The aging process is an intimidating one for millions of people, which is why so many people consider plastic surgery. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2019, there were a total of 18.1 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed across the country.

Many of these individuals turn to plastic surgery to help stop or “reverse” the aging process. Now – we know there is no true way to stop the aging process; however, several minimally invasive options can help you achieve a more youthful look without having to turn to plastic surgery, including restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

What is the Difference Between Cosmetic Dentistry and Restorative Dentistry?

While these two terms are often used interchangeably, they are two very different areas of dentistry:

• Cosmetic Dentistry: Focuses primarily on creating a desirable look to a patient’s mouth/smile.
• Restorative Dentistry: Focuses primarily on giving the patient a full set of functioning teeth.

Of course, these two areas do overlap as many patients desire not only to have a set of functioning teeth but also a smile that they are proud to show off.

Is Anti-Aging Dentistry a Thing?

When it comes to looking for alternatives to plastic surgery, more people are researching anti-aging dentistry through cosmetic dentistry.

Why – because they want to appear younger, more vibrant, and stop the aging process in its tracks.

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures That Help with the Anti-Aging Process

So – if you’re looking into anti-aging dentistry, you’ll want to begin your research by checking out some of the most common cosmetic dental procedures that are offered to patients looking to restore their youthful smile. These procedures can include:

• Veneers – Made of porcelain, veneers are thin pieces of material that are bonded directly to the front of your existing teeth to give you a brighter, more aesthetically pleasing smile.
• Teeth Whitening – A process that helps restore your bright white smile.
• Dental Implants – These are implants that help replace missing teeth and can be a suitable replacement for dentures.

How Can These Procedures Replace Plastic Surgery?

Now – you may be wondering exactly how these types of procedures can take the place of traditional plastic surgery.

It’s actually much simpler than you think!

For example, whitening your teeth can help to drastically change your appearance simply by giving you a smile worth showing off. Additionally, as we age, our teeth start to yellow quite a bit. This is often exacerbated by the foods and drinks we ingest and by poor behaviors, such as smoking and poor dental hygiene. Whitening can help remove years of yellowing, helping return your teeth to a more youthful color.

On the other hand, implants can take things a step further by helping to reshape your face without going the plastic surgery route. By replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you are helping to preserve the integrity of your jawbone. When you start to lose your teeth, your jawbone starts to deteriorate, leading to facial sagging and other significant signs of aging. Implants help fill those voids, prevent further jawbone deterioration, and strengthen the surrounding teeth.

Implants and veneers can also further help alter your face’s shape because they alter the shape of your teeth and smile as a whole. This can impact not only your smile but also help get rid of a variety of imperfections in your face, including any hollows in your cheeks, fine lines and wrinkles around your cheeks, jaws, and thin lips.

Consider Cosmetic Dentistry Before Plastic Surgery

If you’re considering plastic surgery to help give your face a more youthful look and would like to avoid excessive surgery, then you’ll want to consider cosmetic dentistry as an alternative.

Not only is cosmetic dentistry considered much less invasive, but a single dental procedure can also provide a variety of benefits that may require several surgical procedures should you go the plastic surgery route.

So, if you’re considering plastic surgery, make sure you take time to do adequate research and consider the anti-aging effects of cosmetic dentistry.