By now most people have heard about the hit show "Extreme Makeover." To quote ABC's web site: "Each new episode features participants in their "before" phase, then as they undergo their various procedures and, finally, when the end results are revealed to their families and friends. The transformations are accomplished through the skills of an "Extreme Team," consisting of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, eye surgeons and cosmetic dentists, along with a talented team of hair and makeup artists, stylists and personal trainers." The show captivates the viewing audience because the results achieved by the talented team of professionals are often amazing. The show is also a service to dentists and their patients because it demonstrates what can be realistically obtained with modern cosmetic dentistry.

People seek cosmetic dentistry for a variety of reasons. Some people simply want to look younger, and cosmetic dentistry is like a dental facelift that can quickly "reverse" the natural aging process of the teeth. Others, the majority, have had unattractive teeth their whole lives and have always felt self-conscious because of them. Modern dentistry offers a wide variety of treatment options for people seeking to enhance their smile. The most common cosmetic dental procedures are tooth whitening, tooth shaping, porcelain veneers, and the gum lift.

Tooth whitening involves the use of peroxide-based materials for in-office or at-home systems to whiten teeth. Before tooth whitening, the patient must get all cavities filled, and the gums must be healthy. Most in-office systems use 35% hydrogen peroxide gels coupled with a high intensity light to whiten the teeth. At-home systems use soft custom trays and 10 to 15% carbamine peroxide gels to oxidize stains.

Tooth shaping involves removing a small amount (generally 1 to 2 millimeters) of the enamel of the teeth. Tooth shaping can shorten long teeth, round off pointed teeth, and help create a pleasing smile that gently follows the contour of the lower lip.

Porcelain veneers can be used to improve a wide variety of cosmetic dental problems. They can whiten stained or discolored teeth, close gaps between teeth, "correct" a crooked smile without the need for braces, repair chips and imperfections, and create a more attractive or youthful looking smile. The procedure usually involves removing only a thin amount of the outermost layer of the tooth, called the enamel. The laboratory then carefully crafts the porcelain into veneers, and the dentist fastens them to the fronts of the teeth.

Gum-lifts (gingivectomy) involve the removal of gum to make the teeth appear longer, and the gum-line even. An uneven gum-line can make the teeth appear to have different lengths, which takes away from the appearance of an attractive smile.


Dentists often use combinations of these (and other) cosmetic dental techniques to achieve the best possible outcome for their patients. The best news of all is that you don't have to go to a dentist who is on Extreme Makeover for your cosmetic dentistry. Chances are, your family dentist or someone nearby can give you're your own dental makeover.