Leading dental expert reveals the secrets of tooth straightening and whitening
Dr Murtuza Hasnaini, Specialist Orthodontist

Introduction

Research has shown that the first areas we look at when meeting someone are their eyes and mouth. Celebrities and stars have realised the importance of perfect teeth and have invested in their smile as part of their overall image. Having a perfect smile is now the ultimate beauty and fashion accessory. The good news is that with modern dental technology you do not need to be star to have a celebrity smile.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of some different ways you can achieve a straight, white smile.

Veneers and Crowns

Advantages:
Veneers and crowns are placed over the teeth in a similar way to a false finger nail.  They can achieve a straight and white looking smile very quickly.

Disadvantages:
In order to attach the veneer or crown, some of your own tooth will need to be drilled away to make space for it, this can often mean the destruction of perfectly healthy teeth.

Veneers have a life span and will need to be replaced several times in your lifetime meaning more of your own tooth is removed and more costs to you.

If your new smile is being created with veneers it is very important that this is done with care by a skilled dentist otherwise it can look unnatural.

Orthodontic treatment (Braces)

Advantages:
Braces slowly and gently move your teeth into a straighter position without the need to remove any of the natural tooth surface.

You are never too old to have braces, anyone with healthy teeth can have orthodontic treatment.

To ensure your straight smile lasts a lifetime, most orthodontists will issue a fitted retainer to hold your teeth in place.  This is fitted behind your teeth so is completely invisible.

No-one has to know you are wearing braces.  There are many new types of brace which mean you can straighten your teeth without looking like a teenager or ‘Ugly Betty’.  Discreet and invisible braces include those that are made of tooth coloured material, fitted to the back of your teeth (lingual braces) or clear plastic aligners (such as Invisalign).

Disadvantages:
Straightening your teeth with braces will take more time than a veneer ‘smile makeover’.

Cost – brace treatment can seem expensive.  However, most orthodontists will offer payment options to spread the cost.  Also, in most cases and where a fitted retainer is placed, this cost will be a one off and is more like an investment in your smile, which compared to paying for several veneers over your lifetime is excellent value for money.

Whitening

Tooth whitening is the icing on the cake of cosmetic dentistry.  Due to its increasing popularity, there are many different ways to have your teeth whitened.  The majority of whitening treatments are now safe, effective and completely non-destructive to tooth tissue.

The two main options to consider are at home whitening, or in surgery whitening.  The most important thing to remember is to always consult a professional.  The only people trained to work with teeth safely and effectively are dentists. It is illegal for anyone not medically or dentally qualified to work in the mouth so this treatment should not be carried out by non-professionals.

At home whitening

This process involves making customised trays similar to a gumshield that fit over the teeth. The whitening solution is placed within the tray and used over 10-14 days until the desired result is achieved.

The main disadvantage of this method is that the results are not instant but the major advantage is that the final result can be controlled. You can keep using the solution in the trays until you reach the shade you want and top this up again anytime. As this process requires a lot less professional surgery time, at home whitening tends to be excellent value for money and is a more effective technique overall than in surgery whitening.

In surgery whitening

This method involves a dentist applying the solution directly to the teeth in the surgery and the solution is activated by applying light (not a laser as it commonly thought). The main advantage is that the result is instant. It is however still necessary to combine this with home whitening to achieve the ideal result. This technique involves a long appointment with the dentist and can therefore be more costly than home whitening.