Dental veneers

For a smile that will make you feel transformed
First impressions count. So imagine if every time you smiled you had 100% confidence that your teeth were as straight and as sparkling as a movie star. With dental veneers, now you can. By choosing veneers - wafer-thin, specially shaped porcelain pieces that attach to the front of the teeth - you really are saying goodbye to stained, crooked, protruding, damaged or rotting teeth (and even gaps!) forever.

What exactly are veneers?
Veneers are wafer-thin laminates or shells of tooth-coloured material (porcelain, ceramic or composite bonding material) that are cemented to the front surface of the teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance.
Think of veneers in the same way you would think of false fingernails. Veneers work in exactly the same way - in a quick, painless and straightforward procedure they are bonded to the front of your existing teeth, leaving you with a smile that is simply perfect.

Should I consider veneers?
What makes veneers so special is their versatility. Here are just a few reasons why so many people come to us for veneers, and why they recommend them (and us!) time and time again:

* Damaged and chipped teeth - They get chipped through accidents that can sometimes occur and damaged through decay caused by too much sugary food in your diet. Patients who grind their teeth or have an uneven bite tend to wear their teeth down. Your teeth can be repaired easily with porcelain veneers. They can be matched so that they have the same look and colour to match your other teeth so that you get a look that is natural.

* Stained teeth - Just like your face ages so do your teeth. Sometimes teeth whitening does not work because the stains are ingrained through food and drink such as wine, tea and coffee or through smoking then dental veneers are an option for you. They are designed to hide any existing stains that cannot be removed by other means and hides any marks on your existing teeth.

* Crooked teeth - Appearance is becoming more important than ever before. If you suffer from crooked teeth they really can be very problematic. Dental veneers provide the answer when it comes to problems like crooked teeth, . Although dental veneers may not be the first choice for crooked teeth (with correction taking up to a year, or longer with braces) for teeth that are not overly crooked, dental veneers can be placed over the front of of crooked tooth to give a straight appearance.

* Gaps - Have you ever wanted a more balanced looking smile? The spaces and gaps between your teeth create the balance in your smile and uneven gaps can spoil otherwise perfect teeth. . If you have an uneven gap beetween your teeth it is the first thing people see whenever you open your mouth. Veneers solve this problem by completely closing all the gaps between your teeth.

How long will my veneers last?
Porcelain veneers usually last between 5 and 10 years if you ensure that you take good care of them and have good dental hygiene. On the other hand composite veneers might last for a year or two at the most. To make your denal veneers last longer it is important to follow a good oral hygiene programme and also make sure that you visit your dentist for check-ups on a regular basis ideally every 6 months.

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Dental bridges

Custom-made solutions that last for years
A dental bridge is used to bridge a gap (missing teeth) between healthy teeth. Teeth on either side of the gap are reshaped and reduced in size. These then act as anchors, or abutments. The bridge is attached to these anchor teeth - filling the missing tooth space.

Should I consider dental bridges?
If you have missing teeth and have good oral hygiene practices, you should seriously consider dental bridges. Spaces from missing teeth can cause your other teeth and your gums to become far more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Also, if spaces are left unfilled, they may cause the surrounding teeth to drift out of position.

Are there alternatives to dental bridges?
Alternatives to bridges include less stable dentures or a more permanent and invasive dental implant. The great thing about dental bridges is that, if properly looked after, they can last up to 10 years. Also, bridges have a huge advantage over other cosmetic dental procedures: a bridge is a fixed option that does not have to be taken out and placed back into the mouth.

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Dentures

The natural, comfortable solution
Losing your teeth can have a massive negative effect on your confidence, and also impact on your quality of life. At meal times the way we chew food is affected causing us to avoid particular foods we used to enjoy. Additionally your teeth provide some of the structure and support that form the shape of your cheeks. When tooth loss occurs it can result in sagging cheeks (jowels) and give you the appearance that you are much older than you actually are. The good news is that dentures can provide the answer.

What is a denture?
Tooth loss can occur for several reasons such as periodontal disease, decay or trauma. It is important that you have regular check ups with your dentist and that you have any missing teeth replaced as soon as you possibly can to prevent any excess wear to existing teeth in the long terms. A denture is a removable artificial tooth or set of teeth that replaces missing teeth in either the upper or lower jaw or both in the most severe cases of tooth loss.
Dentures have been used to replace missing teeth for many years. With advances in dental technology and the use of the latest dental materials dentures can be made to look and feel like your own natural teeth.

What types of dentures are there?
Dentures are generally fabricated from acrylic resins. With advances in modern cosmetic dentistry there are a wide variety of materials available for dentures.
If you are missing all of your teeth then a complete set of upper and lower dentures is used to replace them. It may well be easier to remove one or two remaining teeth to allow a complete set of dentures to be worn. However if only a few of the teeth need replacing then in many cases your cosmetic dentist may be able to fit a partial denture / overdenture. The fitting of a partial / over dentures can prevent your existing healthy teeth from moving into the gaps following the tooth loss because of either decay or an accident.

How are dentures held in place?
Would you like to have the confidence when you eat to choose whatever you want without having to worry about the nightmare of your dentures coming working loose or even worse falling out in a public place. Now you can. Though some dentures are held in place by their natural suction to your gums (sometimes with the use of a fixative), your dentures may also be attached in place with the use of dental implants. More and more patients are choosing to have dental implants because of their more permanent nature.