Cosmetic dentistry is defined as any dental procedure aimed at improving the appearance of the teeth and gums. Some of the most common cosmetic dental procedures generally known to the public are: teeth whitening, dental veneers, crowns, and orthodontic braces. One of the underlying visions of most dentists is to bestow upon their audience a wonderful set of fine, white teeth. And for those who have had extensive training in the field of cosmetic dentistry, the urge is even stronger. Cosmetic dentists approach every dental procedure with the ultimate goal of creating a warm, natural smile for their patients.

For example, the act of extracting a tooth is in itself not considered a cosmetic procedure, but anticipating alveolar or bone collapse and a future need for volume are second-nature understandings to the experienced dentist who practices cosmetics. Grafting the socket immediately after extraction followed by proper suturing of the tissue will ensure that the resilient cosmetic aspects of the gum are not compromised. The hands-on knowledge of the dentist gives him or her understanding required to take this simple step ahead of time. Then, when its time for the new tooth, the restorative dentist is able to create a much more beautiful tooth replacement, whether the new unit is an implant or a bridge.

Another example is a root canal procedure on a tooth. Typically after a root canal treatment the remainder of the tooth and the root become discolored. But a cosmetic dentist automatically takes into consideration the fact that the discoloration will take place and, in anticipation, automatically takes steps to ensure that this does not happen. The overview and the preparation for it in earlier dental procedures for whatever is being done to your teeth are always important with any of the parts of cosmetic dentistry porcelain veneers, boding, porcelain crowns and orthodontics.

Modern dentistry is like building or remodeling a home. In dentistry, most doctors are engaged in their own solo private practice, and the tooth mechanic approach is generally in play unless they are highly trained in comprehensive dentistry. It is good to only use those exceptional dentists who can see the importance of a holistic approach and who have reached the level of maturity to implement this policy into their work. Make sure they are capable of integrating a blueprint into the picture before committing to any form of treatment.

Keep in mind that you would never dream of attempting to remodel or build a home without long discussions with your architect and builder, who will draw up a blueprint and from that planning put together a budgetyou would simply pass on the whole idea.

If you do not choose a masterful dental team, work from a blueprint, and remain diligent about your treatment and ongoing hygiene, you will suffer with all the problems that we are talking about. With all this in mind, you can see why it is extremely important that you not shy away from discussing your budget and the dentist projected scope of work with care. Some people are not comfortable disclosing what they truly can afford, either because they feel poor and are embarrassed to reveal their financials, or they are concerned that the dental group will take advantage of them in some way. If you are suffering from one of these positions, you must muster up some courage and drop it immediately. The dentist will not think poorly of you if your cash is not considerable, but will admire budget.

Truly cosmetic dentists follow certain guidelines and principles that will ensure their patients not only to-die-for smiles but smiles that last them for a very long time. Most patients who are considering cosmetic dentistry, when they come in for a consult, are concerned that their new smile may look fake. They usually see their friends who have gone through the process and dont like their results. Following is a list of reasons that a new smile may looks like fake:

1. Teeth that are made all at the same length
2. The color of the teeth much whiter than the whiteness of the eyes
3. Showing more teeth in your smile that are a different color than the new smile
4. Veneers/crowns are monochromatic in color
5. Veneers or crowns that have been made by a dental lab technician who did not have formal training in cosmetic dentistry
6. The dentist does not provide a mock wax-up of the proposed new smile
7. The patient does not get a trial set/ prototype of the set before the final smile
8. The new smile does not match the patients facial profile
9. A gum line that is not even and is not contoured properly
10. When the overall dental bite is not considered in the overall facial aesthetic