Cosmetic Dentistry, Fillings, Veneers, Bridges, Crowns, Dental Implants, Tooth Whitening, UK

Regular examinations mean problems can be spotted and corrected early before treatment becomes complicated. A thorough examination helps you and the dentist look after your mouth and prevent future problems. The dentist will explain the options and then you can decide together what will be best for you.

All forms of dental treatment rely on dental x-rays. Simply looking in your mouth cannot give the dentist as much information. There are three types of x-ray commonly used. A ‘bitewing’ x-ray is gripped between your teeth and shows the areas in between the teeth but not the roots. A ‘periapical’ x-ray is placed next to the tooth and shows the whole tooth and it’s root. A ‘panoral’ x-ray shows all of the jaw and teeth -the x-ray machine moves around your head while you stand still.

X-rays allow old treatment to be reviewed as well as new problems to be identified.

Regular scaling and polishing by a dentist helps keep your teeth and gums healthy by making it easier for you to keep your mouth clean at home. You should see and feel the difference. Gums which bleed when you brush are signalling early gum disease. Regular scaling helps to stop the disease progressing. If your own tooth cleaning is very thorough then your scale and polish will take less time.

We believe that everyone is entitled to make the best of their appearance, and to smile with confidence, so we offer a wide range of modern cosmetic techniques, some of which are described here.

With today’s wonderful new cosmetic materials from porcelain to glass and the latest ceramics, almost anything is possible. Your dentist first needs to discuss in detail with you exactly what you want to improve or change and then will plan carefully which treatment would provide the best and most lasting result for you.

Virtually any aspect of your teeth can be dealt with including:

The COLOUR of your teeth and fillings
The SHAPE of your teeth
The POSITION of your teeth

FILLINGS are used to remove decay or replace old restorations. White fillings are tooth coloured. They come in a range of shades so they can be matched to the colour of your own teeth. They can be used to reshape and rebuild broken edges or worn teeth. However, white fillings are not as strong as silver fillings, so they are not always suitable for large fillings in back teeth, and your dentist will advise you.

VENEERS are a thin layer of tooth-coloured material put onto the front of a tooth to make it look better. The tooth might have been damaged by decay or accident, or be discoloured. Veneers can greatly improve appearance. They hide imperfections and protect teeth from further damage.

BRIDGES replace missing teeth by fixing the replacement to the natural teeth at each side of the gap. A bridge can improve the way you look, bite, chew and speak. The teeth can be matched to the colour of your own teeth. A bridge can last for many years if there is no accidental damage.

CROWNS are used to completely cover a weakened tooth above the gum line. Crowns are made of metal, porcelain, or porcelain with metal inside for strength. Depending on the strength of the tooth underneath, a crown can last for many years if your oral hygiene is good and the crown is not accidentally damaged. Crowns can also improve the appearance of misshapen or discoloured teeth.

ROOT FILLINGS are used to remove damaged or dead nerves. The remaining tooth can then be repaired. Nerve damage can cause severe toothache but the pain will usually end very quickly when the root canal is cleaned out. Without a root filling a tooth with a dead nerve would probably have to be extracted. Root fillings are usually successful and can last many years.

DENTAL IMPLANTS are made of titanium and shaped like a screw. The implant is placed into the jaw and serves as a secure root for the new tooth. Once in place, the implant can be used to attach different types of dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges or dentures. Patients have been successfully treated with dental implants since the mid-sixties. Today there are people who have had their dental implants for over thirty years.

To lose our teeth is something many of us fear, but this does not have to be a permanent problem. Dental implants provide a safe and reliable method for replacing teeth, whether you have lost one, several or all of your teeth. The result looks and feels just like natural teeth and allows you to live, laugh and enjoy life with full confidence.

BRITESMILE TOOTH WHITENING is the safest and most effective way to lighten your teeth, with the procedure taking just over an hour. Virtually everyone wanting to brighten their teeth can benefit from the BriteSmile procedure including people with severe food, coffee, tobacco or tetracycline stains, as well as people with light coloured teeth who just want to improve their look. This is the system used by many famous celebrities for a Hollywood smile.

We are an approved BriteSmile Advanced Tooth Whitening Centre and have a portfolio of before and after photographs taken here in the practice. Ask to see them or visit the BriteSmile website www.britesmile.co.uk for further information.