Lyle details some of the most compelling scientific research which supports this belief. It is well known, for example, that the brain produces neurotransmitters which affect a person’s mood and energy level. Psychologist Robert Zajonc has postulated that when a person smiles deliberately, even when feeling blue, the brain releases neurotransmitters which can override the sadness. In essence, when people smile through their tears, the brain can be tricked into making them feel better.

Not only does smiling have a positive effect on the smiler but there’s good reason to believe that it also has a powerful influence on others. Paul Ekman, a researcher at the University of California, believes that one of the reasons people are attracted to those who smile is because smiles are infectious. Confronted by a smiling face, one smiles in response, resulting in all the positive effects on one’s autonomic system.

That is also one of the reasons why people who smile may be more successful in their careers. Many psychologists believe that people who smile tend to manage, teach and sell more effectively.

Dr. Denis Waitley, a motivational psychologist, points out in his book The Winner’s Edge, how crucial a smile can be to a person’s success in life, and to one’s abilitiy to connect with others when he says: "Winners display a simple, radiating charm. They project that warm glow that comes from the inside outwards. Most importantly, self-esteem is transmitted with a smile, which is the universal language that opens doors, melts defenses and saves a thousand words."

You may be thinking to yourself, I now know smiling is good for me but I just wish I had a nicer smile to show the world. The reality is that anyone can achieve a beautiful smile with today’s cosmetic and environmental dental techniques and solutions.

Cosmetic dentistry is not a new concept for oral beauty and has always been in the eye of the beholder. Ohaguro was the name of a tradition in old Japanese social strata for the method of staining teeth black. In Mayan culture, teeth "enhancements" included grooving and notching. Marco Polo wrote in his travels that Chinese men and women covered their teeth with thin plates of gold. Centuries later among the Kilao of southwest China, wedding day brides had two incisors broken out as a rite of beauty.

Cosmetic and environmental dentistry respects the autonomy of the client more than traditional dentistry. The patient, beyond the pain and urgency of an abscessed tooth, can calmly consider the elective procedures. Health conscious people are asking for safer dental alternatives and progressive dentists are responding by getting in step with personal and environmental concerns. Nontoxic dentistry is the dentistry of the 21St century.

If you’ve decided to pursue a new and improved smile the first step is to find a dentist you are comfortable with; one who will discuss available options including a questionnaire asking you to offer your opinions, priorities and needs. And, one who will show you before and after photos of patients who have undergone similar procedures, simulate your cosmetic changes with digital computerized equipment and give you an estimate, contract and explain all about the techniques and materials as well as their limitations.

Currently Smile Whitening has become one of the most sought after elective dental procedures for people in search of whiter brighter teeth. The consumer has two choices, either whiten at home in about a week or have your dentist perform a laser treatment in a couple of short office appointments.

Almost every will benefit from the At Home Tooth Whitening Program. It will lighten natural teeth that have been discoloured due to aging, consumption of coffee, tea, colas, smoking, trauma, tetracycline staining, excessive fluoride and nerve degeneration. It’s actually a process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentin. The program uses a mild solution retained in a custom-fitted appliance that fits over your teeth. As the active ingredient in the solution is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, dissolves, and removes the coloured substances. The structure of the tooth s not changed, only the tooth colour is made lighter. Results are often seen after the first. use, but normally to achieve desired results the trays are worn for three to four hours a day for about a week. The teeth will always stay lighter than they were, however most people find they like to repeat the whitening procedure for a couple of days every year to combat their lifestyle choices that contribute to the darkening of the enamel.

The process for this program is simple. A dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth and have a laboratory fabricate custom-fitted trays (similar to very thin sports guards). The trays and whitening kit are taken to the patient’s home. Inside the kit, there are carpules of gel that dispense into the trays which are placed over the teeth. The trays with solution are to be worn for about four to five hours each day for about a week. The patient can decide the most convenient time to wear them. And the trays can be worn overnight during sleep.

There are many at home tooth whitening programs available, so ensure you discuss your needs with a dentist experienced in home whitening. They will either stock or specially order the best product for you. Some of the most popular product names are Nite White, Opalescence, Rembrandt and Contrast PM. The active ingredient in these products is carbamide peroxide with a neutral pH. It has been used by dentists for over 50 years as an oral-antiseptic, for cavity prevention and as a tooth whitener. The side effects, if any, will be slightly sensitive teeth while using the product. This disappears within 48 hours after the treatment ends.

Glorified toothpastes and those "as seen on products just don’t work so don’t waste your money.

In Office Laser Whitening is the newest technology in smile whitening. The laser is simply a source of concentrated, light energy. A special whitening gel is placed on the teeth, and, when activated by the laser light, works quickly and gently to whiten the areas of stained enamel. Laser tooth whitening is effective on discolouration due to aging, consumption of coffee, tea, colas, smoking, trauma, tetracycline staining, excessive fluoride and nerve degeneration, similar to the At Home Whitening Program. The major difference is that the laser whitening produces immediate results. The procedure is usually performed in one or two 90 minute office visits.

These special lasers for tooth whitening have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and thousands of people have had their teeth whitened this way.

So what does your new, brighter whiter smile cost? The At Home Whitening Program ranges from $250 to $800, depending on the dental office and the products used. The In Office Laser Whitening fees can range from $800 to $1,500 for the complete treatment.

When inquiring about whitening services and fees you may want to ask the following questions:

Does your office take before and after 35 mm photos to compare the results?

Do you do a comparison, before and after whitening, using a dental shade guide to show how many shades your teeth actually lightened?

At the completion of treatment, if I have some stubborn stains that are still present, will you provide me with a higher concentrate gel to illuminate them? If so, is it complimentary?

Does the dentist perform the laser whitening?

Is my satisfaction guaranteed?

In today’s highly competitive world "a world in which one’s self image and the image one projects to others is so critical" more and more people of all ages are determined to present the best possible SMILE.

"I prefer tattoos and inlaid diamonds because they are flush against the tooth and are not usually problematic," explains Dr. Philips. The golden gems, on the other hand, are glued to the teeth; they sometimes slide and can lead to serious complications. "The charms may interfere with bite or collect debris and create cavities or gum problems," warns the doctor. He cautions that previous trends in mouth decor have had detrimental effects on tooth care-the frequent rattling of metal against the teeth knocked tongue piercing from hip to chip; the damage from this tooth temptation could last longer than the look.

According to Dr. Philips, tooth jewelry is just the beginning of smile style. The actual shape of teeth can also be changed to create a different look.

"Smiles can have a certain fashion-conscious look" says Dr. Philips. "We had one patient who wanted to have s smile like Julia Robert’s, and then about 2 years later she liked Madonna’s smile which is very different and has a bit of a space between her teeth, so we changed her and gave her a Madonna smile." Advances in cosmetic dentistry are creating more viable options than ever for tooth appeal, but consult your doctor about the consequences of jewelling procedures to ensure they are appropriate for you. Don’t let mouth into a fashion victim.

Panoramic radiography is invaluable for examining unerupted teeth in children and investigating suspected cysts or bone abnormalities in adults. But when detail is necessary, such as in detecting cavities or gingival problems, the conventional X ray is still necessary.

Fillings and flaws. Thanks to fluoridation and growing awareness of nutrition and oral hygiene, severe dental problems are decreasing. Observes Winnipeg dentist Ralph Crawford, editor of the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, "Today’s average 17-year-old may have only one filling in his mouth; a person his age a generation ago would have had a dozen."

Nevertheless, due to accident or inheritance, many of us have teeth that are discoloured, chipped, crooked or badly spaced. And a new emphasis in dental practice is being placed on repairing these flaws. "An attractive smile is a personal asset," says Toronto dentist Edward Philips. "We can now create that smile."

Resin bonding is a painless and inexpensive method of correcting minor problems in a single office visit. The dentist paints your tooth with a weak solution of phosphoric acid, which etches a network of tiny crevices on the enamel surface and on the underlying tissue, dentin. This provides an effective clinging surface for the pastelike bonding material that he then brushes on. The bonding material – a tough composite of resin, glass and plastic – is hardened on the tooth by exposing it to intense light for 20 to 30 seconds. The process of applying thin layers of the resin and then hardening them by light exposure is repeated until the tooth is built up to the desired shape and size. After the last coat, the dentist applies finishing touches and polishes the tooth. For more serious defects, a thin, porcelain laminate veneer can be bonded over the entire tooth.

If you are considering cosmetic work, a cosmetic imager can show you the potential results. In only a few minutes, Vancouver dentist Ken Neuman can produce an edited picture of his patient’s smile, simulating possible cosmetic changes – from reshaping the teeth to closing gaps between teeth. Armed with "before and after" views, the patient can decide whether to go ahead with the changes.

Fillings nowadays are commonly made of porcelain or a durable plastic composite. They require smaller holes than amalgam, the traditional silver-coloured material, because they’re cemented in with resin bonding, which also seals out bacteria. Dentists may still use amalgam in back teeth because it’s cheaper than porcelain and stronger than plastic.

Amalgam has several drawbacks. Because it is held in mechanically, the dentist has to drill a hole larger at the bottom than at the top, and the fit is never precise enough to seal the filling completely. As the amalgam suffers wear and tear, decay-causing bacteria seep in.

Implants and replants. Synthetic implants now provide an alternative to cumbersome bridgework or dentures, once the only means of replacing lost teeth. At the site of the missing tooth, the dentist freezes the gum and bone, drills a conical hole into the bone and fits into it a cylinder made of titanium, a material that resists erosion and co-exists happily with oral tissue. The gum is sewn up, and, within three to six months, the cylinder becomes so firmly embedded by the growth of fresh bone around it that, says one dentist, "it’s stronger than natural teeth."

At this point the gum is cut open over the cylinder, and a porcelain tooth is cemented into it. A complete upper or lower plate can similarly be anchored with three or four titanium cylinders. Follow-up studies indicate a success rate of 75 to 90 percent for the implants, which cost about $2000 per tooth.

When an otherwise sound tooth is knocked out as a result of accident or injury, in many cases it can be replanted if tended to promptly. The dentist seals off the small hole at the end of the tooth where the nerve emerged, fits the tooth into its original socket and, with resin bonding, joins it to the adjacent teeth for support. In four or five months, new bone grows around the base of the tooth, and it becomes firmly attached.

Pain reduction. Along with new methods and devices, your dentist also has access to drugs that can make almost any treatment painless while you are in his chair. Some are so powerful they can be administered only by dentists certified in anesthesia. For example, midazolam, a potent intravenous sedative used in cases where the patient prefers being asleep, puts the patient into a trancelike state in which he can respond to directions. Upon awakening he may not remember anything about the treatment.

For the many patients who request a general anesthetic during stressful procedures, propofol is one of several drugs of choice. Administered by injection at ten-minute intervals and in very small quantities, this drug will keep a patient asleep, allowing the dentist to complete in one appointment extensive treatment that would otherwise have required many appointments. When the drug is stopped, consciousness returns quickly, and the side effects are minimal. Its use requires that an additional trained person also be present to monitor the patient.

Bone and tissue treatment. An early-warning test for periodontal disease, the leading cause of adult tooth loss, has been devised by biochemist Jaro Sodek and periodontist Christopher A. G. McCulloch of the University of Toronto. The patient rinses his mouth, and the rinse water is then analyzed. An above-normal enzyme count indicates trouble in the tissues around the teeth.

Another new technique actually restores bone loss caused by periodontal disease, a condition previously thought irreparable. At the site of a bone deficiency, a small, gauze- like package made of filaments of human bone is sewn inside the gum. In time the implant fuses with the existing bone and enhances it. "It’s incredible," says Edward Philips. "In most cases we are now able to halt the advance of periodontal disease and lessen the chances of patients ever losing their teeth."

Indeed, so many dental problems are now preventable that today’s children can look forward to a lifetime with healthy teeth. And for those of us who grew up without the advantages of fluoride and flossing, thankfully the new dentistry is there to keep our teeth in better shape than we ever expected.