Teeth straightening is one of the most common cosmetic dental treatments we undertake at the practice. There are huge benefits to having fully aligned teeth. Of course there are the aesthetic improvements which will enhance your smile but also the health benefits from being able to clean your teeth better and improvements in the bite. There are many options available and often, the decision lies between Invisalign and fixed braces. However, which one is best?

In reality, there is no one technique that we would consider the best one. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option below.
 

One of the most topical subjects at the moment is the debate between composite and porcelain for dental restorations. In terms of cosmetic dentistry, this equates to the use of composite veneers and porcelain veneers. It is important to note that composite veneers can either be made by a laboratory or placed free hand by the dentist in the chair. Porcelain veneers can only be made by a dental laboratory or within a dental practice that has the necessary technology such as computer aided design and a milling machine, otherwise know as CAD-CAM.
 

Our case of the month for July involves a treatment to whiten a discoloured lower front tooth. We will often come across darker teeth when they have undergone a root canal treatment due to the loss of the nerve and blood supply. Often the degradation of blood products from the pulp tissue within the dentinal tubules cause the tooth dentine to be gradually discolour and give that inherent grey/ dark appearance. This can be quite unsightly especially on a front tooth. For back teeth, in almost every case, we will need to place a crown once a tooth has been root filled to maintain function. This will also improve the colour as the ceramic cover the dark dentine. However, for front teeth, crowns are not always needed as the access for the treatment is on the inside of the tooth and when done under microscope, can be extremely minimal. So how do we whiten the tooth?
 

One of our favourite cosmetic orthodontic treatments is the Social 6 lingual brace. This is a superb treatment to straighten the front teeth in a matter of weeks. In our experience, most treatments are just 3-4 months. With our 15 years experience with lingual braces, we have the know how to treat almost every imaginable case out there.

One of the most common cosmetic dental treatments we provide at our Fulham dental practice on a daily basis is composite bonding or composite edge bonding. Now, let us explain what composite edge bonding is exactly. This is where a tooth, normally a front tooth, is enhanced by adding composite ( which is a white filling material). This would usually be to change the shape such as the length or width, to repair a chip or fracture or protect a worn down tooth. For edge bonding, the composite typically just replaces PART of the tooth and there is usually a bevel finish where the composite is blended in with some sound tooth enamel. Most of the tooth away from the edge bonding remains exactly the same.

This is inherently different from a composite veneer where the composite covers ALL of the outer surface of the tooth right up to the gum level.
 

Our case of the month for April 2024 is one using one of our favourite treatments; Invisalign. As you may be aware, Invisalign is the most well know orthodontic system in the world and for good reason. The science and technology behind the system means that we can predictably correct even the most crooked teeth including severe rotations. The key is in the planning. Not all Invisalign is the same! We spend a great deal of time planning each and every case to achieve the best possible results. This case highlights that beautifully.
 

If you are considering transforming your smile this year, we have just the ticket. Attend our Invisalign Open day at our dental practice in Fulham on May 31st for completely complimentary consultations on Invisalign with full assessments, 3D mouth scans, 3D x rays and virtual smile simulations. See your new smile on the day!

All of our packages will include free retainers, free tooth whitening, tooth contouring ( re shaping) and cloud storage of your scans. With our comprehensive package, there will also be a 5 year warranty should you need further Invisalign treatment in the future.

Investing in your smile could be the best thing you ever do. Just see these smile transformations and what our patients have to say about us and the process.
 

Composite bonding is a well know and popular technique that we have been using for over 15 years. The process is generally minimally invasive, requires very little tooth preparation, no needles or anaesthetic and is more affordable than other cosmetic dental options such as porcelain veneers. The procedure can be used for a number of treatments including closing spaces between teeth especially front teeth.
 

We love to create new smiles with the most modern technology and techniques available that are kind to the teeth, are natural and long lasting. In many cases, E-Max porcelain veneers will give the best aesthetic and functional results. This is especially the case when teeth already have been filled and are now starting to show discolouration or are worn and chipped. Porcelain veneers will completely transform a smile by creating new outer surfaces for the teeth. This is shown superbly by our case of the month for February 2024.

Most celebrities and television personalities have porcelain veneers on the upper teeth. If you take a close look, the lower teeth are often slightly darker and a little uneven!