These days, there are a number of cosmetic dentistry options available to help you achieve a more beautiful smile. Tooth whitening, dental bonding, and dental implants are all popular cosmetic procedures requested by patients. Despite the popularity of cosmetic dentistry, however, there remains a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to cosmetic dentistry procedures. Read on to discover the truth behind some of the most common myths floating around about cosmetic dentistry.

It's All About How You Look

First of all, the very term "cosmetic dentistry" lends itself to the idea that these procedures are all about giving you a better looking smile. And while it's true that an improved aesthetic appearance is a major component of these procedures, the fact remains that many types of cosmetic work can also improve the patient's overall health and tooth function. For example, somebody who recently lost a tooth may choose to have a dental implant put in its place to fill in the gap, but it's also true that the dental implant may help reduce the risk of a bacterial infection forming in the space left by the lost tooth.

It's Never Covered By Insurance

Another common misunderstanding about cosmetic dentistry is that such procedures are never covered by dental insurance. And while this is true of some procedures (such as tooth whitening, which has a purely cosmetic function), the fact remains that there are certain situations in which a cosmetic procedure may be covered by insurance. For instance, a chipped tooth that results in severe pain due to the jagged edge of a tooth jabbing into the lip or gum could very well be covered by insurance. In such a situation, a dental bonding procedure may be paid for by the insurance company.

At-Home Whitening is Just as Effective

Finally, many people think that they can get the same tooth whitening results with a store-bought whitening kit as they can with a professional whitening session at their local cosmetic dentist. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. That's because the whitening products sold in stores tend to have a much lower level of hydrogen peroxide and other whitening chemicals than what your cosmetic dentist has access to. Therefore, if you really want to experience the best possible results when it comes to teeth whitening, it's going to be in your best interest to pay a little more and have the work professionally done.