A bright smile is an important part of being attractive.

Having a bright smile has been ranked as more important to men than a woman’s figure, new research has revealed.

A recent report by Oral B has revealed bad teeth can age a person up to 13 years and that 82 per cent of men feel having a gorgeous smile is more important than other characteristics about a prospective partner.

Therefore, now could be a good time for Brits – both male and female – to book a dental check-up and to make sure they are maintaining a good oral health regime.

Elsewhere, Dental Office Magazine recently reported a new iPhone app that enables the user to see what they would look like if they carried out a teeth whitening treatment has been launched by Apple.

Available at the iTunes App Store, the Whitening Simulator lets people get a sneak peek of the results of teeth whitening without ever stepping foot in a dentist’s office.

Free cosmetic dentistry trips being offered in Liverpool.

A cosmetic dentist in Liverpool is offering free lip treatments to patients in the run-up to Valentine’s Day.

Dr Tracey Bell, a member of the British Association of Cosmetic Dentists, told Dentistry.co.uk: “Us girls always want to look the best we possibly can – especially for our men on Valentine’s Day.”

For two hours on Friday (February 12th), Hanover Street Clinic in the city centre will be providing lip filler treatments to anyone who wants them.

Dr Bell noted the surgery hopes to “spread the love” this Valentine’s Day and this is just one way for Liverpool girls to ensure they look gorgeous.

Elsewhere, high street retailer Comet recently revealed sales of teeth whitening kits have gone up in the UK ahead of Valentine’s Day.

The firm noted there was a 200 per cent increase in sales for its take-home teeth whitening kits in January in comparison to the previous month.

A gap in the teeth could be a new style trend.

The Hollywood smile of rows of perfectly aligned pearly whites is being replaced by a trend for imperfect teeth, it has been claimed.

New York-based cosmetic dentist Dr Laura Torrado told Stylelist that people are tired of seeing celebrities with the perfect smile and therefore, a growing number of people are asking for cosmetic dentistry treatments to make their smiles stand out.

She commented: “We’ve overdone it with aesthetics. If your teeth are too white or too big, it looks unnatural so people are coming back in to make their smiles look more natural.”

Dr Torrado added Hollywood actress Anna Pacquin or model Lara Stone both typify the new front tooth gap look.

Elsewhere, figures compiled by Manor Dental Practice recently revealed that Brits are spending more on cosmetic dentistry treatments each year.

The figures showed the amount spent on dental implants alone has gone up by £100,000 during the last three years.

A London dentist is practicing Da Vinci Code dentistry.

Harley Street dental professional Dr Tariq Idris has claimed a sequence of numbers found in the Da Vinci Code hold the key to the perfect smile.

Dr Idris argued that measuring the ratio of teeth, smile and gumline the perfect smile can be created – and this is all encapsulated within the Da Vinci Code.

He claimed the code – also known as the divine proportion – is also used in architecture and creates images or structures that are “naturally pleasing to the eye”.

As part of his push to achieve the perfect smile for each of his patients, Dr Idris is now using laser technology to measure and putty to mould the prefect tooth for each person before fitting any veneers or carrying out cosmetic dentistry work.

Elsewhere, X Factor Judge and music mogul Simon Cowell recently dedicated an award to his dentist.

However, Edinburgh-based dentist Biju Krishnan noted mainly people do not wish to have quite the same level of dazzle as Cowell’s famous pearly whites.

Brits have considerably increased the amount they spend on treatments over the last few years.

Brits are spending more on cosmetic dentistry treatments than they have done in the last three years, new data has revealed.

Figures compiled by Manor Dental Practice revealed the amount Brits spend on fillings has grown on average by £50,000 per year since 2007.

“It’s quite common that in times of financial difficulty, one of the first things to go is visits to the dentist,” Dr Anjali Shahi, founder of the Manor practice, commented.

Dr Shahi postulated that this increase in spending could be due to the fact so many people have postponed appointments, meaning they had dental oral health problems which required more expensive solutions.

Elsewhere, Dental Plans recently reported the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists has estimated US citizens spend $2.75 billion (£1.68 billion) on cosmetic dentistry treatments every year.

The organisation noted teeth whitening, dental veneers and dental implants are three of the most popular treatments at present.

Brits advised on avoiding bad dentsists

Individuals have been advised on how to ensure they get the best dentist available to carry out treatments on them.

Big News reported people planning to sign up with a new dentist should take the time to do a little research beforehand.

The news resource noted getting hold of before and after shots of a dentist’s work can be a useful identifier in seeing whether they are good or not.

Furthermore, it advised selecting a dentist who has devoted themselves to further learning, as this means they will be constantly working on improving their skills and providing the patient with a better level of service.

Elsewhere, an Inverness-based dentist recently won a national award for achieving outstanding achievement within the field.

Andrew Young BDS received the T C White prize for outstanding achievement in the Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons’ examinations from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

More people will look to have cosmetic dentistry carried out this year.More Brits will be inclined to pay for cosmetic dentistry and surgery procedures in 2010, it has been claimed.

Paul Collins, editor at BuyAssociation, said less invasive procedures will likely gain in popularity over the coming 12 months, with new treatments also likely to be in demand.

He commented: “There’s always innovation – there’s always new techniques coming forwards and new techniques in recovery as well.”

Mr Collins added that with the economic situation as it is, many people feel they cannot afford to spend the same amount of money on cosmetic surgeries than they would have done in the past and this is something which the industry will have to tackle this year.

According to the Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the majority of cosmetic surgery is still carried out on women (91 per cent), while male surgery increased by over four per cent with 3,004 surgical procedures carried out last year.

Developments are constantly taking place in the world of cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry treatments are continually evolving to give patients improved results, faster healing times and a better overall experience, it has been claimed.

As a result, Stabroek News reported technological advancements mean the industry is continuously changing. Over the coming year, the publication has predicted there will be increasing demand for treatments such as dental veneers and dental implants, with the cost of these treatments set to come down during 2010.

Furthermore, it noted that teeth whitening is perhaps now the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure and this is likely to continue for the near future.

Elsewhere, the Consumer Guide to Dentistry recently published its predictions for what is likely to take place in the world of cosmetic dentistry over the coming 12 months.

It forecast an increase in competition in the invisible braces sector, with Invisalign coming under pressure from new competitors, while there will also be growth in the availability and variety of dental implants on offer, as well as the creation of less invasive procedures

The first thing Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi did when released from hospital was to visit his dentist.

The first thing Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi did after being released from hospital yesterday (December 17th) was to visit his private dentist, it has been revealed.

The PM spent four hours undergoing emergency dentistry treatment to fix two broken teeth. He was treated by his personal dentist, Dr Massimo Mazza, before returning to his palatial home in the Milanese suburb of Arcore.

Dr Mazza commented: “He was not very happy because he is an image-conscious man and to see yourself in the mirror with two broken teeth is not pleasant for someone like him.”

He added the PM will now embark on a period of rest after his ordeal.

Elsewhere, the boyfriend of pop superstar Kylie Minogue had to be rushed to an emergency dentist in Melbourne over the weekend with a mystery ailment.

He and Ms Minogue had been attended a 90th birthday party for her grandmother at the time of the emergency incident.

Exhibition debut for Florida dentist.

A dentist in Florida is set to put down his cosmetic dentistry equipment and showcase is art at an event the Artists Guild Gallery.

Cosmetic Dentistry Guide reported Dr M Johnson Hagood, who practices in Vero Beach, has been making art for the last ten years and will be taking part in the gallery’s Color-rich Impressions of Nature exhibition taking place this month.

He noted making art was a refreshing sideline, as it allowed him to use colours “other than white”.

Dr Hagood added his dream would be to have a dental surgery with a built-in gallery.

Elsewhere, New Jersey dentist Dr Nicolas Elian recently argued that technological advances could see robots taking over from human dentists in the future.

However, he noted the likelihood of this happening anytime soon was remote, as machines could not replicate the years of experience built up by dentists in dealing with patients.