Have you ever asked yourself “could my smile be brighter?” or “is it possible for me to get my discolored, misshapen or crooked teeth to look good?”

Thanks to the wonders of modern cosmetic dentistry, the answer is very likely to be that not only is it possible, but in many cases it is quick, painless and surprisingly affordable.

There are many options available today. Here is information about some of them.

BLEACHING is used to whiten teeth that have discolored from food or age. There are two ways to lighten your teeth through bleaching. With the first, a dentist can apply bleaching solution to the teeth in his office over a course of several visits. With the second method, you are fitted with a custom bleaching tray that is worn four hours a night over a two-week period at home. Both methods produce dazzling results that are very long-lasting and not very costly to maintain.

BONDING involves applying a composite putty to the surface of a chipped, broken or discolored tooth. The composite can also fill gaps between your teeth or be used to cover exposed root surfaces. Usually this process is completed in one visit.

PORCELAIN VENEERS are custom-made porcelain shells that are placed over teeth to totally change length, width or color. They are one of the most long-lasting restorations a dentist can perform. Over the course of two visits a dentist can create a smile that’s flawless. If you want to know how movie stars in Hollywood have such beautiful smiles ... this is the answer. Many Hollywood smiles are veneered porcelain restorations.

ENAMEL RECONTOURING is a conservative process of selectively removing enamel from rough or uneven teeth. This quick, pain-free process corrects mild cosmetic issues with your smile.

INVISALIGN is a recent advancement in orthodontics that can correct many crowded smiles. It uses computer modeling to morph crooked teeth into a beautifully straight smile. The aligners are clear and nearly invisible when worn, which eliminates the “train track look” that makes many adults resistant to braces. Invisalign typically corrects malocclusion in a comparable time frame as standard wires and bands. Not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign, so check with your dentist or orthodontist.

CEREC all-ceramic crowns are computer-generated crowns cut by an on-site milling unit in one day in the dentist’s office. The teeth are imaged with a scanner and designed by the dentist through a computer interface. Once the design is perfected, a beautiful crown is created in about 20 minutes without any metal. This eliminates the black line commonly seen around typical porcelain to metal-containing crowns.

DENTAL IMPLANTS can often replace a missing tooth, making the repair nearly as good as what you originally had. In fact, in some cases it is better and stronger. Implants do take time to complete, but in the end the restorations often can last a lifetime. With a dental implant the root is replaced with the implant itself, and typically four to six months later a crown can be placed on top of the implant. This allows for an entirely self-contained tooth. The advantage over traditional bridgework is substantial. The cost is often comparable to a bridge. Not everyone is a candidate for implants because adequate bone structure must be present. Smokers also have a much higher failure rate with implants.