Archive for the “Porcelain Veneers” Category

Good References Important Before Taking Cosmetic Dentistry Plunge

In the news this week has been the Houston physician jailed for administering fake Botox injections to her patients. Over 170 patients were treated in this way, believing they were receiving the official brand-name botulism derivative Botox, when actually they were being treated with a cut-priced alternative which had not yet been cleared for use in humans. Perhaps most alarmingly, the doctor in questions still appears unrepentant for the risks she took with her patients for the sake of a quick buck, telling a judge, “I made a mistake, and it became a federal case.”

If anything this demonstrates the vulnerability of patients to unscrupulous practises by those who owe them a duty of care, but cases of such malpractice are incredibly rare and are barely ever seen in the world of cosmetic dentistry. It is, however, important to always secure quality, independent references vouching when choosing a clinic for any elective procedure, such as porcelain veneers or teeth whitening.

Of course, in some countries, black market cosmetic procedures are knowingly embarked upon by patients. Take the case of “The Silicons”, a gang from, Venezuela, recently jailed for performing hundreds of cosmetic surgical procedures with little or no formal medical training. Scary stuff, but fortunately unlikely to happen to Harley Street!

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening
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| April 19, 2010 at 1:33 pm | No comment

Porcelain Veneers For A Touch Of Hollywood

I’m sure you will agree that first impressions count. Imagine that if every time you smiled you were very confident that your teeth were as straight and as sparklingly white as a Hollywood film star. Well thanks to cosmetic dentistry you can be! Dental veneers are wafer thin shaped porcelain pieces that attach to the front of the teeth which means that you can say goodbye to stained, crooked or damaged teeth forever.

The easiest way to think of dental veneers is in the same way as false finger nails. Veneers are bonded to the front of the teeth in a quick and painless way leaving you with a perfect and dazzling smile.

You should consider dental veneers if you have damaged or chipped teeth; stained teeth from food, wine, coffee and smoking; crooked teeth, for teeth that are not overly crooked; also for spaces and gaps between your teeth, dental veneers can correct all of these problems.

There are two materials that are used to make dental veneers, a composite material and porcelain. Porcelain veneers are by far the more popular option as they are much stronger, they do not stain as easily, are much more natural looking and they will last much longer. Porcelain dental veneers can last up to five or ten years whereas composite veneers will last for a year or two at most. Of course to make your veneers last as long as possible it is important to follow a good oral hygiene routine and to visit your dentist at least every 6 months.

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
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| April 7, 2010 at 3:47 pm | No comment

Dental Hygiene A Long Term Issue

Porcelain VeneersRecent research has shown that an alarming number of children are suffering from oral diseases as a result of their poor dental hygiene. There has been an increase in the number of children and young people suffering from oral diseases and tooth decay in the past twenty years, which may come as a surprise to some people as we live an age of excellent health care.

However, the problem seems to be that people aren’t teaching their children how to care for their teeth. How to brush properly is a very important skill that needs to be taught at an early age and the introduction of other oral hygiene techniques such as flossing and using mouthwash should be explained to children as soon as possible too.

Many problems can arise in later life as a result of not properly looking after your teeth as a child, and not all of them will be purely cosmetic. It’s certainly true that many oral problems can be tackled with cosmetic dentistry. For example, discolour teeth can be whitened using porcelain veneers. But, you must remember that cosmetic dentistry is just that, cosmetic. So, there are many serious oral problems that can arise from not taking proper care of your teeth as a child that cannot be fixed by a cosmetic dentist!

It’s best to ensure that your children know how to take care of their teeth and ensure that they also do if you want them to avoid serious dental problems in later life.

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, cosmetic dentist
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| March 12, 2010 at 2:29 pm | No comment

Do Your Homework To Avoid A Toothache

Porcelain VeneersWith the increase in popularity of cosmetic dentistry procedures in the UK in the last couple of years, there has also been an increase in the number of court cases brought against some practitioners for alleged substandard work that they have done. The number of cases of UK based patients visiting their dentist to correct poor work that has been done by cosmetic dentists overseas, in particular by dentists in Eastern Europe, has also increased. This is partly to be expected as a scale increase to the increased number of UK residents now investing in some form of cosmetic dental procedure, but it also highlights the risks you can be taking by not doing your homework prior to choosing your clinic.

Now there is nothing wrong with shopping around for a bargain, but it is far more important to shop around for a clinic renowned for the quality of its work than one offering the lowest price. Porcelain veneers, for example, can be expensive, but poorly fitted or sized veneers aren’t worth even the reduced price you will pay for them at a cowboy clinic, and if the paring down process prior to fitting is done incorrectly, you may eventually be paying out thousands of pounds for root canal surgery to repair the damaged teeth as a result. Add to this financial cost the intense misery that weeks of sensitive teeth and a sore jaw can bring and you could be looking at one of the most miserable mistakes of your life.

There is no reason to be worried about electing for a cosmetic dental treatment providing you do your homework first. When selecting a cosmetic dentist, make sure they come highly recommended within the industry, not just with a couple of celebrity endorsements, and speak to as many clinics as you can before deciding. Stay vigilant and you will be fine.

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, Porcelain Veneers, cosmetic dentist
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| February 25, 2010 at 4:53 pm | No comment

Pain Free Fillings On The Horizon

Dental VeneersNo one would argue with the theory that if some dental procedures weren’t incredibly uncomfortable then more people might receive their recommended, regular check-up. Unfortunately, it only takes one bad experience (or even just an average one really) with a dentist’s drill and someone can be put off for life, often not attending even when they have strong suspicions of a problem. These people wouldn’t even start to consider visiting a cosmetic dentist for an aesthetic reason, and so therefore not only deny themselves excellent dental health but also a potentially life-changing perfect smile.

The good news for these drill-phobes is that there is rapid progress being made in the field of plasma cavity treatment, meaning no need for the always uncomfortable, often painful, drilling required before a filling. The way this new technique works is to blast the affected tooth with a stream of cold plasma, which is simply a bunch of atoms which have been ionised (stripped of one or more of their elections to give them a charge). This plasma kills the bacteria in the cavity, leaving it ready for filling, and the patient doesn’t feel a thing!

Removing the drilling element from dental work will be a boon for many potential patients, and it may open their minds to a range of other beneficial dental procedures, such as using dental veneers to cover crooked teeth and close gaps. The most common type used are porcelain veneers and, following a small amount of preparation, are simply “cemented” over the top of existing teeth to form a new, perfect, hardwearing smile over the old one. Regardless of whether less drilling really will increase enthusiasm for cosmetic procedures, this is one medical advance which is sure to improve overall dental health in every community.

Posted in: Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers, cosmetic dentist
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| February 9, 2010 at 11:35 am | No comment

Cost Efficient Smile Makeovers

Most people have some feature of their body that they don’t feel 100% comfortable with. In fact it’s such a common fact of life that phrases such as “Does my bum look big in this?” have become clichés quoted as often as the greatest works of philosophy and literature. In terms of body shape, often a change of diet and more regular exercise will produce the desired effect, but if you’re not comfortable with your smile then there is not a lot you can do to improve it without professional help.

Smile Makeovers  Porcelain Veneers
Before                             After

This can be a stumbling block for some as they feel slightly embarrassed by seeking professional cosmetic help, and they automatically assume that it will be incredibly expensive. This is not necessarily true as with continuing advances in the field of smile makeovers, the cost of treatments is coming down all of the time. Many clinics also offer very sensible credit plans to help spread the cost of treatments.

Many cosmetic dentists offer free consultations where they can examine your current bite, teeth alignment and what you want your smile to look like, and advise on exactly what course of treatment they think in required to get there. One method of smile makeover which is becoming more and more common is using porcelain veneers. This method involves using a series of tooth shaped porcelain “shields” to essentially build a new smile over your old one, filling in any existing gaps and providing a bright, straight smile. Porcelain veneers aren’t suitable for everyone however, and some people may require additional orthodontic work to prepare their bite first. That said, if you are unsatisfied with your smile then you’ll never know what is possible until you speak to a cosmetic dentist, so why wait?

Posted in: Porcelain Veneers, Smile Makeover
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| January 11, 2010 at 12:25 pm | No comment

The Power Of Veneers

Despite the continued rise in elective cosmetic treatments in the UK, many people are still at a complete loss as to what cosmetic dentistry could do for them. This is most likely because when many people think of cosmetic procedures they think of intrusive surgical options, such as breast enlargement or liposuction, when in reality most people’s smiles can be transformed without any surgery whatsoever.

The most common way of turning crooked or uneven teeth in to that classic Hollywood smile is with the use of dental veneers. These are essentially little shields of material attached to the front of the tooth with a type of dental cement, and can be made from a variety of materials, yet the most common are porcelain veneers. They do not “fix” damaged or misaligned teeth, but they allow your dentist to build a new, straighter, brighter smile on top of your existing one.

Veneers can cover up teeth that are chipped or discoloured, and can also be used to close prominent gaps between existing teeth. They are not a be all and end all in regards to a perfect smile though, as severely crooked teeth will need to be moved using more traditional orthodontic methods first.

The first step towards deciding if veneers are suitable for you is to speak to a good cosmetic dentist. They will be able to take a detailed look at your mouth and tell you exactly whether they think veneers can help and if any additional dental work is needed first. After this meeting you will be armed with all the facts and costs and be able to make an informed decision over how you wish to proceed.

Posted in: Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
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| December 17, 2009 at 9:21 am | No comment