Composite Bonding
As with most cosmetic dental procedures they will eventually need replacing. Typically we see good results of up to 5 to 7 years composite bonding, dependent upon care and 8 to 10 years for traditional lab made veneers
There is no minimum recommendation for this. In order to gain optimal aesthetic results most individuals require approximately 8-10 composite restorations. This allows for a more uniform and symmetrical smile. However, if you only need 1, that's all we'll recommend!
Composite bonding is a single session treatment option which is great to correct smaller imperfections, chips, cracks and minor spacing between the teeth.
Veneers on the other hand are lab made ultra thin sheets of ceramic material which are shaped to fit onto the teeth. They usually require some removal of natural tooth structure to create enough space for the veneer to attach to the tooth. They are normally recommended for larger imperfections of the teeth and as they are lab made, are more costly than composite bonding.
This all depends on the size of the gaps or misalignment. We would always recommend straightening before the bonding as it helps. Slight minor misalignments can be masked with composite.
Composite bonded veneers are able to chip. There are hundreds of reasons why this may occur, but the most common reasons are eating unsuitable foods, chewing or biting hard substances through habit, trauma, grinding at night and natural movement of teeth.
Although traditional porcelain veneers may chip, they are much less suseptable to chipping than composite bonded veneers.
The tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned and then prepared with a gel that roughens the surface microscopically. The putty like composite resin material is then applied using special instruments and brushes to sculpt to the desired shape and shade, often in several layers. Using a special light, the material is then hardened. Further layers can then be added accordingly. The procedure is then completed with smoothing of the tooth surface and polishing.
The composites themselves are done in one appointment. We will always book a consultation appointment first. Most people will have a review appointment after to ensure they are completely happy.
In most cases composite is applied with no obvious drilling to the natural tooth. For cases that require tooth adjustment, you will be advised beforehand in the consultation appointment
Whitening
If you opt for in-practice teeth whitening, it takes about two hours to achieve results, but whitening needs to be maintained with a top-up kit for around a week to ensure the results are permanent.
At-home teeth whitening kits take around two to three weeks to take effect.
The outcome of whitening varies depending on your individual teeth. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the likely results following an initial consultation.
When carried out well, whitening results should be permanent and only need simple top-ups every six to nine months, which you can do at home. Your dentist will provide you with these when necessary.
If you opted for a home-whitening kit to begin with, you can top-up as and when required.
Yes, teeth whitening works if carried out by a trained dental professional. Whitening uses a peroxide-based gel to lighten the teeth. When these chemicals break down, they release oxygen. This gets into the hard, outer surface of your teeth (the enamel) and whitens them.
At-home whitening generally costs less than in-chair whitening because you spend less time in practice. At home whitening is £300
Yes, whitening is safe if it’s done properly. It’s illegal for anyone else other than registered dental professionals to carry out whitening procedures. A dental professional includes dentists, dental hygienists, therapists and technicians - who are registered with the General Dental Council.
Shop bought whitening treatments should only contain 0.1% of hydrogen peroxide. It’s illegal to sell any kits with a higher level than this in the UK.
These low levels of peroxide don’t achieve stable results in the way professional whitening does. Whitening treatments carried out by a dentist can contain up to 6% of hydrogen peroxide, which must be dispensed by a trained dental professional and your suitability will need to be evaluated first.
Some over-the-counter kits are abrasive and work by wearing the enamel away. Your teeth may initially appear whiter but can cause long-term tooth surface loss.
Whitening doesn’t hurt, but it’s common to experience some mild sensitivity either during or after the initial treatment. This should settle down after a couple of days. If it doesn’t, get in touch with your dentist who can give you further advice.
Your dentist can recommend suitable toothpaste and other products to help if you do experience sensitivity. High-quality whitening products, used by dentists, come with anti-sensitivity ingredients incorporated into their gels, to avoid this happening.
Lots of people can have teeth whitening treatment, but some people may not be suitable if they have gum disease or other dental health problems such as tooth decay.
You’ll need to have consultation with your dentist before having treatment, to assess the suitability of your teeth.
No, whitening only works on natural teeth. Restorations such as fillings, crowns and dentures can’t be whitened.
Lip Filler
Swelling and some lumpiness is normal for a few days up to a week or two after injection of filler into the lips.
We typically recommend you wait at least 12 hours before applying any makeup, lip liner or lipstick.
We wouldn't recommend that you have fillers any more frequently than every 6 months
It typically takes about 4 weeks for the filler to settle in and achieve the final, desired look. The results will typically last about 6 months.
As the anaesthetic is not being injected into the desired areas, but rather being absorbed through the pores, although it is pain-free, you can feel some discomfort. Apart from that, the procedure is the same as if you were getting it with an anaesthetic injection.
Always give it a full 2 weeks to re-evaluate and decide if you want to add more. We have also found that it is best to treat the lips in 2 or 3 sessions and build volume slowly instead of too much, too fast for the best natural looking lips. 1.0ml is usually enough in most cases.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Anti-Wrinkle injections typically lasts 3-4 months. There will certainly be patients in which in lasts longer, in that 4-6 month range, or shorter, in that 2-month range. It is also common for first-timers to notice that it may not last as long initially but may last longer after the second treatment
Anti-Wrinkle injections are safe to use long term, and you can stop using them at any time without your skin looking worse than it did before you started them.
Patients claim that it “barely hurts” and many find that the results are well worth any discomfort, even the point of getting it done repeatedly. When the injection is taking place, you will feel a slight stinging at the injection site. This can be reduced by the use of a topical cream or ice pack.
While some results are noticeable after 3 or 4 days, it can take a few weeks to see maximum results. Why this delay? In very basic terms, it takes time for the Botulinum toxin to take effect on the muscle and stop or weaken the muscle contraction that causes the lines and wrinkles to appear on the surface of the skin.
There is no upper age limit for people who want to have anti-wrinkle injections. In fact, many people enjoy the refreshed look they can get from anti-wrinkle injections and complementary treatments when they are in their 60's or older.
In certain circumstances, Botox injections are not recommended, including if: you have a skin infection, you're unwell in any way, you have a neuromuscular condition like myasthenia gravis, you're taking certain medicines, you're pregnant or breastfeeding
Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine that should only be prescribed and given by an appropriately trained healthcare professional, such as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist prescriber, or nurse prescriber.
Legally, the prescriber can delegate the administration of the injections to another person, but they are responsible for ensuring it is given safely and must see each client before prescribing.
If you are offered a much cheaper quote, I would question whether enough product was being used to achieve good results and longevity.
Is the toxin being diluted correctly and not over diluted? Would the practitioner be experienced and available to deal with any adverse
reactions? I recommend researching several practitioners and getting a general over view of what the majority charge, not just opting for the cheapest. It’s your face and your health that is the priority and this should not be compromised in any way.
Invisalign
Chewing gum while wearing aligners is not advised as gum can stick to aligners. It is recommended that aligners be removed for all meals and snacks.
Smoking is discouraged while wearing aligners because it is possible for the aligners to become stained or discoloured. The same way your teeth would stain from smoking.
Smoking can also cause other dental issues such as the the effect it has on gums because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums don’t heal.
Smoking causes people to have more dental plaque and causes gum disease to get worse more quickly than in non-smokers.
Vaping, however, will cause less staining than smoking tobacco.
The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water and using the Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or special cleaning tablets. It’s important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper hygiene.
Only your Dentist can determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment during a consultation.
We can use the Invisalign System to straighten teeth for a majority of adults and adolescents. For teenagers, come in for a free consultation to talk to Dr Anna Allen to see if Invisalign Teen may be the right treatment option for your child.
We can use Invisalign to treat overbites in the vast majority of adults and adolescents. You will find out at your consultation to find out whether Invisalign is suitable for you.
Invisalign clear aligners move the teeth through a series of careful and controlled planned movements. Each aligner will move certain teeth in a particular pre-set sequence which will move the teeth accordingly over the course of treatment. The aligners are dispensed to you in batches with each aligner needing to be changed around 7-14 days
Crowns (tooth caps) are usually not an issue in Invisalign treatment. However, sometimes in Invisalign treatment small tooth-coloured composites called ‘attachments’ are bonded onto teeth to help achieve certain movements, and these are more difficult to bond on crowns than on teeth. In these cases, the location of the crowns needs to be carefully evaluated. We can advise you on this during your consultation.
Due to the technological advancements in Invisalign over the last decade, there is a lot more scope to treat more complex tooth movements with Invisalign. Thus the vast majority of complex tooth movements can be treated with Invisalign.
Because bridges firmly link two or more teeth together, they offer significant resistance to tooth movement. We will be able to work out whether bridges will be a factor in your treatment and let you know at your consultation.
Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible and hardly noticeable when worn.
As the aligners are removable, you can also eat and drink whatever you wish during the course of Invisalign by removing the aligners before a meal, which is not the case with fixed braces which may result in dietary restrictions.
Oral hygiene can be easier to manage as the aligners need to be removed when brushing and flossing.
Brackets and wires are not used with Invisalign and as a result there are less appointments required to change these components compared to Invisalign which can reduce the amount of time taken off work to see the dentist to make these adjustments.
During Invisalign treatment, patients should wear their aligners as often as possible, ideally at least 22 hours per day. Aligners should only be removed to eat, drink, and brush and floss your teeth.
Wearing your aligners as directed by your orthodontist will ensure you get the results you want on the original timetable you were given. How long you wear them for determines how long your treatment may last.
Invisalign applies gentle forces to the teeth over the course of the treatment and there is some initial discomfort as the teeth start to move, but no pain.
Wearing a retainer after any orthodontic treatment is an important step, because it keeps teeth stable in their new positions. If you want your teeth to remain in their ideal position, it’s best to wear a retainer as directed by us. In many cases your last aligner will be your temporary retainer, until your retention option is determined. We can advise you on longer term retention options.
The time taken depends on the complexity of the treatment and is generally comparable to that of traditional braces. During your consultation, we can give you more detailed information.
Patients typically visit us every 6 to 8 weeks to ensure the treatment is progressing as planned, and to receive their next few sets of Invisalign aligners, but we will decide based on your treatment.
With any type of brace system, there will be an adaptation period which may result in a speech change, but this normally only lasts 1-2 weeks
Following consultation we can normally get the aligners shipped and fitted within 3-4 weeks
Retainers must be worn on a part time basis (overnight) for as long as they wish the teeth to remain straight.
This is to do with the complexity of tooth movements with express reserved mainly for one or two front teeth that need minor alignment requirements. More complex tooth movement will fall into the lite and comprehensive Invisalign categories
The virtually invisible aligners are made of strong medical grade thermoplastic material, uniquely developed for the Invisalign® System. The aligners are custom-made for you and fit snugly over your teeth.
No. Unlike traditional wires and brackets, you can eat whatever you like while in treatment because you remove your aligners to eat and drink. Thus, there is no need to restrict consuming any of your favourite foods and snacks. Also, it is important that you brush and floss your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain proper hygiene.