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old porcelain veneers and discolours worn teeth
After 10 upper ultra-thin porcelain Veneers and lower teeth in house whitening
Wonderful Smile
Smile for life patient-centred artistic dentistry
A beautiful smile makes a great first impression and is one of the key reasons people are perceived as being attractive or successful. Your smile is also an area of the body which ages very visibly. ‘Teeth basically hold the facial bones in place,’ Sydney cosmetic dentist Dr Sarkis Nalbandian explains. ‘As we get older or lose teeth, the jawbone is less supportive and the face sinks, contributing to an ageing appearance. Maintaining a youthful smile becomes increasingly challenging’.
Luckily, today’s cosmetic dentistry techniques enable more and more people to benefit from an aesthetically pleasing smile. It is important to be aware of all available options when seeking advice. ‘Using veneers, for example, will give better lip and cheek support, fill out the top lip and enhance facial expression,’ Dr Nalbandian says. ‘This is rejuvenating in itself and having a youthful smile is something we all want.’ Porcelain veneers require considerable tooth preparation and are more costly than composite veneers, but may be necessary if minimal enamel and tooth structure are present. However, the new ultra-thin porcelain veneers require no injections there is no pain and minimal intervention to the sensitive tooth structure.
Tooth whitening
There are several options available to improve the colour and shape of the teeth and the smile. Discolouration of the teeth can be hereditary, or can be a result of lifestyle factors such as smoking, taking certain medications or frequent drinking of red wine or coffee. Lightening and brightening of between three and twelve shades can be achieved using a whitening conditioner under a special light.
One visit smile lift
There are also many options available to re-model the shape, to close gaps and to improve the gum line. Dr Nalbandian recommends the One Visit Smile Lift, a procedure that normally requires no local anaesthetic and is painless. ‘Composite veneers are applied and the procedure does not require cutting a sound tooth structure,’ Dr Nalbandian explains. ‘It can be used on people of all ages and the effect is immediate. It is non-invasive and relatively inexpensive because there are no laboratory fees, but the improvement is dramatic.’
The safe painless porcelain veneer
Finally, a painless way to shape and permanently whiten your smile, unlike traditional porcelain veneers, which require considerable tooth structure removal to accommodate change in tooth colour and shape. Traditional porcelain veneers require considerable tooth preparation and are more costly than composite veneers, but may be necessary if minimal enamel and tooth structure are present. Discovered by a specialist clinician in this field of prosthodontics, this is the most dramatic advancement and smile beautification to date. The smile can be transformed in just two simple, painless dental visits, each less than three hours.
Crowns and bridges
Compromised teeth with minimal tooth structure requiring large amounts of restoration will be prone to stress and cracks, and possible fractured teeth, resulting from the pressure of biting. ‘Crowns provide more security for tooth structure, but the treatment requires two visits and is more invasive. The individual tooth (or multiple teeth) is prepared and reduced, and a temporary crown is fitted until the second visit when the permanent crown is placed,’ Dr Nalbandian explains.
Implants
Bone shrinkage after tooth loss can accelerate the ageing appearance of the face. Patients with missing teeth may find that dental implants are the long-term solution. Implants involve the replacement of dental roots with a titanium fixture, placed in the bone of the jaw and allowed to heal. Implant support provides a stable non-moving foundation for replacement of missing teeth. Using implants can save adjacent healthy teeth, and help preserve the bone from atrophy.
Cosmetic dentistry should improve the attractiveness of the smile while addressing the dental needs. No matter what level of treatment is required, the dentist should assess the patient’s smile as part of the overall facial appearance. This means taking into consideration the symmetry of the individual’s facial features, including the positioning of the eyes, nose, lips and chin, the ears, the hairline, cheekbones and teeth across the midline. The proportions to each other vertically and horizontally must also be considered with how the smile harmonises with these elements. Aesthetics may be a matter of individual preference, however there’s no doubt that everyone responds to an attractive smile. |
