Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is one of the major growth industries of recent years, with many ordinary people feeling that there is no reason that they should not have the perfect smile that up until recently was the preserve of Hollywood stars. Private clinics offer many different types of cosmetic dentistry, so whatever you would like to change about your teeth, there is a strong chance it is achievable!

And with many of the recent members of the EU now offering the kinds of expert, specialist, cosmetic dentistry that once was only available in the US and for the wealthy, there has never been a better time to travel abroad, and combine a great cultural holiday with getting top-quality cosmetic dentistry at a private clinic, and save serious money while doing so!

Many overseas locations are popular for Cheap Cosmetic Dentistry. In Europe, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary are becoming increasingly popular with medical tourists, while further afield, Thailand, India and the Dominican Republic are some of the choices for saving money on Dental work.  Argentina is becoming an especially popular destination for cheap, high quality dentistry.

Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures:

Teeth Whitening

Ceramic Veneers

Composite Inlays

Porcelain Crowns

Dental Implants

Professional Tooth Cleaning and Polishing

Dental Braces and Invisible Braces

You may have found yourself asking whether your natural preference for a 'perfect smile' is possibly nothing more than vanity. This is one of those questions that many of us will have asked ourselves, when we find ourselves worrying about our teeth, or whether to go ahead with getting cosmetic dentistry. The only people who wouldn't be so concerned about whether wanting perfect teeth is vanity are those people who are unashamedly vain!

The fact is, though, that throughout time and in all cultures, people have always felt that perfect teeth were desirable, both for ourselves and also in our mates. We have always looked at healthy white teeth in other people as one of those indicators of health and vitality, and they are also a clue to whether a person pays attention to their grooming. We are most probably genetically-inclined to value good teeth, as healthy teeth would have been necessary to our survival, and would certainly have been a quality that we would have wanted to pass on to our children. Because of this, many people are now travelling abroad for more affordable cosmetic dentistry.

There is also increasing evidence that whiter teeth and a more attractive smile tend to influence our success or lack of it with in the employment market. Try and think of a successful or influential person with bad teeth, and you will probably struggle to think or more than a handful. And if you were to look within certain professions, such as sales or acting, and you will almost certainly not be able to think of more than one or two. (It is probably fair to say that the majority of these men and women with perfect white teeth did not have them naturally, but rather from paying for cosmetic dentistry!)

Maybe this is because employers have a subconscious preference for employees with good teeth, and it may be partly due to the boost in confidence that being able to smile comfortably can give you. As we know, most of what we communicate to others is delivered by our body language and tone of voice, rather than the content of what we are actually saying. So isn't it possible that the fact that you are comfortable to smile more openly indicates to others that you are a more confident, charming and honest person? All valuable traits in the dating game and the employment market!

Who really knows; maybe it is vanity, or maybe cosmetic dentistry is an investment in your future. There has certainly been a massive industry built around cosmetic dentistry, and there are no shortages of different dental treatments and tooth whitening systems available, with something to suit everyone's budget!

Teeth Whitening

This is the most affordable and popular form of cosmetic dentistry. Everybody wants whiter teeth! There are two main forms of teeth whitening: The professional, in-clinic variety and the various home teeth whitening systems.

In both instances, it is a process of bleaching the teeth to remove the build-up of stains that can result from smoking, and drinking red wine, tea or coffee. Bleaching in a professional cosmetic dental clinic is the longer, more effective and rather costlier option. A bleaching agent is applied to the teeth, and then the stains on your teeth are exposed to irradiation. The stains are removed by the oxidisation caused by this process, resulting in whiter teeth. The whole process can be expected to last two hours.

Find out Which Countries Offer the Best Savings for Teeth Bleaching!

Compare Prices for Laser Teeth Whitening!

Home teeth whitening kits are available in many forms, but the more effective of these involve applying a bleaching agent, much as happens at the dentist. As you will not be getting the benefit of the irradiation part of the treatment, the process is slower, and it will take around a week to see the full benefits. The are also whitening pens available.

The main risk involved with both the in-clinic and home whitening methods is the accidental swallowing of the bleaching agent, and also a possible irritation of the gums.

The teeth whitening toothpastes that you can often see available do not contain a bleaching agent, so cannot really be expected to have an impact on any stains on your teeth. They are better thought of as being teeth-polishers than actual stain removing products.

Learn more about home teeth whitening kits

Ceramic Veneers

Veneers in cosmetic dentistry are a thin layer of ceramic or synthetic compound that is bonded to the teeth to cover fractures and discolouration, to cover less aesthetic dentistry that was done previously, and to close gaps between teeth. Generally, ceramic is best suited for cosmetic work, as it more closely matches the material of actual teeth.

Often, veneers are used when teeth whitening has not been as successful as would have been liked, and they also frequently used as an alternative to crowns. Unlike crowns, they do not cover the whole tooth, but just the affected part of the tooth.

A very thin layer of the tooth is removed to allow the veneer to adhere properly. Then an impression is taken of the remaining tooth, to get a perfect match between veneer and tooth, and then veneer is bonded to the tooth.

When done by a skilled cosmetic dentist, a veneer can easily last for upwards of 15 years.

Click Here to Find Out Which Country Offers the Cheapest Price for Ceramic Veneers.

Composite Inlays

Composite inlays are an advanced, more aesthetic alternative to traditional tooth filling materials. Formed from tiny particles of ceramic, bound together with a synthetic substance to enable modelling, the inlays are virtually invisible. Once in place, the still pliable material begins a hardening process, which is started with exposure to ultraviolet light.

Layers of the composite are added one by one, which is a highly skilled task.

It should be noted that the close resemblance of the materials used to the actual teeth makes it very difficult for your cosmetic dentist to differentiate between where the tooth ends and the composite begins; therefore it is advisable to only get this treatment performed by an expert with sufficient experience.

Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns are recommended by dentists to fill cavities and tooth spaces, as they are durable, indistinguishable from your own teeth, and do not cause allergic reactions.

The dentist will recommend a crown when the tooth is too damaged, through decay or accidental damage, for an inlay or filling to be successful.

Crowns are expensive, as the work is highly skilled, using state-of-the-art technologies. However, once done, and with proper dental hygiene, porcelain dental crowns can easily last for upwards of 30 years. Another bonus is that the materials used can transmit the sensations of heat to the nerves in the same way that your natural teeth do, so you really will not notice the difference!

Many patients choose to travel abroad to get this kind of work done, as it can be very much cheaper in other countries.

Dental Implants

When the tooth and roots have decayed beyond a certain stage, Dental Implants can be the answer to restoring the appearance of your smile.

Dental implants typically consist of titanium or ceramic compounds, and as well as replacing teeth can also form bridges and anchor points for other implants to fasten to.

It is important that the entire jaw is extensively checked, as, particularly in older patients, the jaw bone can lack strength and be unsuitable for this treatment. In this case, the jaw bone can be strengthened artificially, but you can expect the procedure to be much lengthier and costlier.

Dental implants are very much not the cheapest way to replace decaying teeth, and people considering them would be wise to compare the cost between the procedure in different countries. Dental implant prices are, without a doubt, substantially cheaper abroad...

When deciding whether to go for dental implants, it should be taken into consideration that sometimes the operation is unsuccessful, but the patient will still be required to pay for the implantation, unless it can be proved that the dentist made a large error. For this reason, you should make sure that the operation is being done by a fully-trained and experienced specialist in this area.

Professional Tooth Cleaning and Polishing

As we all know, plaque and scale are extremely damaging to the teeth. The best prevention for this damage is to visit the dentist two times a year for a full tooth cleaning and polishing.

The scale is particularly efficient at picking up stains from tea, coffee, red wine and tar from cigarettes. Before you start to consider other teeth whitening measures, you are recommended to get your teeth professionally cleaned and polished.

A combination of ultrasonic cleaning equipment, high-pressured water jets and abrasors and scrapers take care of the cleaning. The polishing is done with a specially designed polishing paste, and then a fluoride gel is applied to the teeth to strengthen the enamel.

At the end of the procedure, your teeth should have a much whiter, smoother look and feeling. As everyone's teeth are different shades of white, if they are not white enough after this process, you may like to consider teeth whitening.

Dental Braces and Invisible Braces

Dental braces are a method used in dentistry to correct poorly aligned teeth, and closing gaps between the teeth. Long popular amongst children, or at least their parents, dentists are now fitting braces to the teeth of British adults quite frequently as well. The treatment can often take five or so years for the results to reach completion, but for the people who undergo wearing the braces, it is definitely worth it!

Nowadays, braces can be a lot more discreet than they used to be, and at the opposite end of the spectrum are also available in a range of funky colours. Certainly not how it was when I was a kid!

The new big thing, though, is invisible braces. Developed and produced by Invisalign, they feature transparent rails, and achieve results in a gentler as well as less obtrusive way. They are removable, and because there are not the normal metal clasps, wires and sharp edges, damage and inflammation in the mouth is unlikely. Another benefit is that the process is quicker, generally taking from about one to one-and-a-half years compared to the five years expected with the traditional type of braces.