Today's high-tech dentistry can make almost any set of teeth brighter, straighter and better.

Instant orthodontics: There was no need to wear braces to set these crooked teeth straight. New York City cosmetic dentist Marc Lowenberg transformed this patient's teeth with porcelain veneers that build out her front and side teeth in two office visits.

Go ahead, we dare you—smile. If what you see in the mirror makes you self-conscious or less than comfortable, you may want to consider any of today's popular options for improving pearly whites. Sure, the traditional methods still exist (bonding, caps), but cosmetic dentists now promise—and deliver—radical change easily with such procedures as bleaching, porcelain veneers and laser gum resculpting. According to Ronald F. Goldstein, a cosmetic dentist in Atlanta, the field has grown into a multibillion dollar industry, with tooth wizards transforming the grins of everyone from Cindy Crawford to Matt Dillon. The only frown factor? The somethings exorbitant price tag. Even at the low end, a cosmetic procedure can be costly, and dental insurance isn't likely to cover it. But, hey, in the long run, at least you'll have something new to smile about.