Cosmetic Dentistry

Most people would like to change something about the way they look. What is commonly underestimated is how much your smile can impact on your general appearance. With even minor changes there can often be a dramatic improvement in the appearance of an individual's smile. This can enhance a person's general appearance and restore a great deal of confidence. Modern advances in dentistry have seen the development of a variety of dental procedures that may be used to make teeth and smiles more attractive.

Teeth whitening

Your smile is extremely important. It is one of the first things someone notices when meeting you. A whiter, brighter smile is beautiful - it can help you feel better about yourself and make a lasting and memorable impression.

Your lifestyle and the aging process can stain and darken your teeth. The following contributes to stained teeth, such as: smoking, food, drink (coffee, tea, or red wine), or poor oral hygiene. This is the most common causes of an unattractive smile.

We can get your smile looking its best.

Teeth whitening aims to restore the whiteness to natural tooth enamel to give you a more youthful smile. It is a very successful and easy way of eliminating most external and some internal stains from your teeth, without causing any damage. This can be achieved with either an in-office procedure done by your dentist, or by using a custom-made home system made by your dentist. While in-office whitening is considered to be much quicker and more effective, many appreciate at-home whitening for its ease of use and lower cost.

What are your options?

There are currently two professionally controlled procedures available to suit both your lifestyle and your pocket:

In-Office Whitening

With in-office whitening you can achieve significant colour change in a matter of hours. This procedure involves the carefully controlled use of a relatively high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the dentist or trained professional, after the gums have been protected with a paint-on barrier. Generally, the peroxide remains on the teeth for several 15 to 20 minute intervals that add up to an hour (at most). Those with particularly stubborn staining may be advised to return for one or more additional bleaching sessions, or may be asked to continue with a take-home whitening system.

Take-Home Whitening Kits

Take-home kits incorporate an easy-to-use lower-concentration peroxide gel that remains on the teeth for an hour or longer (sometimes overnight). The lower the peroxide percentage, the longer it may safely remain on the teeth. The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays that look like mouth guards. This is repeated daily for a period of two or more weeks, or until you have achieved the whiteness you desire.

Maintenance

Following the completion of your whitening procedure, it is normal to experience a slight degree of relapse within the first 24-48 hours. Also, through the normal staining of daily eating and drinking, you may experience a gradual shade relapse. This will depend on how often you have coffee, red wine, tobacco, or other staining foods and drinks. This can generally be managed by using a maintenance program at home. This may include repeating the use of your special trays with whitening gels or whitening toothpaste.

Potential Problems

There are some risks and limitations associated with bleaching procedures. Fortunately the problems experienced are uncommon and usually minor. Some things to be aware of:

• Tooth sensitivity – During the whitening procedure some people might experience tooth sensitivity (With Yotuel there is less sensitivity as it is an Ensyme based bleaching). This sensitivity is usually mild and typically does not last. If the discomfort persists, a mild painkiller like Myprodol will usually be effective or alternatively a sensitive toothpaste.
• Gum Irritation - Temporary inflammation of the gums and other soft tissue can occur during your whitening. This is generally the result of the whitening gel coming in contact with the gums. The irritation it is generally short-lived and disappears as soon as the gel is removed. A mouth rinse can be useful.
• Existing fillings and other restorations – Tooth coloured fillings, crowns or veneers - will not whiten during this procedure. Please be aware that dental restorations that show when you smile, might need to be replaced if you feel they do not match your new whiter smile.

Orthodontics

If we diagnose a problem, we refer the patient to a specialist we work closely with until optimal results are achieved.