Growing smiles across the country
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the UK in the number of new patients seeking out dental treatments from across all age demographics. The reason behind this increase is often attributed to the recent rise in social media documentation, which in turn has led more people to be conscious of the appearance of their teeth and smiles. Another speculation behind the increase is that it is due to the ‘perfect’ smiles of celebrities, musicians and movie stars which are constantly in front of the public. Whatever the rationale behind the increase, the end result is the same – more people than ever are seeking out the aid of dentists such as Sheen Dental in Richmond, to improve the overall aesthetics of their smiles and to have a healthier, straighter set of teeth.
A cosmetic helping hand
Some of the most popular forms of treatment across the Richmond area, are those which are ‘cosmetic dentistry’ procedures. These span across a range of different procedures, but are typically categorised as any dental procedure which is designed to improve the overall aesthetics of a patient’s teeth, rather than address any structural issues. One of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry available from dentists in Richmond, such as Sheen Dental, is cosmetic teeth whitening. This is a procedure which is designed to eradicate years of superficial stains on a patient’s teeth, and leave them with a renewed, whiter and healthier looking smile. Over time, certain lifestyle choices – such as smoking, drinking red wine, tea and coffee or taking certain medications, can result in the natural enamel on a patient’s teeth becoming dulled or yellowed. Teeth whitening however, allows patients to restore their teeth to a whiter, cleaner state in a matter of hours. This is done by applying a thin layer of peroxide-based whitening gel to the front of a patient’s teeth in the dental practice. Then, a special UV light is shone on to their teeth, this activates the bleaching agent within the gel, which begins to eradicate years of superficial staining on the patient’s teeth almost immediately. Through cosmetic teeth whitening, patients can leave the dental practice the very same day they walked in, with a whiter, healthier looking smile and the self-confidence to match.
Getting things in line
Another, vastly popular method of cosmetic dentistry across the Richmond area, is the installation of discreet dental aligners such as Invisalign. This is a new form of discreet orthodontics which has become greatly favoured by teenagers and young adults over conventional forms of orthodontics. The basis of the Invisalign method works by replacing common orthodontic tools such as fused metal brackets and connecting wires – which are often negatively received due to their effect on the outward appearance – with a removable, transparent plastic retainer. This retainer is constructed from a special, patented plastic known as Smarttrack, and – when worn – uses specifically placed pressure points to gradually push the patient’s teeth back into their correct specifications. One of the main attractions to the Invisalign system, over conventional forms of orthodontics, is that – as each transparent Smarttrack retainer is moulded around the unique contours of a patient’s teeth – when worn, it fits so snugly that it becomes practically invisible. This affords its users the ability to undertake essential dental realignment, without attracting any unwanted attention from their peers or colleagues.