Cosmetic dentistry can improve your life in more ways than one. In addition to enhancing your smile, if you replace missing teeth you'll make it easier to speak and chew food. Before procedures take place, though, your dentist will want you to tick certain health boxes.
You can't have gum disease.
Gum disease acts as a barrier to lots of dental procedures, but it's especially important to ditch it before cosmetic interventions that require surgery. Gum disease increases your risk of developing an infection during the recovery period, which can compromise fittings such as veneers and crowns. If you're still considering which procedure you would like, look out for signs such as bad breath and bleeding when you brush your teeth, then see your dentist if they're there. Otherwise, maintain a good oral hygiene routine to prevent gum disease.
Tackling your cavities is crucial.
As small holes that appear in your teeth, cavities arise following tooth decay, and they can become painful if you leave them to develop without treatment. Some dentists might refer to them as caries. As cavities can eventually lead to your teeth dying, a cosmetic dentist will make addressing them their first priority. After all, addressing other missing teeth is a little pointless if you're about to lose another one. Fortunately, treatments such as veneers, bridges and crowns can also fill the holes that missing teeth leave behind.
Managing your blood sugar levels is important if you have diabetes.
If you have diabetes, having high blood sugar levels can impact how you recover from a cosmetic procedure. As with any other type of surgery, there's always a risk that an infection will develop. If you keep your blood sugar levels under control, there shouldn't be any issues. However, if your blood sugar levels remain high they can encourage bacteria to grow, making an infection more likely. If you are diabetic and considering cosmetic dental treatment, make sure your HBA1C is on the right track before approaching a dentist.
Overall, ensuring your mouth is free from infection will always come before using a cosmetic procedure to correct your smile. If you have any other medical conditions, your dentist might also want to know so they can determine whether they will increase your risk of infection too. Similarly, if you're taking any other medications, including blood thinners, they may want to make some tweaks. By working with your dentist, you can make your cosmetic procedure a success.
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