The cosmetic dentistry industry has been growing dramatically in the past five years, he says. "Appearance is a big motivator," Morley explains. "The combination of appearance and health is very powerful."

Cosmetic dentistry is also big in Brazil and other parts of South America because people there are more receptive to an American take on things, Morley says.

Dropping the Dentures

In the professional world, where appearance is paramount, getting a tooth knocked out or even chipped can cause panic.

But the dental victims of bad genetics, parasailing accidents, old age or just carelessness don't have to resort to cumbersome and often embarrassing false teeth.

Based in Evanston, Ill., Daniel Marinic was the first general dentist in the country to be trained in the Nobel Biocare system of guided implant surgery. The procedure involves placing implants into the jaw of the patient with a minimally invasive technique, resulting in almost no post-operative pain or swelling, and it requires no more maintenance than real teeth.

But patients flock to Marinic from all over the globe primarily for his high-tech methods.

Marinic is the first dentist in the nation to utilize an advanced CT scanning system, which creates a three-dimensional image of the patient's jaw with less than one-tenth of the radiation of conventional medical scanners.

Imaging that would normally send patients to several locations is all conducted in his office.

"Without using a CT scan, the surgeon has to guess where the implants are," Marinic notes, because older imaging procedures only show the jaw in two dimensions. "This adversely affects the level of care."

Marinic's system soothes apprehensive patients with the unparalleled security and accuracy it provides.

The entire procedure, for a single tooth, can be around $5,000 -- but it could well worth it when faced with the denture stigma.

"Some of the most beautiful smiles in Hollywood have come through our doors," says Beverly Hills dentist Kevin Sands' Web site, which is adorned with photos of a dashing Sands next to Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Charlie Sheen.

Sands specializes in the ever-popular porcelain veneer, a thin, stain-resistant shell that is bonded to the tooth enamel and is a stronger alternative to whitening.

One of Sands' patients was so unhappy about his discolored, uneven teeth, he couldn't smile without covering them up with his hand. After veneers, he proclaimed, "I have so much more self-confidence that I can't stop smiling."

Besides benefiting from the hottest trends for a great smile, Sands' patients all get the VIP treatment which includes flat-screen TVs and a choice of DVDs, massage therapy and nitrous oxide for relaxation.

"Think of us as the Gucci of cosmetic dentistry -- the quality you get is of excellence," says Sands, who will appear on E!'s Dr. 90210 show this fall.

The Pampered Mouth

There need not be a face-off between you and the dentist door as you anticipate the mauve-colored waiting room and squirm at the thought of hot surgical lights.

Jenifer Back, owner of the Sarasota Center for Smile Design in Sarasota, Fla., offers a beautiful contradiction: luxury dentistry.

"This is a high-luxury area," says Back. "Patients are looking for accommodation the moment they walk in the door."

Back eliminated the concept of a waiting room. Each patient, who is greeted at the door, is seen individually and given undivided attention.

Lavish, luxe treatment is designed to make clients forget that they are actually at the dentist.

Limos take patients to and from their homes, they are given massages during any downtime, and a cell-phone concierge takes their calls and can make dinner reservations. In the chair, patients are provided with aromatherapy, a warm blanket, an iPod and medication for relaxation.

"Most clients are amazed that they [we have] this kind of service in the health profession," says Back.

Back sees a trend toward spa dentistry and has observed similar offices around the country.

Popular among Back' patients is the dental-zoom treatment ($700), which speeds up the whitening process -- normally two weeks -- to two hours.

Another popular procedure, the smile makeover, which involves veneering the teeth with porcelain, ranges from $15,000 to $50,000.

If you live in the U.S., take advantage of its dental infatuation. Americans may be a bit neurotic about teeth, but that obsession has wrought some stellar services that will leave them with the last smile.