Face Value

How many times have you looked in the mirror and wished it was Julia Roberts smiling back? You know, straight, white teeth, just the right a...

How many times have you looked in the mirror and wished it was Julia Roberts smiling back? You know, straight, white teeth, just the right amount of pink.

Well, take a deep breath, because Roberts didn’t achieve that perfect smile without a little help from her dentist. Even better, you don’t need her bank balance to acquire her teeth. All you need is some cosmetic dentistry. ‘‘Cosmetic dentistry restores your teeth and gives you a beautiful smile,’’ says Dr Neeraj A Verma, senior consultant in cosmetic dentistry at Indraprastha Apollo, New Delhi.

Could I really get myself Julia Roberts’s smile?
That’s where medical caution creeps in. ‘‘Three things have to be kept in mind before a cosmetic makeover: Eating efficiency, smile impact and the aesthetic angle,” says Dr Verma.

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What are the options available?
A cosmetic dentist will implement a combination of several of these procedures to improve your face value:

Tooth whitening (Bleaching):
Recommended for teeth that are discoloured or stained, it should be performed under medical supervision only.

Composite and porcelain tooth veneers:
A layer of synthetic paint or custom-made shells that cover the front of the teeth. They treat spaces between teeth and teeth that are chipped or worn.

	SAY CHEESE
	A dental procedure can cost anything from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 or more • Simple filling: Rs 500 • Non-metallic crown: Rs 8,000-10,000 • Orthodontics or braces: Rs 15,000- Rs 25,000 • Gum surgery: Rs 10,000 • Metal implants: Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 (All rates are approximations)

Dental crowns:
Tooth-coloured caps cover and encase a damaged, broken or decaying tooth, strengthening it and enhancing the smile.

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Enamel shaping:
Involves modifying teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring the enamel.

Dental implants:
Corrects missing teeth or fills up damaged ones. Doctors also offer synthetic teeth from root to crown.

Cosmetic gum surgery:
Correction for a gummy smile or a long-toothed smile. “The surgery involves removing the extra layer of gums or shortening the gums as well as reducing the size of the teeth,” says Dr Verma.

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