Aesthetic Dentistry

Dental implants are an increasingly popular choice for my patients as I’ve been doing a lot of them recently.

So I thought it was about time I posted a few case studies. Here they are:

Tooth replacement and smile makeover: Case Study

A full set of replacement teeth: Case Study

Implant bridge: Case Study

Implant retained dentures: Case Study

I’d love to hear what you think – or if you have any questions about dental implants at all, please do post something in the comment box below.

I thought it worth jotting a few words down about this one – it’s such a common problem for people, and frankly so easily fixed (without breaking the bank)!

Here at Winning Smiles we’ve been closing gaps between teeth for years, using our Italian composite-filling system (the same white filling system we use for tooth decay) – see our best white fillings blog article.

The beauty of using ‘Cosmetic bonding’ with a top class tooth-coloured filling system (like Enamel Plus) is that:

• the teeth don’t need to be cut or ground down;
• it’s over and done with in one visit (no waiting for crowns or veneers to come back from the lab);
• it’s painless, really, I don’t even use anaesthetic for this technique!

So what are the drawbacks?

Nothing too serious really, I recommend having them polished once or twice a year to maintain their ‘lustre’ and I usually do the polishing during routine 6 month examination appointments (at no extra charge).

They can get chipped/broken, but so can veneers, the difference is that these bonded build-ups can be repaired seamlessly (chipped veneers have to be replaced completely).

And all for around £400. Something worth talking about?  In fact, it’s such a popular treatment I don’t know why I haven’t mentioned it before!

Here’s an example of the before and after pictures:

Someone came to the surgery the other day, and this happens a fair bit, they apologised for their teeth.

It reminded me that I should put ’something on the website’ about this, as we’re really not here to judge anyone and people should not feel the need to be embarrassed (even if it is human nature).

You see, its only when people really need us that we get to make the most difference.

And if its not too selfish of us, we’d be delighted to see you.

The stress and worry during a complex dental case isn’t only felt by the patient – as all sorts of pressures, not least that of expectation, can fall directly on your friendly dentist’s shoulders.

But its worth it!

As a cosmetic and implant dentist, the greatest feeling in the world is when a mouth has been transformed and a person smiles for the first time with their new teeth.

The first reaction is revealed in the eyes – as bright as the north star, sometimes with tears, sometimes laughter and occasionally a stunned silence. But always there is a sincere joy at the lifting of that invisible veil of self-consciousness.

These are the jewels in my working life.

Nothing compares.

Time to read: approx 2 minutes

I’ve just returned from the Aesthetic Dentistry conference at the NEC Birmingham (www.aesthetic-dentist.co.uk). It’s my first time at this particular event as I am more often found at the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry conference (www.BAAD.org.co.uk) or related events.

Those of you who have read past posts of mine or been on the website will know that I am a keen member of BAAD and actively involved in providing high end ‘aesthetic’ dentistry in my day to day private practice in Essex.

This ‘Aesthetic Dentistry’ conference was organised by a number of the cosmetic/aesthetic dental companies headed by Dr Bob Khanna. ‘Dr Bob’ as he is affectionately known in our little community is a dentist who has branched out somewhat from Aesthetic Dentistry to get involved (heavily) in non-surgical cosmetic enhancement ie Botox, Dermal Fillers etc.

I have to say that I have been a fence dweller on this subject for some years now -not least because it seems a bit crazy to be injecting people’s faces with Botulinum Toxin- a well known poison- simply to make a few crows’ feet recede for 3 0r 4 months. ‘Take poison, feel better’ is a contradiction in terms, surely?

More seriously, I have also been waiting to see if repeat doses of this stuff are going to cause any permanent damage….and I have to admit that considering how much of it has been administered over the years both here and in the US, there is no evidence of any ill-health effects providing the practitioner is properly trained. And Dr Bob showed some compelling before and after photos of his work that demonstrated what a difference these treatments can make. There is no doubt that in the right pair of hands and with an eye for the aesthetic/artistic, significant improvements can be made.

Should dentists be using this stuff?

Well the ‘it’s not proper dentistry’ thing is now out the window, with only very conservative types considering any cosmetic dental enhancement as ‘not proper dentistry’.

We have definitely reached a point where it is ‘okay’ to want to improve one’s self and one’s appearance and this now extends well into dentistry. So it’s hardly a quantam leap to go from providing cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry to including non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments as part of the modern cosmetic dental surgery services.

The other argument ‘in favour’ is that dentists have a specialist knowledge of the face, not just the teeth, including muscles, nerves and blood vessels, where they are and what they do. Add to this is the infamous familiarity we have for -dare I say it- needles, and I am beginning to believe my own rhetoric!

Watch this space….