The appearance of your front teeth has an enormous impact on your smile and confidence. If you are happy with your teeth you will smile more readily and have improved confidence in social situations. Or you might have an event coming up such as a wedding and want to smile for the camera!
If your front teeth are chipped, worn or slightly mismatched there are superb cosmetic options available.
This is a simple and minimally invasive procedure that uses tooth coloured dental materials (composite) to fix cracks, chips or gaps in teeth or to re-shape them. Treatment can be completed in just one visit and it is a more cost-effective treatment than veneers.The treatment starts with the removal of some surface enamel to allow the composite to be applied.
The composite is then applied delicately in layers so that a natural look is achieved and this is a real art. Once completed the composite filling will be indistinguishable from your natural tooth and with good care, can last for many years.
If you want your front teeth to look flawless, then porcelain veneers could be the right solution for you. Modern techniques ensure that a minimal amount of tooth is removed during the preparatory stage.
The process can take up to 3 weeks to complete. This is because it is vitally important to get the shape, colour and bite (occlusion) absolutely perfect with the help of the technician who makes the veneers. At the first visit, your dentist will take study models, impressions and photographs which will be sent to a specialist dental technician. You will then have an appointment with the technician who will discuss with you what you want in terms of shape and appearance and also do a shade guide to ensure the final veneers match with your existing teeth. The technician will then send a study model or mock-up of your final teeth to your dentist so your dentist can show you and if approved, prepare your teeth for the veneers.
At this appointment, your dentist will make temporary teeth which will be the shape of the final teeth. Most patients love their temporary teeth! When the final veneers are ready you will first see your dentist who will loosen the temporary teeth and send you to the technician who will ensure the final veneers fit, you are happy with them and make any adjustments to them. You will then take your final veneers to your dentist who will bond them to your teeth-this final stage takes some time to ensure perfect positioning and perfect bond without any bonding material being left behind. There is a considerable degree of art in all of these stages which is why we work with an expert dental technician.
If your teeth are unsuitable for veneers because they are too broken down or if you have had a dental implant, you will need a dental crown. The process is the same as for a veneer. A dental crown will look as good as a veneer but is more of the last option because a lot of healthy teeth has to be removed during the preparatory stage.
This has been explored in a previous blog but tooth whitening is always recommended prior to having any cosmetic work as you cannot white veneers, crowns or composites after they have been fitted. Your new teeth can then be made to match your newly whitened teeth. Veneers and crowns will not stain like natural teeth which are good but it does mean top-up whitening will occasionally be required so your natural teeth are always the same shade.
To find out more, why not book in for a free cosmetic assessment?
