What are the main reasons people seek or are recommended cosmetic dental procedures?

Most people want white, straight teeth, which give the impression of beauty, health and youth. A beautiful smile gives the person a sense of wellbeing, being perceived to be more attractive by the opposite sex. Beautiful healthy teeth are becoming more a requirement in achieving a good first impression, whether it is a social function or a job interview.

There have been numerous studies that show a beautiful smile can enhance your job prospects and make you more attractive to the opposite sex!

What are some of the most popular – veneers, implants, whitening etc?

Veneers are facings made of dental materials, designed to mask discoloured, unsightly teeth. They can also be placed in a special way to ‘straighten’ teeth, masking any mildly crooked teeth underneath. They are likened to false finger nails. Implants are made of titanium, inserted in the bone to replace any missing teeth. They are great alternatives to the unpopular partial dentures.

Crowns are similar to veneers, but they cover the whole tooth. They are designed to not only strengthen the tooth structure, but also to make them more aesthetically pleasing. Single crowns now can be made within hours, in the same day.

Tooth whitening is very popular. There are two main types. The first type is the take home whitening trays. The patients are fitted with customised trays and they take them home and apply whitening gel into the trays. The procedure takes 10 to 14 days. The second type is the laser procedure, described below. Patients need to be aware that generally, the teeth need to be professionally cleaned first, to give the best result. And whitening will not work on teeth with existing crowns.

Are these expensive procedures?

Like anything else in life, good quality materials/products can be expensive. However, there are different materials available to suit patients’ different needs, with varying costs to suit all budget.

Do you offer laser dental? What is it?

Laser is used for tooth whitening. Here, the patient lies in the dental chair for up to 90 minutes. Whitening gel is then applied to the teeth, activated by the laser.

Laser is also a piece of dental equipment that is used to cut through hard and soft tissues such as teeth, bone and the gums. It is widely used in almost all aspects of dentistry, such as ‘gum lifting’ procedures in cosmetic dentistry, tooth preparations and dental surgeries. We offer both laser procedures at RTD.

Does private medical insurance cover any part of these?

Yes, private medical insurance cover most of these procedures. Each patient needs to check with his or her own provider before commencing treatment.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that you change every two weeks for the next set of aligners. Each aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth, and your teeth only. As you replace each aligner, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position prescribed by your dental provider.

Who is it most suited to?

It is suitable for people who are not keen to wear braces. However, Invisalign may not be suitable for every patient so consult a dental professional for assessment. Why should people look after their teeth throughout their lives for their health and wellbeing?

Fortunately, health and aesthetics go hand in hand. Good dental health usually means the teeth and the gums are healthy, which translates into a beautiful smile. While the eyes are the windows to the soul, teeth  are doors to the body. We can tell so much from our teeth.

For example, when you see teeth with numerous fillings, you know that the person has had poor diet and oral hygiene. Poor diet means they have had too much sugar containing food at some stage of their lifetime. The body has its own checks and balances and if the system is overloaded, something has to give, the body has to compensate. Tooth decay is one of the first signs that we are eating too much sugar. If there are missing teeth, present, mainly due periodontal disease, this tells us that there is a breakdown in the immune system. It is not unusual to find patients with periodontal disease that have other systemic chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Worn down teeth are tell-tale signs that the patients may be stressed, or there could be chronic pain.  On the other hand, when I see my patients with beautiful, straight white teeth, generally, they tend to be happy and healthy people with minimal general health problems.

Dr John Utama has 25 years experience in practice and is one of three Principal Dentists at Robina Town Dental. More at www.robinatowndental.com