Some people love the cold and darker days of winter, but the truth is that most of us probably can’t wait for the first flowers to appear, longer days and hopefully, a lot more sunshine too. We aren’t quite there yet and it probably isn’t beach weather in this country anyway, but the promise of sunnier days often sees a rise in bookings for smile makeovers at the Clarence Dental Practice.
While this tends to happen naturally, we thought it would be a good moment to discuss why people choose this time of the year and what treatments are likely to benefit you the most.
The vast majority of our Staines patients who come to us at this time of the year for a boost to their smile, simply want to have whiter teeth. We are going to focus on this today and we hope you find the information helpful.
The most obvious reason to have teeth whitened is for aesthetic reasons. There is little doubt that most of us would prefer to have a white smile rather than a dull and discoloured one, or perhaps even badly stained teeth. The warmer days of spring and summer also mean that many of us will be socialising more, and want to look our best when we do so. There is little doubt that a more attractive smile also helps to boost confidence a little and makes us feel better about ourselves.
There are two main dental treatments that can help with this and we will look at both of these now.
This is our most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure, and no wonder. It is non-invasive, so even nervous patients can comfortably have whiter teeth. It is an affordable treatment that produces excellent results in just a short period of time. There is no lengthy planning required for this treatment though it is best to arrange it a little in advance if you are planning to have your teeth whitened for a particular occasion, such as a holiday. While the treatment takes just a couple of weeks to work, it is important that we treat any teeth that need filling etc beforehand, so ideally, it is best not to leave it until the last minute.
Once your teeth are healthy, the treatment can begin. We will take impressions of your teeth and these are used to produce the ‘trays’ that the whitening gel will be put into. This bespoke measuring means that the trays fit comfortably but also securely enough to minimise any risk of the gel leaking onto your gums and causing irritation.
Of course we will also discuss what you are hoping to achieve. This is important as some patients want the maximum whiteness possible while others prefer more subtle teeth whitening, improving the colour of their teeth just a few shades to leave them looking natural, but also improved. Whichever you chose, our Staines cosmetic dentists will be able to adjust the treatment to suit you. You will be shown how to use the trays and you then do this at home, wearing them for a few hours a day. After a week or so, you will start to notice some improvement, with the full results being seen at around two weeks. We are available during your treatment for any help or advice that you might need.
The teeth whitening procedure works best on milder cases and may only have a limited effect where teeth are either badly stained or heavily discoloured. We will discuss this during your initial consultation and, while some people try a teeth whitening first, others move directly to having porcelain veneers fitted. We can also offer advice on this.
Unlike a teeth whitening procedure, attaching porcelain veneers to the teeth does usually require some invasive dentistry. However, this is offset by the fact that, once fitted, the veneers can last you for around ten years or so before they need to be replaced. This simply involves the removal of the old veneers and cleaning off old adhesive before attaching new ones. They offer an excellent means of making heavily stained teeth much more attractive.
To prepare, we need to ‘shave’ away a fine layer from the front of the affected teeth before taking impressions. The impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory where your natural looking tooth veneers will be produced. These are then attached to the prepared teeth using a special adhesive, before being trimmed and polished to give you the best smile possible.
In both cases, teeth whitening and dental veneers, you can be assured that we will provide you with the relevant aftercare advice and are always here if you need any help or have any concerns that need addressing. If you would like to find out how we can help you improve your smile as the seasons change for the better, why not start the process by booking your initial consultation now? You can do this by calling the Clarence Dental Practice on 01784 463 695.
Address: 21a Clarence Street, Staines upon Thames, Surrey, TW18 4SU
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