Taking the best care of your body involves nutrition, exercise and maintenance; your body is a complex system with interdependent function and your teeth play a major role.

Many people take the health of their teeth for granted and neglect to see a dentist on a regular basis. In some cases when a person experiences tooth pain, it is the result of insufficient cleaning.

Sometimes this neglect leads to tooth loss and a cosmetic dentistry procedure can be recommended for replacing them to maintain proper alignment of the jaw and prevent disfiguration.

Here's a list of the basic conditions and cosmetic dentistry procedures that can help you to discuss your options with your dentist:

Bridging the Gap between Missing Teeth

Physical trauma or a tooth extraction can leave an unsightly gap between your teeth. Beyond the cosmetic appearance, the space left from a removed tooth can cause your other teeth to begin to shift in position. If this condition is left untreated for a long period of time it can affect your other teeth as well as your health in general.

One solution that has been used in the past with success for this condition is dental bridge work where a manufactured tooth is made to fit the space created by the extracted tooth. The most common type of bridge work involves a ceramic or metal tooth supported on either side by crowns over the existing teeth on either side.

In some cases to your dentist may choose the option of the Cantilever bridge where the replacement tooth is supported by teeth on one side only or when a different type of support is required the dentist may use the Maryland bonded bridge which uses a metal framework.

Restoring Imperfect Teeth

Creating the perfect smile is an artistic endeavor where the teeth are of uniforms size and even alignment. Very few people are blessed with a set of naturally beautiful teeth, but proper dental care can make the adjustments that nature did not. To correct imperfections, such as chipped or broken teeth, your dentist may suggest crowns or "caps" for your teeth. The crown covers the whole tooth restoring its appearance.

Repairing a Damaged Tooth
Another alternative for broken teeth is the cosmetic dentistry procedure of bonding. Instead of covering the whole tooth with a crown, the dentist will prepare a mold of your tooth and the damaged area will be rebuilt with a special compound. The advantage of bonding is that it is matched to your original tooth and looks the most natural. This procedure is perhaps the most aligned to sculpture by recreating the appearance of your tooth as it was in its natural state.

Rejuvenating Tired Teeth
There are many dental imperfections that are the result of extreme stress to the teeth or simply from the consumption of products that discolor the teeth. A porcelain veneer differs from a crown because it is bonded with an adhesive directly on the tooth instead of encasing it. A porcelain veneer has the advantage of being stain resistant where bonding is not.

Replacing Missing Teeth

When a tooth is lost and needs to be replaced you can choose a bridge, fixed or removable dentures or dental implants. Dental implants are artificial teeth manufactured on a metal post which is "implanted" directly into the jawbone and is almost impossible to distinguish from your natural teeth.

This information gives you a basic idea of the available options, but to make the correct decision for your lifestyle, you need the professional guidance of a cosmetic dentist to help you have the smile you want.