Cosmetic Dentistry
Not everyone is happy with their smile or how their teeth look. This can have a major impact on a person’s confidence when it comes to interacting and socialising with others. Cosmetic dentistry is a field within general dentistry that focuses on the beauty of a smile and covers treatments that enhance, align, and whiten or tone the teeth for a more attractive appearance.
This includes treatments such as porcelain veneers, white fillings, teeth whitening, orthodontics, clear braces, CEREC and dental implants. These treatments involve special techniques, equipment and a high level of skill from the dental team. We are proud to offer these to our patients here at the practice and have seen many a smile transformed under our roof. If you are embarrassed by your teeth it’s best to speak to your dentist, who can tell you more about the options available in a non-judgemental and empathetic environment and provide you with information about how these can affect your lifestyle while you are undergoing treatment.
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Don’t hide your smile; allow us bring out its natural beauty with cosmetic dentistry.
Smile Makeovers
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If you are unhappy with the way your smile looks, you may be considering cosmetic dental treatment to improve the look of your teeth. There are a wide range of cosmetic treatments available at our practice, with something to suit every patient’s needs and budget. For patients who are interested in cosmetic dentistry but are not sure which treatment best suits their needs, we provide smile makeovers.
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Smile makeovers make use of the latest technology to assess your smile and work out which treatments will work best to give you the smile of your dreams.
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You may be looking for a quick brightness boost in preparation for a special occasion such as a wedding or important business meeting, in which case tooth whitening may give you the smile you’ve always wanted. Alternatively, if your teeth are gappy, crooked or cracked, we may recommend porcelain veneers, composite bonding or discreet orthodontic treatment.
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Once we’ve established what you want to achieve, we’ll use photographs, x-rays and in some cases models to show you what we can do, and discuss the best treatments for your individual case.
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Here’s how it works:
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You’ll visit the practice and discuss with our experienced cosmetic dentist what makes you unhappy about your smile, and what you want to achieve.
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Your dentist will take photographs and x-rays as necessary, and will scan them into the computer.
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They will discuss the various options available to achieve the results you want, and will show you what to expect from various treatment options.
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Once you’ve agreed on your treatment, we will then provide you with a detailed treatment plan. In some cases it is possible to start treatment straight away.
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Life Benefits
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You can see how your new smile will look before you start treatment.
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You’ll be able to choose the best treatment for your individual wants and needs.
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The result will be a healthy, beautiful smile that you want to show off.
Teeth Whitening
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If you are self-conscious about the shade of your teeth or if you have staining on some of your teeth, professional teeth whitening treatment is a safe and recommended option for you to consider.
Here is how teeth whitening works:
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1. You will be assessed for the type of staining your teeth have.
2. A custom tray is made to fit snugly over your teeth.
3. The teeth whitening process is activated by a bleaching agent, which is inserted into the custom tray that transfers it onto your teeth.
Home teeth whitening kits are also available to lighten the teeth more gradually. In this case, the trays with bleaching agent can be worn overnight. With all whitening treatment, individual results will vary and are dependant on your initial tooth colour and the nature of your tooth staining.
Life Benefits
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Effective solution for certain types of tooth discolouration and staining.
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Safe treatment when delivered by a dental professional.
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Cosmetically enhances the appearance of teeth.
Porcelain Veneers
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Are your teeth stained, chipped, or not aligned on top of each other? Veneers are a good treatment option to consider because they look like natural teeth and don’t require a major procedure. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps when braces are not suitable. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.
Here is how they work:
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1. A veneer is a very thin, tooth-coloured piece of porcelain (like a false finger nail, but more durable) that is bonded on top of your own tooth.
2. Based on your needs, the shape and size of the veneers can be adjusted to make your teeth overall look longer and or closer together.
3. You can have just one veneer fitted or a whole set, known as a smile makeover.
Life Benefits
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Simple and quick solution to improve the cosmetic appearance of teeth.
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Long-lasting smile enhancement.
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Natural-looking restoration.
Crowns
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A crown is a type of dental restoration used to fix teeth that have been broken, weakened by decay or contain a very large filling.
Here is how it works:
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1. An impression is taken of the tooth that needs restoring.
2. A crown is made in the dental laboratory to fit the tooth precisely and match the neighbouring teeth.
3. The tooth is then prepared and the crown fitted securely on top.
A crown could be a good solution for you if you have some discoloured fillings and would like to improve their appearance. Crowns can be used to replace these to give you a more appealing smile. Additionally, if you have had root canal treatment you will need a crown to protect or cap the restored tooth, allowing you to eat and bite down on it as if it was a real tooth. Crowns are also used to anchor a bridge or denture firmly in place in the mouth.
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Life Benefits
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Strengthens remaining tooth structure.
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Natural-looking restoration.
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Functions like a real tooth, so you can bite and chew as usual.
Short Term Orthodontics
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An effective long-term solution to straightening your teeth and correcting your bite is orthodontics. Orthodontics is a subspecialty area in dentistry that focuses on aligning and straightening teeth using wires and brackets or clear aligners to apply gentle pressure to the teeth to move them into a particular position. The discipline has advanced over decades and today treatment is a lot faster and more comfortable than it was in the past.
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Here is an overview of orthodontics:
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1. Patients who have problems with their bite and the way their top and bottom teeth line up against each other are good candidates for orthodontic treatment.
2. Impressions, photos and x-rays are taken at the start of treatment to determine the course of action.
3. Brackets are bonded to individual teeth and wires clip onto them that gently guide the teeth into position over time.
4. Good oral hygiene habits are essential during treatment and regular visits are required for check-ups and adjustments.
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Life Benefits
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Straighter teeth are healthier teeth, as there are no gaps for plaque to build up in over time.
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Having an attractive smile will have a positive effect on your confidence.
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Orthodontics is a long-term investment in your oral health.
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Thanks to fixed permanent retention you can be assured that your teeth won’t move after treatment is completed.
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At Oakmount Dental Care we are pleased to offer both Cfast and Invisalign Treatments.
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Both Cfast and Invisalign Treatments include free teeth whitening to complete your perfect smile.
Clear Aligner
SmileTRU is a series of removable clear aligners for those patients who cannot, or choose not to wear a fixed appliance.
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Each positioner is designed to fit over the teeth and apply gentle forces to gradually move the teeth. Each aligner is worn for 22 hours a day for 2 weeks. After this time, the aligner should feel passive and you can then move onto the next positioner that has further movements built in. This step by step approach ensures that you are only applying gentle forces to the teeth which is both good orthodontic practice and minimises any discomfort when wearing the positioner.
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As the positioners are removable, clear aligners offer minimal discomfort and impact on your daily routine compared with traditional Orthodontic treatment.
Clear Brace
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Cfast clear braces are a simple, gentle and minimally invasive cosmetic treatment that corrects alignment issues with the top and bottom front six teeth, and can level and round out the arches, thus satisfying the needs of the vast majority of adult patients who seek orthodontic treatment.
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Cfast uses clear orthodontic brackets and tooth-coloured nickel-titanium wires. The treatment works much like that using clear aligners, but tooth movement is much more predictable and usually more than twice as quick.
The nickel-titanium wires put gentle pressure on the brackets to level and align the teeth with minimal discomfort to the patient. The gingiva follows this movement to achieve a fully aesthetic outcome.
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With clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires, Cfast is barely noticeable – and worn for only a fraction of the time compared to traditional braces means it is a more affordable option.
Book your 15 minute free consultation today!
Invisalign Treatment is the process of wearing a series of clear, removable aligners that gradually straighten your teeth. No brackets and wires, and none of the restrictions that come with metal braces.
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Invisalign clear aligners are made of flexible plastic — specifically, a patented thermoplastic material called SmartTrack created exclusively for Invisalign Treatment.
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Invisalign Treatment can be a great solution for adults looking for a virtually invisible method to improve their smile. The innovations and technological advancements make it possible to fix nearly all common teeth-straightening and bite issues, from simple to complex — all without interrupting your busy life.
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Your Invisalign clinician will create a unique, digital treatment plan that maps out the exact movements of your teeth. Your clear aligners are then designed to apply the right amount of force to the right place at the right time based on your plan. Your Invisalign clinician will be with you every step of the way to monitor your progress and ensure your aligners fit correctly.
Composite Bodning
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Composite bonding (also known as cosmetic bonding or dental bonding) is a minimally invasive and versatile treatment that uses a tooth-coloured composite resin material, carefully sculpted, to change the shape, colour and/or alignment of your teeth.It can be used to conceal imperfections such as chipped, cracked, or discoloured teeth. It is also used for closing gaps between teeth.
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Depending on your need, it can be used for both minor modifications, as well as more complicated tooth reconstructions – making it suitable for both trauma and cosmetic needs.
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What are the benefits of composite bonding?
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Unlike crowns or veneers, none of your tooth needs to be removed, so not only is it minimally invasive, it can usually be carried out in just one treatment visit to your dentist. It’s a fast and effective way to address both minor and more complex requirements, making it suitable for those who have suffered trauma or those who have some cosmetic requirements. Because the composite is hardened in the chair, the aim is for you to to leave with a tooth that can be comfortably bitten down on by the end of the appointment. However, we recommend you avoid biting anything hard for at least 48 hours.
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What is the treatment process?
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As with all of our treatments, the key is to start with a thorough initial consultation. This is to ensure that you understand everything that is involved with your treatment, including the options available, the costs and the full process. Providing you have a healthy mouth that can accommodate the treatment, your dentist will take the following steps:
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They will start by choosing a resin that best matches your natural tooth colour. Often the teeth are whitened first to provide a brighter base colour for the smile, and the composite resin is then matched to the lighter colour.
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Once this has been chosen, your tooth surfaces to be treated will need to be slightly roughened to prepare the surface for bonding.
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A smoothing liquid is then applied that helps the adhesion of the resin (bonding).
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The composite resin will then be applied to the required area(s) and moulded into the required shape.
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Using a blue light (similar to an ultraviolet light) the resin is hardened before undergoing a final shaping.
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The final stage is to polish the resin until it blends seamlessly with the rest of the tooth/teeth.
​Contact Oakmount Dental Care today to find out more.