Taking Charge Of Your Smile in 2020
Cosmetic dentistry at your Burton dentist – get ‘smile-ready’ for the new year ahead!
The term ‘20/20’ is often used to denote perfect vision. Whilst we can’t promise an absolutely perfect smile, we are confident that this 2020 could be the year when you manage to achieve your best possible smile with the help of your local cosmetic dental team!
With Christmas now well and truly behind us, many of us will be looking ahead to the rest of this year and may have decided to make some changes in our life too. The early part of the year is when we tend to see an increase in enquiries about our smile makeovers and we are always happy to help our patients decide on the best route forward for them.
The first steps
At Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, we believe that, above all else, good oral health is essential. This means that before you have any of our cosmetic treatments, you will need to have a thorough examination to make sure that your teeth and gums are in good general health.
There is little point in having beautiful white teeth if decay or gum disease is present. Any short term gains would be offset by the damage that would almost certainly follow. It may be necessary to do minor restorative work prior to your cosmetic treatment but this will stand you in good stead and allow you to get the most from your new smile.
What are the main options available?
Probably the most popular option that our Burton patients are likely to consider is a teeth whitening procedure. This has been popularised by TV personalities and sports people and is now a well established treatment. There are many reasons for its popularity including the fact that the results are almost instantaneous, but also that it is both non invasive and affordable.
Following the ‘all clear’ on your overall oral health, your popular Burton dentists will take impressions of your teeth. These are then used by a dental laboratory to produce the trays which carry the whitening agent. These trays are designed to be used by the patient at home and you should start to notice an improvement in the whiteness of your teeth approximately a week later. The maximum benefit should be seen after around two weeks and the procedure can be adjusted to suit your requirements. Some patients may want the maximum whiteness whilst others, a more subtle improvement. Whatever your wishes, we can help.
Dental veneers
Whilst we are discussing teeth whitening, it is worth mentioning that not all badly discoloured teeth can be fully restored using a teeth whitening procedure. Where teeth are heavily discoloured or have other ‘flaws’ such as a chipped edge, we may recommend that porcelain dental veneers are considered instead. These are attached to the teeth and, in most cases, will replace the damaged surface of the relevant teeth. This usually requires minor dental surgery but is a highly effective way of restoring badly affected teeth and generally last for around ten years before needing to be replaced.
Dental implants
That is all very well, you may say, but what if some of my teeth are missing?
The fact is that many people lose teeth, especially as they get older. This may be through no fault of their own but will have left them with a gap in their teeth. Some patients may have chosen to close this gap using dentures, and many are probably very happy with them. Dentures are certainly more natural looking and comfortable than dentures of old, and we have these available at our Burton practice. They are not for everybody though, and many people are now turning to dental implants to replace them as a first choice option.
The beauty of dental implants is that they offer a full tooth replacement, including the root. Most other options, such as dentures and bridges only replace the crown part and this contributes to reduced strength and stability. Although having dental implants placed does require a minor surgical procedure, it has an exceptionally high success rate, provided that the recipient follows the aftercare instructions that are given to them and can last for twenty plus years.
Implants can be used to replace individual missing teeth or multiple teeth. Even a full arch of teeth can be replaced using a procedure sometimes called ‘all on 4’. Whatever your situation, we are confident that dental implants will offer an excellent solution for most of our patients.
If you have looked at your teeth over the holidays, or at any time over the past few years, and have not been happy with what you see, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are now many cosmetic dental procedures that can be used to improve your smile, and many patients that have benefitted from them. If you are interested in joining them, your first step should be to arrange a no commitment initial consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists to discuss what you would like to achieve. We will examine your teeth and help you to put a treatment plan into place. With our help, 2020 could be the year that you finally have that fantastic smile you have always wanted!
To arrange your initial consultation, please call Mike Allen’s Dental Practice on 01283 845345.