Hollywood actor and star of the Twilight movies Robert Pattinson has admitted that a cosmetic dentistry procedure designed to improve his smile has been hell for him.

According to the actor, movie bosses urged him to undergo a procedure to fix his teeth before taking the role of vampire Edward Cullen in the 2008 movie.

During the procedure, dentists shaved small areas around his teeth to allow them to align properly, but unfortunately the treatment did not work as well as it should have.

Pattinson said: "Those gaps between my teeth have decayed and caused me so many problems. That’s the one thing I regret doing because I wasn’t thinking at the time."

Elsewhere, Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench recently underwent an emergency dentistry procedure after one of her crowns fell out while filming for the BBC’s Cranford.

Dame Judi had to rush to an emergency dentist in London, but was on such a tight schedule that she had to do so in full period costume.

A new emergency dentistry clinic has opened in Eastbourne, which could be good news for those in the area in need of these services.

The Bexhill Observer reported Eastbourne Railway Centre has welcomed a new addition in the form of the newly refurbished Eastbourne Dental Clinic.

Following a two-month refit costing £500,000, the emergency dentistry office is now open, serving patients seven days a week, from 08:00 to 20:00 GMT.

"We have revamped our facilities and the services we offer and we are aiming to further build our reputation for giving people excellent care and service," senior partner Dr Esmail Harunani told the newspaper.

Elsewhere, Judith Husband, dental surgeon at Bullingdon prison, Oxfordshire, recently told the Times that private dentists have more time to treat their patients as they have fewer constraints put upon them.

As a result, she noted they get to know patients better – and their mouths.

People who lack confidence because of the state of their smile have been urged to consider cosmetic dentistry to give them their sparkle back.

Wellington dentist Angela McKeefry claimed many procedures can be carried out quickly and the results can be life changing.

Treatments like teeth whitening and having dental veneers fitted were some of her most popular procedures and could really help people who are down about their smile.

One of Dr McKeefry’s patients, Jan Fiolitakis, said: "I feel like I have renewed self- esteem.

"I was just looking at old photographs of myself the other day and cringed. I had no idea it would make such a difference."

Elsewhere, cosmetic dentist Dr Marc Lowenberg recently argued people should not wish for perfect teeth, as often some of the most memorable smiles are those which have character and are not flawless.

However, teeth whitening and other simple procedures could be useful for those just looking to brighten up their smile, he noted.

Dentists attending a symposium hosted by the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics in Scottsdale, Arizona, have been told how they could help patients tackle a range of illnesses, not just those to do with the mouth.

The organisation claimed good oral health could help reduce the likelihood of an individual having heart attacks, strokes, problems with pregnancy, diabetes, kidney diseases, Alzheimer’s and many cancers.

Dr Rick Coker, board member at the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics, said: "Dentistry is not simply about filling cavities and creating new smiles – it is about saving lives."

Elsewhere, US dentist Dr Corey Snow recently noted having good oral health often signifies that a person will be more healthy overall.

He stated up to 400 different types of bacteria can thrive in the mouth and therefore it is important to brush regularly to keep these microbes in check.

Having clean teeth could help people prevent the development of mouth cancer, one dental healthcare professional has argued.

Kathy Fox, of NHS Leeds’ Special Care Dentistry Service, said more than 2,000 people die in the UK every year from oral cancer – that is one person every five hours.

Therefore, maintaining a good oral health routine is imperative in helping to bring these figures down, with regular check-ups also key to tackling the problem.

She advised: "Visit the dentist regularly, brush gums and teeth for two minutes twice a day, only eat sugary foods and drinks at mealtimes and examine your mouth for unusual changes."

Elsewhere, Canadian publication the Vancouver Sun recently argued that dentists could be the first line of defence against oral cancer.

The newspaper claimed as dental professionals are trained to pick up on minor changes in oral health, having frequent trips to the dentist could help patients tackle any issues early.

Children in Northern Ireland need a better standard of oral healthcare, according to Stormont health minister Michael McGimpsey.

Northern Irish newspaper the Belfast Telegraph reported the average five-year-old in the country now has 2.5 teeth affected by decay; this is compared to the average in England of just 1.5 teeth.

Furthermore, the publication revealed that every year, £60 million is spent on treating these oral health issues in under-fives.

"It is vitally important that we look at new approaches to tackling tooth decay as, unfortunately, young people in Northern Ireland have the worst oral health in the British Isles," Mr McGimpsey told the paper.

Elsewhere, two London-based dentists recently took a trip to India to help children in the Vadaj region improve their oral health.

According to Chai Samosa, Dr Jay and Dr Rupa Patel have each helped more than 130 kids with emergency dentistry treatments they would not have been able to afford otherwise.

People should have teeth whitening procedures carried out by a dental health professional, it has been argued.

Cosmetic Dentistry Guide reported teeth whitening kiosks are available across America for individuals looking to get a brighter smile on the go.

However, Dr Steven Spitz, who works as an implant specialist at SmileBoston Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, noted many of the individuals who work in these establishments are using treatments they have not be trained to do and are using chemicals which could be potentially hazardous.

Therefore, he advised anyone wishing to have their teeth whitened to visit a qualified dentist, who will give them a higher level of care.

Meanwhile, a "free" online teeth whitening offer has been revealed to be a scam.

An offer by Extreme White which promises to send free treatments to individuals via the internet actually charged £59.99 for postage. Therefore, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled the promotion was misleading.

It is important for children to begin a dental health regime at an early age, it has been claimed.

The American Academy of Family Physicians argued children should have their first check-up before they are one year old or within six months of their first tooth developing.

It also recommended caregivers should gently wipe the gums of babies after each feeding in order to make them used to the sensation of a clean mouth and to ensure bacteria do not have a chance to build up and cause problems in the future.

The academy noted that children should clean their teeth twice a day and "no matter how much fighting, it has to be done".

According to Child Dental Health Surveys, the number of young children developing cavities in the UK has increased dramatically in recent years.

Since 1998, the report claimed the number of four-year-olds having emergency dentistry treatment for cavities has grown, with the study claiming an increase in the number of sugary beverages consumed by children is to blame.

Britons looking for the best standard of oral healthcare have been advised to visit a private dentist.

Judith Husband, dental surgeon at Bullingdon prison, Oxfordshire, told the Times that whenever she has a problem with her teeth, she visits a private dentist as they are able to spend more time with patients than their NHS counterparts.

She told the publication: “I’m a nervous patient, so I always see the same dentist every six months and my hygienist every three months. They get to know you as a person, and your mouth.”

Malaysian newspaper the Star recently reported that people could cut down the expense of costly emergency dentistry procedures by scheduling regular appointments with an oral health professional.

The article noted that scaling and polishing is a faster and easier process when less stains are present on teeth and having regular check-ups will help ensure this is the case.

A New Jersey dentist has argued that in a few years robots could replace dentists when carrying out a range of procedures.

Dr Nicolas Elian stated however, that while technological advances could improve proficiency, robots will never fully replace people.

He argued that robots will not be able to take a patient’s feelings into account, as dentists have years of experience in patient care and are invaluable in this manner.

In addition, robots will be unable to have the same high standard of clinical judgement as people do.

Elsewhere, researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol and Bristol Dental School have built a robot to help in the testing of new materials for dentures.

The device can simulate the wear and tear that dentures would undergo over a number of years in the space of a few days. The researchers hope this new machine will speed up the development of denture technology.