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Our case of the month for August is a beautiful one involving a very natural smile transformation using minimally invasive dentistry. For those of you who have not read any of our case of the month articles, we believe in the least invasive techniques to produce stunning smiles. After all, we are all born with teeth that should last a life time. If the healthy tooth enamel is drilled away for cosmetic reasons, the tooth may not last a life time which would be a travesty. Our client was told to have a set of 6 veneers to produce the 'perfect smile'. Understandably, she was not happy with this solution which would mean cutting all of the enamel off the front teeth. Her aims were that of a natural smile rather than perfection and a treatment that involved keeping her teeth intact. The presenting situation showed uneven, crowded front teeth with some spacing present:
 

Some people are born lucky with a natural set of a picture-perfect smile, but most have to deal with problems regarding overbite, underbite, overcrowding, gaps, crooked teeth, and even jaw misalignment. Beyond cosmetic damage, some severe cases can cause speech problems along with a gap in your confidence, which is why many will go through lengths to have their teeth fixed. Braces are typically the go-to solution for the improper alignment of teeth, however, a modern trend called Invisalign has emerged and has been dominating the orthodontic scene since its release. 

Invisalign is a contemporary method of straightening teeth and is highly-regarded in the industry for its nearly invisible material. In essence, it is generally an aesthetic improvement as well as flexible compared to traditional braces due to its incremental transparent aligners and ability to be snapped back on or off any time of the day. The material itself is custom moulded to the shape of your teeth, though it will need to be adjusted every two weeks as your teeth will shift throughout the treatment plan. While it is a fool-proof way of enhancing a person’s smile, we’re here to help straighten out a few more things about Invisalign to ensure you’re choosing the method that would best suit your needs. Here are 4 facts about Invisalign you need to know:
 

Do you need braces but don't want to use the metal ones? Try out Invisalign aligners. These transparent aligners can get you the same result as metal braces without the need of wires and brackets. Unlike metal braces, not only are the aligners clear, but they don’t obstruct and is very easy to put on and remove. Here are some of frequently asked questions about Invisalign aligners:
 

Our case of the month for July is an unusual one in the sense that we are not highlighting a wonderful new smile , straighter teeth, whiter teeth or a fantastic new technology. This month, our focus is on peri-implantitis. Now you may wonder what on earth is peri-implantitis. Well, we can report that peri-implantitis is becoming a major issue in relation to dental implants and the prevalence will only increase as more and more dental implants are placed. 
 

We often underestimate how important is to look after our children's teeth. Good dental care begins before you give birth to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy. Bacteria can transfer between mother and uterus leading to complications during in pregnancy. Once the child is born, one of the most common pitfalls is when we lick a soother or a spoon before giving it to a child and thus transfer bacteria.
 

It's early in June but we could not wait to post our case of the month. As you may be aware, we believe in the least invasive techniques to create stunning smiles which look natural and healthy. After all, it is pretty obvious when a smile is false- just look at various celebrities on TV (no names mentioned!) 

Our patient requested a drastic improvement on his smile using lingual braces as he did not want the brace to be visible for work reasons. The treatment was a great success and the improvement as profound. We discussed the need for teeth whitening and cosmetic bonding after treatment to enhance symmetry. Often, teeth are asymmetrical due to tooth wear, grinding at night, genetic reasons or past treatments. 

Pre treatment:
 

Our case of the month for May involves a stunning smile transformation with a combination treatment involving lingual braces, teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. Here is a photograph of the initial appearance:
 

Some of you may have noticed that we missed the Case of the Month for March. However, our case today is worth the wait. Sometimes the end result is so spectacular that it completely transforms the smile, overall aesthetics, confidence and outlook on life. Modern dental orthodontic treatment means that treatment times are often far less than in the past which is a huge bonus. Our case underwent conventional full mouth orthodontics using good old metal brackets, which often are still the best method of treatment. The reasons being are:
 

1. Metal brackets are robust and will not break
2. Metal brackets are highly polished and offer less friction for quicker movements
3. Metal brackets can be removed and re bonded with ease for adjustments
4. Metal brackets are far cheaper than ceramic or lingual brackets
5. Metal brackets allow the placement of elastics with ease

We appreciate that conventional orthodontic treatment is not for everyone, but for those of you who want the best results in the shortest time span and are not bothered about how they look- this is the option for you. Our case initially:
 

At the end of orthodontic treatment, retainers must be worn otherwise you run the risk of undoing all of the hard work in straightening your teeth. This is called relapse. We advise a combination approach of a fixed wire retainer placed behind the front teeth as well using a removable retainer at night.