I would never get a breast job or have a tummy tuck or have my eyelids fixed as I got older. It was very important to me that I went into my 50s with my smile. She's not alone. Dentists warn that there are potential drawbacks, as with any emerging technology. But aging baby boomers with more disposable income than ever appear to be lining up in pursuit of the perfect smile.
Cosmetic dentistry is the hot thing right now.
Teeth whitening has increased by more than 300 percent over the past five years, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. As researchers hunker down in laboratories around the country to determine just how genetic engineering may be applied to dentistry, some dentists envision a day when human tooth enamel grown in a lab can be used to replace dentures, crowns and fillings. For now, though, emerging technologies are keeping dentists plenty busy. Since Mark Birnbach opened his Boulder practice 26 years ago, he's seen patient priorities shift from function to form. Where they once walked in the door with pleas to quell toothaches, they now want whiter teeth.