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Cosmetic Treatments
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 What is cosmetic dentistry?
 Dentistry is no longer just a case of filling and extracting teeth, as it was for may years. Nowadays many people turn to cosmetic dentistry, or 'aesthetic dentistry', as a way of improving their appearance, much as they would use cosmetic surgery or even a new hair style. The treatments can be used to straighten, lighten, reshape and repair teeth. Cosmetic treatments include veneers, crowns, bridges and tooth-coloured fillings.
Before cosmetic dentistry After cosmetic dentistry
Can I have white fillings?
For over 150 years standard fillings have been made out of a silvery-grey material called 'amalgam'. This is considered one of the strongest and longest-lasting materials available for fillings. However, many people find it unattractive and some are concerned about possible health risks.
White fillings are now becoming a popular alternative to amalgam fillings. The new dental materials mean it is much easier to find a perfect match for the shade of a particular tooth. In most cases, it is quite impossible to see that the tooth even has a filling. Sometimes white filling material can be used to cover unsightly marks on teeth, in a similar way to veneers.
What is a veneer?
Veneers are thin slices of porcelain. These are precisely made to fit over the visible surface of front teeth, like a false fingernail over a nail.
Why might I have a veneer?
Veneers are an ideal way of treating discoloured or unsightly teeth, closing gaps between front teeth, or repairing chips and cracks.
Before veneers After veneers
How are veneers made?
A small amount of enamel is removed from the tooth, usually the same thickness as the veneer will be. An impression is taken by the dentist and sent to a dental technician for the veneer to be made in the laboratory. The veneer is then bonded to the tooth to form a strong and natural-looking repair.
Can implants be used to replace missing teeth?
'Implants' are an alternative to dentures or bridgework, but they are more expensive. Implants are titanium rods, which are surgically placed into the jawbone and act as anchors for fastening dentures or crowns onto.
A complete or partial denture can be attached to a number of implants
My tooth is badly broken - What can I do? - Crowns
When a tooth is badly broken or heavily filled, the dentist may need to crown or 'cap' it to restore its appearance and strength.
How does the dentist make a crown?
The usual procedure for fitting a crown involves shaping the tooth under local anaesthetic and then taking an impression using a rubber-like material. the impression is then sent to the laboratory along with the details of the shade to be used, and the technician makes the crown.
What happens to my teeth while the crown is being made?
While your crown is being made, the prepared tooth can be protected with a temporary crown. This is easily removed just before fitting the permanent one. In most cases, the temporary crown is in place for approximately two weeks.
Before crown replacement After crown replacement
What is a crown made of?
Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials, such as porcelain or porcelain bonded to gold. New materials are continually being introduced. It is a good idea to talk to your dentist about which crown would be best for you.
What is a bridge?
Bridges are ideal for people who don't like dentures or only have one or two teeth missing. Conventional bridges are made by crowning the teeth on either side of the gap and attaching a false tooth in the middle. They are fixed in the same way as crowns. These bridges are usually made of precious metal bonded porcelain. Sometimes other non-precious metals are used in the base for strength.
What if do not want my remaining teeth drilled?
Adhesive bridges are another way of bridging a gap, and less of the tooth needs removing. These bridges are made up of a false tooth with metal 'wings' on either side. These wings are made to bond to the teeth on either side, with very little drilling involved. Instead, the teeth are roughened and the bridge is fitted using a very strong composite resin.
Can I lighten the colour of my teeth?
Tooth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surfaces. It cannot make a complete colour change, but it should lighten the existing shade.
What does tooth whitening involve?
Professional bleaching is the most common form of tooth whitening. Your dentist will apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a gum-shield. The 'active ingredient' in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.
What other procedures are there?
There is now laser whitening or 'power whitening'. During this treatment a light or laser is shone on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the chemical reaction of the whitening product and the shade change can be achieved more quickly. Laser whitening can make teeth up to five or six shades lighter. This procedure usually take about one hour.
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