Here at Shandon Dental Practice, we carry out many dental procedures, including those that are defined as cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry describes a procedure focused on improving the appearance of the teeth, and this includes the fitting of implants, bridges and veneers. We offer the very best Dental Care in our friendly clinic, conveniently located just a 5 minute walk from Patrick Street, in Cork City Centre.
Our team of professional practitioners can take care of all your dental needs, and our Hygienist, Dental Nurses and Dentists are experienced in working with people who feel anxious about visiting the dentist. Taking care of your teeth is a vital way to protect your general health, but it is also very important in order to maintain your self confidence by looking and feeling your best – which is easier if you have a great smile.
Implants, Bridges and Veneers are some of our popular procedures, and you can find out more about each of these below:
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium screw that can be inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a tooth and support one or more artificial teeth. Implants are a long lasting, popular cosmetic dentistry treatment for teeth that have become damaged or decayed, and can be fitted where the bone in the jaw is strong and healthy.
Having an implant fitted will involve a different approach for each client, depending upon his or her dental history and the dentist’s recommendations. If there is not enough healthy bone in the jaw for an implant to be inserted, your dentist will suggest another option for you.
Dental implants are usually fitted over the course of several appointments, enabling the area to be prepared, the implant fitted and, finally, the artificial teeth to be fitted. These appointments are usually spread out over a period of several months to allow the bone in the jaw to fuse to the implant so that it is stable enough to support the artificial teeth. Sometimes, artificial teeth can be fitted at the same time as the implants, known as ‘immediate false teeth’, but they are usually fitted 3-4 months afterwards. In the meantime, you may be offered a temporary denture to wear while the implant site settles and heals.
Many people worry about the process of having an implant fitted, but this will be carried out using a local anaesthetic and should not be painful. You may experience a bit of discomfort or soreness after you have had your implant fitted, but this should settle within a week.
After your implant has been fitted, you will need to care for it in the same way as you care for your own teeth. Your artificial teeth may be removable or may be fixed so that they can only be removed by the dentist. You will need to keep the area around the implant and artificial teeth especially clean in order to prevent infection, and you can get advice from your dentist or hygienist about this.
Bridges
Dental Bridges are a series of artificial teeth that are inserted to fill a gap in the natural teeth, usually caused by an accident or tooth decay. A dental bridge is anchored in the mouth by the placement of crowns on the natural teeth on each side of the gap, which support the bridge to fill the gap
A dental bridge should look natural and function as well as your natural teeth, and this is a popular way to restore a dazzling smile and avoid the problems that can be caused by having a gap in your teeth, such as teeth growing crooked and changes to the way you chew.
Your dental bridge will usually be fitted in two appointments, one to take an impression of the mouth and prepare the teeth that will have crowns attached, and a second to fit the bridge. Caring for your dental bridge is easy: you should take extra care when brushing your teeth and speak to your dental team if you have any concerns.
A dental bridge is a great option for anyone with missing teeth who also has strong and healthy adjacent teeth that crowns can be attached to. You can talk to your dentist about whether a dental bridge is a possibility for you.
Veneers
Veneers are a very popular cosmetic dentistry procedure. A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain that is created to fit precisely over the front surface of a tooth to create a natural looking tooth that is in the right place and is the colour and shape you desire. The porcelain shade will be chosen to match your existing teeth, if you are covering a damaged tooth, or to your preference if you are aiming to lighten your front teeth using several veneers.
Veneers are a great solution for chipped teeth, and can also be used to close small gaps where braces are not advised. Veneers offer a very natural and healthy look, and most do not require extensive preparation work that can damage the existing tooth. A veneer is held in place with a strong dental adhesive, and will last for many years.
Veneers are usually fitted in two appointments, the first of which involves matching the shade and preparing the tooth by removing a little of the enamel surface of the tooth, so that the veneer can be securely bonded into place. This helps to ensure that the tooth remains the same size after the veneer is fitted, for a natural look. An impression of the tooth will be taken, and this will be used to make the veneer. During the second appointment, your dentist will fit the veneer to your tooth, and when you are satisfied, it will be bonded in place.
You will need to take care to protect your veneer with regular brushing and a healthy diet, and you should see your dentist as soon as possible if you have any problems with it. If a veneer becomes chipped, it is possible to repair or replace it. Veneers can only be fitted to strong and healthy teeth, and you may be advised to consider a crown if your teeth are not suitable.
Whatever you need from your dentist, cosmetic dentistry work or anything dental related, our team at Shandon Dental Clinic is on hand to ensure that you get the very best advice and treatments. For general dentistry, including regular check ups and routine care of your teeth and gums, you can pop into our Cork City centre practice and meet our team or call us to make an appointment.