Porcelain veneers are still regarded as one of the main cosmetic dentistry techniques. In skilled hands, they can look just like teeth. Now, we are not talking 'Turkey Teeth' here! You may have seen many social media sites showing smile makeovers in Turkey with super white 'veneers'. In reality, these veneers are actually crowns that cover the entire tooth surface after the teeth have been cut down to little stumps. This is not cosmetic dentistry but butchery, to be blunt. 

Porcelain veneer treatment should be minimally invasive preserving as much tooth surface as possible. This way, the results are not only biologically safe but also life like and natural. The key detail is in the planning and close collaboration with the dental laboratory and technicians. Our case of the month for February shows a great case following these key principles.

A smile says a thousand words, as the old saying goes. However, if you never smile what does that tell us?

In most cases, hiding a smile means that one is embarrassed with their teeth and lack overall confidence. This is perfectly understandable and something we see on a daily basis. The good news is that a smile transformation is no longer an arduous process which costs the earth, as our case of the month highlights.
 

A smile speaks a thousand words as the old saying goes. Sometimes, it is the little changes that really make a difference. This may not be evident to everyone but if a small enhancement gives you more confidence then this make a huge difference to ones wellbeing. 

One of the ways we can enahnce a smile is with a technique called composite bonding. Our case of the month for January 2025 is really a classic one where bonding was used to improve the smile symmetry in a subtle yet striking way.
 

To answer this question, we really need to differentiate the two treatments as they are two different treatment entirely. 

Composite bonding is an additive process. In simple terms, we carefully sculpt composite resin over the teeth in question. This can be used to treat chipped, fractured, uneven and gappy teeth. Composite can also be used to replace old fillings on front ( or back) teeth. The great advantage of bonding includes:

1. Treatment is completed in one visit; an instant smile transformation!
2. Minimally invasive. There is little, if any, drilling of the underlying teeth needed.
3. Biologically safe for the teeth and gums. There is no risk of damage to the nerve.
4. Composite can be easily maintained.
5. More affordable than porcelain veneers or ceramic crowns.
6. Composite will protect the underlying teeth from further wear and tear.
 

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!
 

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.
 

Our case of the month for July 2021 is quite a complex one involving multiple ceramic crowns after an accident during the first lockdown. Our patient, Xavier, had a cycling accident where he cracked 3 of his front teeth. Now with any trauma case, there is a certain way to handle the situation and it is important not to rush into a specific treatment. The reason being is that once the teeth and gums have been damaged, the consequences may not be apparent for several weeks or months. Hence the use of provisional materials such as composite and temporary crowns are vital during this healing phase.

Periodontal or gum health is paramount also and we needed to spend some time stabilising the gum health with conventional and laser treatments. Beata Kynsak did a wonderful job using Waterlase i Plus and the Epic 10 diode laser with a complete transformation from inflamed , swollen gums to a pink, firm attached gum line. Laser dentistry, although not new, is still a rarity across our profession but we are firm believers in the technology and have many years of experience highlighting great results. 

Once the gums were stable, provisional crowns were made using a diagnostic wax up. This is where our laboratory, Ceramic Studios, re create the teeth using digital means to provide us with a prototype of the final teeth. We can use this guide to define our preparations of the teeth, make the temporary teeth and allow our patients to see what the final crowns can look like. Our temporary crown material of choice is Luxatemp; the gold standard. 

After some time in the temporary crowns, we were ready to proceed with the final crowns which were E Max all ceramic crowns, again the gold standard when it comes to aesthetics. There is no better. Ceramic Studios did a great job and just take a look at the before and after results:
 

Our case of the month for March is simply astounding. Smile transformation in the true sense of the word. There were three treatments involved in the process:
 

1. Lingual full arch braces
2. Tooth whitening
3. Cosmetic bonding

Lingual braces are braces placed on the inside of the teeth. If your lifestyle does not support traditional outside braces, then this is the option for you. They are the only invisible brace and can correct teeth in the same manner as conventional braces. We use self ligating lingual braces as a rule- these types of brackets do not require any additional wires or elastic bands to be placed around them. This reduces friction and speeds up treatment. Examples of the types of brackets we use are MTM, GC Experience and Forestadent 2-D brackets.
 

Our case of the month for November 2017 is one of our favourite treatments. This technique can completely transform your smile without the need for cutting teeth, without any injections, without any pain and it is affordable. We call it ABC. A is for alignment. Aligning teeth into the correct position is essential for cosmetic dentistry. Without correct alignment, a great smile cannot be achieved. We use a number of teeth alignment systems. In this case, a Social 6 lingual brace was used. This is an amazing brace and one that we have great experience with. B is for bleaching. Tooth whitening enhances a smile ten fold. Clean, fresh and white looking teeth illuminates a smile and radiates confidence. Our favourite system is the Philips ZOOM LED in chair whitening, which is simply astounding. C is for cosmetic bonding. As adults, often our teeth have been subject to wear and tear. This leaves them uneven at the edges which can be unslightly once they are straight. Composite bonding is a great option to enhance the smile without having to cut teeth down for porcelain veneers or crowns. Here are the before and after photographs: