Tooth Whitening

Lets face it, your smile says so much about who you are.  Smiles are a universal form of communication regardless of what language you speak or country you come from.  Your smile instantly communicates so much about how you feel about yourself, what kind of personality you have and how you feel about the company you are with.

Many people have low self esteem due to dissatisfaction with their smiles.  (more…)

In the past decade, there has been a remarkable upswing in interdisciplinary collaboration between dentists, orthodontists, and periodontists in smile enhancement, and now an entire field of “cosmetic periodontics” has evolved in collaboration with cosmetic dentistry. Contemporary orthodontic smile analysis is generally defined in terms of (1) vertical placement of the anterior teeth to the upper lip at rest and on smile (adequate incisor display but not too gummy), (2) transverse smile dimension (buccal corridors), (3) smile arc characteristics, and (4) the vertical relationship of gingival margins to each other. Through the interaction with these other disciplines and the knowledge gained, we have expanded our diagnosis of the smile to further refine the finishing of anterior esthetics for our patients.

As our interaction with cosmetic dentistry has increased, we have become very aware of what standards guide the dentist who strives for an excellent smile. Through cosmetic bonding and laminate veneers, the dentist can control tooth shape by adding or taking away from the tooth, crown, or laminate. As orthodontists, we have generally limited our tooth-reshaping efforts to incisal edge “dressing.” The purpose of this article is to examine some cosmetic ideas and present new ways in which we can improve the smiles of our patients. In Part 1, I will define and illustrate how these principles are applied to improve the cosmetics of orthodontic patients. In Part 2, my coauthor and I will review the new laser technology available for reshaping soft tissues, and, in Part 3, we will discuss the clinical use of those lasers. (more…)

Tooth Bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure whereby the cosmetic dentist applies a mouldable bonding material (that has been color matched) to the surface of your tooth in order to re-shape or hide any imperfections in your tooth.

Apart from the reshaping of teeth tooth bonding is sometimes used as a viable alternative to teeth whitening for those patients who are deemed unsuitable for bleaching such as pregnant mothers, people with dental crowns or veneers or those who have damage to their tooth enamel.

Tooth bonding is also used for repairing chips (more…)

Teeth become discolored for a number of reasons. A few normal reasons for teeth discoloration include staining, aging and chemical damage. Coffee, tea, soda and cigarettes are a few of the leading contributors to discolored teeth. Besides from staining, genetics and disease can also play a role in changing the color of one’s teeth. Everyone has different genes, and it is sometimes impossible to determine why someone’s teeth are discolored. We do however know that a teeth whitening procedure can always help restore one’s teeth back to their original, white color.

Many people want to know how white their teeth are going to get after undergoing a teeth whitening procedure. While this question has a very subjective answer, many procedures can whiten your teeth up to nine shades lighter. Two or three shades can usually make a very significant difference in just about anyone’s smile.

Bleaching of the teeth is a chemical process used to lighten the shade of one’s teeth. This procedure is usually performed at the dentist’s office and sometimes can be done in the comfort of one’s home, using the materials provided by their dentist. Before the procedure begins, a custom tray is sculpted to match the patient’s mouth. This ensures a correct amount of whitening solution is used and that it is spread evenly throughout all of the teeth. At home, this procedure can last for two to three hours in which you will have the tray and solution in your mouth. Depending on your desired results, sometimes the tray is required to sit overnight.

There are a lot of people who are discontented with their look in the world nowadays. Many people’s teeth may have been unpleasant for all of their lives; while others teeth may have grown unattractive due to aging. For many reasons, people have decided to look into cosmetic dentistry as the solution to their unattractive teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry could be considered a dental facelift. It aims to change a person’s appearance so they look better and feel more confident. Oftentimes dentists make use of a combination of braces and porcelain veneers to make teeth look and feel better. (more…)

Very few people are able to visit the clinics because of the high cost of cosmetic dentistry. Only a few others have constantly and regularly followed their clinic schedules for check-ups.

The costs of porcelain veneers are extremely high. They range from $975 per veneer to a high of $2200 per veneer. But this rate will depend on the country you are in; different countries have different charges. Some countries may be charging a lot, but this is an expensive service. Rates for cosmetic dentistry procedures are high, even in the early years. If you want to be a wise dental consumer, you must understand some of the basic information with regards to cosmetic dentistry and its fees.

A lot of people wonder why cosmetic dentistry fees are not declining at all. There has never been a time when dentist services were priced low. Porcelain is notably high —the cost of all-porcelain crowns is the same as for porcelain veneers.

The cost of white fillings used for (more…)

The look of your teeth and gums obviously affects the overall beauty of your face, but most people are not aware of the different ways in which dental problems make you look older.

As we age, our teeth age with us. Some of these effects, such as stains and receding gum lines, are fairly obvious. Dental problems can have further reaching effects on your appearance, which you may not even realize are associated with your teeth and jaws. The muscle tension in your face, the distance from your nose to your chin, your overall profile, and even your posture are affected by your dental health - especially when teeth are ground away from wear over time.

Misaligned bite and tooth grinding
An overbite creates a recessed chin, which can cause a “turkey neck” appearance and a jowly look. An overbite also makes your teeth difficult to see when you smile and it makes your lips look very thin. An under bite creates a protruding chin and a “bulldog” look. Both accentuate the natural effects of aging, making you look older than you really are.

Even if you do not have an overbite or under bite, a misaligned bite of any kind contributes to temporomandibular joint disease (TMD). TMD (or TMJ) places strain on neck, shoulder, and back muscles, and can cause debilitating pain and headaches. TMJ can cause very poor posture, making you look and feel hunched, old, and tired. Your jaw posture affects your overall posture. (more…)

Cosmetic dentistry marketing is an ongoing process where dentists educate and inform the patients using appropriate marketing material. Custom marketing material highlights the unique selling points and influences patients to come to you for treatment. Cosmetic dentistry must ideally find a marketing mix using different mediums available including prints, radio, TV or Internet and the marketing material and strategy must cater to the respective medium. Through TV commercials, your cosmetic dentistry marketing message will be exposed to thousands of potential patients. Cosmetic dentistry custom marketing material must take into account the exceptionality of each of the patients and send timely, relevant and modified messages to each of them. (more…)

Cosmetic dentists in the UK provide patients with the best possible care and the latest techniques available. They offer a high standard of dental care in a pleasant, relaxed, and understanding atmosphere.

In the UK, almost every general dentist offers cosmetic dentistry. There is no specialist register for cosmetic dentists. Compared with other medical specialists, dentists are not required to have any advanced education or training to practice cosmetic dentistry. (more…)

Cosmetic dentist prices depend on the amount and type of cosmetic work you need. If the dentist uses expensive materials and high-quality lab facilities, then it will be more expensive. The reasons for the great variation in costs among expert cosmetic dentists are level of skill and artistry and the time used in hard restorations. Many cosmetic dentists offer free consultations.

Cosmetic dentists include oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, orthodontists, and prosthetic dental laboratories. They provide many types of services such as porcelain veneers, revitalizing cosmetic dentistry, bridges, fresh breath treatment metal-free fillings, tooth whitening, crowns, and instant orthodontics. Some cosmetic dentists charge special prices for tooth whitening, exams, cleanings, and sports mouth guards. (more…)