Cosmetic Dentistry Inverness & Aviemore

Porcelain Veneers

are a thin, custom-made layer of tooth-coloured porcelain or ceramic designed to fit over the front surface of teeth to improve the overall appearance of teeth.

They can be placed to:

correct poorly formed or mildly mal-positioned teeth
close gaps between teeth
mask internal stains
restore partially broken-down teeth

What are the advantages of porcelain veneers?

Veneers make teeth look natural and healthy. They are very thin and are held in place by a special strong bond so very little preparation of the tooth is needed.

What about alternatives?

The natural-coloured filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth. This is excellent where the tooth supports the filling, but may not work so well for broken tooth corners. There will always be a joint between the tooth and the filling material.
Crowns are used for teeth that need to be strengthened – either because they have broken, have been weakened by a very large filling, or have had root canal treatment.

How long will a veneer last?

Veneers should last for many years, but they can chip or break, just as your own teeth can. Small chips can be repaired, or a new veneer fitted if necessary.

How are teeth prepared for a veneer?

Some of the 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 in most cases the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted, so that the tooth stays the same size. A local anaesthetic will be used to make sure that there is no discomfort. Once the tooth has been prepared, an impression will be taken. This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer.

How long will it take?

A veneer takes at least two visits; the first to prepare the tooth and to match the shade, and the second 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 porcelain 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. In some cases when preparation had to be deeper you will be provided with temporary veneers.

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. We may want to check and polish it a week or so after it is fitted and to make sure that you are happy with it.

Da Vinci Veneers

What happens during the Da Vinci Porcelain Veneers™ restorative procedure?

In most cases, patients need three appointments for the entire procedure: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.

Diagnosis and treatment planning

It is critical that you take an active role in smile design. Spend time in the decision-making and planning of your smile. Ask questions and understand the corrective limitations of the procedure. If necessary, have more than one consultation to feel comfortable that we understand your objectives.

Preparation of teeth

This appointment will take from one to four hours. To prepare the teeth for your da Vinci Veneers™, your teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about half a millimetre of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anaesthetic. At this appointment, a mould is taken of the teeth, which is sent to a Da Vinci certified dental lab for the fabrication of the veneers. This should take no longer than two weeks for your new smile to be created. In most cases, your dentist will fit you with a temporary smile during the fabrication of your new Da Vinci Veneers.

Bonding of your Da Vinci Veneers

This appointment will take about one or two hours. First, we place the veneers with water or glycerine on the teeth to check their fit and get a true sense of their shade or colour. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, make sure you view the aesthetic results and pay particular attention to the colour. At this point, the colour of the Da Vinci Veneers can still be adjusted with the shade of the cement to be used.

The colour cannot be altered after veneers are cemented. To apply your Da Vinci Veneers, your teeth are cleaned with specific dental cleansers to achieve a firm and permanent bond. Then special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement and your new smile is in place.

Smiles by da Vinci™ Veneers

www.davinciveneers.com

Dental Implants Scotland

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are nowadays a standard of care for teeth replacement. They are manmade substitutes for lost natural teeth. These are titanium metal rods placed into the jaw bone to support a replacement tooth. This acts like the root of a natural tooth. Implants can also be used to support fixed bridges or dentures.
Implant treatment normally has two stages. First, the implant is placed in the jaw. Then, when the gum has healed, replacement teeth are attached to the implant. In some situations it is possible for temporary teeth to be attached to an implant at the time of fitting.

Would implants be right for me?

Implants are widely used solution for replacing missing teeth. You are suitable for majority of people however first, you should decide whether implants could be right for you. Contact us to arrange an implant consultation and discussion and we will let you know the treatment options.

Are implants safe? How long will they last?

Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. 90 per cent of modern implants last for at least 15 years.

I have some of my own teeth. Can I still have implants?

Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants – from one single tooth to a complete set.

Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth?

It depends on the state of the bone in your jaw. During your initial assesment we will be able to discussed details of implant treatment and assess the amount of bone present. If there is not enough, or if it isn’t healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting bone into the area first.

Do implants hurt?

Placing the implants will be carried out under local anaesthetic. You will not feel any pain at the time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week following the surgery. This is usually due to having stitches in place, and the normal healing process. If you have any concerns please contact the Clinic as soon as suitable.

Can I have the new teeth straight away?

In many cases you can have your prototype of crown / tooth/ bridge or denture placed stright after implant placement. However you have to be assessed prior to implant treatment to establish if you are a candidate for this so called “immediate loading” or “Same Day Implants”. In this case your permanent teeth would be fitted on average in 3 months time.

In case that treatment would not be suitable for you the implants would need to bond (integrate) with the bone after they have been placed first. This takes at least 3 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper jaw. If you are having one, two or three teeth replaced, you will have a temporary restoration in the meantime. If you have complete dentures, then you can wear them throughout the healing period once they have been adjusted after the surgery.

How long does treatment take?

A lot depends on how complicated your treatment is. During your intial assesment we will be able to give you a timetable for your treatment.

Are the implant – teeth difficult to clean?

Cleaning around the teeth attached to the implants is no more difficult than cleaning natural teeth. However, if there are any challenging areas in your case you’ll be shown methods to help.

If I had gum disease when I had my own teeth, will I get it with the teeth attached to the implants?

Yes, if you don’t care for them well enough. If you keep them clean, and don’t smoke, then you should not have any problems.

Can I take the teeth out if they are fixed to implants?

Most artificial teeth attached to implants can only be placed and removed by the dentist. However, if you have complete dentures fixed to the implants by bars, then you’ll be able to take them out for cleaning.

Do I need an implant for each missing tooth?

No, unless you’re only having a single tooth replaced. Normally, five or six implants are used to replace all the teeth in one jaw, as each implant can usually support two teeth. For a few missing teeth, two or three implants may be used.

What is Same Day Implants / Same Day Teeth?

This is a concept in which implant and prototype of your new crown/ bridge or denture will be placed during the same visit. In some complex cases like All -on – 4 it might be also possible to remove your existing teeth, place implants and prototypes of your final teeth on the same visit. This treatment requires certain criteria to be met and suitability of this treatment for you will be discussed with you during your initial assesment.

What is All – on – 4?

The All-on-4 treatment concept was developed to provide edentulous patients with an efficient and effective restoration using only four implants to support an immediately loaded full-arch prosthesis.