FAQ #3: Are Braces Classified As Cosmetic Dentistry?
Braces aren’t classified as Cosmetic Dentistry, but sometimes braces are needed before other Cosmetic Dental procedures can be done. For example, if a person has a lot of crowding and also isn’t happy with the colour of their teeth, they may first have braces put on to straighten their teeth and later have a Cosmetic Dental procedure (such as Teeth Whitening or Veneers) to change the colour of their teeth.
Braces are usually placed on teeth by a dental specialist called an Orthodontist (‘ortho-‘ means ‘straight’ and ‘-dontist’ refers to ‘teeth’). However, some general dentists do additional training in the area of orthodontic tooth movement, and will use braces and plates to move teeth, although generally they will only take on very straightforward cases.
When orthodontic tooth movement is required for any reason, will generally refer people who need orthodontic tooth movement to our network of local orthodontists. If the orthodontics is required to allow the completion of a Cosmetic Dental treatment, the referring dentist will work closely with the orthodontist to achieve the desired result.