Dental work is a procedure that makes many people very nervous. But we can’t get around the fact that we need our teeth to properly chew our food. Cosmetic dentistry goes beyond the need to properly chew food. There is also a psychological need for our teeth to look good. When we smile our teeth show, and nothing looks better than a bright white smile. That’s where cosmetic dentistry comes into play.

Dentistry in some form or another has been practiced for centuries. The ancient experts in cosmetic dentistry were the Etruscans, an Italian civilization who held a very high standard in art, intellect and industry. As early as the 7th or 6th Century B.C. the Etruscans were practicing cosmetic dentistry using gold bands placed meticulously around the teeth to hold replacement teeth in the place of a space where a tooth had been previously extracted. These replacement teeth were sometimes other people’s teeth, or even the teeth of an ox.

Cosmetic dentistry has certainly come a long way since then. We no longer use other people’s teeth to take the place of our own; dentists have access to modern substances that teeth are made from, including porcelain, resins and plastics. Gold bands no longer hold these replacement teeth in place; instead they now use titanium rods implanted in the jaw bone to attach the tooth to.

Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be repaired without removing them. A crown is not always necessary to fix problem teeth. Crowning a tooth requires that some of the tooth is removed so that when fitted with the crown, the tooth is the same size as it was in the beginning. Bonding can be used to rebuild, reshape or cover defects in a tooth or multiple teeth. Bonding uses materials that are the same color as the teeth, creating a finished effect that looks almost perfect.

Composite resin is a substance used by cosmetic dentists to replace, reshape or redesign missing areas of a tooth. It used to be that only the wealthiest of people could afford to redesign their teeth and create a look of brilliance and perfection, but advancements in dental technology have brought cosmetic dentistry to a level that is more available and more affordable to everybody.

Dentures also have an interesting history. Some of the earliest sets that have been discovered in archeological digs were fashioned from wood. Some ancient cultures including the early Greek and Egyptians, fashioned partial dentures from twisted wire. These dentures held teeth at regular intervals. Early sets of dentures provided both practical and aesthetic value.

When visiting a cosmetic dentist in Clifton, you will find that the modern methods they have available will put your mind at ease. It's not as stressful to get dental work done as it used to be, because the methods have improved so much over the years.