The renowned philosopher and logician Bertrand Russell once quipped that ‘everything is vague to a degree you do not realise till you have tried to make it precise.’ Despite how familiar and simple sounding a ‘smile makeover’ is, it is precisely Russell’s observation we encounter when trying to define it. In essence, a smile makeover is defined by its end result: You have achieved, by whatever procedures were necessary, the smile you desired. It is an umbrella term for a variety of treatments, all of which end with that. If you’re preparing for a wedding, however, semantics aren’t really first and foremost in your mind, so rest easy dear reader; We at Clifton Dental Studio in Bristol will utilise our expertise to its fullest extent in order to make your desired smile a reality, all you have to do is tell us what you’d want it to look like!
The consultation
Although it will be approached in a relaxed manner, this is perhaps the most significant portion of the treatment as it is where we find out what you want. We are the professionals, however, so don’t worry – we will guide you through and find solutions to any problems that may arise!
Typical treatments: focus on dental veneers
One recommended treatment very popular with celebrities is the application of dental veneers. Veneers are wafer thin shells of material which can be fitted to your teeth, thus covering up any ornamental atrocities or decorative detractions which you may worry are on your teeth. Veneers only require two sessions to be fitted, though it can take a few weeks for the final product to be produced in a lab. In the meantime, you may be fitted with temporary veneers. They are great at covering cracks, chips and stains. Although not ideal, they can also cover upper mildly crooked teeth in a treatment nicknamed ‘instant orthodontics’, thus bypassing lengthy orthodontic treatment.
The total package
A complete smile makeover, in the case of front teeth too crooked for veneers alone, could combine orthodontics with veneers. Equally, you could have a dental implant fitted and your healthy teeth whitened. It’s up to you! Let us know your dream smile and we’ll make it a reality.
Composite bonding, also known as cosmetic bonding, is a very effective treatment used to repair damaged teeth. This treatment is simple, quick and affordable, yet it can make a massive difference to the look of your smile. If you’ve put up with chipped or worn teeth for too long, now is the perfect time to call us and find out more about composite bonding.
What is composite bonding?
Composite bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure that also has restorative benefits for your teeth. Dental composite is used to repair damaged teeth. In its putty-like form, it can be shaped and moulded to repair chipped teeth, build-up worn tooth surfaces and even close the gap between two teeth. Our dentists will use their creative flair and experience to create amazing results using dental composite and once you are happy with the look of your new smile, the composite will be hardened before final touches are made.
Before bonding, your dentist will clean the affected teeth, roughen the edges and apply resin and bonding agent to ensure that the composite will bond properly. The composite is then added and it is set hard using a curing light. After final adjustments have been made, your dentist will give your teeth a polish to ensure you leave with a gleaming smile.
Composite bonding usually takes less than an hour and only a single appointment is required; the procedure is painless and most patients do not require local anaesthetic.
Who can benefit from composite bonding?
Composite bonding is an ideal treatment for patients who have chipped teeth, worn teeth or a small gap between two of their teeth; this is a more affordable option than veneers and it is also quicker and more straight-forward.
The first glimpses of spring will soon appear and suddenly our thoughts will turn to spring/summer wardrobes, booking holidays and organising summer events. But many of us will also be thinking about making changes to our appearance. In the summer months, many people make more effort with their appearance, as they usually have more occasions to attend, such as birthday parties, weddings and summer barbeques and want to feel their best. For an increasing number of people, spring is also a great time of year to think about having treatment to make their smile look better.
Research has consistently shown that a nice smile is one of the key features people look for in a future partner and studies have also linked a healthy, attractive smile to a happy personal life and successful career. There are many different things you can do to make your smile look more attractive, from spending a few extra minutes every day cleaning your teeth to spending thousands of pounds on cosmetic dental treatments.
For many people, spending money on dental treatments is a sure-fire way to feel and look better. Treatments such as invisible braces, veneers and tooth whitening treatments have become extremely popular in recent years, especially as the Hollywood style smile has become so popular with celebrities.
For those on a budget or who are maybe slightly more fearful of cosmetic treatments, a simple scale and polish may do the trick. Cleaning treatments are much more intensive than manual brushing and produce a unique ‘dentist clean’ finish. A professional cleaning treatment will leave your teeth feeling smooth and looking much more radiant in perfect time for spring.
We offer complete smile rejuvenation to repair and reconstruct the smile in cases where the teeth are damaged extensively or there are a large number of missing teeth. In order to achieve a beautiful result, we employ a range of different dental treatments and techniques. Our award-winning dentist Dr Neil Gerrard is incredibly experienced in this field, so you can enjoy peace of mind that you are in extremely safe hands.
What is complete smile rejuvenation?
Complete smile rejuvenation is a technique that uses a combination of restorative treatments to repair and replace broken and lost teeth.
Treatments used to achieve a complete smile rejuvenation include:
dental bridges
dental implants
porcelain crowns
veneers
What does treatment entail?
Complete smile rejuvenation is a complex process and planning is of paramount importance. Before we start carrying out treatment, we conduct thorough examinations and tests to ascertain the degree of damage and decide which treatments would be most beneficial. Communication is key and we explain the treatment options and what is happening at which point.This helps to make sure every client has a clear idea of what treatment involves and what they can expect from their individual reconstruction.
Once your personalised treatment plan has been drawn up, your dentist can start your treatment and you will have a series of sessions. The exact process will depend on which treatments you have and your dentist will let you know what is planned for each individual session.
By the end of your treatment, you can expect your smile to look more attractive and you will feel a lot more confident when you smile is in the spotlight.
At Clifton Dental Studio, we offer an ever-expanding collection of treatments designed to banish dental disease, boost confidence and create beautiful smiles. We offer smile rejuvenation and reconstruction for those in need of extensive repair and will have you smiling with confidence again in no time.
What is smile rejuvenation?
Smile rejuvenation, also known as smile reconstruction, is a technique that aims to rebuild and repair damaged teeth and create a more attractive smile. This procedure is generally recommended for those who have sustained extensive damage as a result of an accident or injury, severe decay or infection.
We use a series of restorative treatments to achieve a new smile and Dr Neil Gerrard has extensive experience in this area, winning awards for past case studies.
Planning your treatment
Planning is an essential part of the treatment process and we carry out a range of tests, examinations and scans to assess your level of need and ascertain what kinds of treatments would be most beneficial for you. We involve our clients in every step of the process and discuss the options at length. We also invite you to bring in photographs so we can design your new smile in line with your ideas and preferences.
The treatment process
The process differs for every patient because the choice of treatments varies. We make sure that every client has a clear idea of what is happening when and schedule appointments to fit in with the time-frame as well as our patients’ schedules. Any preparatory work is undertaken first and then the new restorations, be it an implant, a bridge or a crown, are placed. The end result is a reinvigorated, beautiful smile and improved oral function.
To find out more, simply call our friendly reception team.
If you have a gummy smile, we are here to help! Using the latest contouring techniques, we can shape your gums to create a more attractive smile and ensure you feel more confident when your smile is in the spotlight.
What is a gummy smile?
A gummy smile is an aesthetic problem that occurs when an excessive amount of gum tissue is visible when you smile. A gummy smile usually makes the teeth look smaller. With a gummy smile there are no painful symptoms, but many people feel self-conscious about the appearance of their smile and this often has a major bearing on the way they feel.
About the gum contouring procedure
Gum contouring is a cosmetic technique designed to provide a solution for a gummy smile. The aim of the procedure is to reshape the gums to make more of the tooth crowns visible and improve the overall look and balance of the smile. We use the latest techniques to gently trim away tiny pieces of the gum tissue to expose more of the tooth crown. This makes the teeth look longer and larger and enhances the overall aesthetic of the smile.
We perform gum reshaping in a single session and it is a comfortable and quick procedure.
If you’re conscious of your gummy smile and dream of feeling more confident and sporting an attractive, healthy looking smile, why not give us a call and book a consultation? During your consultation, we will explain exactly what treatment entails and how it could benefit you. We can also show you some images of what your smile could look like after treatment to give you an idea of what you can expect if you choose to go ahead.
At Clifton Dental Studio, we can promise that you’re in the best possible hands if your teeth are severely damaged and in need of extensive repair and rejuvenation. Dr Neil Gerrard is incredibly experienced in this field and he has helped many patients to enjoy a perfect new smile.
What is complete smile rejuvenation?
Complete smile rejuvenation is a treatment process that aims to restore, repair and reinvigorate the smile using a combination of restorative dental techniques and tooth replacement methods. Each case is slightly different because the needs of our patients vary, however the end result is always the same: a healthy looking, functional smile.
The preparation stage is vital when it comes to performing complete rejuvenation and we work closely with our patients to draw up a bespoke treatment plan that addresses their needs and caters for their preferences. We have a range of techniques and treatments at our disposal and we discuss the elements of the treatment plan with patients to ensure that they have a good idea of what is going happen at what point and what they can expect once treatment is complete. Once the planning stage is underway, we can set about doing any preparatory work required prior to the actual treatment. This may involve planning a site for an implant, bone grafting or preparing the teeth for veneer treatment.
Our treatment options
We have an extensive selection of treatments available for patients undergoing reconstructive treatment, including:
Veneers
Crowns, inlays and onlays
Dental implants
Dental bridges
We will help you to carefully select the treatments that best suit your needs and will achieve your new smile goals.
If you dream of a beautiful smile, call us today to set the ball rolling!
Whether you’ve lost a tooth through infection or gum disease, had teeth knocked out in an accident or have a large number of missing teeth, there are some amazing solutions out there and we highly recommend considering tooth replacement treatment. Gaps in the smile can contribute to an elevated risk of dental health problems, a lack of confidence, issues related to speech and inability to chew food properly. If you have missing teeth, why not call us and find out more about our incredible tooth replacement treatments?
Our treatment options for missing teeth include:
Dentures: dentures are sets of prosthetic teeth. They are custom-designed for the individual and held in place by the suction of the gums. They look like natural teeth and enable you to eat and speak with confidence. We use the finest materials to create high quality dentures and we also offer implant-retained dentures for those looking for improved stability. This option relates to dentures anchored by dental implants.
Dental bridges: bridges are a popular option for patients who have a single missing tooth. They are most commonly made from a false tooth, which is supported on either side by a dental crown. Bridge treatment is simple and painless and you can choose from a range of materials, all of which create a very natural look. We can usually complete treatment in two sessions and bridges should last up to 15 years.
Dental implants: implants are an option for patients with single or multiple missing teeth. Treatment involves placing a titanium implant into a small opening in the jaw bone and then connecting a crown, bridge or denture once the implant has integrated into the bone tissue (usually three to eight months later). Implants last for many years and they give you the same level of functionality as healthy, strong natural teeth.
Many people dream of a flawless white smile and we have a host of treatments and services available to correct flaws and repair damaged teeth to help you achieve a perfect looking smile. We use porcelain restorations on a regular basis because as a material, it offers stunning, natural looking aesthetics in addition to providing strength and durability.
Porcelain crowns
Crown treatment is often recommended when a tooth is severely damaged or it has become weak as a result of decay, a large filling or an injury. The aim of a crown is to strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure. A crown is placed over the top of the tooth and is consequently sometimes known as a cap.
Porcelain crowns do not just offer restorative benefits for the teeth, they also help to improve the aesthetic. Porcelain matches the tooth shade and it also has a lovely iridescence, which mimics the look of healthy, bright teeth.
When we fit a porcelain crown, the tooth is prepared first. This involves removing any decayed tissue and shaping the tooth ready for the crown to be placed. Once the tooth has been shaped, an impression is created and this is sent to the laboratory. The new crown is then made and fitted. We usually place a temporary crown to bridge the gap between the first and second appointments, which are around two weeks apart.
Porcelain veneers
Veneers are a popular cosmetic solution for aesthetic issues such as gaps between the teeth, staining, chips and misshapen teeth. They are fixed onto the natural teeth to produce a new smile and they can make a massive difference to the way you look as well as how confident you feel when you smile. Veneers are made individually and can be used to treat isolated issues or placed as a full set to create a brand new smile. Porcelain is a popular material for veneers because it creates natural looking, radiant and beautiful smiles. Veneer treatment usually involves two sessions: one session to plan treatment and create impressions of the teeth and a second session to fit and secure the veneers.
If you would like to find out more about how we use porcelain to create breath-taking smiles or you are interested in crown or veneer treatment, call today!
Sometimes, in cases where the teeth are severely damaged, worn or decayed, complete smile rejuvenation is recommended. This procedure involves carrying out a series of restorative treatments to repair damaged teeth, replace missing teeth and create a brand new, healthy looking smile. At Clifton Dental Studio, smile rejuvenation treatment is carried out by Dr Neil Gerrard, a highly experienced, award-winning dentist with expertise in restorative dentistry, rejuvenation and cosmetic work. We can assure you that you are in the best possible hands and we look forward to working with you to achieve an amazing new smile.
Before treatment
The planning stage is critical for smile rejuvenation treatment and we organise sessions to talk to you about the different treatment options and plan your treatment with rigorous attention to detail. During the consultation phase, we carry out extensive examinations of the mouth and supporting bone structures to determine which treatments would be beneficial and identify the best sites for implants, if required.
What does smile rejuvenation involve?
We have a range of treatment options available for smile rejuvenation treatment, including porcelain veneers, crowns, inlays, onlays, dental bridges, dentures and dental implants. The treatments we use for your makeover will depend heavily on the kind of treatment you need and your treatment expectations and preferences. We often use a combination of treatments.
Before treatment begins, we will work with you to decide which treatments to include in the makeover and we will then guide you through your personalised treatment plan to ensure that you understand what’s going on, what is happening when and what you can expect once the procedures have been completed. We will, of course, be there at any time to answer questions and ease any worries.
Once planning is complete, we then begin treatment and carry out procedures as detailed in your treatment plan. The end result will be a beautiful, beaming smile.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
