Cosmetic Treatment

Dentists who provide Cosmetic Treatments

Tooth Whitening

Beautiful, brilliant white teeth give you an appealing smile and a healthy and refined appearance. They reflect self-confidence and stand for success, youth and vitality.

But what if your teeth are stained or discoloured?
Several years ago, brightening one's smile meant costly crowns and veneers at the expense of healthy tooth substance. Thanks to progress in modern dentistry, teeth can now be bleached with gentle gels available through your Dentist. With a simple, non-intrusive procedure your Dentist offers an opportunity for you to transform your smile forever!

Why are teeth discoloured?
There are many causes of discolouration; ageing, disease, medication, root fillings and others. Additionally staining caused by beverages or tobacco consumption can discolour your teeth. Your Dentist will diagnose the reasons for the stains on your teeth prior to bleaching.

How does it work?
Unlike crowns and veneers, bleaching does not involve drilling or preparation of your teeth. The active ingredient carbamide peroxide, releases active oxygen into the tooth where it gently brightens discoloured pigments in the dentine and enamel of the tooth in a pain free process.

How long does it last?
The effect is generally stable for several years, although heavy smokers or beverage drinkers may experience darkening over a lesser period of time, requiring a topping up of the treatment after 6 to 12 months.

If you have any further queries, or you would like to have your teeth whitened, make an appointment now to see your Dentist and discuss the suitability of tooth whitening for you.

White Fillings

Your Dentist may refer to 'composite' or 'glass ionomer' when talking about white fillings, but these are just different types of white fillings. They are different to silver fillings, as they stick to the teeth, enabling them to be used to repair teeth that have been chipped, broken or decayed.

What does this treatment involve?

• Your Dentist will normally perform this treatment under a local anaesthetic in order to numb the area around the tooth.
  
• Any decay or old filling will then be removed, if necessary. 
  
• Your Dentist will then use an instrument that looks like a water pistol, which will blow water and then air onto the tooth. Once the tooth is thoroughly clean, your Dentist will put the filling material into or onto the tooth. 
  
• To harden the filling, your Dentist will point a bright light onto it, ensuring that your eyes are protected throughout the process. 
  
• For the final stage of the treatment, your Dentist will trim and polish the filling.

What are the benefits of white fillings?

• As white fillings come in a range of shades, your Dentist will be able to match the colour of your own teeth.
  
• White fillings can also be used to reshape and rebuild teeth that are broken or have been worn down, due to the sticky material that is used.
  
• A tooth that is going to have a white filling requires less preparation compared to a silver filling. However, white fillings are not as strong as silver fillings, which mean that they may not be suitable for large fillings in back teeth.

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Crown

What is a crown?
A crown is used to completely cover a weak tooth above the gum line, in order to protect it. They are made of either metal or porcelain, but in cases when the crown has to be made stronger, it will be made out of porcelain with metal inside.

What will this treatment involve?

• Your Dentist will normally perform this treatment under a local anaesthetic to numb the area around the tooth.
• Your Dentist will then shape the tooth to ensure that, with the crown, it will be the same size as a normal tooth.
• The preparation time will vary according to the extent to which the tooth is damaged and whether it needs to be built up with a filling before the crown is fitted.
• The tooth might have to be root-filled first. If there is a lot of tooth missing, the crown is sometimes held in place by a peg in the root canal.
• A Dentist will then take an exact 'impression' of the tooth that is to be crowned and the surrounding teeth, using a soft, mouldable material. An impression is used to ensure that the crown is the exact height and size required. Your Dentist may use a thin cord to hold the gum away from the tooth, to make sure that the impression is accurate round the edges.
• A temporary crown will be put over the tooth until the crown is made. This will either be made of plastic or metal. Although, you will be able to chew on a temporary crown, it will not be as strong as the finished crown.

Before the crown is glued into place, your Dentist will ask you to try it on first. This is to ensure that you can bite comfortably and to identify whether any small adjustments need to be made.

Fixed Bridges

What are fixed bridges?
A bridge is used to replace missing teeth by fixing the replacement to the natural teeth at each side of the gap. Bridges are made of metal and porcelain or sometimes just porcelain.

What does this treatment involve?

• Your Dentist will take an impression of your mouth, using a soft, mouldable material. A Dental Technician will then make exact plaster models of your upper and lower teeth and gums to illustrate how your teeth bite together.
• To ensure that the bridge is not too bulky, your Dentist will prepare the teeth which will support the bridge.
• Another impression is then taken of the teeth and any gaps, which the Dental Technician uses to make the bridge. In the meantime, a plastic temporary bridge or temporary crown may be fitted.
• At your final visit, your Dentist will check that the bridge fits correctly and make any minor adjustments, before fixing it permanently in place.

What are the benefits of fixed bridges?

• It can improve the way you look, it replaces missing teeth and can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth. It can also improve the way that you chew and speak.
• A bridge can last for many years, if you keep it clean and there is no accidental damage.
• A bridge can help to protect natural teeth from wear and tear. A bridge can also prevent your own teeth from moving or tilting out of line, which could cause your teeth to bite together incorrectly.

Before                                         After

Veneers

What is a veneer?
It is a thin layer of tooth-coloured material that is placed onto the front of the tooth. This treatment is used to improve the appearance of a tooth, which may have been discoloured or damaged by decay or an accident.

What does this treatment involve?

• Your Dentist may decide to use white filling material to build the veneer directly onto the tooth. For this approach, your Dentist will roughen the surface of the tooth with a mild acid and then apply the white filling in layers until the teeth look right.
  
• For a veneer made of porcelain, your Dentist will take an impression first. This will show how the teeth bite together and the shape and size of the veneer required. The Dental Technician will then make the veneer, which will be glued to the tooth on your next visit. 
  
• You will need very little tooth preparation for this treatment, although the Dentist will need to prevent the veneer from making the tooth feel bulky.

What are the benefits of veneers?
Veneers can improve your appearance, as they can hide imperfections, whilst maintaining most of your natural teeth. Teeth that have been treated with veneers can also be protected from further damage that can be caused by wear and tear.

Before                                          After

Before                                          After