Cosmetic Dentistry

We most commonly make veneers from a glass-ceramic called lithium disilicate. The benefits of this material include bio-compatibility, high strength and resistance to staining. Most importantly it is incredibly natural looking with a translucency akin to natural teeth.

It is worth noting that the process itself is typically irreversible because your dentist must usually remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the veneer (usually just a millimeter). That means that if you need to remove a veneer, you’ll have to replace it with a new one.

Maintaining your veneers helps increase longevity. Care for your new veneers the same way that you care for the rest of your teeth. Good oral hygiene is essential.

Over time any dental material can wear or chip, just like natural teeth.

Veneers can last 15 years or more if cared for. With routine dental hygiene and regular visits to your dentist, veneers can last for many years without breakages or discolouration.

Getting the most out of your veneers and your beautiful sparkling smile comes down to making sure you treat them well. Here are some easy ways to care for your veneers:

1. Avoid Grinding: If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth we recommend a bite guard to wear at nighttime to ensure you won’t damage your veneers.
2. Brush and Floss Regularly: This one’s easy—make sure you’re brushing and flossing or cleaning between your teeth regularly and checking in with your dentist if you experience any issues.
3. Wear a Sports Mouth Guard: If you play a sport, we strongly recommend wearing a mouth guard to avoid any potential chips or cracks.​
4. They are Teeth, not Tools: Never use your teeth, including those with veneers, to bite your nails, rip sellotape, to open packages or loosen knots, as doing so could damage your veneers. Remember – they’re teeth, not tools!

Where possible we prefer veneers to crowns for cosmetic improvements as we remove only a thin layer off the front of the tooth. This means there is very little risk of damaging the integrity of the tooth. With a crown there is more tooth reduction and risk if the tooth pulp (nerve) dying.

Composite bonding will usually last 5-6 years before it needs to be polished up or repaired in some way. As little to no tooth structure is removed with bonding, the underlying tooth structure remains undamaged. This makes future treatment possible and maximises the lifespan of your tooth.

When choosing a treatment it is always a balance between cost, lifespan and whether the tooth needs irreversible preparation. The main differences are:

In mild cases we can use dental bonding to straighten the teeth. In others, orthodontic treatment may be more suitable to firstly improve tooth alignment and how they bite. See: Clear Aligners. We often perform a little bonding after straightening to correct underlying imperfections due to tooth shape, wear and chips.

For simple cases the whole process can be done in one visit. Where detailed planning is required we would need up to three visits. The first for a digital mouth scan, photos and discussion of your requirements, the second to show you the proposed result and suitable treatments and the final one to carry out the composite bonding.

People whiten their teeth for many reasons. You can bring back some of that youthful appearance with a whiter, brighter smile. Do you have a wedding or important day coming up? A whiter smile can help brighten up special occasions. Some people whiten their teeth before a job interview to get that extra boost of confidence that comes with making a great first impression.

According to a recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, “close to one in two (48%) people believe that a smile is the most memorable feature after first meeting someone—more so than the first thing a person says (25%).” That same survey also found that “more than a third of respondents view people with a flawed smile to be less attractive (37%) and less confident (25%) than those with perfect teeth.”

Smiles make a lasting impression and a bright, white, beautiful smile won’t be forgotten.

Teeth whitening is a safe, comfortable way to get a bright, white smile. Results and treatment time may vary depending on the level of staining and whiteness desired. Crowns, bridges, fillings, and veneers will not whiten. Those with gum disease, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots may not be good candidates for whitening their teeth.

We recommend visiting your dentist for a pre-whitening consultation so that they can help you choose the professional option that best fits your needs.

Please note that you shall not whiten your teeth while pregnant, breast feeding or undergoing fertility treatment and that whitening is not allowed under the age of 18 years.

Tooth sensitivity is a relatively common side effect of teeth whitening. No harm is caused to your tooth as a result of a whitening treatment, and this discomfort is not an indication of damage to your tooth. If sensitivity occurs, it is most often temporary and will go away when you’ve completed the whitening process.

If you do experience tooth sensitivity, there are ways to treat it using desensitising toothpastes and we can provide gels to go in your whitening trays which soothe the teeth.

Lots of other in-office whitening treatments use an LED light or a laser during the whitening process. Maybe you’ve even seen adverts on social media and online where they use a light to whiten teeth. Are these lights and lasers really effective, though?

Current research shows that only hydrogen peroxide (the whitening agent used in our day gel) or carbamine peroxide (the whitening agent used in our overnight gel) are effective in whitening teeth. Light activation adds no additional benefit. In fact, some research shows that using a light for whitening can be harmful to lips and gums.

Everyone responds differently to whitening treatments and everyone will whiten at different rates. Some stains are easier to treat than others. Teeth that are yellow or brown are easier to whiten than teeth that are greyish. Younger patients typically whiten more quickly than older patients, but every patient is different.

When whitening, keep in mind that your smile looks most natural when the colour of your teeth matches the whites of your eyes. Some people want a Hollywood white smile, but that is not a natural colour for teeth and few people can actually reach that colour of white.

The usual treatment time is 1 to 2 weeks and longer with more challenging cases.

Teeth whitening results are very stable, leaving you with a stunning smile long after your teeth whitening treatment is over. However, there are a few factors that can make teeth lose their lustre. Things like genetics, diet, age, some medications (like tetracycline), and certain habits (like smoking) may affect the length of your whitening results. Fortunately, touch-up treatments are quick and easy, helping you get that bright, white smile back.

Results of research at the University of North Carolina found 92% of patients in the study had significantly lighter teeth after tooth whitening. This colour was maintained for 2 to 3 years with no further treatment.

To correct misaligned teeth a growing number of patients and dentists prefer clear aligners to traditional wires and brackets, due to advantages such as:

Compared to traditional wires & brackets, clear aligners are:

Aligners are most commonly used in cases needing alignment of teeth without tooth removal.
Routine aligner treatments include:

The following cases are examples of when an aligner treatment may require the use of additional techniques such as fixed appliances (wires and brackets) to achieve an ideal result:

You wear your aligners for 22 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can take them out for eating and toothbrushing.

Included in your treatment are retainers to keep your teeth straight. Retainers are essential in almost all cases to help prevent the teeth moving once the teeth are aligned.

There are two reasons for wearing retainers:

By wearing retainers long-term we can reduce these age changes in the position of the teeth. The longer you wear retainers, the longer you can keep your teeth straight.

Retainers are fitted at the end of aligner treatment. They can be either removable or fixed onto the teeth and we usually use both for complete peace of mind.

The removable retainer is similar in appearance to the clear aligner and is worn overnight. The fixed retainer is a wire bonded to the inside of the teeth so it doesn’t show. If you misplace your removable retainer this will prevent the teeth from moving.