We are starting a series of Case of the Month features. Every month, we will post a case that highlights the dentistry that we offer and the excellence of dental care available here at Progressive Dentistry.

Our first case involves a full smile makeover. Our patient was concerned about her overall smile due to discoloured teeth, uneven teeth and tooth staining.
 

Dr Nissit Patel transformed her smile with porcelain veneers. The before and after photographs are below.
 

The best way to understand a treatment is by seeing the results that have been achieved. This way, you can visualise what the treatment could do for you and the enormous benefits available.

Social 6 braces have a number of benefits. The main one is that the technique is totally invisible. No one will know you are wearing a dental brace and straightening your front teeth. The treatment can also be very quick which is an obvious benefit.

Below are some before and after photographs of social 6 braces.
 

Missing teeth can be an embarrassing and unsightly issue, especially at the front of the mouth. There are a number of options to replacing the space including a dental bridge.

A bridge is where the adajcent teeth are used to anchor the missing tooth. This may be an excellent option if the adjacent teeth require treatment with dental crowns to protect them or already have successful crowns which could be converted to a bridge.

The following case study demonstrates this exact scenario. A front tooth was lost due to gum disease which left a major cosmetic issue. After careful planning, a dental bridge was provided as an ideal solution to a tricky problem. Below are the before and after photographs.
 

We strongly believe in non invasive techniques to enhance smiles. Long gone are the days when teeth needed to hacked away with destructive techniques to provide a new smile. Modern day dentistry encompasses minimally invasive techniques which require no needles, no drilling and no pain! For example, our case study below wanted to close the gaps between the teeth. They were told that porcelain veneers would be required, which involved removing all the tooth enamel and many thousands of pounds. 

However, our Principal Dentist Dr Nissit Patel advised another solution; composite bonding. This involved no drilling, no needles and was far more affordable. In addition, the maintenance is simple and cost effective. There really are no downsides.
 

The only truly invisible dental brace is one which sits on the inside of your teeth. Lingual is Latin for 'towards the tongue' hence the name lingual brace.

This is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic brace. Kate Middleton even had her teeth straightened with lingual braces before the big day and Cheryl Cole wore lingual braces whilst judging on the X factor. However, lingual braces are not just for celebrities and A list stars, the treatment is available for all who wish to improve their smile discreetly. The brace can be attached to 6 or more of teeth. It depends on the amount of straightening required which is determined largely by an innovative analysis which can show us a predicted end result. A very popular technique for mild to moderate crowding cases is called 'Social 6'. This is because the brace is only applied to the front 6 teeth. This technique can be excellent for relapse after previous orthodontic treatment, where the teeth have started to drift out of position. Our case study below highlights such a case.
 

Porcelain veneers are an excellent way of correcting the cosmetic appearance of the front teeth. This may be due to chips, cracks, discolouration, failing fillings and correcting previous veneers which have failed. Porcelain veneers require an in depth knowledge of cosmetic dentistry and the mechanics of the teeth meet and function during everyday activities. This is called occlusion in the dental field. Porcelain veneers which are not executed to exceptionally high standards will fail for a number of reasons. Our case study highlights such a problem and how our Principle dentist, Dr Nissit Patel, corrected the situation:
 

Continuing on from our series of case studies, the next case involves dental implants to replace a full upper set of teeth. Dental implants are the gold standard in replacing missing teeth. They can be used to replace single, multiple or all missing teeth. A common misconception about dental implants is that it is a very invasive and traumatic procedure. With modern techniques and planning, the procedure can be done with minimal trauma. In fact a patient recently mentioned that he did not feel a thing during or after the procedure! We believe that removing a tooth is far more invasive that replacing it with a dental implant.

The case in question required replacement of nearly of all the upper teeth. There were some badly decayed teeth present and these were removed first. A new denture was then made which provided function and aesthetics that the patient was happy with. After careful planning using CT scans and virtual planning software, 6 Astra dental implants were placed. On top of these very secure implants, a fixed bridge was placed using the Astra Cresco Bridge system. This is a non removable bridge which provides excellent chewing ability and aesthetics. 

After years of having a constantly sore mouth, loose dentures and gum disease our patient regained his confidence and smile with a new set of dental implant retained teeth. The photographs underneath highlight the dramatic change:
 

Our next case involved two front teeth which had two crowns. The patient was unhappy with the colour, shape and overall appearance of them. The main request was to provide a natural replacement. Front teeth are the first point of eye contact and as such extremely important in cosmetic dentistry. A number of factors must be assessed before treatment can begin and this starts with thorough planning. Initially, study models were prescribed and a diagnostic wax up. This is to enable the patient to see the anticipated final shape and contour of the crowns and compare them with the current situation. The wax up will also be used as the template for the final crowns and for the temporary crowns. The following photographs show how we dramatically improved the situation with cosmetic dentistry.
 

We are running a series of case studies to demonstrate the treatments and outcomes that have been achieved at Progressive Dentistry. Our first case was a long and complicated case involving failing crowns and bridges, which required a full upper arch rehabilitation. Initially the gum disease was treated by our Dental Hygienist and Therapist, Jenny Wiggins. This was done over a number of sessions with superb results. After all the failing crowns and bridges were removed, the patient wore a set of temporary teeth to allow the gums to heal and ensure that they could get used to the new design and bite. This was left for a period of 3 months. After full healing and adaptation, the temporary crowns and bridges were removed and a new set could be made. The difference in the gums and overall oral health was outstanding. The overall result was natural, aesthetic and met all of the patient requirements. 

Please view the series of photographs below: