The stars of the big and small screens, many leading high-octane lifestyles fueled by coffee, cigarettes and alcohol, can’t be expected to have naturally gorgeous smiles. They pay top dollar to the finest cosmetic dentists for professional tooth whitening; and considering a dazzling smile can make or break their career, the investment is typically well worth it.

But what about the rest of us regular folks? We rise early, sip lattes, and indulge in an occasional cigarette or cocktail, as well. Unfortunately, over the years, our teeth pay the price. But unlike the stars, many may not get away with deducting professional tooth whitening as a business expense.

So the demand for affordable tooth whitening for the average consumer sent the industry scrambling for solutions. The first attempt came in the form of over-the-counter tooth whitening pastes, gels, and strips. To this day, these products promise movie star whiteness but deliver B-film results at their very best. The true breakthrough for accessible tooth whitening doesn’t come from a box – it comes from technology.

The breakthrough technology is called Laser “Zoom” Bleaching and combines a topical bleaching gel along with a special light treatment that activates the whitening agent. This is the element that is missing in at-home whitening kits and provides a far more uniform and dramatic tooth whitening. San Diego’s Dr. Scott Meester and Dr. Mel Olafsen use Zoom whitening to get patients’ teeth up to 10 shades whiter in as little as an hour.

A properly trained and equipped San Diego cosmetic dentist can perform these procedures as quickly and easily as a routine checkup or cleaning. From fillings to fluoride, the field of dentistry is always evolving to better serve the masses.

Seeing all of the famous actresses with teeth whiter than humanly possible, makes you stop and wonder, what did they have to go through to get their teeth to look like that? It must have been an excruciating, torture filled, nail pulling experience…right? I mean a trip to the dentist, is a trip to the dentist, isn’t it? Well maybe for a very small percentage with extra sensitive teeth, but for most patient’s the answer is no.

If considering a tooth whitening procedure, be sure to let the cosmetic dentist know your concerns, and ask how many shades whiter you can expect your teeth to be, once the procedure is complete. This will give you realistic expectations, so even if you aren’t as attractive as Jessica Simpson or Halle Berry , you might be able to match them in one category: blindingly white teeth!