"Aging is the number 1 cause of darkening and yellowing teeth,” says Billie Sabo, director of The Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry in Toronto. But she advises watching what you eat to help put off the inevitable. "Everybody’s saliva has a different makeup-either alkaline or acidic-which affects the breakdown of foods and, consequently, the colour of your teeth," says Sabo. But there are common "stainers" to avoid: ‘tea, coffee, colas, red wine and, of course, smoking," she says. And while she says there are no de-staining foods, she recommends calcium, found in milk products like cheese and yogurt, to add strength to your teeth.

Smiling takes less work and causes fewer wrinkles than frowning. According to Dr. Wayne Carmen of The Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Toronto, "when you smile you use the muscles in your lower face and a few around the eyes, but when you frown, you use your entire face," So, if you need motivation, consider smiling an antiwrinkle treatment.

"Generally, the perfect tooth should be longer than it is wide and slightly rounded," explains Toronto dentist Dr. Sol Weiss. "Only about 20 percent of the population are born with such teeth," he says. My teeth were what he calls ""orthodontist teeth-perfectly aligned after years of braces, but imperfectly shaped. Almost as wide as they were long and very square, my "heaver teeth" made me so self-conscious that I rarely smiled in photographs and wouldn’t even consider it on a first date. Perhaps cosmetic dentistry would be my smile salvation.

Dr. Weiss, who specializes in cosmetic dentistry, has a practice now numbering in the thousands, including many models who go to him for "smile therapy.’ My first visit turned out to be not only painless, but exciting. On TV screens in Dr. Weiss’ consultation room, I was shown a multitude of before-and-after images-yellow teeth that were now white: gaps closed; overlapped teeth straightened, and even reshaped, to pearly perfection.

According to Dr. Weiss, teeth are one of the most neglected components of beauty. But they shouldn’t be. "A smile is an invitation. People who are insecure about their teeth don’t smile and, therefore, don’t invite. When their teeth are reshaped, their appearance changes, but so does their attitude. Doors open," he says.

ORTHODONTICS
While cosmetic work covers up misaligned teeth to give the appearance of a Hollywood smile, braces actually move the teeth into proper position to effect structural change. Dr. Donald Woodside, a professor of orthodontics at the University of Toronto, who is also in private practice, says that adult orthodontics has been made a more attractive option due to new techniques: clear ceramic or plastic braces (visible only by those standing within 3-6 feet); retainers worn only at night; and even braces applied just to the inside of the teeth-a technically demanding, costly and lengthy procedure practiced by only a handful of orthodontists. For clients who are TV personalities or performers, Dr. Woodside will even remove the visible portion of the brace work for a period of time, reapplying after the client has finished filming or performing.

What orthodontists can’t do, however, is change the colour or the shape of individual teeth-something cosmetic dentists accomplish using bleaching, cosmetic contouring, veneers, bonds and bridges. An ideal situation, for those who need it, is to work with an orthodontist to move teeth into proper position before a cosmetic dentist moves in to perfect the aesthetics.

BLEACHING
"White, bright teeth is where it all starts," says Dr. Weiss. And, start to finish, whitening is the easiest of cosmetic dentistry procedures. At- home kits come complete with teeth guards that are filled with a gel- like whitener and worn overnight for 2-3 weeks. I couldn’t take much more than six hours at a stretch before my teeth started feeling sensitive to the whitener-and my pride began bruising from the humiliation of sporting guards that made me feel like Lennox Lewis. The newest (kinder and gentler) cosmetic whitening technique is laser bleaching, an in-office procedure that takes only about two hours to complete. An argon laser made specifically for whitening teeth removes years of stains (coffee, smoking, wine, genetic yellowing) built up on the teeth. While fast and relatively pain-free, the process costs $1 000*_about twice the cost of the take-out whiteners.

COSMETIC CONTOURING
For those with longer, "rabbit" teeth, with one tooth slightly longer than the other, or chipped teeth, dentists can use a filing procedure to shave the teeth, shortening them permanently. Although a quicker, less expensive option to veneers (see below), cosmetic contouring is not advisable for shorter, square teeth, as it can create even worse proportions. This can cost $30-$60, though many dentists will do it for free.

VENEERING
Veneers are actually porcelain overlays that are affixed to the front of the teeth. (Not to be confused with crowns, more commonly known as caps, which are also made of porcelain, but fit over the entire tooth- more for corrective than cosmetic reasons.) Veneering, perhaps the most common technique in Dr. Weiss’ practice, works much like press- on nails do. The tooth is first shaved down to make room for the veneer that will sit atop it, then the porcelain is stuck on using an acrylic cement. The porcelain is virtually translucent, allowing light to refract as it does with natural teeth, making veneers the most natural and permanent cosmetic technique.

Beyond practicality, however, the beauty of veneering is that the dentist is able to shape the veneers to suit the proportions of an individual’s face or to perfect imperfections like gaps and crooked or misaligned teeth. In my case, Dr. Weiss sought to "feminize" my front teeth by making them longer and thinner (apparently in dentistry, like life, you can never be too tall or too thin). He first "sanded" about a millimetre from the width of both front teeth, then shaved the top of the tooth to accommodate the porcelain overlay, and then cemented on suitably shaped veneers. In all, the process takes about 3-4 hours, depending on the number of teeth being veneered, at a cost of $500-$650* per tooth.

BONDING
At one time, bonds were used as an inexpensive alternative to veneers. Now, however, with significant improvements in veneers (they look better and last longer), bonds are mostly used as a temporary fix. Ideal for growing children with chipped teeth or for anyone wishing to experiment with the shape and size of their new teeth before committing to a permanent process, bonds are made of resin and last only 3-4 years. Like veneers, the bonding is glued on to the tooth with acrylic, a process taking 2-6 hours at a cost of $350* per tooth.

BRIDGES
Teeth seek contact from their neighbouring mates. When a tooth is missing, therefore, its neighbours will grow toward each other, creating distorted bites and an unsightly smile. When a fake, or replacement, tooth is inserted, a bridge is created. The process is lengthy-three hours and up, over two visits-and costly-starting at $1,000* and escalating depending on the number of bridges. -Liza Finlay

When chosing a lipstick that makes teeth look whiter and brighter, you should consider colour for contrast. Phil Jin, a colour expert at Pantone, the world leader on standardized colour systems for the design and fashion industries, says, "If you want to make a colour spot look lighter, the key is not to surround it with a colour that is any lighter than itself. That will only make the target spot look darker" -so avoid white, silver, gold and peach lipsticks. "Make your choice as dark as possible to act as a contrast to your teeth," Jin says. Try: Chanel Rouge A Lèvres Hydrabase Creme Lipstick in 97 Rouge Ténèbre. Diana Carreiro, a Toronto makeup artist, says that in lipstick we don’t have true pigments, only undertones- blue-based (cool) and yellow- based (warm). So if you’re trying to take the attention off yellow- tinged teeth, look to a blue- based lipstick to neutralize the yellow. Finally, for a flawless smile, you’ll want to avoid having lipstick rub off on to your teeth. Choose matte lipsticks, which are formulated to facilitate a lasting hold. Try: M.A.C Lipstick in Media and Shiseido Matte Variations Lipstick in Underground Brown. Sweater Dma Merulla – Boz International.

A great smile is me sum of its parts and the look of the lips is just as important as that of the teeth. According to Tricia Sawyer, a film makeup artist and a spokesperson for Prescriptives, the au naturel, less-contrived route is best. "A great nude colour with a gloss that enhances your lips is very appealing to show off your teeth and smile.’

How do whitening toothpastes whiten? According to Dr. Robert Ibsen, president of Den-Mat Corp., the makers of Rembrandt toothpastes, "many toothpastes remove surface stains by using strong detergents." Rembrandt’s patented Citroxain formula contains hydrated aluminum oxide, sodium citrate and papain (an enzyme derived from papaya) to "remove plaque, stains and tartar on the surface of the tooth and take out deeper protein stains within the tooth with a minimum amount of abrasion."

In our celebrity-crazed world, the smile is a lethal weapon in a rising star’s arsenal. Would Tom Cruise have any star power without his toothy grin? Could Julia Roberts command $20 million a flick without flashing her pearly whites?

But can mere mortals get by with a sly Mona Lisa smile in place of the 100-watter? Nix, according to a study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, which reported that 75 percent of North Americans believe that an unattractive smile can be an obstacle to career success. Seems like Roberts isn’t the only one with a money smile.

Does your smile need attention?

Take this smile quiz by Dr. Edward Philips of The Studio Aesthetic Dentistry in Toronto

1. Do the edges of your upper teeth follow the curve of your lower lip?
2. Are your two front teeth identical in shape?
3. Are your front teeth (individually) noticeably longer than they are wide?
4. Is your smile free of any gaps or twisted teeth?
5. Do you like the colour of your teeth?

Score two points for each yes answer and zero points for each no answer.
10 You have a gorgeous smile! Don’t change a thing.
6-8 You have a good smile, but there’s room for improvement.
0-4 Your smile needs attention. You may benefit from having a smile-analysis consultation with a cosmetic dentist.

Surf to these smile-friendly Websites:
The Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry: www.smilejob.com
Canadian Dental Association: www.cda-adc.ca
www.bntesmile.com
www.dentistryonline.com
www.cosmeticdentist.com

Cathrin Voss of Calgary wins March’s Christian Dior prize for asking: I apply sunscreen every morning under my makeup. How can I keep from looking and feeling greasy? And is it necessary to reapply the sunscreen?
If you’re spending time outdoors, use an SPF 30 sunscreen. If you’re mostly indoors, however, Monique Normandeau, training and development manager at Christian Dior suggests an all-in-one foundation and sunscreen. Try: Christian Dior Teint Compact Lisse with SPF 15-a lightweight, cream-to-powder foundation-followed by Ultra- Mat, which mattifies your foundation and absorbs excessive sebum. If perspiring, reapply your SPF.

Q. I’m interested in whitening my teeth and confused by all the products that make the claim. Andrea, Burlington, Ont.
According to Dr. Edward Philips of The Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry in Toronto, there are two kinds of stains: extrinsic, from coffee, tea, red wine and smoking, and intrinsic, which are caused by aging. A proper dental cleaning should remove extrinsic stains but, for extreme cases, ask your hygienist to finish her cleaning with a prophy jet. If you still think your teeth are too dark or yellow, then, likely, you have intrinsic stains. Dr. Philips recommends treatment at your dental office. (Over-the-counter whiteners don’t contain enough carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to be effective, he says.) For ‘at-home" whitening, a tightly fitted, plastic mouth tray is made from a mold of your teeth, which you fill with a whitening solution. Depending on the product’s concentration, you wear the trays for 2-6 hours for 5-7 days. Cost: $250-$800. For "office-assisted" whitening, the dentist starts the process at his office by using a stronger product, which cuts down on the time you have to wear the trays at home. Cost: $450-$800. Finally, a laser is the only option-though it may take a few treatments or some follow up at-home whitening-that can give you immediate results in an hour or two. Cost: $1,200-1,500.

Q. I have extremely curly hair because I’m black. I want to straighten it but no straighteners seem to work. Anonymous
Maybe you’re using a styling product meant to aid straightening, rather than a chemical relaxer. Or, your salon may not be using a strong enough chemical relaxer or leaving it on long enough. According to Buster Berkeley of Toronto’s Amorphous Hair Group, chemical relaxers come in regular, mild and super, and should be left on for up to 20 minutes and checked frequently. He assures us that if "super" is used, it will straighten the hair. Berkeley suggests you have a consultation first, so the stylist can examine the condition, texture and curl pattern of your hair. To minimize damage (you could affect the elasticity of the hair, which weakens it and creates breakage), Berkeley suggests that you leave a bit of cur then depend on your blow-dryer and flatiron to straighten it further.

Q. I dyed my hair blond and now it seems to take longer to dry. Does blond hair hold more moisture? Cheryl, Pembroke, Ont.
Ana Karzis, technical advisor for Aveda and technical director for Civello Salon/Spas, says it is not the blond colour, but that the hair has been made more porous due to the tinting process. "It’s thirsty," she says. A chemical component such as a permanent colour (tint), Karzis explains, swells up the hair cuticle so it is open and can alter the natural state of the hair, thereby allowing the new tone to be deposited. Because the natural pigments are altered, the hair has suffered a form of damage. Due to the change in the porosity level, "it acts like a sponge," says Karzis. "It’s dehydrated, so any moisture that’s goes on to the hair, it holds on to longer."

"There are millions of different smiles, but only three main smile patterns," says Dr. Edward Philips of The Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry in Toronto. "You can learn to smile in a certain way, but you have a natural smile based on one of three neuromuscular patterns you’re born with."

For example, 67 percent of us sport commissure smiles. This means that the corners of our mouth are pulled up and outward revealing our upper teeth. Commissure smiles are conservative smiles," says Dr. Philips. "We usually assume that the person is traditional, solid and can be counted on." Famous commissure smiles: Cailsta Flockhart, Jennifer Aniston, Janet Jackson, Brooke Shields.

Thirty-one percent of us flash a cuspid smile, which means our smiling muscles first lift up to reveal our canine, or cuspid, teeth. Then, we pull the corners of our mouth upward and outward. "Cuspid smiles are the most mysterious," says Dr. Philips. "You get the sense that they’re holding back and that there is more to them than meets the eye." Famous cuspid smiles: Linda Evangelista, Sharon Stone, Drew Bartymore, Elvis Presley Tom Cruise.

Two percent of us, when amused, reveal our complex smile. The muscles that raise and lower our lips contract at the same time, displaying all our upper and lower teeth. "These smiles are audacious, adventurous and off-the-wall," says Dr. Philips. "These are people who aren’t afraid to break the rules and let loose. It’s a very un-British kind of smile. Could you imagine the Queen having a complex smile? She’s definitely very commissure." Famous complex smiles: Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman, Marilyn Monroe.

Miracle Smile

Can everyone benefit from some cosmetic dentistry? “Even a perfect smile will deteriorate as we get older," says Dr. Philips. "Teeth naturally wear down, our gums recede and our teeth become discoloured with age." Popular procedures:

Bleaching Try take-home whitening kits, which can be purchased from your dentist. Cost: $350-$800. Have teeth instantly whitened with an Argon laser. Cost: $800-si 500. Touch- ups required every 1 -2 years.

Bonding Chipped, uneven or small teeth can be reshaped by bonding acrylic resin to the tooth’s surface. Cost: $200-$400 per tooth and it lasts 2-5 years. Applying porcelain veneers, which can last anywhere from 5-20 years, are more durable and natural-looking. Cost: $500- $1,000 per tooth. (Tooth tattoos – painted porcelain veneers such as a happy face- are also growing in popularity.)

Smile contouring Crooked or asymmetrical teeth can be reshaped using a diamond drill. Cost: approximately $600 per hour.

Gingivectimy If you show more than 3 mm of your gums when you smile, or if your gum line is uneven, you may be a candidate to have the soft gum tissue reshaped and removed using a laser. Cost: approximately $500 for 4-8 teeth.

When Aida Rosales flashed her smile at the Eaton’s Elite Model Look ’98 in Toronto last spring, she came away with a $10,000 educational scholarship from Colgate. Winner of the Colgate Sensation Whitening Smile Search, Rosales’ smile conveyed "the confidence and intelligence of today’s youth," says Philip Durocher, director of marketing for Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc. Here’s cosmetic dentist Edward Philips’ analysis: Aida’s bottom lip-line follows her teeth perfectly and her two front teeth have the perfect "golden" proportion, which means the width of those teeth are exactly 1.6 times their height."

Whiter teeth as a biblical imperative? That might be going a bit far, but Toronto-based esthetic dentist Dr. Edward Philips points out humans have seen white teeth as a sign of power and prosperity since at least the time of the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, for example, the patriarch Jacob blesses his son Judah, noting the beauty of his eyes, "darker than wine," and his teeth, which are "whiter than milk?’

More recently, a slew of products and procedures designed to make teeth white as milk has crowded drugstore shelves and made its way into dentists’ offices. From over-the-counter pastes, gels and strips to dentist-prescribed bleaching kits, lasers and custom-fitted mouth guards, tooth whiteners have taken the market by storm.

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the number of tooth-whitening procedures has grown by more than 300% since 1996 and sales are expected to more than double to US $400- million in 2004 from US$187-million in 2002. Exact figures are not available for Canada, but the growth is comparable.

Just ask Rob Gray, 33, a writer and program head at the Vancouver Film School. Most of his friends have tried various whitening methods, he says, even making pilgrimages across the U.S. border to buy Crest WhiteStrips before they were available in Canada. He decided to give whitening a whirl after seeing a photograph of himself in which his teeth looked yellow.

"That made me feel self-conscious. I tend to smile widely, and I think I’d always kind of gotten away with murder with my smile. But now my eyes were much whiter than my teeth. I wanted to brighten it up?"

For an hour a day for two weeks, Mr. Gray used the thin, transparent strips, which cost about $45 and are coated with a layer of gel containing peroxide – the same stuff used to bleach hair. The strips adhere to the upper and lower teeth, forming a seal and allowing the peroxide to penetrate the outer enamel to the dentin, which discolours over time as we age. Coffee, tea, red wine and cigarettes – all of which can stain the enamel – also contribute to external tooth discolouration.

Mr. Gray’s teeth did brighten up. Six months and two-plus lattes a day later, however, the yellow has returned and he is contemplating repeating the process – despite the burning sensation in his gums and the tooth sensitivity he experienced during the first few days.

For those considering over-the-counter whiteners, Dr. Philips says strips make more sense than brush-on peroxide gels or kits that offer whitening gel in mass-produced mouthguards or trays that fit around teeth. Researchers at the University of Florida College of Dentistry for example, found the strips are five times as effective as gel, which stays on teeth only a few minutes before saliva washes it away. With generic trays, the gel can also leak out or become contaminated by the surrounding air and saliva.

Dr. Philips also points out so-called "whitening" toothpastes are, in fact, stain removers. While they may be effective at removing those coffee, wine and nicotine stains on the outside enamel, they will not actually change the colour of yellowed teeth. Dr. Philips says strips and other OTC whiteners will take longer to work than dentist-prescribed and supervised whitening, which uses custom-fitted dental trays to hold the peroxide gel – in potentially stronger concentrations – in place against the teeth. Because the guards conform exactly to the teeth, there is less chance of the solution being contaminated or diluted by saliva and air. A well-fitting tray will also help prevent the gel from leaking and from touching the gums, thus helping to prevent gum irritation. Patients wear the trays overnight or for several hours a day, for four or five days to up to two weeks, depending on the strength of the peroxide, their comfort level and their dentist’s recommendations. At-home whitening under a dentist’s supervision can

In-office whitening procedures can take less time, as dentists use lasers (usually on only one or two problem teeth) or bright light, both of which are thought to activate the peroxide and make it work faster. In an office setting a dentist can use higher concentrations of peroxide and monitor the patient, who may also wear gel in mouth-guards for a few nights afterward, just to shore up the effects. Dr. Philips usually recommends patients follow up with one night of whitening every 12 months in order to keep teeth pearly white.

As millions of cases of tooth-whitening in North America suggest, people seem more than comfortable with the idea of putting peroxide in their mouths. Still, some are more cautious. Dr. Laura Tam, an associate professor in the department of restorative dentistry at the University of Toronto’s faculty of dentistry, points out up to two-thirds of whitening patients experience some degree of tooth sensitivity.

"It has been documented as transient and should not persist, but does represent some type of inflammation of the pulp," which is the innermost part of the tooth, where the nerve lies. Peroxide bleaches can also blanch the gums and irritate the mouth’s soft tissues. As for long-term negative effects of bleaching on tooth structure, and peroxide on the human body, Dr. Tam cannot comment because no studies have been conducted.

While hydrogen peroxide has been "adversely associated with carcinogenesis," she noted in a scholarly article on the safety of home bleaching, it is also a substance that the body produces naturally. The bottom line? We need more studies, Dr. Tam says.

In the meantime, she says, clinical studies using a 10% carbamide peroxide gel over two weeks have demonstrated it is safe and effective when used according to directions. Dr. Tam recommends bleaching only with the supervision of a dentist, who can diagnose the source of discolouration and help ensure the method used is appropriate. Children, pregnant or lactating women and anyone with oral tissue problems should avoid whiteners. As for repeated use of bleaching products, she is not comfortable with the practice, although she admits no clinical evidence supports her claim.

Lucas Murnaghan has a pair of custom-made mouthguards sitting in "a neglected drawer" in his bathroom. The 27-year-old surgical resident at the University of British Columbia medical school spent about $250 for a dentist-supervised, at-home whitening kit. He also gave up his daily dose of coffee – switching to caffeine pills to get by. After a few nights of wearing the mouthguards, however, Dr. Murnaghan’s gums begin to hurt and reacted painfully to heat or cold. He gave up on the program – and started drinking coffee again.

"I thought, ‘I’m putting some chemical in my mouth that makes my gums hurt. Maybe that isn’t so good for me. Maybe my teeth are supposed to be this colour and that’s life and I shouldn’t mess with it’."

The Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry is nothing like the typical dentist’s office. But then, Dr. Philips is not a typical dentist. For one thing, he does not clean teeth, fill cavities, or chide patients for not flossing. Those tasks, he says, are the job of a client’s family dentist. He is adamant that clients do not have to worry about alienating their current dentist when they pay a visit to the studio.

"We know the vast majority of Ontarians are happy with their current dentist, and we want them to keep their relationships with their family dentists," Dr. Philips says. "In fact, we insist that they do."

However, when a client wants to enhance the appearance of anal-ready healthy smile, a visit to Dr. Philip’s office maybe in order. Here, clients, many of whom are dentists themselves, learn about smiles and the range of treatments – including whitening, applying veneers and acrylic resins, and untwisting teeth – available to beautify them. In some cases, aesthetic dentistry can be a substitute for braces and orthodontia.

"We have created an environment with a very distinct aesthetic," says Dr. Philips.

"It is a very different emotional space than the place you would normally go to get a root canal."

Looking around, it is easy to see what he means. A bank of interactive television screens commands the information centre at the front of the downtown Toronto office, with educational programming on aesthetic dentistry available at the touch of a button. Consultations take place in the light, airy office belonging to studio director Billie J0 Sabo. Further inside the studio – designed by the internationally renowned firm Yabu Pushelberg – is a patient lounge, private bathroom and dressing room. Soothing scents permeate the air, and soft strains of music play in the background. Kimonos and slippers are provided. There is even a private area for patients to spit and rinse.

The crowning glory is a single dentist’s chair surrounded by every conceivable tool Dr. Philips needs to perform his work. In that chair, a patient can watch television or movies on DVD with the aid of earphones and a headset, listen to music or watch the doctor in action on the television screen. The single chair means the dentist sees only one patient at a time. "We see two patients a day," says Ms. Sabo. "You’re either the morning patient or the afternoon patient. While you’re here, the clinic is yours. It’s your time." When it comes to the aesthetics of the smile, Dr. Philips’ philosophy stems from his early work in the craniofacial department at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. There, he worked with a group of specialists – including speech pathologists, oral surgeons and ear, nose and throat doctors – to treat children with congenital facial abnormalities. The team approach gave Dr. Philips a new perspective on the smile.

"It gave me a new way of looking at the face," he says. "My focus wasn’t simply the teeth or the mouth, but the way they interact with the entire face. That’s the approach I bring to my work now. Cosmetic dentistry triggers a potential change in the overall appearance."

Until recently, however, there were no proper terms to describe the aesthetic properties of the smile. Dismayed by this lack of lingo, Dr. Philips created his own language. He is responsible for classifying smile "types" and for creating a seven-point set of clinical "smile principles" to describe the elements of a perfect smile.

Most people – about 67% – have commissure smiles, where the corners of the mouth first pull- upward and outward. The lips then contract to show the upper teeth. Think Courtney Cox or Elizabeth Taylor. About one-third of smilers have cuspid grins, where the top lip goes up to expose the canine teeth. Drew Barrymore and Tom Cruise are both cuspid smilers. Dr. Philips says that is what gives them a slightly mysterious look. Rarest of all is the complex smile – hello, Julia Roberts and Marilyn Monroe – where the upper and lower lips contract at the same time to reveal a full set of pearly whites.

The smile principles are based on the principle of design known as the golden section, established by the ancient Greeks and found repeatedly in nature’s own perfect proportions: the spiral of a seashell, the whorl of a sunflower’s centre. It comes set of mathematical relationships, says Dr. Philips. For example, we should see no more than three millimetres of gum tissue in a smile. The two front teeth should be symmetrical, and their width should be 80% of their height.

Having the means to accurately describe and classify smiles eliminates guesswork, as well as some of the doubt that can plague new clients. Every consultation at the studio begins, therefore, with a quick crash course in the language of smiles. Ms. Sabo snaps a Polaroid, identifies the client’s smiling style and goes through the seven principles using a series of before and after photographs of other patients. The wall behind her desk is taken up with such photos, organized into dozens of binders with titles such as "Gummy Smiles," "Untwisting Teeth:’ "Inverted Smiles" and "Moving Spaces".

By identifying their own smile types and understanding the smile principles, Dr. Philips says patients better understand why he makes the recommendations he does, and what is possible.

"I can measure your front teeth, do the calculations and tell you by exactly how much I should lengthen or widen them, or how much gum to cut away so that they conform to the golden section:’ Just seeing the before and after pictures was enough to convince Debbie Thornton, 38, that she had come to the right place. "Seeing is believing," says Ms. Thornton, "Going for the consultation was a great education. You get a realistic sense of your smile. You might go in thinking you want to look like this movie star or that one, but it might not work. I can’t say I want Julia Roberts’ teeth when I don’t have her smile type".

Ms. Thornton was unhappy with the "gumminess" of her smile, as well as the heavy veneers that a previous dentist had affixed, making her teeth feel thick and cumbersome. Over a series of visits to the studio, Dr. Philips performed a gingivectomy to trim away excess gum tissue, and replaced the heavier veneers with thinner, more natural-looking porcelain ones. He also whitened Ms. Thornton’s bottom teeth to match the shade of the new veneers.

Her new smile, says Ms. Thornton, was the motivation she needed to make other changes to her body. After having two children, the former professional volleyball player and bodybuilder had abandoned her workout routine and healthy eating habits. The "smile lift" kicked off a three- month diet and exercise program that has dramatically altered her body. Muscles ripple where once there was flab. A bright, toothy smile shines. Most important, Ms. Thornton says, the new smile has given her more confidence.

"I’m happier now," she says. "Just doing it made me feel a lot better. Before I had my teeth fixed, I used to cover my mouth with my hand because I was embarrassed. Now I have a real big smile".

Thanks to these factors, as well as new technology we can take dentistry to the next level!

Whitening and bonding are two of the most common procedures, but many adults are trying out orthodontics and the new alternative, porcelain laminate veneers, as well.

Dr. Philips says it is natural for people to want a beautiful smile, and the reasons can be found in the past. "The reasons people want a better smile are evolutionary," he says. "Sharp and uneven teeth used to signify the ability to tear and shred. Grinning and showing teeth used to scare away predators. But now grinning or smiling means, ‘I’m okay. I’m friendly. Come closer to me.’ It’s welcoming. Dark teeth or sharp, irregular teeth are still considered hostile and, because a smile now serves different social purposes, this isn’t desirable."

When people speak, the listener often focuses on their mouth as unwavering eye contact might be considered intimate or even aggressive. That means the mouth is one of the first things that is noticed. Now dentists and patients finally have the time and dental health to start thinking about procedures that are cosmetic rather than a requirement for health.

Dr. Philips says large numbers of dentists were enlisted during the Second World War, which resulted in a general decrease in dental care. Consequently, in the following years, many people’s mouths were filled with cavities.

By the I970s, the use of fluoride began improving dental health, but in the 1980s the baby boomers’ fillings started breaking down and had to be replaced. It is only since the 1990s that there has been time for the industry to move beyond damage control.

"Re-whitening is still the most popular procedure," says Dr. Philips. "Everyone wants clean, white teeth!’

Professional cleaning will remove surface stains such as those from coffee, tea, tobacco and plaque. But when teeth age, they tend to yellow. In these cases, an oxidizing agent must be used to break down the yellow pigments. I don’t like to call it whitening because we’re not adding colour," says Dr. Philips. We’re simply removing the yellow or darker pigments to re-whiten the teeth!" That means people’s teeth will never be whiter than their teeth are naturally.

Adult orthodontics are another popular choice in cosmetic dentistry. Straight, even teeth are an important factor in a nice smile, "If the teeth weren’t lined up properly to begin with, they will shift and drift throughout their life," says Dr. Philips. "So even if they had the smile of a cover model 10 years ago, they may not now. ‘Adults often think they’re too old for orthodontics, but it is actually quite common!’

According to the American Dental Association, about 20% of people who now get braces are adults. But this procedure takes patience, as adults often must wear them for two or three years, and afterward a retainer must be used.

Porcelain and laminate veneers are another option for those who want to improve their smiles. Thin, semi-translucent plates or shells can be used to cover discolouration, repair chipped or damaged teeth or change the look of teeth in terms of shape and size. Most of the time you can’t tell where the tooth and the veneer meet, eliminating shadow lines often associated with a crown. But because there must be a certain amount of tooth for the veneer to bond to, sometimes crowns are the only alternative.

‘Veneers are the number one choice for people who want to improve their smiles," says Dr. Philips. "It’s more expensive than bonding, but the results are often better!"

Bonding is another procedure people with chipped or discoloured teeth, or those with gaps between their teeth may choose. "Bonding is a bit of a misnomer as veneers are bonded as well as crowns," says Dr. Philips. "It’s the material we’re using that we’re referring to. With veneers, we’re using porcelain. With bonding, we’re using high-grade plastics!"

Often micro-abrasion is used to "roughen up" the surface of the tooth for bonding. "Drills create flatter surfaces that don’t bond as well," says Dr. Philips. "Abrasion, such as air abrasion, creates a honeycombed effect."

Some people don’t have a problem with their teeth, but they think their gums ruin their smiles. Dr. Philips says the remedy for a gummy smile is both simple and effective. "That tissue is very easily removed," he says. "It’s much like cutting cuticles, and we have had outstanding results!" Lasers or scalpels maybe used to remove the tissue.

And last but not least, there are people who have lost teeth. The answer is often implants. The solution used to be dental plates, but now dentists install teeth that are attached to the jawbone making them sturdy and realistic in appearance.

Of course, a good way to get a healthy smile is to maintain your teeth. Many of these procedures can be avoided if people take advantage of preventive treatments and care for their teeth by brushing and flossing.

But sometimes, the perfect smile still eludes us. In these cases, a cosmetic procedure may bring patients a great deal of confidence and comfort.

Those in search of not just the average sweater should check out the Wayne Gretzky line at the Bay, where several styles could make your favourite hockey head forever thankful that you didn’t go for the reindeer motif. Julie Magner, the Bay’s fashion director, reports that what she calls cabin sweaters, those of the woolly, chunky, hand-knit variety, are being snapped up in the women’s department.

"Practical luxury" is also what Luci Wyers, a wardrobe shopper at Eaton’s, is shilling. That means, she says, an affordable cashmere sweater, a shearling coat instead of mink, a velvet scarf. "One thing I thought was really silly when it came in and now, with the weather," it makes sense, is Jean-Paul Gaultier’s umbrella trimmed in faux fur." ($160) Very hot items from L.A. are Betty Paige’s "girdle".

Out if they’re sallow-skinned, dirty-nailed stress cases. Consider the services of a personal trainer or nutritionist, or fitness club memberships. Natale gives the gift of aromatherapy massages ($60 to $70) and days at the spa (about $200 for men or women). Or do it yourself at home with Tom Girls’ Beauty Parlour Night kit in a can, at Holt Renfrew ($40).

For the person who has everything: Why not give a water buffalo? Or honeybees? Or trees? Through the Heifer Project International, you can give your humanity-minded friends and family the gift of an entire sheep ($120 US), or a share of a sheep ($10 US). The project helps hungry people feed themselves, earn income and care for the environment in poor communities all over the world. For $5,000 (US), you can come to the rescue with the Ark – that is, 15 pairs of farm animals that are shipped off to needy families in India, Guatemala and Zimbabwe. Call 1-800-422-0755 or visit the web- site: wwwheifer.org.

Bringing new meaning to the ditty All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth, Dr. Edward Philips, a Toronto cosmetic dental surgeon, has half-a-dozen perfect smile gift ideas: tooth whitening, laser whitening, smart brushes. One patient gave his girlfriend yeneers, a porcelain laminate that can cost $650 to $1,000 per tooth; another wanted to subtly suggest some drill work, and gave a gift certificate for a consultation.

Apparently, it is also not uncommon to tuck a tune-up in to the Christmas stocking. Dr. Stephen Mulholland, a Toronto cosmetic plastic surgeon, has gift certificates. Just fill in the dollar value: Breast augmentation costs $5,000 and up, a tummy tuck, $5,000 and up, face lift, $6,000 and up, liposuction, $3,200 and up, endoscopic browlift, $4,000 and up. The gift lasts three to 10 years, depending on the procedure.

"The more even and white and clean they are, the more uninvasive they look and, therefore, the message seems to be that this is someone you could work with, that you could be in love with, that you could feel comfortable with, that you could feel good around," he says.

Dr. Philips, who has been practicing dentistry for 20 years, is passionate about his work in crafting attractive smiles. He left his general practice five years ago to open The Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry in Toronto.

"I just had a real passion for esthetics, which was not easily deliverable in a general practice environment," Dr. Philips says, adding patients often feel uncomfortable or pressured when their general dentist advises them about esthetics.

Esthetics were not historically a priority in dentistry. It was not until the 1970s, when the first generation of children was born under a system of preventive dental care, that people started having fewer dental problems, such as cavities and gum disease. Today, there is a growing emphasis on esthetics.

Cosmetic dental procedures include whitening or bleaching, restoration of teeth with porcelain veneers, gum sculpting and the replacement of missing teeth with implants, which involves the placement of titanium screws that act as roots for new porcelain teeth.

Porcelain veneers are covers placed on teeth to change their shape or colour and are now a popular tool in cosmetic dentistry.

"Four years ago, people thought a porcelain veneer was something you put into your washroom," Dr. Philips says.

A veneer can also be used to correct chips and cracks, fill gaps and replace worn surfaces.

"This is like a false fingernail that is put over the teeth," he says. "They are really wonderful because you can instantly more or less change the colour or change the shape of your teeth."

Corinne Davis, 43, a bookkeeper from Uxbridge, Ont., had been considering getting her crooked front teeth fixed for a longtime.

She had twice received an estimate for braces but could not get a guarantee of the results, so she began searching for alternatives and found Dr. Philips on the Internet. She had porcelain veneers put on her front six teeth in 2001. She is happy with the result.

"I love it," Ms. Davis says. "There is not a day that goes by that I don’t look and smile and think it’s the best thing I ever did in my whole life. I would have my whole mouth done if I could." She is particularly pleased with the way the veneers match her natural tooth colour.

"I specifically said to him, ‘I don’t want these great big, honking, shiny, white teeth. I want it to look natural. They don’t need to be absolutely perfect,’" she says.

The new porcelain veneers have a depth of colour that looks natural, while the older veneers looked as though they were painted on, Dr. Philips says.

Tooth bleaching or whitening is another major trend in cosmetic dentistry.

The most effective, and most expensive, whitening products are prescribed by a dentist.

Self-bleaching products that can be purchased at drugstores without prescriptions from dentists are considerably less expensive, but their effectiveness is questionable.

Dr. Philips does not have much faith in self-bleaching products and says many patients who come to him for whitening have already tried these products.

"They just don’t work," he says. The whitening products prescribed by dentists typically require a patient to wear custom-made trays filled with whitening formula on their teeth at night or for several hours each day, for a week or more. These custom-made products range in price from about $250 to $950.

Other cosmetic dental procedures can be more expensive. The Web site for the Studio for Aesthetic Dentistry lists the prices for a number of its services. These include $1,000 a tooth for porcelain veneers, $600 to $1,200 for laser gum surgery, $3,500 a tooth for implants and between $550 and $950 for whitening.

Cosmetic dentistry is not covered by insurance plans.

Ms. Davis admits her veneers were pricey, but says they were well worth it.

"If I didn’t have three kids to educate and all of that, I’d jump right back in that chair and have them all done. But it’s not inexpensive, either:"

Cost is only one of the considerations before undergoing a cosmetic procedure.

Another is the patient’s expectations.

"If I get the feeling from a person that they think that whitening is going to change their life, I’ll say, ‘You know what? It’s not going to change your life,’" Dr. Philips says.

Cosmetic dentistry is also discouraged for people who have other dental conditions, such as gum disease and open cavities, that should be looked after first, Dr. Tam says.

Dental surgeon Ed Philips, right, with patient Corinne Davis at his cosmetic dentistry clinic in Toronto:

An attractive smile sends a positive message "that this is someone you could feel good around."

The mere mention of the dentist – or worse, dental surgery – is enough to make most people cringe.

But with all the advancements in cosmetic dentistry in recent years, some adults are actually seeking out the dentist’s chair to get their teeth whitened, straightened and brightened.

For the most part, there’s no tooth fairy to pick up the bill. Yet some whose parents couldn’t afford braces when they were younger are now spending the money and taking the time and trouble to wear them. They even have the option of wearing newer white braces which aren’t as noticeable as the traditional metal wires.

All in all, improving your smile has become less painful and time-consuming.

It’s also become a cutting- edge business. Just ask Dr. Ed Philips, whose office credo is: "will that be fluoride or a cappuccino?"

Philips, a dental surgeon in Toronto for 20 years, has just opened an ultra-modem "studio for aesthetic dentistry" – complete with a cappuccino maker, stereo, VCR and a separate washroom for spitting. . It’s in the Ontario Hydro build at University Ave. and College St.

He describes his office, which is as white and bright as a smile, quite simply: "It’s 2,000 square feet with one chair."

Instead of dealing with filling and annual cleanings, his new practice is limited strictly to the business of smiles – and it isn’t all laughs either.

Like every dentist, Philips sees his share of patients who for years have covered their mouths when they laugh or smile because of teeth that are horribly crooked, terribly misshapen or brutally stained.

In fact, problem teeth have held some of his patients back from going for a promotion, public speaking or just meeting new people because of the fear of rejection or ridicule.

"One CEO (chief executive officer) came in to get some work done because whenever he smiled, he looked mean and nasty and it was really affecting his image at work – but he was actually the nicest man," said Philips, whose clientele is mostly professionals and people in the entertainment industry.

The CEO acquired a softer smile after just a few visits to Philips’s office, where his sharp teeth were filed down and covered up with a natural-looking white porcelain veneer, which is fused on to existing teeth to improve both colour and shape.

Even entertainment mogul Mark Breslin, founder of the Yuk Yuk’s comedy chain, used to smile with his mouth closed because of teeth he described as chipped, thin, uneven and badly discoloured.

But he finally faced his fear of the dentist’s chair over the last month to get the kind of grin that was worth opening wide for.

"Of all people, I should be able to smile," he said, adding he was prompted to get his teeth fixed after repeated jabs from friends and fans about how bad they looked.

He found a lot has changed since he was a kid getting fillings at his family dentist, which he recalled as "pure torture."

While he said that the five lengthy visits to the dental surgeon weren’t exactly the most fun he’s ever had, he’s thrilled with the results.

"I’m very, very happy I got it done," he said. Satisfaction did cost him, though; he paid $10,000 to cover his upper teeth with porcelain veneer and get laser whitening for the bottom.

"You can’t put a price tag on your appearance," he said. "It’s like spending money on fitness or buying really nice clothes. It’s really worth it."

The cost is certainly something to chew on. The average price range for smile improvement runs between $200 to $5,000, Philips estimates.

Some of the work – from braces and bridges to caps and crowns – may be partially covered by dental insurance plans if the improvement is deemed a necessity, either due to an accident or a defect in the tooth.

But for dentistry that is strictly cosmetic, such as bleaching and porcelain veneer, you’ll have to get out your chequebook.

The general rule, says Don Mills dentist Lily Lo, is that "anything that goes on your front teeth is cosmetic." Most dentists have monthly instalment plans but they vary from office to office. Some like to have at least half paid up front and stretch the rest out over several months while others will take equal payments over six months. If you need more time to pay, you can apply for special funding at your dentist’s office.

Toronto-based Global Facilities Inc. can provide an interest-free loan over 12 months. After the 12 months, a hefty annual interest rate of 27.9 per cent kicks in, which could replace some smiles with a frown.

The price tag of the myriad cosmetic procedures varies from dentist to dentist.

"It’s not like buying carpets. It’s not easy, from a business perspective, to shop around for prices or to get a second opinion from different dentists," Philips acknowledged.

The Ontario Dental Association has a recommended fee schedule dentists use as a guide to how much to charge for specific procedures.

However, individual dentists are free to charge whatever they want above – and even below – that.

Generally, braces for adults will cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000, which includes dental visits over the two- to three-year period. It costs about $500 more for white braces.

Individual crowns can cost $500 to $800 per tooth. Porcelain veneer costs about around $700 a tooth and the average time spent in the chair is about six hours.

For general staining and yellowing, most dentists recommend a home whitening kit which is typically used for about an hour a day over two weeks. The cost is usually about $250, but more intensive bleaching treatments at the dentist’s office could cost up to $800. For deeper staining and discolouration, you could visit a dental surgeon for laser whitening, which costs $800 to $1,200.

Lo, whose office is on Lawrence Ave. E. near the Don Valley Parkway, says she tries to give her patients something to smile about whenever she can through the wave of advancements in her field.

"People are becoming a lot more aware of their appearance, including their smile," she said, adding: "Who wouldn’t want to get something done to improve it.

"If you’re looking for a job, you want to have a good appearance – and bad teeth do not make a very good first impression," Lo said.

Lana Elalfi, one of her patients, is thrilled with the results she has been getting after just one week’s use of a home bleaching kit.

"I drink a lot of coffee and I used to brush and brush and there was never any change," she said.