Spotlight Magazines | Page 8

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 perman