Cosmetic dentistry has become popular in Hong Kong over the past decade. In fact, there is little doubt it will become an essential part of dental care in the years to come, second only to regular oral hygiene or preventive dental care.
'People are getting more information on how to enhance their smiles and looks, [and this is] supplemented by television advertisements,' said Raymond Lee of Pacific Dental Care.
'There is greater awareness of cosmetic dentistry,' Dr Lee said.
However, it can be difficult to separate cosmetic dentistry from regular dental care because much of the work can overlap. Tooth whitening and veneers are among the most sought-after forms of dental cosmetics.
'It has become very natural for me to prescribe dental treatments from a cosmetics point of view,' Dr Lee said.
Tooth whitening involves professional bleaching of teeth to lighten their natural colour. Tooth-coloured fillings, including ceramic inlays or onlays, have ushered in a new era in filling dental cavities, as the fillings' shade is so similar to a tooth's natural pigmentation that once fitted, they are barely noticeable. Veneers are a thin layer of porcelain fitted over the surface of a tooth to improve its colour, shape and position.