Cosmetic Dental Treatments

Smile with Confidence.....

Cosmetic Dentistry is used to improve the appearance of your teeth and make them look more attractive. Over the years Cosmetic dentistry has increased in the number of people wanting a dazzling smile. The choice of treatments on offer are vast.

Laser Technique

A quick fix way to whiten teeth. Laser beams - or the more updated light emitting wavelengths - provide an intense light which activate a whitening agent made from carbamide peroxide or hydrogen paroxide pasted onto the enamel of the tooth. This chemical reaction lifts the stain out of the enamel, and is then washed away by the dentist. How long does it take?: About one-and-a-half hours. Needs topping up once every three to six months.

Tooth Extractions

A severely damaged tooth may need to be extracted. There are lots of reasons why you might need to have a tooth removed. For example, if you have: Severe tooth decay, Gum disease (periodontal disease), A broken tooth that can’t be repaired, An abscess on your gums or around your teeth, Crowded teeth, Wisdom teeth removal, Your dentist will usually remove a tooth in your dental surgery. But sometimes an oral surgeon will do the procedure in hospital if your extraction is more complicated. You can usually go home on the same day.

Veneers

This is a versatile technique used to correct crowding in the mouth, cover badly broken teeth, badly stained teeth, reshape teeth or to close up gaps. Veneers are used to increase the dimension of the tooth, thicken them, make them squarer or longer. Thin slices of porcelain called veneers are shaped and coloured to correspond to the existing teeth. The veneer are bonded onto the front surface of the tooth using a chemical bonding agent. A minimal amount of drilling is used to curve the contours of the veneers.

Orthodontics

A metal or tooth-coloured brace is fitted inside the whole of the mouth. Over time, the wires between each tooth push or pull the teeth to straighten them out. It takes up to one to three years, with follow up appointments every four to eight weeks. Results vary from case to case, but the patient is advised to wear a retainer, otherwise the teeth can start to drift back to their original position.

Crowns or Caps

Used to restore chipped or replace broken teeth. An impresion of the tooth is taken and the crown is typically made from metal or porcelain. The old tooth is then cut down a millimetre or so to make room for the crown. The crown is then cemented on to the tooth. A crown can be made of acrylic, metal, porcelain, or porcelain bonded to metal. All-porcelain crowns look more like your natural teeth, and therefore are usually used for front teeth, while porcelain bonded to metal is stronger and better for crowns in the back of the mouth. Sometimes all-metal crowns are used for back teeth because of the metal’s strength

Bridges

To bridge a gap where a tooth is missing, or to close a gap, a metal unit of three crowns is fashioned from porcelain. The bridge is then cemented to the teeth either side of the gap. These teeth are drilled down to attach the bridge either side of the gap. The middle crown is solid to mimic a tooth, the other two are hollow in order to fit over the teeth. A colour is chosen to blend in with existing teeth and the shade of the bridge. Removable Denture. A removable denture is a single appliance that replaces several lost teeth. The denture is held in place by clasping some of the remaining teeth — or by suction where none of the natural teeth are left.

Fillings & Repair

When you go for a dental exam, your dentist checks your fillings and may suggest that you replace any loose or broken ones. Your dentist also looks for signs of decay, such as brown or black spots and may want to use X-rays to take a closer look at problem spots. If you have a cavity, your dentist may keep an eye on it (if it's small) or fill it right away. If a large cavity is not filled, it can get bigger and cause pain. Made of a composite of resin and glass particles, they are cemented onto the existing tooth using a bonding agent.

Dental Implant

A dental implant is made by surgically inserting one or more small metal posts beneath the gum into the jawbone. In a few months, when the implants are fused to the surrounding bone, the artificial tooth or teeth are then attached and the missing tooth or teeth are restored.

Bonding

Bonding is a treatment that can be used to repair teeth that are decayed, chipped, fractured or discoloured or to reduce gaps between teeth. For this procedure, a dentist mixes composite resin (a type of plastic) into a paste, then tints the mixture to whiten or match the color of your teeth. Several layers of resin are applied to each tooth. Each layer is hardened under an ultraviolet light or laser. Final steps include shaping and polishing the resin material so the finished tooth looks natural and smooth. Bonding can also be used to build up older teeth to make them appear younger. Bonding is an option for people of all ages, including children, as the resin can be replaced as teeth grow.

Root Canal

Root canals treat diseases or absessed teeth. Once a tooth is injured, cracked or decayed, it is necessary to open the tooth and clean out the infected tissue in the centre. This space is then filled and the opening sealed. Keeping your tooth helps to prevent your other teeth from drifting out of line and causing jaw problems. Saving a natural tooth avoids having to replace it with an artificial tooth. Talk to your dentist about any concerns or questions you may have.

Teeth Whitening

A mould of the teeth is taken and a mouth guard made to exact specifications. The patient wears the mouth-guard filled with a whitening gel made from carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Laser beams, or a light emitting wavelengths, activates the gel pasted onto the enamel of the tooth. Two appointments, two weeks apart.

Home Kit - The patient is fitted with a tailor-made mouth guard. Instead of a laser, the patient wears the mouth-guard filled with whitening gel which is worn each night for around three weeks.

Mamuna Arshad Cosmetic Surgery, Medical Aesthetic & Weight-Loss Consultant