Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular ways of transforming a smile. Veneers are outer facings that cover the tooth/teeth to repair issues such as chips, fractures, asymmetry, discolouration or protect old fillings. The transformation of a smile can be life changing. A smile is one of the first things that is evident on a person and this can radiance confidence and self-belief. The treatment for veneers is not a straightforward one and requires careful planning and execution to achieve an outstanding result. Our case of the month highlights the beauty of this treatment and the process that is involved.
 

At Progressive Dentistry in Fulham, we are huge advocates of minimally invasive dentistry and have been preaching this philosophy for many years. Early detection, prevention and intervention when needed, will have far better outcomes in the long term. In terms of dentistry, tooth decay is one of our most common diseases to treat. In the days of the past, teeth were heavily drilled with large cavities made so that amalgam (metal) fillings could be packed in. This would seem quite archaic now and thankfully, we have vastly superior solutions.
 

Invisalign, as you may have seen online or on social media, is the world's most popular clear aligner treatment for straightening teeth. Over 15 million people worldwide have now been treated with the system which just goes to show the universal appeal of Align, the company behind Invisalign. The treatment itself was released in 2000 after a few Stanford University students came up with the concept and today, Align has grown into a huge corporation that also owns i Tero scanners and Exocad digital planning software.
 

Our case of the month for September 2023 involves the use of Invisalign Comprehensive to close large spaces between the teeth and correct an open bite. With such cases it is critical to plan properly with a realistic view of the end result in mind before embarking on treatment. We spend a great deal of time planning our Invisalign cases so that aesthetic, functional and natural results can be achieved. Invisalign Comprehensive is the option that we use the most as this allows us unlimited numbers of Invisalign aligners, refinements and modifications within the overall package. We also provide the final retainers, tooth contouring and a tooth whitening pack as part of the package.
 

One of the main aesthetic challenges we face as dentists, is a dark discoloured front tooth. This usually results from after a root canal treatment which may be needed for a variety of reasons but is usually from trauma. The reasons for the discolouration do vary. This could be from remnants of the pulp tissue being left within the root canal system and then decomposing within the tooth permeating into the dentine. There can also be rupture of the blood vessels within the pulp allowing blood products to seep into the dentinal tubules and discolour the tooth as this degrades. Another common reason is not so well known. Studies have shown that another factor could be the result of not removing all of the root canal sealant material once the tooth has been treated. van der Burgt TP, Mullaney TP, Plasschaert AJ. Tooth discoloration induced by endodontic sealers. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1986;61:84–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Ref list]

The chromophores resulting from the disintegration of root canal sealer remnants penetrate through the dentinal tubules into the coronal tooth structure gradually causing progressive discoloration. The key factor is that most root treated teeth do appear darker than non root treated teeth and when this is on a front tooth, it is a major aesthetic issue.
 

Our case of the month for June 2023 involves composite cosmetic bonding on the upper front teeth. Composite bonding is a minimally invasive cosmetic dental treatment which can improve the aesthetics of a tooth or teeth. In most cases, we do not need to remove any healthy tooth structure with the composite being layered upon the tooth. With the advent of modern day dental materials, we are able to create stunning smiles with bonding in just one appointment.
 

Our case of the month is one which involves our amazing Waterlase i Plus laser. This laser has a multitude of benefits and one of those is removing composite restorations and tooth decay without having to use a drill. For some patients, the dental drill is a dreaded object which fills them with dread and fear. For others, there may a medical issue at hand such as tinnitus which may be made worse by the vibrations of the drill. In these cases, the Waterlase i Plus laser could be the answer.
 

Our case of the month for April 2023 involves ones of our favourite treatments; Invisalign Comprehensive to widen the smile. Comprehensive treatment means just that; we can correct all sorts of orthodontic issues such as tooth crowding, rotation, uneven levels, cross bite issues and narrow arch problems. The planning is always the key to success, not all Invisalign is the same! We spend a great deal of time planning treatment which is functional, aesthetically pleasing, biologically sound and easy to maintain. Invisalign comprehensive care gives us access to all of the above and is one of the best treatment modalities on the market.
 

Invisalign is one of our favourite treatment techniques. It is a phenomenal clear aligner therapy which is head and shoulders above the rest. The technology behind the treatment is simply amazing and we can treat virtually every case with Invisalign. The days of 'this can only be treated with fixed braces' has gone! However, it is important to understand that each treatment is bespoke and planned by us carefully. We do not just simply accept the algorithm from Invisalign and we put our mark on each and every case. Not all Invisalign is the same.