Componeers are a completely new class of veneers. Until recently, a smile makeover always consisted of porcelain veneers or crowns that are not always in the budget. Plus, these porcelain restorations, while beautiful, are very hard to repair. Now there is a “medium” option- Componeers.These composite resin veneers are strong, beautiful and much more cost effective than porcelain veneers. Componeers have the beauty of porcelain, the longevity and most importantly, are adjustable, repairable and customizable! So, if you want to “style your smile” but don’t want to break the bank, ask us about the new Componeers system.

Unsightly tooth stains can cause great embarrassment and keep people from smiling. Usually, as age progresses, the teeth tend to become yellow, which is normal. However, certain factors can cause changes as well.   There are two types of tooth stains: extrinsic stains or surface stains and intrinsic stains when the interior sections of the tooth have darkened. Coffee, tea, soda, red wine, curries, turmeric or even soy sauce can cause extrinsic tooth stains when consumed over a long period of time.Bad oral hygiene and smoking too can greatly discolour teeth. Intrinsic stains can be caused by certain drugs, some mouthwashes, dental fluorosis, large silver fillings or trauma too can cause discoloration which is the result of a dead nerve. Depending upon the cause of the discoloration, your dentist may advise a treatment which can vary from changing oral habits, ultrasonic cleaning, teeth whitening, tooth coloured fillings or porcelain veneers.

The goal of minimally invasive dentistry, or microdentistry as it is sometimes called, is to conserve healthy tooth structure. It focuses on prevention, remineralisation and minimal dentist intervention. Minimally invasive dentistry allows dentists to perform the least amount of dentistry needed while never removing more of the tooth structure than is required, to restore teeth to their normal condition. In addition, dentists use long-lasting dental materials that conserve the maximum tooth structure so that the need for future repairs is reduced. First the dentist determines your risk of tooth decay after which he can strategize on how to prevent or reduce this risk. The techniques involved can include remineralisation using fluoride, air abrasion using a stream of air combined with a super-fine abrasive powder, sealants which seal the deep grooves, inlays or onlays which require less tooth removal than crowns, or bite splint for people who grind their teeth.

Peg lateral teeth, or peg lateral incisors, are terms used to describe a condition where the lateral incisors (the second tooth on either side of the front teeth) are undersized, conical and appear smaller than normal. This situation occurs when the permanent lateral incisors do not fully develop. Since peg lateral incisors are undersized, many times there will be a space between them and the adjacent teeth (this space normally would have been occupied by a fully developed lateral incisor).This resultant space the smile to appear abnormal. There are several ways to treat and correct this condition. Porcelain veneers are the most common treatment for peg lateral incisors, and require little or no tooth preparation.  A porcelain shell is simply bonded over the smaller peg laterals making the teeth appear normal in size. If not enough space exists, it can be created by orthodontic treatment.

Veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic (porcelain) or a composite resin material, which are bonded to the front of teeth. Veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns in many situations. They provide a much more conservative approach to changing a tooth’s colour, size or shape. Veneers can mask undesirable defects,such as teeth stained by tetracycline or fluorosis or damage due to an injury. They are ideal for masking discoloured fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider veneers. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others. Since they are very thin, very little or no preparation of the tooth may be needed. Veneers should last for many years; but they can chip or break, just as your own teeth can. Your dentist will tell you how long each individual veneer should last. Small chips can be repaired, or a new veneer fitted if necessary.