Cosmetic Dentistry

If you have any teeth that are worn down, chipped or stained or small gaps, you could consider dental veneers. These are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-coloured material that are bonded to the front of your natural teeth to improve the appearance by changing their colour, shape, size or length.

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers tend to resist staining more than resin ones and they also mimic the light reflecting properties of your natural teeth more closely. Resin veneers are thinner so do require less of the tooth surface to be removed before placement.

You will normally require 2-3 visits to your dentist, the first to discuss what you would like and whether veneers are the best treatment option for you. Impressions will be taken for the lab to produce your veneers, your tooth will be prepared and then you will come and see us for the all-important fitting to change your smile.

Patients often ask if they can correct crooked teeth by having veneers and for teeth that are not severely crooked, this can often be an option. In more severe cases and in order to preserve the natural structure of your teeth, orthodontics or Invisalign braces would probably be a better solution.

While veneers are often a great option, there are some dental problems for which veneers are unsuitable and alternative treatments such as a crown would be more appropriate. If you grind your teeth or have a ‘heavy bite’, or the tooth is badly broken or heavily filled then a crown would be more suitable.

When you just want to change the colour and not the shape of the tooth you could consider a course of tooth whitening and if there are small defects or chips, dental bonding could resolve the problem.

Tooth whitening is a chemical process using carbamide peroxide. The peroxide in the whitening agent breaks down into tiny molecules that move inside the tooth structure to break down the discolouration. The benefit of whitening is that teeth can be whitened quickly in a simple manner. The amount of whitening varies with each individual. Most patients achieve a change within 2-5 weeks. We use Boutique whitening here at Berners Dental. Award winning whitening- Boutique Whitening has won no less than 7 major industry awards over the past 2 years.

What is the difference between hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide?

A man named Louis Jacques Thenard discovered it in 1818. Hydrogen peroxide is a potent oxidizing agent. The whitening action is a result of oxygen free radicals that oxidize larger pigment molecules into smaller, less visible molecules.

By the European Directive dental professionals are only permitted to sell products that contain a maximum of 6% hydrogen peroxide. Over-the-counter products that do not require the supervision of a dental professional may contain only 0.01% hydrogen peroxide. These products are ineffective in whitening the teeth as the concentration of peroxide is too low.

Carbamide peroxide is hydrogen peroxide compounded with urea. Urea helps stabilise the formula giving carbamide peroxide a more predictable and longer shelf life than hydrogen peroxide alone.

By the European Directive, dental professionals can prescribe up to 16% carbamide peroxide. In the presence of water, carbamide peroxide degrades into urea and hydrogen peroxide. Any given volume of carbamide peroxide will yield 35% volume of hydrogen peroxide when it breaks down.

A notable difference between hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide is the rate of breakdown, and therefore, the rate of release of oxygen ions. Carbamide peroxide is a more stable molecule and breaks down more slowly than hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide releases about 50% of its peroxide in the first 2 to 4 hours, then the remainder over the next 2 to 6 hours.

Hydrogen peroxide breaks down almost immediately, releasing its peroxides entirely within the first hour. It is thought that due to this relatively concentrated bombardment of peroxides on the pulp, hydrogen peroxide produces more sensitivity than carbamide peroxide of a comparable concentration.

How many appointments do you need for teeth whitening?

A typical procedure would require one visit for a comprehensive dental examination. Legally, this must be done prior to teeth whitening. Photographs and impressions can be taken during this visit.

You would then return in two weeks to have your new whitening trays fitted to begin your teeth whitening.

You would whiten for between 3 and 4 weeks.

You would then return for final assessment and photographs to see how effective your teeth whitening treatment has been.

Do you want beautiful straight teeth? Welcome to QuickStraight Teeth.

The QuickStraightTeeth™ orthodontic system uses nearly-invisible braces to gently straighten your teeth, and give you that smile you’ve always dreamed of.

We all want a perfect smile, but all too often, the word ‘braces’ can conjure up images of old-fashioned ‘train-tracks’ or Ugly Betty!

You will be pleasantly surprised by QuickStraightTeeth™. Our braces look beautiful and discreet with top quality tooth-coloured brackets and wires, making them virtually invisible. Most people won’t know you are wearing braces at all and treatments can take as little as 6 months to complete.

With an option to suit almost everyone, QuickStraightTeeth™ can boost your confidence, raise your self-esteem, and give you that winning smile.

What are the benefits?

Cost
Due to low laboratory fees and quick treatment times, QST invisible braces are one of the most cost-effective systems available.

Time
Getting straight teeth, and a beautiful smile is fast! Treatments take anywhere between 4 and 24 weeks depending on complexity.

Appearance
Our braces are tooth-coloured and are nearly invisible in the mouth, so you can get straight teeth without the ‘Ugly Betty’ look.

Comfort
Our braces have been designed to ensure maximum comfort. Not only will they look beautifully discreet, they will feel great too!

0% finance available- please discuss with Jane our Treatment Co-ordinator

[photos from the Invisalign website]

InvIsalIgn®  All you need to know about Invisalign
Nothing is as important as a genuine and heartfelt smile.
Whether in your professional life or when you are out socialising,
an attractive smile can make you feel happier and more relaxed –
as well as making the right impression!1 If you’ve ever thought about how improving your smile could help you to feel more confident, Invisalign® might be for you. With Invisalign, you can have the smile you always wanted, without traditional fixed braces.
What is invisalign?
The Invisalign system straightens your teeth with a series of custom-made clear aligners, which are comfortable and practically invisible. It was developed by Align Technology together with leading orthodontists. And it works –
over 1.4 million patients worldwide have made Invisalign their clear choice.
invisalign aligners...
• are comfortable and virtually invisible.
• gently and continuously move your teeth in small increments.
• are worn for about two weeks. Then you switch to a new set of aligners.
• can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing, or a special occasion.
treatable conditions
By using advanced technology, Invisalign can treat a broad range of dental and orthodontic conditions, which, in the past, were usually treated with traditional braces:
• Overly crowded teeth • Widely spaced teeth • Crossbite
• Overbite
• Underbite

How does the treatment Work?

Overall, an average treatment takes between 9 and 18 months, and is made up of the following steps:
You meet with an Invisalign-trained dental practitioner for a consultation about your treatment.
Based on your dental practitioner’s treatment plan and your dental records, a virtual 3D treatment plan is generated that shows you the movement of your teeth from the current position to the desired final position.
Once you and your dental practitioner have approved the plan, the aligners are made to custom-fit your teeth, and your teeth only. The number of aligners varies for each person.
You wear your aligners about 20 to 22 hours everyday, except to eat, brush, and floss, or for a specific occasion.
Every two weeks, you switch to a new set of aligners. The aligners will gradually move your teeth into their final prescribed position.
benefits
Designed to custom-fit your teeth and go with your lifestyle, Invisalign offers many benefits beyond your brand-new smile:
• It is virtually invisible; hardly anyone will see that you are straightening your teeth.
• It allows you to maintain your dental hygiene and brush and floss as usual.
• The aligners can be removed for eating and drinking or special occasions.
• There is less chance of irritation on your mouth and gums since there are no brackets or wires.
• Even before you start treatment you’ll know how long your treatment may take and what your teeth are expected to look like at the end of the treatment.

How much does invisalign cost?

In most cases, Invisalign costs about the same as traditional braces. Treatment fees are set by the treating dental practitioner

Contact us today, book a consult with Dan Chia and find out if this is for you!