Mini Dental Implant

A Beautiful Smile and Your Cosmetic Dentist

Everyone knows Mona Lisa's smile, but who knows what she meant by it?

Why do we smile?

Psychologists tell us that, in our ancient past, a smile was a gesture of appeasement. They also believe that, to modern man, a smile signals many different messages - recognition, sympathy, apology, lessening of tension, confusion, embarrassment, doubt, joy, delight. A smile, social observers agree, is a mask behind which we can hide our true feelings.

This mask is a complex gesture. First the corners of the lips curl upward. Then, as the smile grows, front teeth are exposed. In our culture we consider people with glistening white teeth and a beautiful smile to be "good" people. Bad teeth, on the other hand, tend to distort the smile "message" because, curiously, we subconsciously judge others by their teeth.

The Eyes Don't Have It - The Teeth Do!

Some people believe that teeth are a more important element of beauty than the eyes.

Have you noticed that, in the movies and on TV, the "good guys" never have broken teeth or a missing tooth? The "bad guys" almost always do.

What Does Cosmetic Dentistry Have to Do With Facial Beauty? Everything!

Nearly all dentistry affects our appearance, and our appearance affects our sense of personal worth. Among the many things that a cosmetic dentist can do to give you a beautiful smile are:

• Teeth bleaching to remove stains caused by plaque, coffee, cigarettes
• Teeth Whitening
• Covering worn teeth (ground down by age or deformity or chipping) through application of dental crowns, dental bridges, or other cosmetic dental techniques
• Teeth Straightening (orthodontics) for adults as well as children, to improve appearance and to provide better chewing surfaces
• Shortening a long face, realigning a protruding jaw, correcting a cleft lip through dental surgery

So … cosmetic dentists are scientists, clinicians, artists and image-makers!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

New Advancements in Cosmetic Dentistry Techniques

You'd be amazed (and probably delighted) by the options modern dentistry makes available for strong, natural-looking tooth restoration. Read on for more information about the exciting new cosmetic dental materials we have available now.

Traditionally, gold has been the "gold standard" of materials, and for good reason. Gold is highly biocompatible and is very long-wearing. A gold tooth, however, is not natural looking.

Today's a porcelain crowns or veneers don't mean choosing between strength and a lifelike appearance. You can opt for both. New all-porcelain crowns and veneers are available that look like natural teeth. They're durable enough to be used even for molars. This super-strong new generation porcelain is so resilient and tough it's being used in the manufacture of some tennis rackets!

Silver fillings (the kind that turn black) are a thing of the past. Instead, a composite resin filling can be used. And it's just as strong and durable as silver, and more closely reflects the color of the original tooth surface.

If you've had some cosmetic dentistry work done in the past, you'll be happy to know you're no longer locked into the choices of even five years ago. Modern dentistry is evolving rapidly, and fresher, more natural smiles, are the result.

Make sure your cosmetic dentist's office is interested in what's new for their patients. Ask them about other exciting new options (dental implants, teeth bleaching, onlays, inlays, etc.) they can offer you for your smile.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.