So we have noticed a new trend that I am going to call the ZOOM gloom, unless there are copyright issues and then I will happily amend this post. With the coronavirus pandemic having locked down a significant number of the population and working from home being the new normal for 2020, we have had some of our patients come back to us feeling unhappy about their appearance. The reasons are two-fold; one is that the pandemic has made people think a lot more about their health and how they look after themselves and the second reason is that they have been staring at themselves for hours on video chats for work!
So if this sounds slightly familiar there are lots of treatments we offer for health and cosmetic reasons that might be of interest to help you achieve your goals!
Tooth whitening
This is a lovely treatment to brighten up a smile and works well for any age. It must be provided by a dental health care professional after a thorough check of your mouth and gums has been done, to make sure that your teeth are healthy first. The treatment is either done at home over a few weeks or months, applying a safe whitening gel to your teeth in a tray or in the chair at the surgery for a more immediate boost with supplemental at home trays too.
The advantages are obvious it can really give a boost to your smile and give some confidence. The downsides when done safely are few, the most common side effect is sensitivity to cold, which usually lasts for a few weeks. We have some wonderful tips for preventing this and it does not usually prevent anyone from having the treatment.
Facial aesthetics
This is not a dental treatment per se, but it is a treatment I offer where the muscles of the face are relaxed in certain places to reduce lines and wrinkles. It can also be used to underemphasize a "gummy smile" where it appears that too much gum is showing when smiling. Believe it or not, in the picture below this patient is raising her eyebrows in both shots taken two weeks apart. She can still move her face, but she is not getting the excessive movement lines and now feels more confident as a result. This treatment can last for 8- 12 weeks or in some lucky patients much longer.
Filling changes or tooth shape changes
Over time fillings become worn, discoloured and break down at the edges. Sometimes the colour of the filling itself is not ideal (silver or black). When fillings in the front teeth start to change colour or look stained with time, it can have a real impact on self esteem. Replacing these fillings can give an instant boost. Below is a case were worn teeth were given a very simple new lease of life and protected from further breakdown too. Changing discoloured or silver fillings can be done to improve your look, or sometimes is a great idea to protect teeth from breaking and protect the health of your smile. If you think this might be a benefit to you, you can book for an assessment now.
Adult orthodontics
This is a treatment that moves the teeth into a better position for health and appearance. It is done either with conventional braces or aligners over 6-18months and is a wonderful treatment and can be done extremely discretely. This is popular often with people who missed out on NHS treatment as teenagers or who had some relapse because they lost their retainers. It is never too late for adult orthodontics and so as long as the teeth and gums are healthy putting them in an optimum position is an option.
Tooth replacement
Sometimes it is as simple as replacing missing teeth that gives confidence and I wrote a blog post about a recent case with some more information about this here.
Total smile redesign
Maybe 2020 is the year that you have decided to have a total makeover. A smile redesign is completely bespoke to you. It is a really detailed and carefully planned process that looks at optimising the health of your teeth and gums, while achieving your aesthetic desires. The process involves photographs, models of your teeth and careful planning stages to ensure you get exactly the result you want. The steps are different for everyone, as some people may need porcelain veneers to achieve their goals, while the best option for someone else may be tooth whitening and filling replacements, or even adult orthodontics. This is a really exciting treatment to have and it can feel daunting when you first get started. Communication is key throughout and I always aim to make sure that I give the information needed in a way that is not too overwhelming but gives you confidence to make choices about your smile.
So if you feel like you may have Zoom gloom and want to have the health of your mouth checked or are looking for some cosmetic options, please get in touch to discuss how we might brighten your year.
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