Esthetic Dentistry

Esthetic dentistry

Teeth whitening

Nowadays, a beautiful snow-white smile is synonymous to a success. Unfortunately, coffee, tea, tobacco and even fruit juices cause our teeth getting gray. Discoloured, yellow-gray teeth make us smile a lot less than we should, and - as you know - laughter is the best medicine. Fortunately, there is an effective remedy. We offer our patients professional laser or mouthpiece teeth whitening. How does the treatment look like?

Here is a simplified scheme:

Laser whitening:

  • The first visit: deposits are professionally removed from the teeth by a dentist, a protecting gel is applied to the gums and hardened with a UV light. Then teeth whitening preparation is applied and exposed to light for 15 minutes; for best results the cycle is repeated 3-4 times. The slogan "snow-white teeth in an hour" is very much appropriate here.

Frequently asked questions:

  • Is teeth whitening safe? Teeth whitening done under a dentist’s supervision is absolutely safe for the teeth and gums; the only inconvenience which might occur after whitening is temporary teeth sensitivity which usually disappears within 24 hours.
  • Are there any contraindications to whitening? Contraindications to whitening are: pregnancy, breast feeding, epilepsy, and the age under 16.
  • How long does the whitening effect last? The whitening effect may last from ca. 6 months to 2-3 years; it depends on dietary habits, level of oral hygiene and individual predispositions. After this time the treatment may be repeated.
  • How to take care of your teeth after whitening? The so-called „48-hour white diet“ is necessary after treatment ends: coffee, tea, dark juices and other "coloured" drinks and foods should be avoided as well as tobacco smoking.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are the great tool of the aesthetic dentistry. They are fixed prosthetic restorations applied to cover the unaesthetic outer surface of the upper and lower teeth.

They are made entirely from porcelain – without a metal base – so they provide wonderful aesthetics and can change every smile. A great advantage of porcelain veneers is that they do not require so much teeth grinding as dental crowns – it means they are safer to the teeth tissue. The thickness of porcelain veneers varies from 0.4 to 0.8 mm so the hard dental tissue is minimally affected. 

How does the treatment look like? Here is a simplified scheme:

  • The first visit: after qualifying the patient to a dental treatment, a dentist grinds the teeth planned for veneers placement and takes impressions using a putty.
  • The second visit: the dentist does the try-in of porcelain veneers prepared before, makes necessary corrections and starts to cement them in the mouth of a patient.

Frequently asked questions:

  • What are the indications to porcelain veneers placement? Hardly bleachable teeth discolouration, enamel and dentine defects, unaesthetic front teeth restorations, damaged teeth margins, chipping of the incisal edges, diastema or gaps between the teeth, the shape of front teeth the patient cannot accept.
  • Are there any contraindications to porcelain veneers? Yes: habitual teeth grinding, some types of malocclusion and bad oral hygiene are the contraindications to porcelain veneers. They are not applied on non-vital teeth, after root canal treatment and on the teeth with big restorations. All-ceramic crowns are optimal solutions in such cases.
  • What is the longevity of porcelain veneers? The latest tests performed on a group of over 1400 patients wearing porcelain veneers have confirmed their high longevity. In 93% of cases their longevity is 10 years which means that for each 100 of porcelain veneers applied 93 are in their optimal shape after 10 years of wearing, performing their functions well; this result is much better than for dental fillings.

Removal of teeth discolouration

Nothing is more welcomed by people around us than our wide and honest smile. Unfortunately, not all of us can smile this way. Discoloured teeth make us smile less wide and less often. Fortunately, there is an effective remedy. We offer professional teeth discolouration removal which restores their natural look. Teeth discolouration may be of intrinsic (caused by internal factors) or extrinsic (caused by external factors) character.

How does the treatment look like? Here is a simplified scheme:

Intrinsic discolouration:

  • The first visit: such discolourations usually result from taking medicines or a root canal treatment complication. To whiten a non-vital tooth a dentist applies a bleaching insert into the tooth chamber and leaves it there for 3-5 days. This procedure is repeated 2-3 times, then a filling is placed. The whitening effect is permanent and the whitening does not require to be repeated. This method is used to whiten single discoloured teeth.

Extrinsic discolouration:

  • The first visit: usually such discolourations and deposits are the result of tobacco smoking, or coffee and tea consumption. To remove them we suggest sandblasting and whitening. Ultrasound scaling of tartar is also often required.

Frequently asked questions:

  • I have white spots on my teeth. Yes, at the initial examination a dentist will decide on the best method of restoring your teeth to their natural uniform colour.
  • Can blue teeth be also whiten? Yes, this is a textbook indication to intra-dental whitening. Even for a blue-gray teeth we guarantee the restoration to their natural colour uniform with other teeth.
  • What is a longevity of a non-vital teeth whitening? The effect of an intra-dental whitening is permanent and the whitening does not require to be repeated; the colour of whitened non-vital teeth is uniform with other teeth.

Glossary of terms

Tartar (calculus dentalis)  is a mineralised layer of dental plaque. Tartar may be formed over or under the gum line, and it may irritate the gums. Tartar is a good retentive factor for bacterial biofilm, and its layer is much more sticky which may cause more serious problems, including cavities and gum diseases. Tartar does not only cause danger for the teeth and gums but is also an aesthetic problem. It is characterised by higher porosity so it can be easily covered with stains. People who drink a lot of coffee or tea, or smoke tobacco, should pay special attention to tartar prophylaxis. Tartar is much harder than dental plaque, therefore it can’t be removed with such standard oral hygiene tools like a toothbrush or dental floss. 

How does tartar look like?

Tartar is usually yellowish, but sometimes gets discoloured with the dyes contained in food (tea, red wine) or as a result of tobacco smoking. It is hard and adheres tightly to the teeth; its surface is rough and uneven. Tartar deposits may be present on individual teeth surfaces, around the teeth or – less often – on all the teeth.