Spotlight Magazine
Smile With Confidence
Could cosmetic dentistry help?
Our smile is one of the first things that people
notice about us, so a mouth full of stained,
chipped or crooked teeth can really affect our
confidence. Cosmetic dentistry ranges from
small changes, such as crowning a chipped
tooth, to whole-mouth makeovers. Common
procedures include:
Bleaching
Teeth can be stained by smoking, some
medications and certain food and drink. Most
stains can be removed by regular scale and
polish appointments, but others are harder to
shift. Also, teeth naturally differ in colour, so
some people will have naturally whiter teeth
than others.
Bleaching is usually done over the course of
a few weeks, although laser bleaching can
give you noticeable results, in less time. The
bleaching product is painted onto your teeth,
and activated by the laser. Teeth can sometimes
feel a little more sensitive during treatment and
gums can be a bit sore, but results can be pretty
dramatic, with teeth up to six shades whiter. The
effect can last for up to three years.
Straightening
Teeth-straightening is a gradual process and
usually takes one to two years. The effect is
pretty permanent, although teeth may move
slightly as the years go by.
Replacing missing teeth
There are different ways to replace missing
teeth. The best choice usually depends on how
many teeth are missing, where the gap is, and
what condition your other teeth are in. You
could opt for a partial denture, which can be
removed. Alternatively, a bridge can be fixed
onto remaining teeth, or onto implants (artificial
roots).
Is it for you?
Only you can decide whether you want to have
work done and if so, how far to go. We’ve all seen
the ‘Hollywood smiles’ – those too white, too
straight, too perfect sets of teeth that just look a
bit false. Sometimes it’s the minor imperfections
that make us who we are. Would Claudia Schiffer
have been as distinctive if she’d had her teeth
‘fixed’?
For more information about cosmetic dentistry,
visit www.dentalhealth.org or call the dental
helpline on 01788 539780.
By Kate Duggan
Another common cosmetic procedure is
straightening or moving teeth
slightly. This is usually done with
orthodontic braces. If you have an
image of a spotty teen with metal
train tracks, you might be surprised
to find out that more and more
adults are getting them, and many of
today’s braces are a world away from
the unsightly ones of a few years ago.
‘Invisible braces’, for example, are clear
plastic moulds that fit over your teeth.
They’re not very noticeable and can
be taken out for eating and brushing.
They do need changing every few
weeks, to fit your changing bite, so
can work out more expensive than
traditional fixed braces.
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