Snap-On Smiles! Smile like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts

Snap-On Smiles: Safe?

Would you fight tooth and nail for that celebrity-perfect smile?

Americans spend $15 billion a year on cosmetic procedures, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. That's enough money to finance NASA's annual budget for one year ... or shelter 417 thousand homeless families in New York City.

And now, there is a new cosmetic dentistry procedure we can all sink our teeth into: The Snap-On Smile.

Snap-On Smiles are custom, removable molds that fit over existing teeth. And they create the image of a perfect smile. But, before you dash off to the dentist to get yourself a set, consider this: Your obsession with dental perfection could hurt your self-esteem.

Created by New York City cosmetic dentist Marc Liechtung, Snap-On Smiles are quick and painless in comparison to traditional cosmetic procedures (like dental bridges or crowns). Snap-Ons are removable, take about 10 minutes to insert and, at about $1,500 a row, are less expensive than dental veneers, which can cost nearly $1,000 per tooth.

Almost famous?

The road to a perfect smile is virtually painless.

First, a dentist makes a mold of the existing teeth. Then, that cast is sent to the Snap-On Smile company, which creates a mold to fit the shape and shade you desire.

The hottest Snap-Ons on the block belong to celebrities. And the top three belong to Jessica Simpson, Halle Barry and Britney Spears. Other available smiles include those of Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts.

It's different, it's innovative, but health professionals ask: Is America's obsession with celebrity-perfect teeth healthy? Yes, dentists say, as long as the cosmetic dentistry procedure helps boost - not create - a person's positive self-esteem.

"It's a healthy form of self-expression," says John M. Grohol, Psy.D., a member of myDNA's Medical Advisory Board (MAB).

"If, however, people are expecting such a treatment to turn their lives around, or give them self-esteem they never had, then it's likely to be detrimental. Nobody will see your smile if they don't notice your personality first," Grohol says.

Veneer of perfection.

So what happens after your gleaming smile fades? Snap-On Smiles are not permanent. They will break down after excessive use.

"People often seek psychoanalytic help when dental treatments begin to crack and perfectly toned bodies begin to lose shape," says Mark D. Smaller, Ph.D., a member of myDNA's MAB. "In such cases, the plastic surgery did not create the happiness they had longed for and imagined."

"Therapy allows people to finally put aside who they want to look like or be and welcome in who they genuinely are - and are for the long run of their lives in love and work," Smaller says.

Another reason to be wary of the Snap-On Smile: Some dentists recommend a more definitive treatment, like porcelain veneers or orthodontics, because of the potential danger to oral health.

"From a functional standpoint, it is hard to see how someone would be satisfied for long," says Kavin Kelp, D.D.S., a practicing dentist and co-chair of myDNA's Dental Channel.

"If one's teeth are not in the right position, no cover-up will appear natural. One would have to be concerned that someone would wear the Snap-On every waking hour. This could allow bacteria to accumulate under the Snap-On, causing decay or inflammation of the gums," he says.

It would be wise for consumers to explore all options with their dentists before proceeding with this cosmetic option," Kelp warns.