Abstract
Dentistry is both an art and a science. Patient care revolves around treatment for pain, missing teeth while also ensuring that appearances or the esthetic outcomes are maintained or enhanced. These two facets are not contradictory, but are intertwined for optimal, complete and customizable care for each patient. Dentists are often faced with requests from patients for a stereotypical “perfect” smile, which includes perfectly aligned teeth that are white in color resembling the image commonly conveyed by the media. As clinicians, we respond in our own way to these increasingly demanding esthetic demands. Some specialize in developing “esthetic” treatments; others focus on different parameters, such as function or disease prevention. Today, our patients are increasingly attracted to dental esthetics due to the increasing focus on the concepts of beauty, which are widely disseminated through social media platforms hyping current trends in cosmetic dentistry.
Recommended Citation
(2025)
"Ethical Considerations in Cosmetic Dentistry,"
Journal IDA: Vol. 104:
Iss.
3, Article 8.
Available at:
https://commons.ada.org/journal-ida/vol104/iss3/8