Cosmetic Dentistry
Smile Enhancement
White Fillings
Why should I consider white fillings?
Most people have fillings of one sort or another in their mouths. Nowadays fillings can be natural looking. Many people are more conscious about the way they look, so they don’t want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile. White or tooth coloured fillings provide a more natural, mercury-free alternative to traditional silver amalgam fillings. They also allow for a minimally invasive restoration meaning more of your natural tooth can be preserved.
White fillings can be used in the front or the back of the mouth. They are the ideal, natural-looking way, to restore strength and function to damaged teeth. Your dentist can build up cracked or chipped teeth with a white filling to restore each tooth to its original look and feel or, it can be used to close gaps, reshape uneven or short teeth and filling cavities caused by tooth decay.
At West Green Dental our white fillings are available in a wide range of shades and opacities. Our team of highly trained dental professionals are able to build up white fillings through a complex ‘layering technique’ to create perfect, yet invisible, restorations that blend into the rest of your smile
Are white fillings as good as silver amalgam fillings?
White fillings have always been considered less long-lasting than silver amalgam fillings. But there are now new materials available that are comparable to silver amalgam, and these are proving to be very successful. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. Your dental team can advise you on how long your fillings should last.
Is it worth replacing my amalgam fillings with white ones?
It is usually best to change fillings only when your dental team decide that an old filling needs replacing. If so, you can ask to have it replaced in a tooth-coloured material.
Some dentists prefer not to put white fillings in back teeth, as they are not always successful. One way around this would be to use crowns or inlays, but this can mean removing more of the tooth and can be more expensive.
What are tooth-coloured fillings made of?
This can vary, but they are mainly made of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient. Your dental team should be able to give you more information about the particular material they use.
Contact us
Aesthetic Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are dental restorations that are made to cover a tooth where conservative fillings are insufficient to restore function and shape. A bridge is made to replace one or several missing teeth by joining adjacent crowns together, to span a gap. Bridges can be supported by natural roots or dental implants and provide a fixed solution to unsightly gaps or removable dentures.
Crowns and bridges can be made of a wide variety of materials; entirely tooth-coloured material, precious metal or a combination of both.
In situations where aesthetics are of importance i.e. front teeth, we can use metal free, beautiful all ceramic (porcelain) crowns and bridges which are colour matched to your existing teeth. The Porcelain product we most often use for private crowns and bridges at the front of the mouth is the IPS e.Max porcelain. This is extremely strong, highly aesthetic and natural looking whilst at the same time also friendly to the soft tissues. This minimizes the ‘dark neck’ sometimes seen on traditional types of crowns.
What happens when I have my new crown made?
Once your dentist and you have decided if a crown is the best treatment for you in order to protect the underlying root, enhance the appearance and restore function in the tooth, the dentist will reshape the tooth that needs treatment so that there is room for the porcelain, take impressions of the teeth and make a temporary crown.
The dentist will discuss the shape, size, position and colour of the crown or bridge. The impressions are then collected by the technician who will manufacture your crown/bridge according to the dentist’s specifications.
Contact us
Veneers
What is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false fingernail fits over a nail. Sometimes a natural-colour ‘composite’ material is used instead of porcelain.
When would I need a veneer?
Veneers can totally transform the look of your smile, they are also an ideal treatment option for teeth that have been badly stained (and cannot be improved by teeth whitening), for closing gaps or spaces in your smile, for badly chipped teeth, or for teeth that have been ground down over time from tooth grinding.
What are the advantages of veneers?
Veneers make teeth look natural, healthy, brighter and whiter. Because they are very thin and are held in place by a special, strong adhesive, very little preparation of the tooth is needed. Some types of veneers don’t need any preparation at all.
How are teeth prepared for a veneer?
Some of the shiny, outer enamel surface of the tooth may be removed, to make sure that the veneer can be bonded permanently in place later. The amount of enamel removed is tiny and will be the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted.
A local anaesthetic (injection) may be used to make sure that there is no discomfort, but often this is not needed. Once the tooth has been prepared, the dentist will take an ‘impression’ (mould). This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer.
The colour of the surrounding teeth is matched on a shade guide to make sure that the veneer will look entirely natural.
How long will it take?
A veneer takes at least two visits. The first is to prepare the tooth and match the shade, and the second is to fit it. Before bonding it in place, your dentist will show you the veneer on your tooth to make sure you are happy with it. Bonding a veneer in place is done with a special adhesive, which holds it firmly on the tooth.
Will I need a temporary veneer between visits?
Because the preparation of the tooth is so slight you will probably not need a temporary veneer. The tooth will look very much the same after preparation, but will feel slightly less smooth.
What happens after the veneer is fitted?
Only minor adjustments can be made to the veneer after it is fitted. It is usually best to wait a little while to get used to it before any changes are made. Your dental team will probably want to check and polish it a week or so after it is fitted, and make sure that you are happy with it.
How long will a veneer last?
Veneers should last for many years; but they can chip or break, just like your own teeth can. Your dental team will tell you how long each veneer should last. Small chips can be repaired, or a new veneer fitted if necessary.
What about alternatives?
A natural-coloured filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth. This is excellent when the tooth can support a filling, but may not work so well for broken tooth corners. There will always be a join between the tooth and the filling material.
Crowns are used for teeth which need to be strengthened – either because they have broken, have been weakened by a very large filling, or have had root canal treatment.
If you are thinking about having veneers, please contact us for more information by calling us on 0208 888 2408 to arrange a consultation.
Contact us
Teeth Whitening
What is tooth whitening?
It is a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentine. It uses a mild solution retained in custom-fitted trays that is worn over your teeth. Tooth Whitening is one of the easiest cosmetic treatments and can give fantastic results in a short period of time, as most teeth lighten within a few weeks.
What causes tooth discoloration?
There can be a number of reasons for tooth discoloration, including consumption of tea, coffee, wine etc. Also aging has an effect on one’s teeth. During tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline or excessive fluoride may also cause discoloration.
Who may benefit form tooth whitening?
Before starting treatment, our dentist conducts an examination to determine the suitability of the treatment. If you have discoloured teeth then you are most likely suitable for a whitening treatment.
Is the process safe?
Yes, whitening is a safe procedure. Once our dentist has conducted their examination and suitability of the treatment on the patient, then they can recommend which whitening treatment will have the best results. Teeth whitening is considered to be a safe cosmetic dental procedure.
How does it work?
The whitening gel is placed in a thin bleaching tray that fits over your teeth. The active ingredient in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient in the gel is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentine and bleaches the coloured substances. The structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth colour is made lighter.
How long does it take?
Results can be seen soon after the gel is applied. Best results however come after 10-14 days of application.
Are there any side effects?
Some people experience temporary increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment. These symptoms disappear within 1-3 days after interruption or completion of the treatment.
Tooth Whitening at West Green Dental
At West Green Dental we offer a home whitening system.
Home Whitening
The ‘home whitening’ system is where we give you custom-made trays to take home with you. The trays are used in conjunction with a special gel and are worn overnight.
The system we use is Phillips Zoom Nite White ACP. It is a state of the art at-home whitening kit which will give you a visibly whiter smile in one day and your whitest healthiest smile in seven to fourteen days. It contains amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), which is clinically proven to reduce sensitivity, protect enamel and help improve the lustre and smoothness of the teeth.
If you would like to book your appointment for teeth whitening, please call our team on 0208 888 2408
Contact us
Tooth Straightening
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects irregularities of the teeth and jaws. Treatment involves using a variety of appliances to move teeth to a better position by applying gentle forces.
As well as enhancing the appearance of teeth, there are a number of other benefits to receiving orthodontic treatment. It can improve eating and speaking ability, as well as encouraging better oral hygiene as teeth become easier to clean in their straighter position.
Braces can be used to successfully treat a range of issues from crooked, crowded, overly spaced and twisted teeth to more serious malocclusions (upper and lower teeth not biting together properly) and misalignments.
At West Green Dental we can offer you an assessment if you have any orthodontic needs and refer you to a specialist orthodontist.
We also offer removable appliance orthodontic treatments ( Without braces ) using Invisalign, Inman Aligners and Clear Aligners.
This removable appliance is a quick, simple alternative to traditional braces. It consists of a coil spring and a bar, which work in unison to guide teeth to the required position.
Why you may need treatment
You may have mild to moderate crowding or protrusion of the front teeth.
The benefits of treatment
- Almost invisible
- Fast-acting
- Custom-made with cutting-edge technology
- Comfortable, hygienic and removable
- Predictable results
- Can be removed for cleaning and eating
How we treat you
We check if you are suitable for this type of treatment and if so, we take impressions so the Inman Aligner can be produced just for you. Once fitted you need to wear the aligner for 16-20 hours a day for the best results.
You will need to have regular check-ups to ensure treatment is progressing as expected.
What else you need to know
You may experience some minor discomfort for a few days when your aligner is first fitted but this should quickly ease.
As with all orthodontic methods, you will need to wear a retainer following treatment to prevent your teeth from moving back to their former position.
Contact us
White Fillings
Why should I consider white fillings?
Most people have fillings of one sort or another in their mouths. Nowadays fillings can be natural looking. Many people are more conscious about the way they look, so they don’t want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile. White or tooth coloured fillings provide a more natural, mercury-free alternative to traditional silver amalgam fillings. They also allow for a minimally invasive restoration meaning more of your natural tooth can be preserved.
White fillings can be used in the front or the back of the mouth. They are the ideal, natural-looking way, to restore strength and function to damaged teeth. Your dentist can build up cracked or chipped teeth with a white filling to restore each tooth to its original look and feel or, it can be used to close gaps, reshape uneven or short teeth and filling cavities caused by tooth decay.
At West Green Dental our white fillings are available in a wide range of shades and opacities. Our team of highly trained dental professionals are able to build up white fillings through a complex ‘layering technique’ to create perfect, yet invisible, restorations that blend into the rest of your smile
Are white fillings as good as silver amalgam fillings?
White fillings have always been considered less long-lasting than silver amalgam fillings. But there are now new materials available that are comparable to silver amalgam, and these are proving to be very successful. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. Your dental team can advise you on how long your fillings should last.
Is it worth replacing my amalgam fillings with white ones?
It is usually best to change fillings only when your dental team decide that an old filling needs replacing. If so, you can ask to have it replaced in a tooth-coloured material.
Some dentists prefer not to put white fillings in back teeth, as they are not always successful. One way around this would be to use crowns or inlays, but this can mean removing more of the tooth and can be more expensive.
What are tooth-coloured fillings made of?
This can vary, but they are mainly made of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient. Your dental team should be able to give you more information about the particular material they use.
Aesthetic Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are dental restorations that are made to cover a tooth where conservative fillings are insufficient to restore function and shape. A bridge is made to replace one or several missing teeth by joining adjacent crowns together, to span a gap. Bridges can be supported by natural roots or dental implants and provide a fixed solution to unsightly gaps or removable dentures.
Crowns and bridges can be made of a wide variety of materials; entirely tooth-coloured material, precious metal or a combination of both.
In situations where aesthetics are of importance i.e. front teeth, we can use metal free, beautiful all ceramic (porcelain) crowns and bridges which are colour matched to your existing teeth. The Porcelain product we most often use for private crowns and bridges at the front of the mouth is the IPS e.Max porcelain. This is extremely strong, highly aesthetic and natural looking whilst at the same time also friendly to the soft tissues. This minimizes the ‘dark neck’ sometimes seen on traditional types of crowns.
What happens when I have my new crown made?
Once your dentist and you have decided if a crown is the best treatment for you in order to protect the underlying root, enhance the appearance and restore function in the tooth, the dentist will reshape the tooth that needs treatment so that there is room for the porcelain, take impressions of the teeth and make a temporary crown.
The dentist will discuss the shape, size, position and colour of the crown or bridge. The impressions are then collected by the technician who will manufacture your crown/bridge according to the dentist’s specifications.
Veneers
What is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false fingernail fits over a nail. Sometimes a natural-colour ‘composite’ material is used instead of porcelain.
When would I need a veneer?
Veneers can totally transform the look of your smile, they are also an ideal treatment option for teeth that have been badly stained (and cannot be improved by teeth whitening), for closing gaps or spaces in your smile, for badly chipped teeth, or for teeth that have been ground down over time from tooth grinding.
What are the advantages of veneers?
Veneers make teeth look natural, healthy, brighter and whiter. Because they are very thin and are held in place by a special, strong adhesive, very little preparation of the tooth is needed. Some types of veneers don’t need any preparation at all.
How are teeth prepared for a veneer?
Some of the shiny, outer enamel surface of the tooth may be removed, to make sure that the veneer can be bonded permanently in place later. The amount of enamel removed is tiny and will be the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted.
A local anaesthetic (injection) may be used to make sure that there is no discomfort, but often this is not needed. Once the tooth has been prepared, the dentist will take an ‘impression’ (mould). This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer.
The colour of the surrounding teeth is matched on a shade guide to make sure that the veneer will look entirely natural.
How long will it take?
A veneer takes at least two visits. The first is to prepare the tooth and match the shade, and the second is to fit it. Before bonding it in place, your dentist will show you the veneer on your tooth to make sure you are happy with it. Bonding a veneer in place is done with a special adhesive, which holds it firmly on the tooth.
Will I need a temporary veneer between visits?
Because the preparation of the tooth is so slight you will probably not need a temporary veneer. The tooth will look very much the same after preparation, but will feel slightly less smooth.
What happens after the veneer is fitted?
Only minor adjustments can be made to the veneer after it is fitted. It is usually best to wait a little while to get used to it before any changes are made. Your dental team will probably want to check and polish it a week or so after it is fitted, and make sure that you are happy with it.
How long will a veneer last?
Veneers should last for many years; but they can chip or break, just like your own teeth can. Your dental team will tell you how long each veneer should last. Small chips can be repaired, or a new veneer fitted if necessary.
What about alternatives?
A natural-coloured filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth. This is excellent when the tooth can support a filling, but may not work so well for broken tooth corners. There will always be a join between the tooth and the filling material.
Crowns are used for teeth which need to be strengthened – either because they have broken, have been weakened by a very large filling, or have had root canal treatment.
If you are thinking about having veneers, please contact us for more information by calling us on 0208 888 2408 to arrange a consultation.
Teeth Whitening
What is tooth whitening?
It is a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentine. It uses a mild solution retained in custom-fitted trays that is worn over your teeth. Tooth Whitening is one of the easiest cosmetic treatments and can give fantastic results in a short period of time, as most teeth lighten within a few weeks.
What causes tooth discoloration?
There can be a number of reasons for tooth discoloration, including consumption of tea, coffee, wine etc. Also aging has an effect on one’s teeth. During tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline or excessive fluoride may also cause discoloration.
Who may benefit form tooth whitening?
Before starting treatment, our dentist conducts an examination to determine the suitability of the treatment. If you have discoloured teeth then you are most likely suitable for a whitening treatment.
Is the process safe?
Yes, whitening is a safe procedure. Once our dentist has conducted their examination and suitability of the treatment on the patient, then they can recommend which whitening treatment will have the best results. Teeth whitening is considered to be a safe cosmetic dental procedure.
How does it work?
The whitening gel is placed in a thin bleaching tray that fits over your teeth. The active ingredient in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient in the gel is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentine and bleaches the coloured substances. The structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth colour is made lighter.
How long does it take?
Results can be seen soon after the gel is applied. Best results however come after 10-14 days of application.
Are there any side effects?
Some people experience temporary increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment. These symptoms disappear within 1-3 days after interruption or completion of the treatment.
Tooth Whitening at West Green Dental
At West Green Dental we offer a home whitening system.
Home Whitening
The ‘home whitening’ system is where we give you custom-made trays to take home with you. The trays are used in conjunction with a special gel and are worn overnight.
The system we use is Phillips Zoom Nite White ACP. It is a state of the art at-home whitening kit which will give you a visibly whiter smile in one day and your whitest healthiest smile in seven to fourteen days. It contains amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), which is clinically proven to reduce sensitivity, protect enamel and help improve the lustre and smoothness of the teeth.
If you would like to book your appointment for teeth whitening, please call our team on 0208 888 2408
Tooth Straightening
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects irregularities of the teeth and jaws. Treatment involves using a variety of appliances to move teeth to a better position by applying gentle forces.
As well as enhancing the appearance of teeth, there are a number of other benefits to receiving orthodontic treatment. It can improve eating and speaking ability, as well as encouraging better oral hygiene as teeth become easier to clean in their straighter position.
Braces can be used to successfully treat a range of issues from crooked, crowded, overly spaced and twisted teeth to more serious malocclusions (upper and lower teeth not biting together properly) and misalignments.
At West Green Dental we can offer you an assessment if you have any orthodontic needs and refer you to a specialist orthodontist.
We also offer removable appliance orthodontic treatments ( Without braces ) using Invisalign, Inman Aligners and Clear Aligners.
This removable appliance is a quick, simple alternative to traditional braces. It consists of a coil spring and a bar, which work in unison to guide teeth to the required position.
Why you may need treatment
You may have mild to moderate crowding or protrusion of the front teeth.
The benefits of treatment
- Almost invisible
- Fast-acting
- Custom-made with cutting-edge technology
- Comfortable, hygienic and removable
- Predictable results
- Can be removed for cleaning and eating
How we treat you
We check if you are suitable for this type of treatment and if so, we take impressions so the Inman Aligner can be produced just for you. Once fitted you need to wear the aligner for 16-20 hours a day for the best results.
You will need to have regular check-ups to ensure treatment is progressing as expected.
What else you need to know
You may experience some minor discomfort for a few days when your aligner is first fitted but this should quickly ease.
As with all orthodontic methods, you will need to wear a retainer following treatment to prevent your teeth from moving back to their former position.
