A smile

Smile a smile that shows who you are
Smile a smile that shows your inner beauty
Smile a smile that shows your personality
Smile a smile that shows love
Smile, because your smile shows everything... pleasant about you.
Elizabeth Tews

A recent survey by the British Dental Health Foundation revealed that 75% of adults in the UK don’t like smiling for a camera.  And yet a healthy smile is so important in defining who we are and how we interact with each other.  A smile spreads so readily amongst friends and modern cosmetic dentistry is aimed at enhancing one of nature’s most precious commodities – The Smile.

The start point for improving a smile is to ensure that the mouth free from oral disease; this means the teeth and gums must be cleaned thoroughly on a daily basis coupled with sessions with dental hygienists.  Modern lifestyles and diets with high levels of fruit juice and fizzy drinks can lead to erosion of the tooth surface.

Technological advances in cosmetic dentistry have made it possible for dentists to address a wide range of challenges.  A smile makeover improves the appearance of the smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental veneers, dental implants, and teeth whitening. 

A full mouth reconstruction may include treatment for functional problems with the bite, muscles, teeth, and bone structure as well as the use of additional cosmetic procedures. Full mouth reconstruction involves advanced restorative treatment designed to address severe wear of the teeth, pain, and other problems.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures currently in use include

Dental Fillings - Fillings can also be included in the category of cosmetic dentistry when porcelain and composite resin materials are used to provide a tooth-like appearance.

Bonding - The repair of chipped or broken teeth may be done via a procedure called bonding. A dental composite material that looks like enamel is applied to the surface of a tooth, where it is then sculpted into shape, contoured, and polished, making the crack or chip invisible.

Teeth Whitening - Teeth whitening is perhaps the most commonly recommended cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth are often stained from smoking, food, drink (coffee, tea, or red wine), or poor oral hygiene. Whitening the teeth can enhance the appearance of your smile.

Dental Veneers - A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain, or composite, made to fit over the front surface of the tooth to make it look straighter / longer / whiter (or all three).  The tooth needs to be reduced to the right shape so that the veneers will make all the teeth line up correctly once it is fitted.

Implants - A dental implant is basically a replacement for a natural root, usually it is screw or cylinder shaped.   Almost all dental implants in use today are made from titanium or titanium alloy, materials that have been shown over many years to be well tolerated by bone.   Implants can either be placed to support one single crown to replace a tooth or a series of implants can be placed that will support a denture. This means the denture is permanently fixed onto the implants so avoiding the embarrassment of poorly fitted dentures that impede talking, laughing and eating.

Patient Top Tips

• Cosmetic dentistry offers many options for people who are unhappy with their smile.
• See a dentist first to check teeth are healthy before starting any cosmetic dental procedures. 
• No whitening is permanent.  Maintenance is needed to keep that bright smile.
• All procedures require a careful assessment of the bite before any irreversible treatment is started.