Cosmetic Dentistry
A beautiful smile is within the reach of us all. It promotes health,
confidence and wellbeing.
There are a number of ways of achieving this; with oral hygiene,
orthodontics, restorations and dentures all playing their part.
Old and unsightly fillings, chipped, cracked and discoloured teeth
can all be restored using the latest natural looking tooth-coloured
adhesive materials or porcelain veneers or crowns. The choice of
material depends on a number of factors but there is usually
something suitable for everyone.
White fillings
Restoring decayed or chipped teeth with a natural looking tooth-coloured
material which bonds to dentine and enamel is now often the material of
first choice. Amalgam fillings at the back of the mouth can still be
the preferred material but increasingly adhesive white fillings are
used at the back as well. Worries about the use of mercury in the mouth
often means patients ask for white fillings instead of the unaesthetic
amalgam fillings. White fillings, because of their adhesive properties
can be placed with less destruction of sound tooth material. Conserving
as much as possible of the original tooth is the most important factor
in the longevity of that tooth.
Veneers
Wafer-thin porcelain veneers can be bonded to teeth (much like false
finger nails) to cover unsightly stained teeth or mis-shapen teeth.
They then blend in with the rest of the dental arch. The appearance of
the upper front teeth can be radically transformed using several
veneers together. The adhesive is activated by shining an intense blue
light through the thin porcelain. Although the veneers look very
delicate, once bonded they are extremely strong. De-bonding of the
veneers occasionally occurs. When this happens the veneer is re-etched
and re-bonded to the tooth. Veneers are not suitable where the teeth
have been heavily filled previously, where excessive wear has taken
place or where there is a lack of back biting teeth.
Crowns
Porcelain crowns can be placed to create a realistic looking tooth
in good alignment where there has been severe enamel and dentine loss
due to decay, wear or where the tooth has been rotated. Unlike the
placement of veneers, where only minimal tooth preparation is required,
extensive tooth preparation is required for crowning. If the tooth has
been severely disabled and root treatmeant has taken place, the crown
may need to be placed on a post which is cemented into the root.
Dentures
A private alternative to NHS dentures is available using best quality
materials and more realistic tooth colouring.
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