When the tinsel and Christmas tree are down and the family has finally finished all of the leftover turkey, you can finally acknowledge that Christmas is over. With the festivities done, things quieten down and we gradually start to look ahead to the new year and potential self-improvements.
For those of you who are increasingly dissatisfied by the way that your teeth appear, the new year provides a good opportunity to have one of our cosmetic dentists here at the 103 Dental and Implant Practice take a look and offer advice on how to achieve the smile you deserve.
There are numerous ways to achieve this so let’s take a look at a few common aesthetic issues and how we can help you overcome them in the new year.
If you are aiming for a more even smile in the spring or summer, now might be a good time to start the teeth straightening process. Some corrections can take a year or more but there are a number of orthodontic systems that are designed to focus only on the visible front teeth, sometimes referred to as the ‘social six’ teeth, which can often be moved much quicker. An examination will be needed to ascertain if these methods are suitable for your needs and if they are, we have a range of orthodontics that not only work quickly but do so in a less visible manner than traditional metal braces. Our dentists in Edinburgh New Town will also be able to provide you with a treatment time estimate following your consultation.
If people are only aware of one cosmetic dental treatment it will usually be this one. Popularised by celebrities and others, having teeth whitened is becoming almost the norm now amongst younger people who want to keep their smile in the best shape possible. Whiter teeth are not just for young people though. Our teeth darken below the enamel as we grow older and nothing we do can stop this. It just happens. This doesn’t mean that we have to put up with it though and you can have teeth whitening well into your old age if you wish.
While some younger patients might opt for the brightest white possible, the treatment can be adjusted to your requirements and many older people prefer more subtle improvements. We are happy to work with what you want. For more significant discolouration or staining, porcelain veneers which we’ll discuss soon, may be a better option.
A chipped tooth should always be checked by the dentist. If it weakens the tooth or exposes the inner part of the tooth, a filling or similar may be needed. Even where a small chip doesn’t threaten the tooth, it can spoil a smile and there are a few ways that this can be rectified. One option is to use cosmetic bonding, where a small amount of composite material is attached to the tooth and shaped to provide a natural appearance. This can be a good option but a more permanent one is to have dental veneers fitted. These also work well where teeth have visible cracks showing. Veneers often require some tooth preparation where a fine layer of enamel is shaved away and then a fine layer of porcelain, the veneer, is attached to replace it. With good care, veneers can last for ten years or more.
If you have gaps in your teeth, orthodontics (braces) may well be needed. This may not always be the case though and some small spaces can be closed by fitting porcelain veneers. One case in particular where this can work well is for ‘diastemas’, a term usually used to denote a gap between the top two front teeth. While some people find this an attractive look, not everyone does and the gap can cause issues with movement of other teeth as well as sometimes producing a whistling sound when the person speaks. If you would like to see how we can help you, why not book an appointment so that one of our dentists can take a look.
Pretty much anyone who loses a front tooth will replace it as the gap left is very visible. This is understandable, but also means making a decision. Should you choose dentures or dental implants? In our view, implants offer a far better solution, and while dentures still have a role to play, their tendency to move in the mouth at times means that using them for a front tooth can be inconvenient. A dental implant, on the other hand, is securely fixed into the mouth and once the treatment is complete, you can more or less forget about it and consider it as you would a natural tooth.
Please remember that although we provide both NHS and private dental care at our Edinburgh practice, all treatments that are carried out for cosmetic purposes are only available privately. We do have a range of payment plans to help you spread the cost of any treatment though.
We hope that our final blog of the year has given you some food for thought for 2026 and please remember that we are here to answer any questions that you might have about any dental issue, whether general or cosmetic. You will find our team to be helpful and knowledgeable as well, so you will be in good hands.
If you would like to book a consultation for next year, please either complete the form on our website or contact our dental clinic in the New Town area of Edinburgh by calling us on 0131 6083219.
Until the new year then, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all patients of the 103 Dental and Implant Practice a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
