Smile M akeovers
THE ABC Approach towards a Mini Smile Makeover
We know what it’s like when you want to have an overall improved smile whether that’s getting ready for your big day or if it's something that you’ve always wanted and never got round to.
The ABC approach consists of:
ALIGN - Using the Invisalign system to get your teeth in a more ideal position
BLEACH - Whitening your teeth to brighten the aligned teeth
COMPOSITE BONDING/CONTOURING - Ensuring the edges of your teeth are even and flush with each other and enhancing the shape of some teeth in order to provide you an all round confident smile worth smiling about
Life Benefits
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A natural, healthy smile that you are proud to show off
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No preparation of your teeth is required, meaning they remain strong
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Pain-free and predictable results
White Fillings
If you require a filling in your tooth, you generally have the cosmetic option of the white filling material (composite) that matches the shade of the surrounding teeth and gives a more natural appearance or silver (amalgam) that is more visible.
The aim of the filling is to prevent further progression of decay and therefore prevent further treatment being required.
How white fillings work:
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Local anaesthetic is generally administered to ensure no discomfort is felt during treatment
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The decay or defects are cleared from the tooth and the tooth prepared for the filling
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An appropriate shade of white is chosen for your tooth
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The new filling is layered onto the tooth and then polished
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The restoration is completed in one visit
Life Benefits
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Natural looking restoration
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Allows you to bite and chew as usual
Teeth Whitening
It is known that having a whiter and brighter smile improves self-confidence, so it is no surprise that more and more people are turning to teeth whitening procedures.
If you are self-conscious about the shade of your teeth or want to lift the colour of your smile, professional tooth whitening is a safe and recommended option for you to consider.
How it works:
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Consultation: assessment of the type of staining your teeth have and suitability
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Impressions: moulds of your teeth are taken to construct custom made trays to fit comfortably over your teeth
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It begins: demonstration of how to use the prescribed whitening gels in your custom trays to get you started with your treatment. The trays can either be worn during the day or overnight. The process takes an average of 2 weeks. Individual results vary and it is perfectly acceptable to stop prior to 2 weeks or continue for longer in order to achieve your desired results
2 weeks later…..Enjoy your whiter smile!
Life Benefits
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Safe treatment when delivered by a dental professional
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Enhances the appearance of teeth
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Effective results with a guaranteed improvement in the shade of your teeth
Below is a link to a blog from our principal dentist discussing the common myths associated with whitening:
https://blog.enlightensmiles.com/the-fact-and-the-fiction-teeth-whitening/
Crowns
When a tooth is broken down, weakened by decay or a large filling it may be suitable to reinforce and protect it by a tooth like shape and structure called a crown (‘cap’).
Crowns can be made from many materials including:
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Metal
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Gold
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Natural looking materials (e.g porcelain)- this is a more cosmetic option ensuring your tooth looks like a natural tooth
How it works:
Visit 1:
(a) The tooth is prepared to accommodate the metal/ porcelain structure
(b) An impression is taken of the tooth that needs restoring
(c) The tooth is reinforced with a temporary crown whilst the crown is made in a dental laboratory to fit the tooth precisely and match the neighbouring teeth
Visit 2: The crown is securely fitted on top of the preparation
Life Benefits
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Protect remaining tooth structure on a broken down or root canal treated tooth
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Allow you to eat and bite down as if was a real tooth
Veneers
Veneers are a good option to consider if you want to improve the appearance of your stained, chipped or misaligned teeth. They can be used to close small gaps when braces are not suitable. If a tooth is out of position, a veneer can be fitted to bring it into line with the others.
How do they work:
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Veneers are thin, tooth coloured pieces of porcelain that are placed over and glued to your own tooth
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The shape and size of the veneers can be adjusted to make your teeth look longer/ closer together
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You can either have just one veneer or a set of veneers (a set is often referred to as a smile makeover)
Life Benefits
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Natural looking restorations
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Simple solution to improve the cosmetic appearance of teeth
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Long lasting smile enhancement
Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is an increasingly popular cosmetic dental treatment that uses the same resin material used for white fillings to enhance the appearance of your teeth by improving the shape, colour and overall appearance.
Composite bonding is a minimally invasive, pain-free experience that can change the overall appearance of your teeth in as little as one visit. Your dentist would choose a shade of resin to closely match the colour of your teeth, so that the result looks entirely natural.
How it works:
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Consultation: the material can be temporarily placed on your teeth to give you an idea of what the end result can look like - we call this a ‘mock up’
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You may wish to whiten the colour of your teeth prior to the bonding and then your dentist will pick a shade of the resin to match your teeth
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The resin is carefully applied with no need for any drilling or damage to your own teeth
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Your dentist will then carefully shape, smooth and polish the resin to ensure they look entirely natural
Although composite bonding doesn’t last as long as porcelain veneers, many patients find the treatment is highly cost effective and can be easily repaired or repeated with no damage to your own teeth.
Life Benefits
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Affordable
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Conservative - composite bonding typically requires no removal of existing tooth structure. This means your teeth remain strong
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Pain free
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Natural effect - the material used is closely matched to your natural tooth shades to ensure a natural end result
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Boosts your confidence with your smile in as little as one visit
White Spot Treatment
ICON represents an entirely new, revolutionary approach to treatment of white spots that can improve the appearance with no drilling and no injections.
Why do we get white spots?
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White spots on adult teeth due to trauma as a baby
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Decalcification - loss of mineral from outer layer of the tooth (enamel)- this can occur during fixed brace treatment if there has been a lapse in excellent oral hygiene around the brackets
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Fluorosis - when there is a very high fluoride intake during the development of adult teeth
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“Molar Incisal Hypoplasia” - developmental defect
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Childhood illness
Traditionally these white spots would have to be covered with either composite filling material or porcelain veneers. Both of these treatment options usually require drilling and possibly injections to remove the white part of tooth and are thus destructive.
The beauty of ICON treatment is that it requires none of these things but instead uses the scientific process of resin infiltration which allows the white spot to blend in with the surrounding tooth to provide a beautiful and aesthetic smile.
The procedure is simply explained below:
