Our case of the month for March is a wonderful teeth straightening case. Our client was extremely unhappy with her crooked and uneven smile but was conscious of wearing braces that were visible. After a full clinical analysis and careful treatment planning, we decided on using invisible braces. Take a look at our before and after photos- great end result.
| Cosmetic dentistry involves many subjects and some of the terms can be confusing. Here is our simple guide to cosmetic dentistry. |
Tooth WhiteningTooth whitening is the most popular form of cosmetic dentistry. If you have yellow, discoloured teeth and would like them whiter this is for you. Our preferred method involves using take home whitening trays and 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. We use Philips Zoom and Enlighten systems. These techniques are proven, safe and easily maintained. will not work on dental restorations such as crowns, veneers, bridges, implants and metal fillings. Areas of gum recession and abrasion will also not whiten. It is therefore very important that a dentist undertakes a full clinical examination prior to tooth whitening. |
Cosmetic BondingCosmetic bonding is the most conservative method of restoring fractured, chipped, small, uneven teeth. The technique is non invasive as highly aesthetic tooth coloured composite material is carefully layered over the teeth. Once placed, it is then contoured and polished to a fine lustre. The bonding will require maintenance over time with polishing, repair and eventual replacement. However, as the underlying tooth is the same there is no biological damage and the process can simply be repeated. In our experience, cosmetic bonding is the first choice to repair damaged teeth. |
Porcelain VeneersPorcelain veneers are an excellent method of repairing a tooth if there has been heavy damage, severe discolouration or large existing dental fillings. They are the most aesthetic method of providing a new tooth surface. With the latest technology, porcelain veneers are undetectable from natural teeth. They often require preparation of the underlying teeth and for this reason, the technique is not the most conservative. In certain circumstances, porcelain veneers can be placed with minimal or no preparation. This is usually when the teeth are in a good alignment, with no crowding and point contacts. Our porcelain veneer of choice, is E-max by Ivoclar. If you have a gummy smile and the gum (gingival) margins are uneven this presents a major cosmetic issue. One simple method is to create symmetry of the gum line by using a soft tissue laser. This technique is very precise, delicate and allows fantastic healing of the area. However, careful analysis must be undertaken prior to any contouring to avoid invasion of the biological width. What is this, you may ask. Well, ask your dentist. Any dentist with experience and knowledge of cosmetic dentistry should know. If your dentist cannot answer this, then they should not be undertaking the procedure! |
Teeth StraighteningCosmetic teeth straightening is becoming the technique of choice prior to any of the above techniques. Moving the teeth in the correct position not only creates a beautiful smile but allows for far better dentistry in the future. Due to the advances in modern technology, teeth be straightened fairly quickly and discreetly. There are techniques such as lingual braces (placed on the inside of the teeth), ceramic braces (tooth coloured braces) and clear aligners such as Invisalign (removable clear braces). These all mean that the traditional metal braces can be avoided. Each person is different and hence each treatment will be bespoke. It is vital that a full clinical examination and assessment is undertaken prior to any treatment. There is no such thing as one size fits all. If your dentist only offers one option, seek a second opinion. One important point to mention is that when teeth are straightened, they must be retained. Our preferred method of retention is by using a fixed wire retainer placed on the inside of the teeth. A removable retainer can also be used at night to doubly ensure the teeth stay nice and straight. |
Dental HygieneFor any cosmetic dental technique, the health of the gums must be excellent. Prior to any treatment, a visit or two to the will not only make the teeth look better and improve the gum health but ensure that the future treatment will b successful. The presence of dental plaque is the main cause of failure in dentistry. The lower the levels of plaque bacteria, the less risk of biologic damage and the higher the success rate. Visits to the dental hygienist should be at least twice a year or quarterly for those who require greater maintenance. We hope you have found this guide to be useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: - Voted London's Best Practice Dentistry Awards 2013 Tel 0207 7311162 e info@progressivedentistry.co.uk |
Good dental hygiene leads to good overall health. It is as simple as that. There is now overwhelming evidence that links poor oral health and gum disease to many systemic illnesses such as cardiac disease, respiratory issues and diabetes. Therefore it has never been so important to visit the hygienist on a regular basis. We recommend that a visit to the dental hygienist should be at least twice a year.
If you suffer from gum problems or are undergoing major treatments with orthodontics or dental implants, then you will require additional visits. Not only will your teeth and gums feels fresh and healthy, you are also investing in your overall health. So why wait, contact our hygienist first thing in the morning and book your appointment.
Tooth wear is becoming an increasingly major problem. The main causes of tooth wear are:
1. Bruxism - grinding teeth at night time.
2. Acidic diets.
3. Stress causing extra clenching and bruxism.
4. Gastric reflux.
5. Parafunctional habits such as nail chewing, pen biting for example
These can all lead to teeth that are fragile, weak at the edges, smaller and asymmetrical. This can lead to significant fracture of the teeth and require more advanced treatments such as root canals and crowns. However, if the areas are treated early, future problems can be avoided. For example, please view our case study below:
Our case of the month involves closing a space in between the upper front teeth. Spaces can be unsightly especially at the front of the mouth. However, we have the techniques to close the space discreetly, quickly and affordably. Just have a look at our before and after photos:
One of the joys of dentistry is being able to produce wonderful smiles, change a persons cosmetic appearance, improve confidence and well being. It's always nice to have something positive written about you after a job well done. One of our latest testimonials follows from Nicola. Nicola underwent treatment with lingual braces for the upper teeth due to crowding. The end results were fantastic and here is what she had to say:
Nicola: I have no hesitation in recommending Dr Nissit Patel and his team at Progressive Dentistry. I hadlingual braces fitted to my top teeth and the results have been amazing. Within 7 months I had a brand new smile! I am so pleased. Dr Patel instantly puts you at ease and is always on hand for follow up treatment and advice if necessary. All the staff are extremely pleasant. If you need dental treatment this is definitely the place to go!
Just a reminder that we now offer Saturday dental and hygiene appointments EVERY week. Our new dentist, Dr Jessica Doherty, is accepting new dental patients on Saturday's for routine dental care, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery and children's dentistry. We also provide a walk in dental hygiene service. Simply contact us by phone, e mail or book online to book you appointment with the hygienist directly. Sparkling clean teeth for the weekend, what could be better?
Missing a tooth is bad enough but a missing front tooth is just about the worse scenario. There can be a number of reasons why teeth are lost from trauma, infection, decay, pain and expired crowns or posts to name a few. However, with modern day implant dentistry, missing teeth can be replaced with predictability and minimal fuss, with a completely natural result. Our case study highlights a missing front tooth replaced with a dental implant and a porcelain crown. In fact, the new tooth looks even better than the previous one!
As of February 2014, we are introducing a new service- Anti-ageing facial treatments. This will include anti wrinkle treatments, facial line corrections, lip augmentation, skin hydration and maintenance programs. If you suffer from crows feet, frown lines, deep folds, marionette lines, thin lips and dehydrated skin then we can help. We are fully trained in the use of dermal fillers and botulinum toxin. Who is better prepared than a dentist or dental therapist to provide these treatments? After all we are experts in giving pain free injections and we know a thing or two on cosmetic beauty!
Treatments will be provided by Dr Nissit Patel and Jenny Wiggins. We are offering FREE consultations and a special offer in February of £50 off each treatment! Contact us today.