Q Some of my teeth are discolored, and it is very embarrassing and makes me uncomfortable in social situations with my friends. How can I have attractive, matching-colored teeth like other people do?

A Two ways. One involves dental bonding, the application of a tooth-colored (composite) resin material that is light-activated and completed in one visit (with little tooth reduction and no anesthesia required). The alternative, the use of porcelain/ laminate veneers, can mask dark stains better with a more durable porcelain material than dental bonding. The very thin veneers of porcelain are bonded to your teeth, a procedure that takes two visits to the doctor’s office. The advantages of porcelain veneers are that they are stronger and less prone to staining than dental bonding.

Q There is a space between my two front teeth. Sometimes people have commented on the gap, so I cover my mouth when I smile. I’d really like to have a boyfriend, but my appearance makes it hard for me to be relaxed around guys I’m interested in. How can this gap between my front teeth be closed?

A There are several ways in which this can be corrected:
1. Dental bonding (one visit) will correct discoloration and shape of teeth.
2. Porcelain laminate/veneers (two visits) will correct discoloration and shape of teeth.
3. Orthodontics requires multiple visits and cannot correct color or shape of teeth.
Seek the advice of your dental health professional to choose the procedure that’s best for you.

Q Sometimes I see people with metal fillings that are silver or gold, and I would never want my teeth to appear unnatural that way. If I had a cavity and needed a filling, what type could I get that would keep all of my teeth my natural color?

A You can even give your teeth a “facelift” by having your old metal fillings replaced with “invisible” ones. Where silver (amalgam) and gold once were the only materials used for fillings in back teeth, today’s dental health professionals frequently use tooth-colored porcelain or composite materials for fillings that are strong and extremely wear-resistant. Be sure to ask your own clinician about the advisability of this process.

Q I have a smile that is crooked. It seemed cute when I was little, but now it really bothers me. Is there a way to make my teeth look straight so I have a nice smile?

A Although orthodontics is the ideal way for children and young adults to correct this condition, sometimes an alternative using restorative treatment with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or full crowns can make a pleasing result. For adults and anyone for whom orthodontics is impractical, dental bonding or porcelain veneers can achieve aesthetically correct results in two office visits or less.

Q After a fall when I was rollerblading, I had to have a crown placed on a broken front tooth, but it doesn’t match my other teeth and looks fake. Am I stuck with this crown, or can something be done for my tooth so that it matches and looks nice?

A You need to find a highly skilled aesthetic dentist near you if you’re not happy with your existing crown. Properly done, a crown should match the color and contour of the adjacent teeth, and make your smile look just as natural as it did before the accident that caused your broken front tooth.

Dr. Anthony Vocaturo is the most celebrated cosmetic dentist in the New York and New Jersey areas and a world-renowned expert in his field. People who make a living with their appearance trust Dr. Vocaturo to create an award-winning, photogenic smile that complements their entire face. Dr. Vocaturo’s patient list includes beauty queens, actors, actresses, rock stars, models, and people affiliated with Fox television’s “The Swan.” He is the official dentist for numerous national and international modeling agencies, and the most sought after dentist for the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageant systems.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF vocaturo COSMETIC DENTISTRY