YOUR TEETH   by Dr Surine Barnes       Are your teeth white enough?   Sparkling white, straight teeth – a Hollywood smile – are every bride and   groom’s dream, but what are your options?   There are various treatment options for different problems. If your teeth are   already straight, you can simply have them whitened. If you have skew teeth   and old fillings or crowns, you will need a more advanced treatment option   in addition to whitening. It is best to visit your dentist six to eight months   before your wedding day so that there is enough time to implement a good   treatment plan.       Whitening of teeth   What does it mean to have your teeth whitened?   The whitening of teeth involves a gentle bleaching process which restores   the healthy, natural colour of stained or discoloured teeth. Do not be misled   by untested and ineffective over-the-counter products.       Causes of discolouration   The most common causes of discolouration are ageing and the consumption   of foods or liquids – such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, red wine, and especially   tobacco – all of these contain colourants. Accidents or bumping a tooth can   cause the nerve to die, which will also cause the tooth to discolour gradually.       Who can benefit from tooth whitening and is it safe?   Just about everyone can benefit from tooth whitening, although the   treatment is more effective for some people than for others. By means of a   thorough examination, your dentist will determine whether or not you are a   suitable candidate for the treatment. Research and clinical studies have   shown that the whitening of teeth under the supervision of a dentist is safe.       How does whitening work?   There are two main types of whitening:   Whitening that takes place at the dentist’s rooms   Whitening that takes place at the patient’s home       Whitening at the dentist’s rooms   A light-activated gel that releases oxygen and penetrates the tooth enamel is   applied to the teeth. A chemical reaction takes place which whitens the tooth   enamel. The tooth itself remains unchanged. This is a once-off procedure   and it takes approximately two hours.       Home whitening   Impressions of your teeth are taken so that special moulds can be made in   the laboratory to fit your mouth. You take these moulds and the whitening   agent home. Most patients wear their whitening moulds at night while they   are asleep. This is repeated for six to ten nights. The moulds can also be   worn during the day since they are transparent, are not easily visible to others   and do not affect the wearer’s speech.       How quickly will I see results?   Whitening at the dentist’s rooms – immediately!   The results of home-whitening are usually evident after the first night. The   time it takes for the whitening to become visible depends on the original   colour of your teeth, how badly they were discoloured and how regularly the   treatment is applied. Sometimes it is necessary to continue home whitening   for a longer period.       How long will the effect last?   The effect will last for several years. Many patients prefer to touch up their   teeth every six to twelve months by home whitening for one or two nights.   This is particularly popular with patients who tend to consume food and   beverages that can discolour their teeth.       Are there any side-effects?   Some patients may experience sensitivity during treatment. In exceptional   cases, patients may experience a light tingling sensation immediately after   the procedure.       Veneers   What are porcelain veneers?   A porcelain veneer is a thin, semi-transparent material which is permanently   attached to the tooth. Although porcelain veneers are not for everyone, they   are the most aesthetically pleasing solution to a variety of dental problems,   especially for front teeth, for example, if you have one of the following   problems:   Gaps between the teeth   Broken or damaged teeth   Stained or discoloured teeth that cannot be whitened   Teeth that are slightly skew					The benefits of veneers   Veneers offer several benefits, especially when they are attached to the front   teeth:   It is a much quicker procedure than orthodontics   Only a small portion of the tooth’s structure is removed   Veneer is the most suitable material to use next to the gums   A natural look is achieved       The procedure with porcelain veneers   During the first appointment, the teeth are prepared for the veneers and   impressions are taken. The impressions are then sent to the laboratory where   each porcelain veneer is fabricated according to the dentist’s specifications.   Temporary veneers are made so you can walk out of even your first   appointment with a more beautiful smile than the one you came in with.   Another method is also available in which one appointment of three to four   hours is needed for each veneer. This is much more expensive and is only   available at certain practices.       What to expect   Veneers can last a very long time if you look after them properly. Veneers are   much stronger than normal fillings and therefore last and stay whiter for   much longer. You must diligently practise good mouth hygiene at home and   pay regular visits to your dentist for thorough cleaning and check-ups. It is   also important not to damage your new veneers through bad habits such as   nail-biting, using your teeth to open packaging, and chewing tough food.   Treat veneers like normal teeth. They look beautiful and are highly durable.       Crowns and bridges   Crowns are placed over the teeth like a shell when there is no longer   adequate tooth structure for a normal restoration. A bridge works in much the   same way but it is usually recommended only when a tooth is gone   completely and needs to be replaced.       Is a crown suitable for me?   Crowns are excellent for aesthetic purposes and to restore tooth function, and   they improve the general health of your mouth. In instances where a tooth   has broken or major rehabilitation is necessary, crowns are ideal for   protecting what remains of the natural tooth. Crowns are also used to prevent   cracks and breakages in teeth that have undergone root canal treatments.       Is a bridge suitable for me?   In situations where teeth are missing, a bridge prevents the remaining teeth   from shifting, replaces missing teeth, and is an aesthetic improvement.   Bridges can also serve as a more permanent alternative to dentures. Bridges   serve as stable chewing surfaces and can easily be maintained through   regular brushing and flossing.       What happens during the first appointment?   Both crowns and bridges require that the dentist forms the teeth properly in   order to ensure stable support for the specific crown or bridge. An impression   of the teeth is then taken and an exact replica of your mouth is made and   sent to the laboratory so that the crown or bridge can be made according to   the dentist’s specifications. A temporary crown or bridge is used until the   permanent one is ready.       What happens at the next appointment?   As soon as the permanent crown or bridge has been made, the dentist   removes the temporary one. The permanent bridge or crown is permanently   attached with dental cement. These two appointments are sometimes   combined at certain practices. Once again, the longer appointment and   crowns are more expensive, but they do save time.       Orthodontics   This is the treatment option to choose if you have healthy but skew teeth that   you simply want to straighten. Your dentist will refer you to an orthodontist for   specialised treatment if necessary.       Implants   This can be an alternative treatment for a missing tooth. A titanium pin is   implanted into the bone and a crown is placed over it. The treatment takes   three to six months and your dentist will probably work with a specialist.       Clearly a vast array of treatment options are available. Your dentist will   guide you toward an informed decision.                     to top
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