What can I do to improve my smile……..

“I hate the dark line around my front crowns. It wasn’t there when they were first fitted”

You probably have “bonded” crowns and the dark line that you can see is the metal substructure of the crown, onto which the porcelain layer is bonded (hence the name).

At the time of fitting this join between the crown and your tooth was probably hidden underneath the edge of the gum.  Over time your gum has shrunk back a little, exposing the
join line. Think about replacing the crowns with all-porcelain versions so that the join can be hidden again, and even if the gum does shrink back again there is no metal beneath to show as a dark line. All-porcelain crowns tend to look more natural as they transmit light in a similar way to normal tooth enamel.  In some cases the bite against the lower teeth is so close that only a bonded crown will do the job.  We can give you advice on your particular situation.

“I’d love to lighten the colour of my teeth. Does whitening damage the enamel at all?”

No, it stays just as strong. Some people experience sensitivity but this is usually easy to control. Call us if you would like to discuss different options to lighten your teeth.

“I’ve got a wisdom tooth erupting and it’s very sore sometimes”

Wisdom teeth do commonly ache as they push through the gum. Sometimes when they are only partly through, germs or food debris can find their way under the gum flap and make the area very sore indeed. Keep the area as clean as you possibly can. Brush it more thoroughly rather than going over the area very gently even if it is a bit sore and bleeding.
Try chlorhexidine mouthwash and gel from the chemist (brand name corsodyl) but if things are not easing over 48 hours, see your dentist.

“I have a gap between my front teeth which I hate”

Depending on the nature of the gap, you might want to consider orthodontics, crowns, veneers, or bonding. Talk to us about what might work best in your particular situation.

“ I have a denture, and I would love to get rid of it. Can I have implants?”

Implants are false “roots” made of titanium inserted into the jawbone. Once the implant is stable it can be used as the foundation for a crown. Success rates are approximately 80%.  

Implants may not be the best choice to replace a missing tooth; deciding factors will include how good your own oral hygiene is and how much bone is left for the implantologist
to work with. If bone has been lost through gum disease, implants may be ruled out.

“I never had orthodontic treatment as a child. Now my children are having braces, and I’d love to have my teeth done too. Is this possible?”

Yes. Adult orthodontics is becoming very popular for precisely this reason. Treatment takes a bit longer as an adult and is provided privately by a specialist colleague locally.

“Why do I need to use floss/tape? It makes my gums bleed. ”

When you use floss or tape you are reaching the area of gum between the teeth where a brush simply can’t get. The bleeding indicates that the gum is already irritated and inflamed. By using the tape or floss, you are shifting the plaque that causes the irritation, so keep at it! With regular daily use you should notice that the bleeding ceases, indicating healing. Healthy gums don’t bleed and will support your own teeth in your mouth well
into old age.

is invisalign as effective as traditional braces?
A In the hands of a skilled practitioner and when worn according to their recommendation, Invisalign is as effective as traditional braces for most types of treatment.
 
Is it easy to keep your teeth clean with invisalign?
Yes!  Invisalign allows you to remove your aligners for eating and brushing your teeth, so its much easier to maintian proper oral hygiene with the product than it is with traditional metal braces.  Best of all, food will not get caught on any fixed brackets and wires, since invisalign is rmovable and wire free.
 
What are the advantages of invisalign over traditional braces?
In additional to, in some cases improved oral hygiene, it is easy to continue an active lifestyle when wearing your aligners.  Since the device is removable its easy to play sports, play musical instruments, singing and public speaking as the aligners can simply be removed temporarily.