If that rings familiar to you, so may the rest of it, which goes, “You’re never fully dressed without a SMILE.”

So sang the passel of lovable orphans in the musical “Annie.” And it’s a tune that is being hummed by more and more dentists today.

“When you correct the smile, you see the face differently. It’s about beauty, it’s about self-esteem, it’s about feeling confident about yourself. Who has the right to tell you that you shouldn’t have those things?” said Dr. Ronald Goldstein, DDS, who is just the one to pose that question.

A prolific author — one of his several books, “Change Your Smile” (Quintessence Books) is in its third edition — and pioneer in the field of cosmetic dentistry, Goldstein is a champion for sparkling ivories. “Patients will say to me after we’ve done a procedure, ‘People think I’ve had a facelift.’ That’s the best.”

“It’s true. My friends all thought I had a facelift, but I didn’t,” laughed Sandra Cape in a soft, rolling accent reflective of her home in Atlanta, Ga. The 58-year old made the decision to have a series of procedures done five years ago by Goldstein, including adding porcelain laminates on her upper teeth, braces to help straighten others, replacement of crowns and tooth bleaching. While Cape always loved her smile — “I do have to say, I have always had a nice smile,”– there was one but: a darkened, discolored front tooth that bothered her for years.

“I have to admit I was very self-conscious about this. It just didn’t seem to go with the rest of my mouth,” she said. On a visit to Goldstein’s private practice — Goldstein, Garber, Salama & Gribble L.L.C in downtown Atlanta — the veteran dentist with 40-plus years experience used computer imaging to show Cape what she would look like with the changes.

“I don’t think of myself as a vain person. But when I saw the difference, well, it was like when you see a wonderful antique or piece of art that you absolutely love. You have to have it,” she recalled, adding the entire procedure cost her around $40,000.

Cape is just one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans moving toward extensive cosmetic dentistry to not only improve their looks, but enhance their oral hygiene and lengthen the life of their teeth.

“I don’t differentiate. All dentistry is cosmetic dentistry,” said Dr. Richard Price, consumer adviser for the American Dental Association (ADA) and president of the Newton Dental Associates in Newton, Mass. “Brushing your teeth, flossing, changing a filling, getting rid of a stain — is all cosmetic. Of course, the only one who thought a silver filling was beautiful was a dentist. But to me, it all enhances your teeth.”

While that may be true, Price is quick to point out that the options available now are so varied and sophisticated that virtually no one has to live with bad teeth, or a lousy smile.

“This is almost 100 percent true, because even if all is lost, we have implants. We can virtually replace dentures with gorgeous implants,” said Price, who has been practicing since the mid-1960s. “I am 59 years old and probably the first in my generation since Adam that has my own teeth. It is all too common for us to have parents who had full dentures. That is almost obsolete.”

Coupled with the changes in technology that have led to such things as resins, porcelain laminates and tooth-colored fillings to replace the old silver amalgams, there is evolving aesthetics of the art of dentistry.

“You are sculpting teeth, matching colors, designing bite. It takes skill and precision,” said Goldstein. And the public appreciates it. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 9 out of 10 people think that an attractive smile is a huge asset, two-thirds believe that an unattractive one hurts your chances at success, and almost 90 percent always remember someone with a great smile.

According to Rob Johnston, he is one of the unforgettable.

“I am not kidding when I tell you that for six months after I had all my work done, I did not encounter one person who didn’t comment on my teeth. That includes strangers,” said the gregarious 52-year old president of the Pinnacle Company, an Atlanta-based apartment management firm. “Now, nine years later, it’s what I’m known for.”

To get those pearly whites, Johnston had to endure two years of wearing braces — “I was the only one in the orthodontist’s office over 15″ — and had to give up something else. “This was instead of the Porsche I really wanted. He took my darn car.”

Goldstein also straightened his top teeth, and “basically enhanced every tooth in my mouth.” After years of feeling self conscious of his smile because of poor dental work, Johnston was eager to pay the cost, which turned out to be $45,000.

But the moral of the story is that Johnston still ended up with his Porsche, albeit several years later, and has a renewed sense of self-confidence.

“People want to be around happy people. A smile is the best way to manifest that. A smile eases people’s defenses, and just makes really good business sense,” he said.

While oral hygiene and tooth-longevity are some of the sensible reasons, proponents point to self-esteem as one of the most important.

“Absolutely. This is no joke. When someone leaves the chair in my office with tears in their eyes, it’s not because of pain,” added. Dr. Price.

Your teeth is the first thing individuals detect about you. Find info about the various forms of tooth bleaching techniques and methods that are affordable and how successful, effective to apply them.

Oral lesions and How To Treat Them

Taking care of your teeth is important whether or not you have a chronic condition. When you have an autoimmune disease such as lupus, it is vital that you take care of your mouth and teeth to guard against tooth decay, dry mouth, infections and loose teeth. Because lupus patients are susceptible to infections, it becomes even more important to brush and floss daily as well as visiting the dentist at least twice a year. Infections can cause serious setbacks and spread to other parts of the body. If not treated in a timely fashion, it could lead to a flare, hospitalization or even death. Even with proper brushing and flossing you can still experience some inflammation. Approximately 20-25% of Lupus patients with SLE experiences oral issues.

One of the most important things you should do is select a dentist that has experience with lupus patients. A better choice would be an oral pathologist if mouth involvement is severe. This is extremely important because many times lupus patients have to pre-medicate before a visit. Your dentist should examine your neck and head along with your mouth for inflammation or any other abnormalities. This is especially important if you wear glasses or have long hair because it is difficult for you to examine these areas yourself.

Selecting the right toothbrush is also important. Find one that is soft or extra soft, especially if you are prone to lupus lesions on your gums. You might also want to find one with a small or compact brush head so the toothbrush will fit easily in your mouth. This is also helpful if you have an arthritiic condition and have difficulty holding your toothbrush. If you have problems griping the brush, build it out with masking tape, a sponge curler or tubing.

Calcium depletion can cause bone loss which can wreck havoc on your teeth. If you don’t have enough calcium in your system your teeth become vulnerable and decay faster. Your teeth can also decalcify and turn portions of your teeth abnormally white, making color uneven. Calcium supplements can help guard against bone loss. A great way to test your calcium supplements efficiency is to drop a tablet into 6 ounces of white vinegar at room temperature. If the tablet does not dissolve in 30 minutes, chances are your body isn’t absorbing the calcium. Doctors suggest between 1600 and 1800 mg of calcium per day for people with calcium deficiencies. The problem is that your body can not aborsorb all of that in one sitting. The best thing to do is to get some of your calcium from foods or drinks. If that is difficult try breaking up calcium supplements into three increments.

Oral Inspections

Get to know yourself in and out and you will be able to sense when something isn’t quite right with your mouth and face. It is not uncommon to have ulcers of the mouth which usually start out as little red patches followed by bleeding and pain. As the ulceration heals it will leave a little impression. Inspect your mouth and lips regularly so that you have an idea of what “normal is”. If you see a something other than what you are used seeing then that could be the beginning of a lupus lesion. Inspect your face, look for lumps and swelling so that when changes occur you will notice them.

Lip lesions can be found with white plaque. This plaque is heavy, thick tissue and is fairly diagnostic. Other conditions such as syphilis, diptheria and yeast infections can produce this white plaque, the difference is with those conditions, the white plaque is wipeable. There is a very low accurance of malignancy with the lupus lesions

With the tongue you can get a bald tongue. Instead of bumps and ridges there will be a smooth soft area and it can lead to severe fissuring of the tongue. If food gets in the fissures, an ulceration can occur. Look for fissures and check the evenness on both sides. Look for small varicose veins. If you have liver or kidney problems you might see an increase of these veins. Do not overlook the sides of your mouth or the roof of your mouth.

You should also inspect your lymph nodes which are located on each side of the neck. The lymph nodes drain things from your neck and head. Touch both sides of this muscle by turning your head a little which will make the nodes stand out better. You shouldn’t feel any lumps or bumps and if you do, they should not be hard like a rock. If you feel pain that is okay because it means it is not malignant.

Tips

· Do not have any dental work done during a flare unless absolutely necessary.

· If you are on steroid therapy, take extra special care of your teeth and make sure to see a dentist at least twice a year, more often if you have mouth ulcers.

· If you have mouth ulcers, avoid toothpaste. Try baking soda instead.

· Because surgeries can cause a flare, dental surgery should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. This includes teeth extraction.

· Wearing dentures may irritate the sores and ulcers in the mouth. Do not wear adhesives and when using denture cleaners, rinse of thoroughly before inserting in mouth.

Tips for the Care of Teeth:  Teeth are essential parts of our bodies. Our teeth allow us to eat chewable foods. Conscientious oral hygiene is essential.

Following are some vital tips for dental care:

– Brush your teeth and floss after eating. Use an appropriate toothbrush as well as correct brushing and flossing methods.

– Always put milk on cereal. Eating sweetened cereal dry can be harmful to teeth.

– The risk of tooth decay is greater in those who drink coffee, with or without sugar.

– Breastfeeding for an extended period of time with short feedings offered every few minutes can also promote tooth decay.

– Eat a balanced diet of whole grains and cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat and proteins as well as healthy snacks.

– People should not eat sugary foods that stick to the teeth on very hot days when less saliva is available.

– Pay attention to bleeding gums or noticeable changes in your bite, and report them to your dentist.

– Talk to your dentist about options that can help improve the look of teeth that are chipped or discolored.

– Wear a mouth guard when playing sports.

– Make regular trips to see a dentist. Periodontal disease is common in adults and seniors. The dentist can remove plaque from teeth to reduce the amount of bacteria, which goes a long way to preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease.

– Avoid eating tougher foods, as they could break one of the teeth.

– Chewable Vitamin C tablets are acidic and can harm teeth. Avoid the use of lemon juice as a way of whitening teeth, as the Vitamin C will harm the calcium in the tooth enamel.

– Avoid the use of tobacco products, which can yellow teeth, and increase the risk of gingivitis and cancers of the jaws, throat and tongue.

– It’s important to give babies foods they can chew as soon as they get teeth. You will need to assist young children to get their teeth properly cleaned.