Medical Reports: HEALTHCAST: Dentistry

WSVN -- In the magazines they look flawless -- perfect body, perfect skin -- all thanks to digital technology.

But if you want a white, straight, perfect smile, it can help you too.

Dr. Feldman: "Here, I'll show you how that works."

Dentist Steven Feldman developed a hot new piece of software that's letting patients get a glimpse of their dental procedures.

It's called XCPT.

The program converts X-rays and digital photos into computer-generated images.

It allows dentists to show patients what needs to be fixed, moved or replaced.

Dr. Feldman: "What I need to do is take this gum line and grab it and surgically move it up like that."

Gary Trombley suffers from severe tooth decay.

Seeing what he'll end up with before surgery gives him a sense of relief.

Gary Trombley: "I don't comprehend it as well unless I can see it and hear it, so it really helps that way."

Bob Dennison not only see's what's wrong on his X-rays ...

Dr. Feldman: "So, there is severe decay, decay, decay."

... a digital photo shows him what he'll look like with a brand new smile.

Dr. Feldman: "That's the difference. That's how you are going to look."

Bob Dennison: "That's amazing. A picture is worth a thousand words."

And Doug Mann is in a nine-month plan to fix his teeth.

The new software gives him the confidence to go through with it.

Doug Mann: "You know you have a problem. Now you see the problem. Now you understand what he has to do."

And with patient and doctor on the same page, in the end they'll both have a picture-perfect smile.