Your local Canterbury dentist offers thoughts on the journey to an attractive smile

2020 is now finally behind us and many of us will be hoping for a better year ahead. Despite the somewhat shaky start to the New Year with the storming of Capitol Hill and the large number of Covid cases and deaths in the UK, things will hopefully get better as we move forwards into the year.

By the time that Spring arrives, most of the more vulnerable people should have had their Covid vaccinations and although there may still be some restrictions in place, we should start to see improvements and may finally be able to socialise with friends again to some degree.

Many of you will have been working from home during the lockdowns and you may have spent less money than you normally would due to restrictions on eating out and on taking holidays. If you have been fortunate enough to save some money, now could be your opportunity to have the cosmetic dentistry you have been promising yourself to gain that elusive, attractive smile.

Initial consultations

If you are considering having a smile makeover, the first step is to arrange an initial consultation at Bradley and Partners Dental and Implant Clinic. During this, we can discuss what you hope to achieve and examine your Teeth so that we can determine the best treatments to use for your specific needs. We will also discuss costs at this stage and, for those who require it, we also have a range of dental finance plans to help you to spread the cost of your treatment.

What procedures you will need will depend on your own situation. Below, we take a look at some common dental problems and the potential solutions for our Canterbury patients.

Missing teeth

This is probably the most visible problem that you can have, especially if it is one of the ‘social six’ teeth at the front of the mouth that are visible when you smile. Although dentures can still be used to replace a missing tooth, or teeth, dental implants are becoming an increasingly popular option, and for good reasons. Not only do implants look natural, but they also offer a greater degree of stability and strength. This is because, unlike dentures, they provide an artificial tooth root as well as a crown. They can be used to replace teeth individually, or a few may be used to secure a bridge where a number of consecutive teeth are missing.

We have an experienced team of implant dentists who will be able to guide you through the procedure and answer any questions that you might have about this excellent treatment.

Crooked teeth

Correcting crooked and uneven teeth can take some time. When using braces, it is important to avoid applying too much pressure to the teeth as this could damage them and the surrounding bone structure. In some cases, this may mean that dental braces, or orthodontics, may need to be worn for some time; over a year in some cases. Whilst it is understandable that this might deter some people, the advance of ‘invisible braces’ now makes this a more socially acceptable treatment.

Modern ‘invisible’ braces such as Invisalign no longer use wires and brackets to reposition the teeth, but use a series of transparent trays that fit over the teeth and which are produced from impressions of your own mouth. This provides for a more comfortable experience and also allows the aligners to be removed when eating meals and for cleaning the teeth.

For relatively minor corrections, such as a slightly overlapping tooth that detracts from your smile, there may be faster methods, such as the Cfast system. You will need to have a consultation so that we can determine which is the best approach for you. There is no commitment to proceed with the treatment and we simply want you to have a full range of information to help you make an informed choice.

Discoloured or stained teeth

This is a common problem, especially when we get older and our teeth start to darken in colour. Despite the growing number of toothpastes claiming to whiten your teeth, the only way to make a significant difference is to have a teeth whitening procedure done professionally by one of our Canterbury cosmetic dentists. For many patients, this procedure will allow you to have teeth that are several shades whiter in just a short period of time.

For patients whose teeth are heavily stained or have chips and cracks, porcelain veneers may be a better option. Although a more complex treatment, your veneers, once fitted and with appropriate care taken, should last you for around ten years. Because of the materials used, veneers are non porous and will not stain easily and should retain their whiteness for a long time.

These are just some of the treatments that we offer at Bradley and Partners Dental and Implant Clinic to help you have a great looking smile. If you would like to know more or wish to arrange an initial consultation with us, please call our clinic on 01227 463529.

Dentist Bob Dubbins – GDC number 56096

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