown tired of looking at less-than-perfect teeth, more patients want to regain the dental health and function they may have lost over the years, Okuda said.
But is that cosmetic dental work being done with whole body health in mind?
As a holistic, biologic practice, we believe it’s important that any and all dental work do so. Biocompatibility is a must. So, as a rule, we don’t use any metals when restoring or replacing teeth. We opt for fluoride-free and BPA-free composite resins for bonding and tooth-colored fillings.
If you have a history of sensitivity to any dental materials or just want to be absolutely sure that the materials we use are a good match for your individual biochemistry, we can order testing to guide our choices in creating your ideal smile.
Here’s a quick look at some of the most common cosmetic procedures for giving our patients the attractive smiles they’ve always wanted:
Smile Brightening
Whiter, brighter teeth can make you look considerably younger, whether we supply you with custom trays and professional grade gel to whiten your teeth at home or you come in for a Power Whitening session under our close guidance. The goal is to give a natural looking brightness to your smile (no “chicklet” teeth!) that complements your overall facial appearance.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers can be placed over your teeth to correct a wide range of appearance problems, including discoloration; chipped or worn teeth; oddly shaped, uneven, or misaligned teeth; unwanted gaps between teeth. The end result is a bright, balanced, and attractive smile.
Dental Bonding
Like veneers, bonding is a technique that can be used to fix chipped or cracked teeth, or fill unwanted gaps. It can also be done to make teeth look longer or to otherwise change their shape. Instead of covering the front of your teeth, we use composite resin to build on your natural tooth structure.
Tooth Colored Fillings
In addition to being a source of toxicity, “silver” amalgam fillings are also just plain unsightly, especially as they age. After their safe removal, they can be replaced with biocompatible composite. This is the alternative of choice when decayed teeth need to be filled, as they have the additional virtue of requiring us to cut away less natural tooth structure to prepare the teeth for fillings, leaving the tooth stronger, as well as more natural looking.
Ceramic/Porcelain Inlays, Onlays & Crowns
When tooth decay or damage is more extensive, we can repair them with ceramic restorations – typically, zirconia, which is one of the most broadly biocompatible materials available while also being immensely strong, long lasting, and aesthetic.
Zirconia/Ceramic Dental Implants
Broadly speaking, implants are the number one choice for replacing missing teeth. While many dentists continue to use titanium, we use only ceramic for their biocompatibility and superior aesthetics.
You can see some samples of our work here.
And now with our Fotona laser, we can further complement your new and improved smile through facial procedures such as LipLase and SmoothLase, which stimulate your body’s natural regenerative abilities to help tighten and tone your skin, giving you a rejuvenated, revitalized look without surgery or fillers.
Contact us today to see how we can help you achieve a smile you’ll love to look at on Zoom – and show off in real life.