their next stop is the plastic surgeon's office," says MichaelApa, DDS, a cosmetic dentist in New York City, "and theyfind they can wait indefinitely." The trick is pinpointing theprocedures that will make the biggest difference. Here, ourbeginner's guide to improving your smile.

AGE CHANGE: SHORTER FRONT TEETHWHY Teeth wear down with use. "By the time you reach40, the two upper front center teeth are as much as two mil-limeters shorter than they were in your twenties;' Golub-Evans says.HOW IT AGES YOU "When you smile and reveal little or notop teeth, you can look toothless," Golub-Evans says. "Asyour teeth shorten, they can also cause your lips to sag in·ward, creating a thin, tight·looking smile-instead of thefuller, softer look you have when you're younger!'HOW TO FIX IT Your dentist can elongate the front teethslightly with bonding or, more dramatically, porcelainveneers. With bonding, tooth-colored material is appliedand hand-sculpted to the teeth by the dentist. Veneers are

Fewer than 10 percentof us have teeth in thesame positioD_inour __fifties as we did in ourtwenties. That includesthose of us who hadbraces as kidsJthin porcelain jackets that cover the front of teeth. Which-ever method they use, good dentists are adept at choosingcolors that will complement those of your natural teeth.Teeth aren't actually white; they're slightly yellow with atiny bit of blue just before the edge. "We're Llsingshades ofwhite that have some blue and even yellow in them," notesMarty Zase, DMD, a dentist with an emphasis on cosmeticdentistry, in Colchester, Connecticut. "Natural is alwaysmore flattering than matte, stark white, which not only looksartificial, it's like you're trying too hard to look younger."WHAT IT'S LIKE "Bonding was a no-brainer," says a 44-year-old therapist from Wilton, New Hampshire. "After an hourand a half, I walked out with younger, whiter teeth." Ve-neers require two, sometimes three appointments, and oneof them will be a bit grueling. "Your teeth have to be grounddown;' says Wendy Lewis, 48, a coauthor of America'sCosmetic Doctors and Dentists. "When I had mine done,it didn't hurt, but I was very aware of the temporaries, whichalso felt weird when I ran my tongue over them. Once thepermanents were in, the end result was beautiful."

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The Price of aYounger Smile+ BLEACHING Over-the-counter strips, about $40for a two weeks' supply;at-home whitening system,$200 to $500; in-officebleaching, $300 to $2,000+ BONDING $500 to $750per tooth; restorations lastthree to five years+ BRACES About $3,000to $6,000+ CROWNS $1,200 to$2,500 per tooth+ PORCELAIN FILLINGSAbout $850 to $1,600each; lasts 10 to 15 years+ PORCELAIN VENEERS$1,000 to $3,000 pertooth; lasts 15 to 20 years

CAVEATS If your dentist willbe treating just the two frontteeth, it's important to askabout how their colors willlook. "We can lighten what'salready there to make themblend or choose a naturalshade for the cosmetic work,"Zase says.

AGE CHANGE:WORN-DOWN TEETHWHY Wear and tear smoothsand flattens tooth edges andsurfaces.HOW IT AGES YOU The tinyrippl~s at the bottom of yourteeth, and the slight ridgeson their surface, give yourteeth dimension, charac-ter and youthfulness. \vhen

they wear down, "your teeth look square, boxy and unnatu-ral," says Ada S. Cooper, DDS, a dentist in private practice inNew York City.HOW TO FIX IT Most cosmetic dentists recommend veneers."Porcelain veneers are created from a mC?ldof your ownteeth," says Zase, "so you can get a lot of the detail back"WHAT IT'S LIKE Depending on how many of your teethyou want to correct, you'll sit through two and often threeappointments lasting an hour to two hours each. But you'llbe able to correct most aesthetic concerns: color, position,shape and texture.

AGE CHANGE: CROOKED TEETHWHY Over time, teeth begin to shift position and angle in-ward. "Fewer than 10 percent of us have teeth in the sameposition in our fifties as we did in our twenties," Golub-Evans says. "And that includes adults who had braces whenthey were younger."HOW IT AGES YOU As your teeth move inward, they provideless support to your cheeks and lips, creating a hollowed,gaunt appearance. "Crooked teeth can look more severe onan older face than on someone in their teens or even twen-ties;' Golub- Evans says.HOW TO FIX IT You have two choices: braces or veneers."Many patients who are not thrilled with the idea of veneersare opting for Invisalign braces," Golub-Evans says. "Theseclear acrylic molas gradually move your teeth back into posi-tion. They're noticeable only from within a few feet. One ofmy patients, who is in TV news, even wore them on the air."

If you vvant the additional perks of whitening and reshap-ing, you can realign your teeth with porcelain veneers. ~

You'll also be adding a little extra bulk to the teeth to supportfacial tissue. "When you fill out your teeth a bit with bondingand veneers, it may pull the smile back up, like a mini lift,"Golub-Evans says. (See "The Dental Mini Lift," right.)WHAT IT'S LIKE "I used the braces because other than thefact that my teeth were crooked, they were in very good con-dition," says a 43-year-old salon owner in Louisville, Ken-tucky. "Most people didn't notice the braces until they cameright up to me. It took about nine months to get all of myteeth where they belonged, but it was worth it."CAVEATS While Invisalign braces are a popular choice, keepin mind that they correct only position. "I have people finish

Strategic dental workcan soften folds andwrinkles and perk upsagging. You can erasefive to 10 years offyour face in a singleappointment.up braces and then realize that they also want bleach-in.g," Apa says. "And then they wonder if they really shouldhave had veneers in the first place. Just make sure you'vefully explored how your expectations will match up withthe results."

AGE CHANGE: YOUR DENTAL WORK DISCOLORSWHY "We think of them as being permanent, but mostcrowns, fillings and bridges last 10 to 15 years," Apa says."They darken and discolor over time, just like real enamel."HOW IT AGES YOU When you smile, you get a rainbow ef-fect; that multihued jumble of discolored crowns, darkenedfillings and your own teeth is an instant agel'.HOW TO FIX IT Replace and upgrade your old dental work."Because so many materials have improved during the past10 years, you'll be amazed at how much better these correc-tions can look," Golub-Evans notes. "You can opt for invis-ible porcelain fillings, more translucent crowns and maybe ableaching treatment to even everything out."WHAT IT'S LIKE "It took two visits to replace three crownsand myoId metal fillings," says a 48-year-old pharmaceuti-cal executive in Summit, New Jersey. "It looked as good asveneers because everything' was unifonn."CAVEATS Since your goal is undetectable dentistry, you maywant to whiten your own teeth first and then choose whiter,brighter dental restorations. If you don't choose to whiten,selecting toned-down shades for your replacement den-tistry will keep everything in the same color family. "Either

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Your skin looks tighter,your lips fuller, your smilewider-without a singleincision or a nanosecondof healing downtime:Say hello to the dentalmini lift. "No matter whatyour age, a good cosmeticdentist can help playdown certain features andenhance others just bystrategically shaping andcontouring your teeth,"says Anthony Vocaturo,DDS, a cosmetic dentistin private practice inBayonne, t'~ewJersey.

Basically, your dentistuses bonding material,crowns or veneers tobuild up some of theteeth along the sides ofyour mouth. The numberof teeth treated dependson your facial structureand the condition of yourteeth. (Often the bottomteeth don't need to bebuilt up. If you think ofhow a face "hollows," it'smore pronounced in theupper regions.)

"At our office. manypatients try this procedurebefore they considerplastic surgery," Golub-

Evans says. "Adding somebulk to the front surfacesof the top side teethwidens the smile, softensnasal labial lines and perksup the midsection of therace. Depending on howmuch we build up theouter corners, it can alsogive you a softening oflipstick lines and turn thecorners of the mouth up."

"My friends all thoughtI had done somethingsurgical," says one NewYorker in her fifties whounderwent the bondingprocedure. "I really feltas if I h_aderased five to10 years in an afternoon."And a woman from LongIsland. whose dentist usedveneers, reports: "I lookedlike I just had the nap ofmy life. Everything movedup a bit."

Have a clear idea of abudget when you walkinto the dentist's office.And if you find a doctorwho uses computerimaging, you'll be able tosee a realistic picture ofthe results you can achievewith the amount of moneyyou want to spend.

way," Cooper says, "you'll be amazed at how much betteryour smile looks when everything blends together."

AGE CHANGE: CHIPS AND CRACKSWHY Thinning enamel and years of wear can cause finecracks on the surface of your teeth.HOW IT AGES YOU Cracks trap food and beverage particlesthat can darken and stain teeth.HOW TO FIX IT Consider bonding, veneers or crowns.WHAT IT'S LIKE Applying a crown requires two visits: onefor making the mold and applying a temporary, and theother to apply the finished crown. You will most likely neednovocaine during at least one visit, because a relatively deepcrack can expose nerves.CAVEATS Crowns are the longest-lasting dental restoration-up to 20 years, as opposed to about seven years for bonding.Keep that in mind when doing the cost-benefit analysis ofthe t\;voprocedures. -?

AGE CHANGE: YELLOW OR DARK TEETHWHY Over the years, your teeth's protective enamel thins,becoming less white and more prone to stains. That meansthe yellowish internal part of the tooth, the dentin, begins toshow through the enamel. The pulp inside the tooth mayormay not shrink: if it does, it adds to the darkness.HOW IT AGES YOU "The combination of thinning enameland stains;' Zase explains, "makes your teeth look gray."HOW TO FIX IT Bleaching may be the answer. To testwhether it will work for you, hold a piece of printerpaper up to your teeth under incandescent light. If yourteeth are yellow compared with the paper, you shouldget good results from bleaching. "You can often get nineor 10 shades lighter with a custom-made tray for homeuse or an in-office bleaching appointment;' Golub-Evanssays. "But you can also get good results from over-the-counter strips. They're a milder version of the active in-gredient we're using in the office-around eight percent; asopposed to 15 or 20 percent-and they can often take yousix shades lighter."

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If your teeth look brown when you use the paper test, itmeans that both internal and external changes are respon-sible for the discoloration and your results from bleachingwon't be as dramatic. It may even turn your teeth slightlygray. And if your teeth look gray with the paper test, thechange is caused by internal trauma, and bleaching won't doa thing. You'll need veneers or bonding if you want to makeyour teeth look white again.WHAT IT'S LIKE In-office peroxide bleaching, with or with-out a laser (in the laser procedure, a light activates thebleaching chemicals), takes about an hour and is relativelypainless, unless you have sensitive or receding gums. "Inthat case, the doctor can protect sensitive areas with a gelmask or avoid treating those areas with peroxide-but youmay feel some stinging," Zase says. Bleaching can also makeyour teeth temporarily sensitive to temperature; this wil~resolve in a day or two after the whitening session. If youopt to use custom-made trays for at-home bleaching, you'llhave to sit through one appointment so the doctor cancreate molds, but then you can use the trays indefinitely."You wear them every night for an hour or more for twoweeks. Though some people don't have the patience and

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How to Choosea Cosmetic Dentist"There is no legal definitionof a cosmetic dentist,and too many dentists,seeing the promise of hugeprofits, are venturing intothe field without so muchas a single seminar on thesubject." warns MichaelApa, DDS, a cosmeticdentist in New YorkCity. Both the AmericanDental Association (ada.org) and the AmericanAcademy of CosmeticDentists (aacd.com) havestringent credentialsprograms and provide listsof local doctors on theirWeb sites. "You're lookingfor a dentist who doescosmetic work on a regularbasis, not someone whodoes veneers or bondingoccasionally," Zase says.Here, other key things toconsider.+ ASK TO SEE BEFORE ANDAFTER PHOTOGRAPHS ofa dentist's patients tomake sure you like theresults. Specifically askwhether the doctor tookthe photos and didn'tjust download them fromthe Internet. "If all thephotos are similar 8-by-10glossies, they may have

been purchased," Golub-Evans warns.+ ASK WHICH LAB THEDOCTOR USES for creatingveneers and crowns, andask to see several samples."The dentist can't createthe final product on hisown," Apa notes. "It's alsohis ceramicist, the one whomakes the restorations,who makes a difference."+ INQUIRE WHETHER THEDENTIST HAS PERFORMEDCOSMETIC RESTORATIONon anyone on the officestaff, so you can seethe results. Or ask ifany patients who hadprocedures similar to theones you're consideringwould be willing to talkwith you.+ When you go for yourconsultation, BRINGPHOTOS OF SMILES YOULIKE AND SMILES YOU DON'TWITH YOU. Ask the dentistfor his or her opinion. It'sall about collaboration."Everyone has differenttastes and cultural biases,"Golub-Evans notes. "Incosmetic dentistry, successfor the patient is as muchabout style as it is fit andcomfort."

others find it a bit uncomfortable, it works just as well as thein-office treatments," Golub-Evans says.CAVEATS Ask your doctor to show you on a color chart justhow light your teeth may get from bleaching. "Even though Igot a few shades lighter," Lewis says, "it wasn't as big a trans-formation as I'd envisioned for $1,500."

Laser bleaching is certainly more expensive, but is itnecessarily better? "As long as the dentist is experienced,you'll get similar results from any of the methods;' Golub-Evans says.

Resist overdoing it with home bleaching systems. "Peopletry to get better results by wearing the products for longer~han directed or by using them too frequently;' Zase says."Not only can that cause gum irritation and tooth sensitiv-ity, but overwhitening can also make the teeth look bluer ormore translucent, especially along the edges."M