Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening, also known as dental bleaching, is a common procedure in general dentistry but particularly in the field of cosmetic dentistry.
A child's deciduous teeth are generally whiter than the adult teeth that follow. As a person ages the adult teeth often become darker due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less porous. Teeth can become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs eg dark colored liquids like coffee, tea and red wine, and tobacco. Certain antibiotic medications (like tetracycline) taken during tooth development as a child can also cause teeth to be discoulured or cause a reduction in the brilliance of the enamel. Non-vital and root filled teeth may also appear grey over time.
There are several methods to whiten teeth - at our dental practice we use either the Zoom whitening (laser) bleaching performed in the surgery , or the 'at home ' method using custom made bleaching trays and bleaching gel over 2 weeks. Internal bleaching for non vital teeth may also be successful in certain cases.
A thorough dental check-up including X-rays is essential in order to eliminate the possibilty of dental caries, gingivitis , periodontal diease and to identify any sensitive teeth . In most cases you will need to have a scale and polish 1-2 weeks before the bleaching to remove tartare and superficial stains, and to give the gums a chance to heal if you have gingivitis.
Dental Veneers
A veneer is a thin layer of restorative material which is bonded over a tooth surface in order to improve the aesthetics of a tooth. It can be used to cover a defect or discolouration, or to change the contour, shape or size.
We offer smile makeovers using veneers and crowns working with both a top Swiss laboratory , so we are sure you will be delighted with the result.
Together, we offer snap on mock-ups of the planned changes, so that the patient can see what they will look like before they decide.
If you would like to meet us and see how we can help you improve your smile, please call us to make an appointment.