Until fairly recently, most people were satisfied if their teeth were straight and free of stains, chips or other obvious imperfections. But in the last few years, the combination of Hollywood glamour and advances in cosmetic dentistry has led to what might be called “smile inflation”.  People often want their teeth to be perfectly uniform and white.

Cosmetic dentistry is rarely covered by insurance, but despite the cost and inconvenience, many people feel that a “smile makeover” is just as important as buying nice clothes or having attractive hair. For models, public relations executives and others who spend their careers in the public eye, a high-wattage smile could understandably be considered an important factor of their job.

 Advances in cosmetic techniques have also made it possible for dentists to repair damaged teeth without using amalgam or other unattractive metals. The materials used today, such as the new composite resins, “invisible” fillings, porcelain veneers and high-strength resin cements, are stronger, long lasting and do not change colour over time.