Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance of your teeth, gums and/or bite. It primarily focuses on improvement in dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance.

Aesthetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry focused on enhancing the appearance of teeth, gums, and bite to create a more attractive, natural-looking smile. It combines artistry with science to fix issues like discolouration, misalignment, or chipped teeth while often improving overall oral function and health. 

Key Aspects of Aesthetic Dentistry:

• Common Treatments: Includes teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental implants, bonding, gum contouring, and orthodontics (like Invisalign©).

• Goal: Beyond just beauty, it aims to boost confidence, correct imperfections, and restore functionality.

• Approach: It is often less invasive than traditional dentistry, focusing on conservative techniques to improve smile aesthetics.

• Customisation: Treatments are tailored to individual facial features to ensure a balanced, natural result. 

Common procedures, such as laser whitening and tooth reshaping, are designed to improve the, and , teeth whitening can significantly brighten teeth. 

Cosmetic dentistry focuses solely on improving teeth's visual appearance (e.g., whitening, veneers), while aesthetic dentistry takes a broader, holistic approach, blending cosmetic goals with overall dental health and function, considering facial harmony and long-term well-being (e.g., implants, restorations) to create a natural, healthy smile that looks great and works perfectly. Aesthetic dentistry often encompasses cosmetic procedures but prioritizes a seamless, functional, and natural-looking outcome integrated with the entire mouth's health, rather than just superficial fixes.  

Cosmetic Dentistry

• Focus: Immediate visual appeal and aesthetic enhancement. 

• Procedures: Teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, gum contouring for a "perfect" look. 

• Philosophy: Primarily aesthetic; may not always address underlying functional or structural issues. 

Aesthetic Dentistry

• Focus:

  Creating a beautiful smile that is also healthy, functional, and harmonizes with the face. 

• Procedures:

  Includes cosmetic options (whitening, veneers) but also restorative work like implants, bridges, and treating decay to restore function and health. 

• Philosophy:

  Holistic and long-term; ensures treatments are both visually pleasing and support overall oral health and natural appearance. 

Key Difference in Approach

• Cosmetic:

  "How can I make this tooth look better?" (e.g., a brighter, whiter veneer). 

• Aesthetic:

  "How can I make this person's entire smile look natural, healthy, and work perfectly with their face?" (e.g., implants to replace a missing tooth, then veneers for matching).

We practice aesthetic dentistry holistically by following a "whole-body" approach that connects oral treatments to overall systemic health. 

While traditional aesthetic dentistry may focus primarily on visual perfection, holistic aesthetic dentistry (also called biological or integrative dentistry) prioritises biocompatibility, minimal invasiveness, and long-term wellness. 

How Aesthetic Dentistry is Practised Holistically

Use of Biocompatible Materials

• Mercury-Free & BPA-Free: We fully avoid traditional silver amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, in favour of composite resin or ceramic materials that are free from BPA and other endocrine disruptors. We also provide safe and approved techniques for removal of such fillings that have been done previously.

• Zirconia Implants: Alongside traditional titanium, we also use zirconia (ceramic) dental implants for suitable patients because they are non-metallic, allergen free and highly compatible with human bone.

• Biocompatibility Testing: For specific patients, we offer tests to ensure the specific materials used (like dental cements or resins) will not cause an adverse immune reactions.

Biomimetic & Minimally Invasive Techniques

• Tooth Preservation: Rather than aggressively grinding down healthy teeth for crowns, holistic aesthetic dentistry uses biomimetic materials and techniques like bonded porcelain inlays or onlays to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible.

• Laser Dentistry: Utilising advanced lasers for gum contouring to reduce the need for harsh chemicals, or more invasive surgery.

Whole-Body Diagnostics

• Mouth-Body Connection: We investigate the root causes of aesthetic issues; for example, how a patient's nutrition (like Vitamin D3 or K2 levels) affects their enamel quality or how stress (leading to teeth grinding) impacts their facial aesthetics.

• Airway Health: Aesthetic treatments like orthodontics or clear aligners are often approached with airway health in mind, ensuring that straightening teeth also supports proper breathing and sleep quality.

Supportive Natural Therapies

• Natural Disinfectants: For suitable patients undergoing surgery we use ozone therapy for disinfection of the surgical treatment site instead of harsh synthetic chemicals.

• Integrated Wellness: We often collaborate with nutritionists and suggest to our patients techniques such as oil pulling and saltwater rinses to maintain aesthetic results naturally.

Yes! We have both internal and external payment plan options that we can tailor to your specific needs to ensure you can be smiling again sooner.

Yes! We accept all registered Australian Health Fund providers. In fact, we are preferred providers for the following Health Funds:

AAMI Health Insurance

Apia Health Insurance

Australian Seniors Health Insurance

CBHS

GU Health Insurance

ING Health

NIB (including First Choice and DentalPass)

Priceline Health Insurance

Qantas Health Insurance

Real Health Insurance

Suncorp Health Insurance

If you are an international client, we will check with your specific insurance provider during your consultation for coverage prior to initiating any treatment.

Early release of superannuation for dental treatment is allowed under ATO compassionate grounds if the treatment is for severe, acute, or chronic pain, or to treat a life-threatening condition. You must be an Australian/NZ citizen or permanent resident unable to pay without financial hardship, with treatment not readily available through the public system. 

Key Conditions and Requirements:

• Medical Necessity: The treatment (e.g., dental implants, crowns, oral surgery) must be essential to treat a medical condition and not purely cosmetic.

• Documentation: We work with Access My Super, a third party liaison company to organise supporting documentation confirming the necessity of treatment (where appicable) to make the process seamless

• Financial Hardship: You must prove you cannot afford the treatment through savings, insurance, or other means.

• Public System Failure: The treatment must not be available via the public health system in a timely manner. 

Commonly Approved Procedures:

• Dental implants

• Crowns and bridges

• Orthodontic work (if addressing functional issues)

• Full or partial dentures

• Root canals and oral surgery 

Procedure for Approval:

1. Attend a consultation, and if eligible, we prepare a treatment plan.

2. We compile supporting letters in support of your application together with a GP.

3. Your application gets submitted to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for approval.

4. Once approved by the ATO, you will be required to contact your superannuation fund to release the funds. 

Important Considerations:

• You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

• The process can take several weeks, so it is best to apply before the treatment begins.