Porcelain Veneers

Thursday 29 January 2009

Do porcelain veneers feel like natural teeth?

Do Porcelain Veneers Feel Like Natural Teeth?
Porcelain veneers have helped many people transform an unattractive smile. Wafer-thin shells of porcelain are used to cover chipped, crooked or stained teeth, hiding imperfections and creating a beautiful, straight, white smile. When porcelain veneers are designed and placed by a highly skilled cosmetic dentist who understands both the art and science of veneers, the results can be absolutely dramatic. When they are done poorly, though, the results can be disappointing.

One issue is thickness. Veneers that feel or look too thick can cause problems, not the least of which is an unnatural look. Choosing an experienced cosmetic dentist is the first step in ensuring your get the results you want. Porcelain veneers should not look all one color. Natural teeth have tiny variations in color and when the best porcelain is chosen for your veneers it also has such subtle color changes.

At first you may notice the presence of your veneers, especially if they are made slightly different shapes from the teeth they are covering. If they are filling a small gap, for example, you will at first be aware of the gap being covered and your tongue may keep checking the different feel. That would be the case too if any veneers are slightly longer than the teeth. But you would quickly become accustomed to the new feel.

Cosmetic dentists who are skilled at creating porcelain veneers take into account a variety of factors, such as color variances, shading, surface texture, and a smooth gumline transition for the very best results. If you are serious about improving your smile, choose cosmetic dentists who focus on your dental health and attractiveness.



Friday, January 2, 2009
Keeping a “Natural” Smile with Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells fitted over one or more teeth to cover gaps, stains, mild crookedness or uneven sizing. They have moved front and center in recent years as a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure, due in large part to makeover shows on TV. Today many people choose not just to fix one dental issue, but to have an entire Smile Makeover. Porcelain veneers are often a central part of a smile makeover, giving a beautiful, natural resolution to crooked, small, discolored, or misshapen teeth.

Best of all, porcelain veneers offer a Hollywood smile in as little as two office visits – a big reason busy people choose veneers to solve their smile issues.

Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands combine an artistic eye with years of cosmetic dentistry experience. Their skillful work with porcelain veneers can give you a stunning, natural smile. Because tooth enamel has subtle variations in its color, the porcelain used in crafting veneers is blended from different colors and your cosmetic dentist will choose the blend most closely matching your teeth. When combined with tooth whitening, the results can be dramatic.

With regular home oral care veneers last for years, are highly stain-resistant, and virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. You will look younger and feel better, but only you and your dentist will know why. To find out if porcelain veneers are an option for you, please schedule a consultation with Smiles By Sands in Studio City, California.

The Harley Street Smile Clinic are proud to say that yes the veneers do feel like natural teeth, except a little smoother! As teeth are only prepped on the front surface, the teeth will feel pretty mich the same from the back so there should be no obvious change to the feel of your teeth. In cases where someone has had a lot of protrusion to their teeth, suddenly they will feel different at the front. You may feel your lip sits in a more relaxed position than before as your teeth are not being used to rest the lip on.

From Ordinary to Dazzling

Porcelain veneers are a dramatic breakthrough in cosmetic dentistry. In the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist, veneers can transform worn, misshapen, broken and discolored teeth into the most naturally beautiful smiles possible. Veneers are conservative dentistry that can make dramatic changes in your smile. Often, porcelain veneers provide a completely improved and dazzling smile in just a few appointments. You may also benefit from Lumineers by Cerinate — porcelain veneers that offer a painless way to a permanently whiter and perfectly aligned smile. Your dentist can apply these contact lens-thin “smile shapers” to your teeth without any grinding of your natural tooth structure, transforming teeth into a naturally beautiful smile. Lumineers can even be placed over existing crown or bridgework without having to replace them.

The Harley Street Smile Clinic offer both the No Prep veneers (Lumineers) and the Minimal Prep veneers for their patients. Usually a case may involve a combination of veneers where some teeth have to be prepped in order to reduce protrusion say, and then there are teeth that are already set back in the mouth and do not need to be prepped at all as they need to be built forward. Lumineers really only work on teeth that have no overlap, or no protrusion. As they just stick to the natural tooth, if there is any crookedness, they are not likely to look that good as they may have to be a lot thicker in some areas to align them perfectly with each other.

Treatments for you

Posted by dentalJanuary 26, 2009Cosmetic Dentistry Clinics Offer Different Treatments For You is an article in Dental Care. The author is a New Zealand web hosting expert. You can read more articles at Uncategorized. the next article: How To Get Information About The Best Schools of Cosmetic Dentistry. Hostgator, bluehost and Yahoo Hosting are top 3 web hosting companies.

Tags: cosmetic dentistry clinic, dental technology, dental world, dentistry procedures

Cosmetic dentistry clinics offer solutions to enhance teeth and smiles. Nowadays, there are different procedures that everyone can take advantage of to brighten up their smile. It is an old story when it was believed that various cosmetic dentistry treatments are only for the rich ones. Now is the perfect time for the individuals to never be ashamed anymore because of the crooked or imperfect teeth alignment, discolored or damaged teeth, and/or any imperfections that contribute negatively to the appearance of an individual.

Now, with the different cosmetic dentistry procedures available, it is not impossible to conquer the world you once feared will reject you because of some aesthetics issues on you. Let’s face it. Most individuals are not confident if they have crooked smile.

Since they lack in confidence, it some times results in losing chances just because they are unable to face various people easily because of a feeling of embarrassment. That is exactly the reason why the dental world has become too resourceful to discover ways how you can surpass that dilemma. These treatment are now offered and can help you reach areas which you thought difficult for youself.

The Cosmetic Dental Technology Advancement

Now, boosting yourself up is not only possible but can work even more wonders than you expect them. The cosmetic industry has been adamant at changing the way you and the world looks at you. That is why for the past years, there have been an evidence of advancement made to the cosmetic dentistry field that is has become most possible to fix whatever dental defects are there. Due to this advancement, people can avail the services including brightening, aligning, replacing, shading, filling up holes, and porcelain laminating. These all are treatments which can change dental defects into a perfect smile.

These procedures were also made easier to access. Unlike before, when only celebrities and the rich individuals who can afford to get the benefits of said treatments from cosmetic dentistry clinics, it has become almost possible for most individual to undergo any of the treatment for the purpose of aesthetics. Today, various flexible payment schemes are offered to the clients, so that when one is not fully prepared with cash they can talk it out with the dentist which option can best apply to them. Most of the insurance companies also cover some of the treatments, so this is another great way to take advantage of a specific dental cosmetic treatment.

Now Is the Time to Consult Your Cosmetic Dentist

If you have been hiding from the dark for too long because you aren’t that confident type of individual due to imperfect smile and dental defects, now is the perfect time to come out and seek most viable treatments from cosmetic dentistry clinics. Nowadays, there are many clinics out there that proliferate in the industry, so this is kind of good news to an individual like you.

However, it is more important that you do your own job by researching and being vigilant when finding that qualified and accomplished cosmetic dentistry professional. Remember that it is your appearance, plus your dental health, that is at stake here, so you don’t want to end up dealing with a less qualified dental professional.

You don’t want your dentist be ruining your looks, therefore gather more information before the cosmetic dentistry treatment is done on you by him.


The Harley Street Smile Clinic agree it is a difficult job fnding the right cosmetic dentist. In London cosmetic dentistry is a fast growing industry and there are more and more practcies to choose from. Cosmetic dentistry is not a Specialised field in the UK and as such any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. This makes it even more challenging finding the right dentist for the job. There is such a big difference in the quality of cosmetic dentistry offered in this country. It is up to you to make sure whoever you choose to veneer your teeth has the relevant experienced required to carry out the work to the standard expected. Check their credentials, their level of experience, the number of porcelain veneers they have fitted in their careers, testimonials from their patients, before and after photos of the work they have personally carried out, and whether they concentrate solely on cosmetic work.

Can changing your teeth make your life fuller?

Today is my birthday. I could be all coy and not tell you my age. I could lie and pretend I’m younger than I am. But do you know, I’m proud of my age. I’m a grandmother to two adorable little grandkids (aged 5 and 2) and I have lived through a wealth of life experiences, good, bad and indifferent, and they’ve made me the person I am today. So short of shouting it from the rooftops:
Unfortunately we live in an aged obsessed society. Women often feel pressured to make it look as if time has stood still for them, whereas men are seen as growing more distinguished as they age. It’s a known fact that television presenters have an expiry date when they magically disappear from our screens as if they’ve been beamed up - and they are usually succeeded by a younger, firmer more nubile replacements. This kind of behaviour contributes to women feeling too embarrassed to admit their real age. It’s also a fact that most heterosexual men would prefer a partner younger than themselves. And that many employers do discriminate against older people in general, and truth is, would generally rather have a young and glamorous secretary to boost their image, rather than an older mature women (even if she had more skills for the job). And one only has to look through a contemporary magazine to see that many adverts attempt to sell their products by emphasizing society’s desire for women to look younger, firmer and wrinkle free - oh, and pencil thin!

I’m a fan of Marie Claire - it’s a super magazine and I buy it regularly, but I’m now going to quote some words from cosmetic adverts in the February 2009 edition I purchased today. I flicked through it at random and these were just some of the adverts I spotted:

“Better than ever. see up to 61% reduction in the look of serious wrinkles” (Estee Lauder)
“Each day, smooth skin for refined pores. Younger looking skin even close up” (L’oreal)
“Perfect for the twentysomething, who thinks she”l always look twentysomething” (No 7)
“… defends against the physical ageing effects of free radicals …” (Prescriptives)
And it troubles me that almost every women’s magazine I picked up to read in the waiting room on a recent trip to the dentist (and this includes Marie Claire) have pages and pages at the back promoting surgery or treatments to improve the looks of women (breast enlargement, breast reductions, top to toe surgery, skin peels, botox, gastricbands, fat removal etc.) - these magazines are aimed at women, are meant to be for women - yet are inadvertently undermining women with their adverts. They use words like: put your mind at ease, just the reassurance you’re looking for, look years younger. One advert for cosmetic dentistry in Marie Claire actually said: Show off your beautiful teeth and start living life to the full. The implication being that changing your teeth can make your life fuller. What?!? There is no doubt that constantly being drip fed adverts that suggest we all want to look younger than we actually are is making women feel that growing older or looking older is undesirable.

Television programmes in the UK are no better. They also promote youthful looks as the ultimate dream desire. You can watch Ten Years Younger, Extreme Makeovers, or even Trinny and Suzanne - to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with making the most of your looks or wearing what suits you - but can’t we all just be proud to be what we are ? (warts and all!) The problem is where do we draw the line? Many women dye their hair as they get older, they have their teeth crowned or veneers, but should they be even considering top to toe surgery? Or Botox? Or gastric bands? And why do they feel driven to these extremes to disguise their age? There was a time when the advice of ”the elders” was sought in society because their wealth of life experiences had taught them so much and they could share that wisdom - and the fact that they were wrinkled and baggy and saggy was revered as it was evidence of their having lived a long life.

I did find one company who are leading the way forward: Dove. DOVE’S campaign says: “Dove believes in pro-age not anti-age” - this company is trying to “instill a new attitude in the anti-aging category, from negative and fear driven to affirmitive and hope-driven”. This for me is the way forward - and the sooner more companies stop attempting to make women think they must disguise their age, the easier it will be for women to admit their age. “It’s about looking good at whatever age you are”. I’m hoping that many other cosmetic companies will follow in their steps. The cynical part of me suspects that once women collectively sigh with relief at no longer having to endure the impossible struggle of looking ten years younger than they actually are, and the companies realise there’s money in encouraging women to be proud of what they are, they’ll all jump on the pro-age bandwagon. Well, I’m already there! I’m pro-age through and through - which is why I’m telling you how old I am.

We’re all to blame to a certain extent. It’s time we all stopped being our own worst enemy and scrutinising each others’ weight and wrinkles - because beauty is more than skin deep. Be proud to be your age!

So how do I feel today? Probably the main word I’d use about myself is content. I have a loving and caring husband, two adorable cats, two wonderful adult sons and two beautiful much loved grandkids. I have a small extended family that I’m close to (there are many relatives I haven’t seen for years because that’s my prerogative) and a handful of really close girl friends (they are the backbone of my life. They laugh out loud with me, pass me the tissues and hug me when I weep, tell me I’m a plonka when I am one, and they praise me loudly when they know I deserve it. I love them all to bits). I have very good health (having survived cancer) and enough income to keep the wolf from the door. What more could a girl woman want? What am I looking forward to? Retirement and the time to myself that will bring to enjoy the things I like to do: Seeing friends and family, photography, walking, reading, writing, blogging, theatre, music, and of course travel.

And finally below: here I am at age 56! Gorjuss huh? LOL!



I bet you’re all too nervous to say I look young for my age now, aren’t you? LOL! Drat!

Oh … and since it’s my birthday - Alfie checking out my birthday roses:



And Milo doing the same! (it’s interesting that they both sniffed exactly the same leaf! Gotta love ‘em!)



I just had to post this video. My wonderful friend Mel recorded her gorgeous kids and adorable cats, singing me a very special birthday message. It is the BEST birthday card I’ve EVER received. Thank you Mel - you’re one in a million. I love it. Kiss the kids and cats for me!


Posted in Astonishing, Confessions, Life, attitude, being authentic, growing old, human issues, inspirational, life celebration, psychology, realism, waiting for God, women | Tags: Age

Jill Haldane of The Harley Street Smile Clinic says "I believesthat yes cosmetic dentistry to enhance your smile can make your life fuller, and it's not such a ridiculous comment to make. If you have suffered years of embarassment due to the state of your teeth/smile, it is highly likely you haven't smiled as much as someone who is unconcerned with their teeth. Embarrassment can have a knock on effect in many areas of your life. You can lack confidence as a result of not wanting anyone to see your teeth. You don't smile as much, laugh as much, or necessarily feel as good about yourself as you could. I suffered years of embrrassment about my teeth when I was younger right up until my mid twenties. My teeth were very crooked, and I didn't wear a brace when i was younger. I went to America when i was 21 and willnever forget some American guy saying to me 'What is it with you British people and your crooked teeth?' I was mortified. I had always disliked my teeth before, but to hear this, I just wanted to hide away. It made me more embarrassed about them, and more self conscious. I had my teeth veneered in my mid twenties and it was the best thing I could ever have done. As soon as I was happy with my smile so many people noticed a big difference in my personality. I had so much more confidence - especially knowing I had a better smile than anyone else I knew! For me not to have to cover my mouth when I smiled, or shy away from photos, was such an ego boost. Without a doubt it enhanced my life, and how I felt about myself. In those days there weren't any programmes on TV about making yourself look younger etc, so they weren't to blame for my quest for a better smile. I didn't need to watch those programmes to know I had awful teeth. Now I can testify to feeling as though I live a fuller life as a result of having my teeth done. I am happier and more carefree because I don't have the issues with my teeth any more, which in turn affects how I live my life. In the past I would never have drawn attention to myself, in fact I would have done everything to avoid the focus being on me. But not anymore...

So can changing your smile make your life fuller? I say Yes, it can.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Turning To Surgery For Cheryl Cole's Look
Today 11:00

You've bought the same outfit and copied their hairstyle but that is not enough when it comes to looking like your favourite celebrity. More and more women are now turning to cosmetic surgery to achieve the look of their favourite stars, particularly Cheryl Cole.

Birkdale Clinic has reported a rise in cosmetic surgery consultations to look like their favourite star and since September, at the height of her X Factor popularity, there has been an increase in the number of people trying to achieve the look of Cheryl through botox and liposuction.

It is not just weight and shape related treatments though, people are also turning to dentistry treatments to emulate the perfect Hollywood smile.

Comment on this Article
Marie Jenkins, patient coordinator at Birkdale said: "We meet many people who have a desire to look like their favourite celebrity, and most say that they are more inclined to have treatments done now in January as a way of boosting their own ‘feel good factor’."

Marie added though: "We always warn potential new patients against jeopardising their health in the rush to look fabulous like their favourite celebrity. To us health and beauty should always go hand in hand."

Birkdale reports that after Cheryl the celebrity people most want to look like is recently axed Britain's Got Talent judge Kelly Brook. After lasting six days in the job, perhaps people should reconsider as she has proved your looks alone can't help you keep you job.

The third most popular celebrity is Dancing on Ice host Holly Willoughby, we wonder which two parts of Holly's body women would most like to copy. After Holly comes Angelina Jolie. Presumably women want Ange's bee-stung pout, but there is always the danger of ending up with Leslie Ash's trout pout.


In fifth place comes Hollywood beauty Eva Mendes. It is interesting that only two of the top five celebrities are Hollywood stars where the top three are all home grown beauties.

We think we'll stick to make-up and clothes though when it comes to trying Cheryl's look.

Jill Haldane of the Harley Street Smile Clinic says that it is becoming increasingly popular for clients to request a certain celebrity smile, in particular Cheryl Cole's. It can easily be achieved by making our veneers the same shape as the celebrity smile requested. I'm not exactly sure what treatment Cheryl has had done but it looks as though she has had 8-10 veneers applied to her upper front teeth.

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Benefits of cosmetic dentistry

January 19, 2009

Benefits of cosmetic dentistry
There are many people who are self-conscious about their smile. A smile is something that everybody sees and notices. Next to your eyes, your smile is one of the most to say things about you. There's a lot that people can read about your smile. There are many people who understand how important their smiles, which is uncomfortable with her smile. This is not good because your discomfort is very clear about your body language. If you are one of those people you can examine cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry can work wonders with your smile. Even if you are comfortable with your smile and just wish there was a small change is cosmetic dentistry can fix that thing. Here are some of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry:
One advantage of cosmetic dentistry is that it is exempt from the silver in your mouth. Many people are self-consciously with her smile, because they have silver fillings, which clearly indicate when they smile big. It is not very nice if you smile and have black spots by ads. With cosmetic dentistry you can get rid of these feelings silver and white to get instead. White Teeth feelings allow residents to remain strong but also to their original color.
A second advantage of cosmetic dentistry is that your teeth white. Maybe you have beautiful teeth, the perfect shape and the perfect fit in your mouth, but they are only a little white. As you know your teeth helps your smile stand out nicely. It could be the cherry on the already great looks. White teeth really make your teeth are against your skin. If you know them they are really good mix with your eyes. They are the whites of your eyes stand out. White teeth will help ensure that you’re other functions.
A third advantage of cosmetic dentistry is that you are connected to them. Glue your teeth helps get rid of large gaps in your smile. It helps in the shape of your teeth to a better fit in their places. Glue your teeth may be the alignment of your teeth will be much better in appearance.
A fourth benefit of cosmetic dentistry is that it bridges and implants. After huge holes in your smile is definitely something that is not too pretty. If you are missing teeth, it makes it extremely difficult to smile. It is difficult to be with oneself, when people's eyes are always a b-line for your eyes not your mouth. It is very annoying when you try to talk to someone and they do not look you in the eye, but on your smile. First implants or bridges can help to create a full, beautiful smile, you can be sure with.
A fifth benefit of cosmetic dentistry is that veneers. Veneers are a great way to design your teeth. Perhaps you have a tooth that is because it is just weird looking. Veneers are associated with the front of the tooth to help them get a lot better. It is a great way to fix discolored, misshapen, cracked, small, medium or bad teeth. Once again, they help you to have a more confident smile.


The Harley Street Smile Clinic’s


Top 10 tips for a sexy smile


There is nothing sexier than a white smile. New bleaching techniques have made whitening your teeth really easy and convenient. Laser whitening can lighten your teeth to their optimum whiteness in little over an hour – a lunchtime treat!

To make your teeth look whiter than they really are, lipsticks can create the illusion of whiter teeth. Red / plum coloured lipsticks will make your teeth look white, whereas peachy / rusty tones will make them look more yellow. An interesting fact!

Whitening toothpastes are available that can help get rid of staining, and some contain a mild bleaching agent, such as Janina, which can over time lighten your teeth a little.

Invest in a Sonicare electric toothbrush. Never before has an electric brush had the ability to do what this baby does! Especially if you are a smoker – the stain removal abilities are outstanding.

If you are looking for the ultimate perfect smile, our veneers are made of the strongest and most natural looking porcelain available and are used to correct the shape, size, position and colour of your teeth all at once. Call the clinic for more details…

6 monthly health checks and hygiene sessions (scale and polish) are a must to keep staining, plaque and tartar at bay. Tips on good oral hygiene should be given by your hygienist to help you keep your breath fresh and teeth clean.

Flossing is something we all forget to do, but just remember, all food particles that don’t get removed with brushing will sit in between your teeth and smell rather bad after a few days! Floss it away if you want to keep your gums healthy and your breath fresh.

Lots of fresh breath products are available, but Retardex have a range of products especially designed to destroy the bacteria that causes bad breath. A lot of mouthwashes just disguise the smell for a while.

Tongue cleaners are the latest craze. Just sweep them over your tongue to get rid of any unwanted ‘fuzz’!

Don’t forget to smile! Not only will you feel more sexy, you’ll feel happier too!

The Harley Street Smile Clinic 139 Harley Street London W1G 6BG Tel: 020 7193 3448 Web: www.harleystreetsmileclinic.co.uk Email: info@harleystreetsmileclinic.co.uk

Dental makeovers make a difference

Tue, Jan 20, 2009
Mind Your Body, The Straits Times




Makeovers made a difference

By Margaret Lee

Perfectly aligned, spotless, attractive teeth?

Everybody dreams of having a mouthful of pearly whites fit for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with teeth that grow perfectly and few can afford to put their money down on a complete dental overhaul.

For those in the entertainment industry though, it is often a necessary career move that could help boost a public image.


Actor Sunny Pang, 36, known for his independent films and dangerous stunts, knew nice teeth would be an asset.

The rugged Mark Of The Beast actor seems an unlikely candidate for cosmetic dentistry.

However, boxing and martial arts stunts knocked out some of his teeth and cracked others, so he sought help from a dental surgeon.

As he began to get more leading roles on the big screen, he decided he had to do something about his teeth.

The process involved crowning, bridging and implants, which cost about $28,000. The entire procedure required four to five visits to his dentist with each lasting three to four hours.

His patience paid off when cast, crew and friends began to ask: 'Where did you get those?'

The new look has boosted his confidence. 'I used to muffle my words as I delivered my lines because I would try not to show my teeth when I spoke,' he said.

That will not be a problem in his upcoming movie, Knife, in which he plays an ex-Special Forces soldier with killer knife skills as well as a killer smile.

You may remember Kelvin Shinji Soon, 27, the singing sensation from Project SuperStar Season 2, but not for his dazzling smile.

It was after his stint on reality TV that he decided he needed a smile makeover.

Determined to pursue his singing career and break into the highly coveted China market, he willingly paid the cost for an entire set of 20 crowns and veneers. The price? Crowns are about $1,000 each while veneers cost $700 apiece.

Soon is now preparing for his debut album. He told Mind Your Body how his 'messy' teeth took such a toll on his confidence in Project SuperStar he did not dare smile in case he revealed them.

The crooner could not sing for two months after the procedure as the new positioning of his teeth affected his diction and he had problems pronouncing certain words.

He also found that he was sensitive to cold drinks for a few weeks.

He thinks the $24,000 was money well spent though.


'I dare to smile and portray another side of me now,' he said. He calls his dental surgeon his 'magician'.

Personal grooming is a necessity in the entertainment industry, where he constantly meets new people and appearances count for everything, he said.

Polytechnic student Trish Yee, 20, went for a smile makeover to look more like the celebrities she follows.

It was her idea to undergo treatment but her mother was so supportive that she paid for the entire procedure and also attended the consultations with her. She jokingly told her daughter: 'You can pay me back later.'

At age 20, Ms Yee felt 'too old' for braces and instead opted for a set of 20 crowns, which set her mother back about $20,000.

She had the treatment done at a private clinic in April.


The procedure took two to three visits over two weeks and each session lasted six to seven hours. Ms Yee felt some pain during each session, and drinking hot and cold drinks hurt her teeth up to six months after.

She said that the change in her appearance was so natural that people would comment on her straight, pearly white teeth and ask if she had braces as a child.

She said that she has no regrets and thinks it may improve her chances when looking for work.

In fact, it has been so impressive that her mother, sister and uncle are also thinking about getting their teeth done.




The Harley Street Smile Clinic perform smile makeovers every day; changing lives on many occasions. Lisa Weston knows only too well the difference a smile makeover can make to our confidence. Read her story below:

Lisa’s Story


Like any imperfection, it effects the person concerned in a way no one else can understand. Mine just happened to be my teeth, the first thing a person looks at when you first meet them, to me it was an enormous effect on my personality. I made a promise at a young age that no matter what I would have the perfect smile.

My two front teeth started to overlap at the age of 14, first with a chip on the front right tooth which eventually overlapped in my 20’s so much so my top lip stuck out as though I had bucked teeth, the only blessing was the colour, always having brilliant white teeth. I was eventually put in touch with a local dentist who said he could correct my teeth with veneers, which after years of crooked teeth I was overjoyed. I have to add I had no experience of veneers or cosmetic dentistry at this point and maybe should have researched into the procedure before but the prospect of a new smile was all I thought about. The procedure was simple, he put 2 new veneers on top on my 2 front teeth and one at the side, what he didn’t do was file my orginal teeth in order for my teeth to sit in line with the rest of my jawline. Now I had 2 even bigger front teeth in size and width which were more prominent than before, I was so disappointed with the result.



My personality was effected as my confidence was low, I was now smiling with my mouth closed, if a photo was taken I knew I had to angle my face as not to show my teeth. Everyone I meet or watched on TV, the first thing I looked at was always their teeth. I was now in a long term relationship with my now husband and when he aked me to marry him, I always remember thinking, I will not walk down the aisle unless I can smile into the camera on my wedding day, I wanted to be relaxed and enjoy the day without having to be concerned about the angle of my face, worried all I would see in the photo’s would be how terrible my teeth looked. I never wanted the Hollywood Simon Cowell smile, I wanted my teeth to look natural, I wanted them to match and compliment my face.



I started to research into cosmetic dentistry when I was introduced to Jill Haldane by a mutual friend, Jill worked at a top London cosmetic dentistry practice. I made an appointment for the following week and arrived with excitement along with trepidation after my last experience, I was soon put at ease by the environment and the knowledge I was given at that first consultation, nothing was going to happen without my approval and I would be informed throughout the procedure. An image of my teeth was taken and the image of my teeth was scaled down to show me how my teeth would look at the end, it was decided I needed 8 top veneers and gum contouring to allow my teeth to once again look natural, nothing was required to my bottom set and the colour would be matched to my bottom set. I was ecstatic at the image staring back at me. I arranged my appointment and felt completely confident with the treatment I was going to receive.



The following appointment was for the preparation for the temporary veneers and once again the treatment and information received was superb, I was totally at ease with Maurice who was carrying out the procedure. My temporary veneers were amazing and if they had said to me these were the final veneers, I would have been happy. Maurice and Jill had both mentioned if I did not like the colour, size or shape of the temporaries then they would make changes where necessary. I loved them! I came back the next morning, and after 90 minutes of treatment again with no discomfort, my new

veneers were fitted and I was able to see the end result. They were even better than the temporaries, colour, size, fit and Maurice had made them a little smaller than the temporaries, now they looked even more natural and complimented my face beyond my wildest dreams. I never stop smiling and everyone I meet is shocked they are veneers and not my natural teeth, I tell them with pride - and a smile!

Finding a good cosmetic dentist

Cosmetic Dentist, Wilmington - Selection Considerations
Filed under Health & Fitness by Paul Mahon


by Jim Carpenter
Choosing the right cosmetic dentist to carry out the procedures in order to provide you with a wonderful smile needs you to take a number of things into consideration first. It does not matter where you live, whether it is in Wilmington, Tampa or New York City you need to keep these things in mind. In this article we look at some of things that are important when considering which cosmetic dentist, Wilmington or anywhere else you are going to use.

Firstly you should find a dentist who has gained the right set of qualifications that allows them to practice as a cosmetic dentist today. Before 1984 and the formation of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) it was extremely difficult to find a person who had the appropriate skill set for carrying out any kinds of cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Contact this organization and they will be able to offer you details of any dentists who practice where you live and have received the appropriate training and accreditations. In order to become a member of the AACD all cosmetic dentists will under a strenuous vetting process.

As part of their becoming members of this organization all cosmetic dentists need to continue with training in cosmetic dentistry, they will regularly be tested to ensure that the skills are of the highest standard. Plus as part of their membership they need to submit several of the cases that they have completed to a panel of cosmetic dentistry experts to judge.

In order for a cosmetic dentist to carry out the procedures involved in this form of dentistry they need to need to have undergone a post graduate program. But be aware that not all the cosmetic dentistry schools are offering such training to those who complete the initial training so spend time learning more about the dentist?s qualifications. Those who are continually revising their skills are those who will learn more about the latest techniques and materials that can be used in cosmetic dentistry and so end up getting the best results.

Cosmetic dentistry is a very complex field of dentistry and the procedures involved are not those that can be performed by a general dentist in order to get the best results. Therefore when considering any cosmetic dentist to carry out improvements to your teeth for aesthetic reasons make sure that they have carried out the procedures you are looking to have done before. For example if you are going to be having dental veneers applied make sure that the dentist you select is one that has applied not just hundreds but thousands of them before.

Another thing to take into consideration when trying to choose the right cosmetic dentist, Wilmington or elsewhere to carry out the treatment you want is how well you get on with them. You want to have one who you feel comfortable with and who is going to listen to what it is you want. Plus look for a cosmetic dentist who explains the procedures in clear simple terms which are easy to understand.

Plus you need to find a cosmetic dentist, Wilmington who is actually going to listen should you have any concerns or worries about the procedures involved and will be able to allay these for you. Only after talking to you should they then arrange to carry out an inspection of one's mouth and then diagnose the most appropriate course of treatment. You should never actually rush into using the first one you come across but spend time comparing several and arranging to have consultations with them all.

the Harley Street Smile Clinic have this advice for anyone looking for the right cosmetic dentist:

How to find a good cosmetic dentist

Surprisingly there are no qualifications a dentist can get in the UK for cosmetic dentistry. It has never been a specialised field in this country. This means that and any dentist can call himself a cosmetic dentist whether he is just a general dentist or truly an expert in the field. Dentists who wish to gain this level of expertise can do so through the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry - the masters of the art of cosmetic dentistry. The A.A.C.D. was founded back in the early eighties and is the most recognised specialist of the art. Dentists from all over the States and a handful from the UK attend their annual general sessions to pick up all the latest skills and techniques being used and what the best materials are. If you want to find one of the best cosmetic dentists, here are a few tips:

:) Get on the Internet if you have access. Go to several search engines and enter a search for ‘cosmetic dentist’, ‘London cosmetic dentistry’, ‘Hollywood smile’ etc. Most modern practices concerned with being at the forefront of cosmetic dentistry will have a website. The site should give you a good idea of what they have available.

:) Find out if the dentists are members of the AACD. Members of this body will have much more knowledge on the subject than non-members.

:) Find out if the practice is up to date in terms of technology and equipment. Dentistry has advanced enormously in the last 5 or 10 years so make sure the practice is keeping up.

:) A good cosmetic dentist will have a portfolio of his work. Ask the dentist to see his portfolio. This should take the form of actual photographs of his clients’ before treatment and afterwards. Any dentist who is proud of his cosmetic work will want photographic evidence of it.

:) Does the dental practice use computer imaging? This is an excellent tool from the clients’ point of view. It gives you the opportunity to see what you would look like first if you went ahead with treatment. You then have a photo of what the cosmetic work will look like. Although this could never be 100% accurate – it’s pretty close. Not only that, it gives you the opportunity to explain to the dentist exactly how you would like your teeth to look – getting you what you want. The dentist’s ability to provide you with a good imaging picture will give you a good idea of how artistic he is naturally – this should follow through with his cosmetic dentistry.

:) Ask your dentist if any of his clients would be willing to talk to you about how they felt about having their teeth done. You’ll feel much more relaxed knowing someone is happy with the cosmetic dental work carried out by the dentist you are considering to do your teeth.

Above all, make sure you are comfortable at the practice. You need to know that the dentist you are entrusting with your pearly whites is confident that the treatment he has outlined is going to be just as he says. You need to ask yourself:

:) Do you like the dentist and feel you could trust him? You may be taking a big step so make sure you have the right man for the job.

:) Do you think he’s going to be able to give you what you want? Anyone can have cosmetic dentistry done at most practices, but will the results be as anticipated?

:) Does he make you feel relaxed? If you are a nervous patient you will want to know that the dentist understands, otherwise it will end up an uncomfortable experience for you.

:) Are there any guarantees with the cosmetic dentistry? Good quality porcelain work should come with a guarantee. Ask your dentist what would happen if in 3 years time, you chipped a porcelain veneer he did for you.

:) What kind of ‘aftercare’ do you get? You should be advised on how best to look after your new smile – after all, it may have cost you a few bob, and you want to know that it will still look good years on.

Alternatively, if you want to achieve all the points mentioned above without any trouble – just check www.harleystreetsmileclinic.co.uk or email info@harleystreetsmileclinic.co.uk