Treatments

Smile Makeover

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If you are unhappy with the way your smile looks, you may be considering cosmetic dental treatment to improve the look of your teeth. There are a wide range of cosmetic treatments available at our practice, with something to suit every patient's needs and budget. For patients who are interested in cosmetic dentistry but are not sure which treatment best suits their needs, we provide smile makeovers.

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Smile makeovers make use of the latest technology to assess your smile and work out which treatments will work best to give you the smile of your dreams.

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You may be looking for a quick brightness boost in preparation for a special occasion such as a wedding or important business meeting, in which case tooth whitening may give you the smile you've always wanted. Alternatively, if your teeth are gappy, crooked or cracked, we may recommend porcelain veneers, composite bonding or discreet orthodontic treatment.

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Once we've established what you want to achieve, we'll use photographs, x-rays and in some cases models to show you what we can do, and discuss the best treatments for your individual case.

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Here's how it works:

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1. You'll visit the practice and discuss with our experienced cosmetic dentist what makes you unhappy about your smile, and what you want to achieve.
    

2. Your dentist will take photographs and x-rays as necessary, and will scan them into the computer.
    

3. They will discuss the various options available to achieve the results you want, and will show you what to expect from various treatment options.
    

4. Once you've agreed on your treatment, we will then provide you with a detailed treatment plan. In some cases it is possible to start treatment straight away.

Veneers

A dental veneer is a layer of tooth-coloured material which is attached to and covers the surface of a tooth. They are usually made of porcelain or composite resin. Composite resin veneers can be built up directly on to the tooth, while porcelain veneers are made in the laboratory and are later glued (bonded) on to the tooth.

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To fit a veneer, the tooth will need a very small amount of enamel removed from its surface. This is usually completely pain free. A mould (impression) will be made of the tooth and the dentist will also record the colour that the new veneer will need to be in order to match the neighbouring teeth. This information will be sent to a dental laboratory who will make the veneer.

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Until the veneer has been made the tooth may be more sensitive to hot and cold. A temporary veneer is not usually necessary.

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At a later appointment the veneer will be bonded to the teeth.

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Veneers are used in a variety of situations:

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• When there is tooth discoloration that cannot be cleaned away.
   

• When there is an abnormal structure or texture, including chipping, fractures, or wear (erosion) of the tooth.
   

• To aid closure of spaces between the front teeth.
   

• To create the illusion of straight teeth with the desired colour and shape when the front teeth are slightly crowded.
   

• To camouflage front teeth that have multiple, shallow and unsightly fillings.
   

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There are no strong reasons against veneering a tooth. However, certain factors increase their risk of failure, such as grinding of teeth, excessively worn teeth, very large fillings, unfavourable bite (occlusion), vomiting associated with bulimia and chronic alcoholism and acid regurgitation as in hiatus hernia. They may also be unsuitable if the teeth are very discoloured.

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Veneers are best avoided in situations where the basic rules of dental hygiene are not observed.

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Compared with a crown (cap), less of the tooth needs to be drilled away. Veneers are relatively quick and simple, although they require as much planning and attention to detail as any other treatment.

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Potential Problems

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Sometimes the edge can become discoloured with time. Veneers can occasionally become unstuck, and if they are stuck back on again the rebonding will not be as durable as the initial bond. It may also be difficult to match the shade of the veneer to the adjacent teeth if only one front tooth is being veneered.

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During the first three days after fitting, while the glue is setting, it is advisable to keep to a soft diet and to avoid extremes of temperature. It is also wise to avoid alcohol and medicated mouthwashes during this initial stage.

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Habit patterns such as nail biting or pencil chewing should be avoided, as well as biting into hard food, to prevent fracture of the veneer. Use of a soft mouthguard at night and when involved in any form of contact sport is recommended.

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Routine oral hygiene procedures such as the use of a soft toothbrush and floss are a must. Electric toothbrushes may be used on veneers. If plaque removal from between the teeth is a problem, an interdental brush may be used. Use of a less abrasive toothpaste is recommended. The use of acidulated fluoride mouth rinses should be avoided as they might damage the surface finish of the veneers. Routine follow-up visits should be maintained with a dentist.

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​Although fractured veneers can be repaired, they are at best only a patchwork approach. Hence, the cosmetic outcome will be poor. If the fractured piece is preserved it could be stuck back or some composite resin material can be used to build up the defect. Although the best answer to the problem is to remake the veneer, the quality of the bond to the tooth achieved the second time around may not be as good as the first time.

Teeth Whitening

If you are self-conscious about the shade of your teeth or if you have staining on some of your teeth, professional teeth whitening treatment is a safe and recommended option for you to consider. Here is how teeth whitening works:

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• You will be assessed for the type of staining your teeth have.
   

• A custom tray is made to fit snugly over your teeth.
   

• The teeth whitening process is activated by a bleaching agent, which is inserted into the custom tray that transfers it onto your teeth.

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Home teeth whitening kits are also available to lighten the teeth more gradually. In this case, the trays with bleaching agent can be worn overnight. With all whitening treatment, individual results will vary and are dependant on your initial tooth colour and the nature of your tooth staining.

Invisalign

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What is the Invisalign System?

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The Invisalign System is a virtually invisible treatment that uses an innovative approach to gently yet effectively straighten your teeth.

Through a series of custom-made removable aligners made with unique SmartForce technology, the Invisalign system gradually and predictably moves your teeth to your desired position.

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How does the Invisalign System work?

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1. Initially, your Invisalign-trained doctor will take photos, X-rays, and digital scans or a dental impression to help create your treatment plan.
    

2. The maker of Invisalign clear aligners will then use these records, along with the treatment prescribed by your doctor to create a customised 3D treatment plan just for you. With the treatment plan, you’ll be able to see the final position your teeth are predicted to reach after treatment. This treatment plan is used to develop your customised aligners and also estimate the likely length of your treatment.
    

3. The customised aligners will be manufactured and shipped to your doctor’s office.
    

4. Your series of custom-made aligners will be given to you (typically 3-4 sets at a time) for you to wear every day and change them at home approximately every 2 weeks.
    

5. You’ll be visiting your Invisalign-trained doctor approximately every 6-8 weeks to monitor the progress of your treatment and receive the next series of aligners.
    

6. After you’ve finished your Invisalign aligner treatment, you may need to use retainers to help make sure the new position of your teeth is maintained.

Case study

Dental Implants

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Have you lost all or some of your natural teeth? Bridges, dentures and flexible dentures are not the only solution, thanks to advances in modern dentistry. Have you heard of dental implants? Implant dentistry offers a clinically proven and safe solution to getting a great smile back and being able to bite and chew with confidence. This is how they work:

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1. Dental implants are small metal screws that are placed in the jaw in place of a missing tooth.
    

2. Once established, crowns, bridges and dentures can be fixed onto the implants, creating a natural-looking and stable restoration.