Spaces/Gaps Between Teeth
Many people will experience gaps or spaces between their teeth during their lifetime. Common causes of gaps and spaces include:
Diastema
This term is used to describe the open spaces that may develop between front teeth (incisors), usually due to disproportionate teeth and jaw sizes. A central diastema occurs between the two upper front teeth.
Peg Laterals
These are smaller, often peg-shaped teeth, and are usually found on either side of the two front teeth (in other words, the lateral incisors). This is a very common condition, and can lead to large spaces around these overly small teeth, resulting in a gappy smile.
Crooked/Misaligned Teeth
Teeth that are misaligned and/or crooked can also lead to noticeable gaps.
Solutions to Spaces/Gaps Between Teeth
There are several possible solutions to these problems, and the right one for you will depend upon the nature and extent of your gap(s), your age and the affordability of the relevant treatments. The main options are porcelain or composite veneers,
tooth-coloured fillings or porcelain crowns, and orthodontics; in some cases, a combination of some or all of these options will also be appropriate. At your cosmetic consultation, we will assess your current smile, discuss the various options with you, and come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Broken/Chipped Teeth
Teeth can be broken or chipped in an accident, due to excessive grinding (bruxism), or simply as a result of everyday wear and tear over time, particularly if they have previously been filled and are structurally compromised.
Solutions to Broken/Chipped Teeth
Broken and chipped teeth can be treated with a number of different cosmetic solutions, depending upon the size, type and location of the breakage or chip as well as the prior condition of the tooth. For small chips, a tooth-coloured filling will often be an excellent option. For larger fractures, a porcelain or composite veneer, or a porcelain crown will usually offer the best solution.
At your cosmetic consultation, we will assess your current smile, discuss the various options with you, and come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Worn Teeth
It is natural for teeth to wear down slowly over time, due to everyday use. For some people however, this can occur more quickly and can lead to cosmetic as well as functional issues. The main causes of excessive wear are:
Erosion
This is the chemical wear of tooth enamel, and is generally caused by exposing the teeth to acid. This typically takes the form of sugary and/or acidic drinks, although some foods can also be highly acidic. Acid reflux is another very common cause of erosion. When the enamel of a tooth is worn away, the tooth will usually become more sensitive and is more susceptible to decay.
Grinding (bruxism)
This typically occurs at night time, while you are asleep. Most people are unaware that they are grinding their teeth at night. This can be caused by stress along with other factors, and is extremely common. Grinding your teeth can result in excessive wear and even tooth fractures.
Abrasion
This is the wearing away of the tooth enamel by a foreign object, and usually occurs when you brush your teeth too hard, or for too long. It can also be caused by biting fingernails, chewing pens or bottle lids, and wearing oral jewellery (pierced lips or tongue).
Solutions to Worn Teeth
There are several possible solutions to the problem of worn teeth, and the right one for you will depend upon how worn your teeth are, the location of the wear (this can range from one to all of the teeth) and the extent of any grinding. The main options for addressing worn teeth are composite veneers/tooth-coloured fillings and porcelain veneers/crowns; in many cases, these will also need to be combined with the use of a bite splint at night, to prevent the recurrence of wear and fractures.
At your cosmetic consultation, we will assess your current smile, discuss the various options with you, and come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Missing Teeth
Teeth can be missing for genetic reasons (where the tooth never develops or grows down into the mouth), or where they have been lost due to an accident or as the result of fracture or decay.
As well as having a cosmetic impact on your smile, missing teeth can also reduce your ability to chew and can cause drifting of the remaining teeth which can lead to bite problems, food trapping, and tooth decay.
Solutions to Missing Teeth
The right solution will depend upon whether you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth; how long the relevant tooth has been missing; and the current state of your teeth and gums.
If you have a single missing tooth, an implant or bridge may be the best option. An implant has the benefit of looking and functioning like a natural tooth, whilst helping to retain bone structure where the tooth is replaced. A bridge is also a stable solution that looks natural, although it does not prevent bone loss in the area and will likely involve some preparation on one or two neighbouring teeth.
If you have multiple (3 or more in a row) missing teeth, a bridge on implants may be a preferred option. This will give you excellent function as well as preserving your jawbone.
Another alternative to one or more missing teeth is a removable partial denture. These can also look relatively natural, and are a more economical solution. However, they can result in complications with eating food, do not prevent bone loss and will need to be readjusted over time, as your jaw changes. At your cosmetic consultation, we will assess your current smile and the structural integrity of your teeth, discuss the various options with you, and come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Old Fillings
Old fillings (those that have been in the mouth for more than 10 years) can be prone to leaks, fractures and decay. In particular, old amalgam (silver) fillings expand and contract in hot and cold temperatures, and tend to fracture teeth over a very long period of time due to these changes. They also leak over time, meaning that it is more likely that there will be decay under them.
We will assess your older fillings, using clinical examination and x-rays, to determine if they have any problems. We operate conservatively, and do not remove fillings that are not faulty or likely to cause any issues.
Solutions to Old Fillings
Smaller old fillings (where you have lost less than 40% of the tooth structure) can generally be replaced with new, tooth-coloured (composite) fillings, provided the structural integrity of the tooth remains intact. Larger old fillings (where you have lost more than 60% of the tooth structure) will usually need to be replaced by porcelain crowns. This is because there is not much tooth structure remaining to support a filling, meaning that the whole tooth needs to be covered with a crown to prevent it from breaking or fracturing.
Newer tooth-coloured fillings and porcelain crowns also offer an excellent aesthetic result, especially when compared with amalgam fillings and older composite fillings, which may look different from the surrounding natural teeth. At your cosmetic consultation, we will assess your current smile and the structural integrity of your teeth, discuss the various options with you, and come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Discoloured Teeth
Daily activities such as drinking tea, coffee, colas and red wine can all stain your teeth, as can smoking tobacco. Research shows that a history of antibiotic use when young can also cause dark teeth. There are various other conditions that can affect the colour of your teeth and can cause white or dark areas to develop.
Solutions to Discoloured Teeth
Whitening is often an excellent option for those with discoloured teeth, who wish to improve their smile. It provides an affordable and fairly straightforward solution to suitable candidates.
In some cases, whitening may not be the most appropriate solution; for instance where the teeth are multi-coloured, grey or bluish-grey, or where the teeth have many fillings, cracks and/or chips. In these situations, porcelain or composite veneers or porcelain crowns may be a better option.
At your cosmetic consultation, we will assess your current smile, discuss the various options with you, and come up with a treatment plan that meets your needs.