E ver wonder how you would look with a perfect smile? Now you can find out -- before spending a penny. A cosmetic dentist can show you a computerized simulation of your smile with teeth repaired, realigned and/or whitened... and the real-life results are better than ever. Options...

Crowns. Severe decay or damage is repaired with a permanent covering that fits over the original tooth. In the past, a crown had a metal core for strength, but the metal created a visible dark line at the gum.

Now: The core can be made of tooth-colored zirconia or the entire crown can be made of porcelain -- so there’s no dark line.

Cost: $800 to $2,000.

Veneers. A thin shell of porcelain permanently fixes a chipped or broken tooth... reshapes a short or misshapen tooth... whitens a discolored tooth... and/or closes a gap between teeth.

Advancement: A computerized spectrophotometer shines a special light on your teeth... the reflected wavelength is translated into a color prescription used to create veneers that are an exact color match to your natural teeth.

Cost: $800 to $2,000 per tooth.

Less expensive: With bonding, a composite resin or plastic is applied to improve the shape and/or color of teeth. The process may need to be redone after five to 10 years, since bonding material can stain over time.

Cost: $300 to $1,200 per tooth.

Whitening. The dentist makes customized plastic trays that fit over your teeth. At home, you fill the trays with whitening gel and wear them for a few hours daily for several weeks, then occasionally as needed.

Cost: $200 to $800.

Faster: In a 90-minute procedure, the dentist applies a power-bleaching agent.

Cost: $300 to $1,000. (Teeth may be temporarily sensitive.)

Braces. These correct crowding, crookedness and bite. Instead of metal bands, orthodontists now use clear or tooth-colored ceramic brackets attached to the front of the teeth... lingual braces applied to the back of the teeth... or transparent removable aligners that use no brackets.

Cost: About $5,000.

Referrals: Contact the American Society for Dental Aesthetics (800-454-2732, www.asdatoday.com)... or the American Association of Orthodontists (800-787-2444, www.braces.org). At your consultation, ask to see before-and-after photos of the dentist’s patients. Insurance generally does not pay for whitening or veneers but may partially cover crowns and braces.