Teeth Whitening is one of the most common and sought after procedures. This process involves bleaching, a chemical process done to whiten teeth and get rid of staining. It can be done in a dentist's clinic or at home.

The Home Bleach takes 4 ½ - 9 days, depending on the extent of whitening required. Your dentist customises a tray according to your set of teeth. Put an application of gel in the tray and leave on for ½ hr - 1 hr daily.

This procedure costs Rs. 3,500 or more, depending on the amount of gel used.

The Power Bleach is a process in which the bleach is placed directly on your teeth. A light  that generates a small amount of heat is then directed on the tooth. This helps in bleaching your teeth. It is a one hour process with three sittings every twenty minutes.

The Zoom Bleach is the latest bleaching procedure wherein a whitening machine is used. A metal halide light is directed at your teeth. This is also a one hour process with 3 sittings every twenty minutes.

Bleaching lasts for a period of six months to three years depending on your habits. Smokers and regular tea drinkers need to go for frequent retouch sessions. Unless overdone, bleaching does not affect the teeth.

Bleaching is an easy way to have shiny teeth devoid of yellowness and stains. Bleaching costs between Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 12,000 - depending on the method used, the colour and condition of teeth.

The use of Composite and Porcelain tooth veneers is a popular procedure, which is preferred by quite a few film stars. It involves gluing on a thin coating of high strength plastic or ceramic on the tooth. Customised veneers are used depending on individual teeth. Those with severely chipped, discoloured or broken teeth go for veneers.

There are 21 shades of veneers available in different shades of white. They last for 5-10 years depending on the person's habits. While plastic veneers are priced at Rs. 2,000 -Rs. 3,000 per tooth, the ceramic ones are more expensive and are priced at Rs. 7,000 -Rs. 10,000 per tooth.

Veneers are strong, durable and difficult to stain. The procedure is done in just two 1½ hour appointments. Except follow-up visits to the dentist, no additional maintenance is required.

While veneers have no real disadvantages, a few people may take a little time to adjust to their size and shape. In rare cases, the tooth has to be removed which may be uncomfortable.