Best Cosmetic Dentist

Top-rated Cosmetic Dentist near me

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is the dental treatment which a patient undergoes in order to improve the appearance of their smile. This could be the treatment of the teeth – a change in shape, size colour or position. It could also involve treatment of the gums – mainly the positioning or appearance of the gums and also the colour of the gums. Most of the time, this treatment is not essential dental care – such as restorative treatments which include removal of decay or treating gum disease, but is optional treatment provided at our patient’s request. When preparing for this treatment, we always start with a smile design to show the patient, in order to ensure we match the patient’s expectations.

Why is cosmetic dentistry important?

Cosmetic dentistry is important because of the feel-good factor which an enhanced smile can bring to our patients. The balance and symmetry of the improved teeth can boost a patient’s confidence. Most of the time when a patient visits us seeking cosmetic dentistry, it is because they are not happy with their smile. This is often accompanied by insecurities about their individual appearance, which can result in reduced self-confidence, affecting personal relationships at home and at work.

What are the disadvantages of cosmetic dentistry?

The main disadvantage of cosmetic dentistry is the cost involved with some of the treatments. There are some treatments that can go as high as in excess of £20 000 due to the amount of work which is involved. Some of the treatments are not covered by insurance as the insurance companies do not consider cosmetic treatment to be essential health treatments.

Some treatment such as veneers will need replacing every few years – we usually predict a lifespan of about 10-15 years for veneers. Some treatments such as teeth whitening will need regular top ups in order to maintain the whiteness, the frequency of top ups will vary depending personal habits such as how much tea or coffee the patient consumes.

Some treatments can take a very long time, such as complex orthodontic treatments. Very simple tooth movement can take a few months, the complex movement can require several years. If the patient does not respect the retention protocol provided by their dentist, this being the wearing the retainers as prescribed, they are more likely to experience a relapse.

What are the 5 most common cosmetic procedures?

Teeth Whitening is top of the list of cosmetic procedures as this is the most commonly performed treatment by a cosmetic dentist. This is mainly due to the simplicity of the treatment and the low entry level cost of teeth whitening treatments. It is very common to find that everyone who is undergoing any of the other cosmetic treatments I mention below, will at some point also have teeth whitening. There are two types of teeth whitening – take home teeth whitening or in surgery teeth whitening. Read my previous blog to find out about the different types of teeth whitening and which procedure will be best for you.

The next most common procedure we perform is Invisalign. This is using clear aligners to move the teeth into the correct position for better aesthetics. Often the treatment can be done to improve the mouth health, for example relieving crowding in the mouth will make it easier to floss, resulting in making it easier to maintain better oral hygiene. The cost and length of the treatment will depend on how much movement is required.

Cosmetic bonding has become a very popular treatment. We can do so much with bonding – change the colour, shape and size of a tooth. The new generation bonding materials are so tooth like, if the bonding is done very well, no one has to know that you have bonding on your teeth. The treatment is very simple and is usually carried out in one visit.

Changing old silver metallic fillings to tooth coloured composite fillings is also a common treatment procedure. These fillings are simple and can usually be done in one appointment. If they are big fillings, then your dentist may advise you to replace the silver filing with a porcelain restoration such as an onlay or a crown. These are also tooth coloured and the dentist will choose a shade which matches your existing teeth.

Porcelain veneers are a thin shell which is bonded onto the front surface of the tooth structure. Veneers were very common a few years ago, but now dentists are encouraging patients to have less invasive treatments such as orthodontics. The modern-day dentist is very much more concerned about preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. As a result, the veneers we place these days are very thin and involve very minimal tooth preparation. Most experienced cosmetic dentists will be familiar with these new modern techniques.

Can a general dentist do cosmetic dentistry?

A general dentist is able to provide cosmetic treatments, but they will assess the needs of the patient based on their abilities. There are some treatments which are better provided by a specialist or a dentist with a special interest, such as implant dentistry due to the complexity of the surgical procedure. At the Covent Garden Dental Spa, we have a range of experienced providers, see our ‘meet the team’ page. Another example of cosmetic dentistry best provided by a specialist or a very experienced cosmetic dentist, would be what we call a full mouth rehabilitation where most of the patient’s teeth require restoration. We normally see this on patients who have a history of very extensive treatment which is now failing. Or instances where the patient has ground their teeth down so much, they will need to be provided with a series of crowns which restore their previous bite.

What are the best places for dental implants in London?

It is always a good idea to do research about the dental practice before visiting. Check to see if the dentist you are visiting has good reviews for the level of their dental care.  It is best to have dental implant surgery done in a state of the art, modern dental practice in order to ensure the level of the treatment you receive is to an exceptional level. These practices tend to have highly experienced practitioners, so you are more likely to have a pleasant experience.

Why should I choose the best dentist in London?

The best dentist will be one who is ideally located to you, will see you in good time and will provide the dental treatments which you require to a very high standard. There are so many cosmetic dentists in London offering smile makeovers, which makes it hard to ensure you find a good British dental practice. But if you have friends who have been to a good cosmetic dentist, the evidence will be in their smile. We have found that word of mouth referrals are the best, as our patients tend to let their friends know about the great experience they had the Dental Spa. Our 100+ 5 star Google reviews are case in point!