IMPROVE YOUR SMILE

Ever wished you had a brighter smile?

Your dentist can help!

Tooth Whitening

The first thing you may want to improve is the colour of your teeth.

A number of tooth-whiting options are available.  Your dentist can provide more effective tooth-whitening treatments than the ‘do-it-yourself’ kits available at pharmacies.  You may need to whiten your teeth before veneers or crowns are placed so they can be matched to the ‘new’ colour of your teeth.

Veneers

Veneers (also known as laminators) are thin, custom made ‘shields’ permanently bonded to the front of your teeth.  They are usually made of porcelain.

Why have Veneers?

Veneers can transform teeth that are broken, chipped, stained or have large gaps between them, and some cracked teeth as well.

Veneers improve the colour and shape of your teeth, and give a speculator lift to your smile.  Your teeth don’t lose any of there strength, and you’ll be able to bite and chew normally.  Veneers are also highly resistant to staining.

How often is treatment done?

Your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the front of your tooth.  A mould is taken, and sent to a dental technician who makes the veneer.  When the veneer is ready, your dentist uses a resin to bond it to your tooth.  The treatment is quick and requires little or no anesthesia .

Are all front teeth suitable for veneers?

No, Veneers are very thin, so they are not as effective on heavily filled, blackened or root-filled teeth.  In these cases, crowns are more suitable.

Crowns

Crowns for front teeth are natural looking porcelain caps, which fit over teeth that have been specially shaped by your dentist.  They are usually made of porcelain  and may have a gold or metal core for added strength.

Why have front teeth crowned?

Teeth with large fillings (and/or root fillings) are weakened and can break when you bite.  A crown  can make these teeth stronger, and protect them against, further damage.  Crowns are also the best choice for teeth which are very misshapen or darkly stained.

How are crowns fitted?

Your dentist reduces the size of the existing filling and tooth to make room for the new crown, then takes a mould which is sent to a dental technician .  While the technician makes your permanent crown, your dentist will fit a temporary crown to cover your tooth.

Once your permanent crown is ready, your dentist will check the fit and appearance before cementing it in place.

To find out which treatment is best for you and the costs involved, talk to your dentist.