The perfect impression

Smile! Organised by the British Dental Health Foundation, National Smile Week 2003 runs from Mon 12-Sun 18 May. This year the charity is focusing on oral health and beauty - including cosmetic dentistry. If your teeth are not as white as you'd like, too crooked or you have a missing or chipped tooth, there are many cosmetic dentists offering a broad spectrum of techniques to upgrade your smile.

But be warned: it can be expensive (tooth whitening, for example, starts around £400) and there is no recognised training pathway for cosmetic dentists - which means most are self-trained or have been on post-graduate courses. It's best to go on a personal recommendation or insist on an initial consultation (maybe even search out a second opinion/quote too) and always ask what post-graduate training they've had in cosmetic dentistry.

Check your dentist has at least a degree in dentistry and is registered to practice in Britain. The General Dental Council keeps a list of all qualified dentists. Go to www. gdcuk.org or check them out on the British Dental Association register www. bdafindadentist.org.uk. You can also use the enhanced search to find a cosmetic dentist in your area. Here are a few to get you started.

SW10 CAPITAL DENTAL Dr Sunny Luthra, founder of the Capital Dental chain, claims teeth discoloured by food, age or smoking can look up to 11 shades lighter with his in-surgery whitening process. Enjoy a foot massage from the in-house beauty therapist or watch your favourite film as the bleaching gel is applied and laser-activated. Luthra also offers a teeth-whitening party service - where you can invite a group of friends round to your home to have their smile brightened - and one-day veneers for chipped, discoloured and crooked teeth. 298 Fulham Road, SW10 (020-7349 8889). www.capitaldental.com.

EC4 LONDON CITY DENTAL A range of cosmetic treatments, including tooth whitening. You can opt for the at-home or in-surgery treatment. The first involves a small amount of a weak carbamide peroxide gel being placed in trays that are worn overnight for about eight nights. The insurgery method is a one-visit treatment using a much stronger gel. Also offers more advanced whitening treatments from the US including a dental laser. 123 Cannon Street, EC4 (020-7621 0600). www.cap600.com.

NW1 JOHN ROSE'S DENTAL PRACTICE At your initial consultation models of your teeth may be taken. The cosmetic treatments available include crowns, bridges, veneers, invisible fillings, bleaching, implants and dentures. 17 Park Road, NW1 (020-7723 8471). www.johnrosedentist.co.uk.

W1 DR EVANS' CAVENDISH SQUARE PRACTICE This friendly West End practice offers tooth whitening (within the surgery or a homebased kit), crowns - to repair decayed or damaged teeth - and veneers (a ceramic shell applied to the front of the teeth). It also provides a general dentistry service. 24 Harcourt House, 19 Cavendish Square, W1 (020-7580 1252). www.dentevans.com.

W1 COSMETIC DENTAL CARE Harley Street practice offers crowns for heavily filled front teeth or those that are root-canal filled and discoloured. Dental implants and bridgework for missing teeth, and cosmetic laminates. 121 Harley Street, W1 (020-7935 7902). www.farquharsondentallondon.co.uk

SE21 DULWICH ORTHODONTIC CENTRE Your first visit may involve a physical examination, x-rays, impression for study casts and/or photographs. Smile-enhancing appliances are removable, fixed or functional. The last is designed to modify the way the jaw grows. The procedures improves your appearance and smile and promotes effective chewing, digestion and speech, reduces the chance of chipping or breaking protruding front teeth, and reduces the stress on chewing-muscle and jaw joints. 82 Park Hall Road, SE21 (020-8265 9797). www.dulwichortho.co.uk.