For years, the only way to have a straighter smile was suffering through years of braces and trips to the orthodontist. Now, by visiting a cosmetic dentist near you, you can have a bright, straight smile through the application of instant orthodontics.

Instant orthodontics are porcelain veneers that are applied to your teeth to correct many of the same problems traditional braces correct. "I use porcelain veneers to change the size, shape, color, and position of my patients' teeth," says Dr. Kodish, a cosmetic dentist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Porcelain veneers can correct:

Discolored Teeth
Gaps Between Teeth
Misshaped Teeth
Chipped Teeth
Cracked Teeth
Crooked Teeth
Worn Teeth

The first step to having instant orthodontics applied to your teeth is scheduling an initial consultation with a cosmetic dentist near you. The cosmetic dentist will discuss with you about the changes you want to make to your smile. They will also examine your teeth and determine what they believe could be accomplished through instant orthodontics.

If you choose to have instant orthodontics applied to your teeth, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and send it to a dental lab with specific instructions for what you want changed. The lab will create a wax model of what your teeth will look like with the instant orthodontics and send it back to the dentist. From there, you can approve the wax model or make any changes that you would like to have.

Once the wax model is approved, the cosmetic dentist will prepare your teeth. In order for the instant orthodontics to fit perfectly onto your teeth, the cosmetic dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the front surface of your teeth. Then, the cosmetic dentist will fit you with temporary veneers for you to wear while the dental lab creates your instant orthodontics.

After your instant orthodontics return from the dental lab, the cosmetic dentist will have you return to the office so that they can be applied to your teeth. The cosmetic dentist will then remove the temporary veneers and permanently bond your new, custom-made instant orthodontics.

The result is a smile that is exactly what you wanted. "Many of my patients have chosen instant orthodontics to correct an array of problems, from teeth that were a bit too crowded to teeth that had been chipped, cracked, and misshaped," says Dr. Kodish.

Instant orthodontics can provide you with a brand new smile without the years of having a mouth full of metal braces. In addition to correcting the smile itself, the instant orthodontics can be selected to give you a brighter, whiter smile as well.