The term cosmetic is all about appearance. The appearance of faces and smiles on pop culture idols often starts or ends trends in mainstream society. “You see those pop culture idols on the cover of People magazine, or you see them at the Academy Awards. They are all flashing their bright smiles,” said Nicholas Davis, DDS, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). He added that television shows such as Extreme Makeover in the United States expose the consumer to options and treatments available to them—from tooth bleaching and veneers to gum lifts and frenectomies.
“Companies are trying to feed off of this and we’re seeing it spread into consumer products like whitening strips and bleaching toothpastes and mouthwashes.” Davis explained that the AACD aims to help the general dentist understand that function is important, but aesthetics go along with function. The cosmetics and cosmetic dentistry industries are closely linked by their basic aesthetic purposes and by pop culture trends...