My smile: time for a makeover

From teeth whitening to dental veneers, there are simple and effective cosmetic treatments that will help you to achieve a ‘smile makeover’

Having the ‘perfect smile’ with completely even, white teeth may be rare, but there are plenty of things you can do to improve yours if you opt for a smile makeover.

We all have blemishes in our mouths – gaps, staining, crooked or chipped teeth – which we may not be happy with. This can lead us to ‘hide’ our teeth when smiling and can affect our confidence in social or business settings.

But thanks to modern dentistry, there are now cosmetic treatments you can get which will fix these issues and go a long way to restoring your smile – and your self-confidence.

Consultation

When considering a ‘smile makeover’, the first thing to do is talk to your dentist. He or she will be able to advise you on what you can do and what you should do if you want to correct any perceived imperfections in your teeth.

Indeed, they might tell you that you have fine, strong, healthy teeth and that doing any cosmetic treatment is not worth the time and effort at this particular time. However, they will also be able to advise you on the best course of treatment for you, bearing in mind issues such as time and budget.

Cleaning

The first thing they will most likely advise is that you have a ‘clean, scale and polish’ treatment with a dentist or dental hygienist. Not only does this improve the look of your teeth, but it is also crucial for maintaining good oral health, particularly when combined with a proper cleaning routine at home.

Don’t forget that, if you are a PRSI payer, you should be able to get this done for just €15 at Northumberland Dental Care as part of the Government’s Treatment Benefit Scheme. You can call us on 016533673 or email the team on info@nidm.ie and we will check if you are eligible.

Teeth whitening

This is probably the most straightforward treatment for improving the look of your smile. While there are treatments such as whitening strips that you can buy from pharmacies, getting it done with a professional dentist is much more effective.

Here at Northumberland Dental Care, we use a whitening gel combined with unique moulds created specially for you to allow you to whiten your teeth at home under our supervision. You will see the benefits of this very quickly.

Dental veneers

Dental veneers are an increasingly popular measure among patients as a way of covering up minor blemishes on your teeth and are very effecitve in creating that perfect ‘smile makeover’. They can be used to cover small gaps or stains. They are essentially very thin strips of material – either made of ceramic or ‘composite’ resin – that your dentist attaches to the front of your teeth.

Crowns

As the name suggests, dental crowns are ‘caps’ that are put on top of a damaged tooth. While functional, they are also cosmetic as they are designed to look like your own teeth.

Your dentist will first prepare the original tooth for the crown by shaping it; then a crown will be custom-made for you and attached using an adhesive or cement.

Bridges

A dental bridge is generally used if you are missing teeth. It works by ‘bridging’ the gap between your other teeth. Usually crowns are created first so that the bridge can be affixed. Bridges will work and look like your natural teeth, thus restoring your smile.

Bonding

Dental bonding is used to sort out minor problems with your teeth, such as small cracks, a chipped tooth, staining or tiny gaps. It effectively fills in the area affected using a composite dental material and can generally be done in just one visit to the dentist.

Orthodontics

One of the most common problems people encounter is crooked teeth. This is usually fixed in children when they are aged about 9-14, but more and more adults are also opting for orthodontic treatment as it becomes more effective and less intrusive.

During a consultation, your dentist will be able to advise you whether orthodontic treatment will be suitable for you and which type would work best. This can range from fixed braces to clear aligners.

Again, it is important to bear in mind that orthodontic treatment is not just cosmetic; it is important for maintaining good oral health as well and ensuring you have a good ‘bite’.

Summary

Advances in modern dentistry mean that there is no issue that cannot be fixed and getting a ‘smile makeover’ is easier than ever before. Cosmetic treatments can help restore your smile and your confidence, as well as making sure you have good, strong, evenly spaced teeth.

Find out about all the general, specialist and cosmetic treatments available in Northumberland Dental Care on our website. To book an appointment please contact us.