A cosmetic dentist is an oral healthcare practitioner who cares for patients' teeth, gums and mouth

A cosmetic dentist is an oral healthcare practitioner who cares for patients' teeth, gums and mouth. This DDS also focuses on the cosmetic aspect of dentistry which includes the attractiveness, whiteness and alignment of a smile. Dentists are well trained medical professionals who attend graduate level dental colleges following their completion of four year undergraduate degrees. Along with academic coursework, they must complete multiple hours of practical work in a teaching clinic. Here are some things that dentists look for during an exam:

- Overall well-being: If you look into a mirror and smile, what do you see? A person's well-being is reflected inside their lips, tongue, gums, inner cheeks and teeth. If everything looks shipshape here, chances are that the rest of the body's in good shape, too. Many illnesses and maladies show up within the oral structures before they manifest elsewhere.

- Tongue: Ever wonder why doctors have patients stick out their tongues? It's because many clues are contained there such as a patient's iron levels, fungus or bacterial infections and even thyroid problems. Bumps, sores, and swelling can point to trouble brewing including oral cancer.

- Lips: Lips are also checked for redness, bumps, blisters and skin cancer. Blisters and cold sores can be treated with medication and skin cancer will need to be eradicated before it gets out of hand.

- Inside your cheeks: If the insides of cheeks have lesions or sores, they'll need to be checked out and treated, as well. There may be an underlying infection going on or a jagged tooth that's snagging these delicate membranes.

- Teeth: The pearly whites will be checked for a variety of issues, some health related and others that are related to appearance.

o Whiteness: The enamel will be looked at to see how white or yellowed it has become. There are a variety of factors that contribute to discoloration including smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee or black tea, sipping wine or simply aging. Sometimes prescription drugs cause staining.

o Alignment: The alignment will be checked out in terms of appearance and how the upper and lower teeth mesh. If they're crooked, various straightening methods can be performed such as traditional braces, Invisalign or making them appear straighter with veneers.

o Spaces and gaps: If there are gaps and spaces between the teeth, they may be closed in with straightening techniques or they may be filled in with bonding material or porcelain veneers.

o Jagged edges: If there are jagged edges, they may be filled in with bonding material or covered with veneers.

o Missing teeth: If there are missing canines, molars, bicuspids or incisors, dental implants can be created to fill the gap. Dental implants are much stronger than other forms of false teeth as they are affixed with titanium screws to the jawbone.

When a patient goes for a visit to a cosmetic dentist, the practitioner will perform a thorough inspection of all oral structures. The tongue, lips, inner cheeks, teeth and overall well-being will be examined before a course of treatment is prescribed.