Cosmetic Dentistry

Your smile is one of your main assets when connecting with people. Drinks like coffee, foods like chocolate and smoking can stain and darken teeth. Whitening your teeth is one of the easiest, cheapest and fastest things you can do to give your smile the wow factor you deserve!

Whitening options include:

• 1 hour in-chair whitening treatment

• Whitening at home

1. Consultation: We will sit with you to understand what you would like to change about your smile and explain what you can expect during the veneers procedure.
2. Impressions: To make sure your veneers fit flawlessly beside your gums and other teeth, we will take an impression of your mouth in advance.
3. Preparation: If your overall oral health needs work, that will be addressed before you get your veneers. Your teeth will also be meticulously cleaned before the procedure begins.
4. Placement: At this stage, we will remove a thin layer of enamel from the tooth, etch the surface, and apply a special, light-activated adhesive to help the veneer securely stay in place.
5. Refinement: Once each veneer is securely attached, we will clean up any areas that don’t look or feel right to you. After that is done, you will have your new veneers!

Dental bonding is a process in which a tooth-coloured resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which basically “bonds” the material to the tooth to recover or improve your smile.

For what conditions is bonding considered?

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered to:

• Repair cavities.

• Repair broken or chipped teeth.

• Change the colour of discoloured teeth.

• Close gaps between front teeth.

• Make teeth look longer.

• Protect the roots of teeth when gums retreat.

A dental bridge is a restorative method whereby an empty space, where a tooth once resided, is filled by attaching fixtures to the teeth on either side of it.  

In what cases do I need a dental bridge? 

Your appearance is one reason. Another is that the gap left by a missing tooth can mean a greater strain on the teeth at either side. A gap can also mean your ‘bite’ is affected, because the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth bite together.

This can then lead to food getting packed in-between adjacent teeth and the gap, which causes both decay and gum disease.

How are dental bridges maintained?

You need to clean your dental bridge every day, to prevent problems such as bad breath and gum disease. You also have to clean under the false tooth every day. Your dentist or hygienist will show you how to use super floss and brushes, as a normal toothbrush cannot reach. Dental Bridges have been shown to last for 10-15 years.

Are there different types of dental bridges? 

Yes, there are different types of bridge which use different fixing methods. Your dentist will choose the most effective and conservative bridge for your personal situation. The most common type of dental bridge is known as the fixed dental bridge. In this case 2 teeth on either side of the space are prepared to accept a bridge. A Maryland bridge or cantilever bridges are other variations of dental bridges.

Dental crowns are an ideal way to rebuild teeth which have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. A dental crown fits right over the remaining part of the tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape and contour of a natural tooth. Dental Crowns are sometimes also known as ‘Caps’. An ‘Anterior Crown’ is a term used to describe a crown fitted to the front eight teeth. Dental crowns can also be used to improve the appearance of damaged teeth or worn teeth.

Why would I need a dental crown? 

1. A natural tooth may have broken and restoring it with a filling is not possible.
2. To prevent a tooth breaking (which has been weakened by a large filling).
3. You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth. 
4. A tooth which has been root treated will need a crown to protect it.
5. You may have had an accident and damaged the tooth.It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

How long will the dental crown last? 

With good dental hygiene habits, dental crowns can last a very long time. The crown itself cannot decay, however, the border where the crown meets the natural tooth can experience decay if not cared for properly.