Cosmetic
Tooth whitening can be a highly effective, yet very simple way, of lightening the colour of teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. Many people like to whiten their teeth because it gives them a more youthful appearance: dark, discoloured teeth can be very unappealing. It often makes a tremendous difference to how your mouth looks – many patients feel it makes them look five to ten years younger.
It is also essential to consider tooth whitening whenever you are having a new crown, filling, veneer, denture or inlay. This is because teeth can be whitened but crowns, inlays, etc cannot. If you have new crowns and then later decide you’ d like whiter teeth you may need to have the crowns remade (at considerable expense) just to match your new tooth shade.
The degree of colour change varies from person to person. Teeth have natural colour variations – a bit like the natural variations in the shade of people’s skin or hair. If your teeth are naturally darker in colour, they won’t necessarily reach the brightest white shade. There is a limit to just how much you can whiten a tooth. Teeth that are naturally very white but have been stained by smoking, drinking red wine, tea, coffee, etc, are likely to whiten quite easily and to achieve a very bright white. Your dentist can give you a better idea of the likely shade change at your dental examination.
Before tooth whitening starts, your dentist will examine your teeth and mouth to make sure that everything is healthy. Provided there aren’t any problems that need to be addressed first, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth. The dentist sends these to a specialist dental laboratory, who make flexible dental trays with a tiny air gap to allow the whitening gel to spread evenly over your teeth. Your dentist will also record the shade of your teeth using a special calibrated guide so that he/she can measure how much the colour has changed when you are reviewed.
At the next appointment, your dentist will check that the trays are a good fit and will give you instruction in how to use them. The trays are usually worn at night while you are asleep. In the morning, you simply take them out and brush away the remaining gel. The tooth shade will gradually change and you continue to use the kit until the desired shade is achieved – your dentist will review your progress with you. It is quite common for people to experience some sensitivity for a few days during or after tooth whitening. Applying toothpaste for sensitive teeth or special desensitising agents can reduce this.
If a stain is very deep within the tooth then porcelain or composite veneers can be considered. Veneers are thin coverings of porcelain , which are bonded to the tooth with a special resin. They behave much like a false fingernail, which covers the front surface of the tooth. Because they have a glazed surface they feel very smooth and also tend to resist staining. Veneers are often chosen by celebrities to perfect their smile.
To replace lost front teeth we can offer all ceramic bridges for an optimal aesthetic result. If a tooth has been lost, crowns can be prepared on either side of the gap and a bridge manufactured by the laboratory. The bridge consists of two crowns with the replacement tooth attached to them and suspended in the gap. This is cemented into the mouth eliminating the need for a denture.
Other types of bridges such as sticky Adhesive bridges which are minimally invasive can also be a treatment option.
A perfect solution to single or multiple tooth loss, dental implants offer secure predictable results, giving patients complete confidence in their dental restorations. Whether you have lost teeth due to disease or accident, dental implants or an implant borne denture could provide the answer.
Dental implants offer a number of advantages over other treatments. Unlike traditional bridgework, dental implants do not require adjacent, often healthy teeth, to be “ground down”, thus preserving as many of your natural teeth as possible. In addition, implants also have a positive effect on the jaw bone, helping to maintain its natural shape and fighting gum loss so often apparent in the wearers of traditional dentures.
Crowns are used to restore severely broken down teeth and aim to protect what is left of your actual tother structure. The tooth is trimmed down, an impression taken, and the laboratory manufactures a crown, which is subsequently cemented in place with a special adhesive. When it comes to the material of your crown, we offer a number of choices designed to provide function and durability including metal/ gold, or metal fused to porcelain or complete metal free aesthetic crowns for an enhanced cosmetic result as they provide the appearance of a natural tooth. Onlays/ Inlays are also used to protect your remaining tooth structure and are made in the laboratory. They offer partial coverage and do not cover the tooth completely
Well-made dentures will make you look good, allow you to eat almost all foods without embarrassment, and will restore the facial contour around the mouth. Dentures last for many years, but they and the mouth should be checked once a year. Dentures may need to be replaced after about five years. if you have an immediate denture following an extraction, then a replacement denture will be necessary much sooner. This is because the jawbone shrinks back quite rapidly following an extraction and the dentures may not be as tight or may appear to have gaps underneath. This replacement denture will incur further charges.
Invisalign is a virtually invisible orthodontic treatment for straightening teeth. It is a fully customised, series of clear aligners which gradually move your teeth into position. The aligners are comfortable to wear, and are removable which means you can eat and drink whatever you like during treatment. Brushing and flossing is no problem either so you can keep your gums healthy during the treatment. Each aligner is worn for 1-2 weeks and the treatment time can be anything form 4-24 months depending on the severity of the case. Invisalign can successfully treat a wide range of cases. Contact us to book your free consultation.
