Everyone deserves to smile with confidence. That’s why Stanley St. Dental offers cosmetic dentistry services to give you your dream smile makeover! Whether you want to set a crooked smile straight or dial your smile up a few notches in brightness, we have the services you need to unlock your dream pearly whites. Let’s get right into it!
White Fillings
No one likes a cavity — but you know what else no one wants? A glaring amalgam filling of unsightly silver. Because of their lifespan, these fillings were the go-to fix for cavities until recently. Some dentists still swear by them to this day. However, thanks to steps forward in dental technology, the lifespan of amalgam or white fillings is now more or less the same. That’s why more people now opt for white fillings — not least because they colour-match a pearly-white smile. White fillings are also the preferred pick because, unlike amalgam, they will neither discolour the tooth over time nor contribute to cracked tooth syndrome. Dental cracks or chips often lead to further restorative dental work down the track, and no one wants that.
If you’ve felt dismayed when looking in the mirror lately, we can help you fix the gaps in your smile. Using the latest in filling technology materials — such as fissure sealants — we create resin-based fillings built to hold your tooth’s natural shape better. As well as resin, our white fillings will typically contain glass particles and a mouth-friendly setting agent: materials frequently preferred to the sometimes-irritating amalgam. We can create natural-looking new fillings to fit a fresh cavity or replace your amalgam fillings with a pearly-white upgrade.
Dental Veneers
Resin may be top-dog when it comes to white fillings, but in the case of dental veneers, we invest in porcelain: the most premium veneer material. Unlike their composite resin cousins, porcelain veneers tick all the boxes:
- They’re the closest aesthetic match to natural teeth.
- They last 10–15 years rather than 5–8.
- They resist stains.
If you want a long-lasting, high-quality facade for misshapen, misaligned or discoloured teeth, porcelain veneers are your ideal smile makeover. Let’s review what they are and how they work.
In a nutshell, dental veneers are thin shells that sit over your natural teeth. Though you can opt for one veneer to mask a particularly troublesome tooth, most patients purchase them in even numbers (on average, anywhere from four to eight) to ensure consistency across their smile. The best part about dental veneers is they can transform a smile without looking ‘fake’. When you get veneers at Stanley St. Dental, you can count on a natural look as we outsource veneer creation to local laboratories that use the latest ceramic technology.
Before we place your veneers, we will create a wax mock-up of how the veneers will appear. We’ll also provide a step-by-step guide throughout the process so that you can know what to expect. At the forefront of our process are your preferences and satisfaction, so we’ll work with you to ensure you’re smiling at the results. Overall, dental veneers — especially porcelain ones — are a fantastic shortcut to a Hollywood smile.
Teeth Whitening
On the other hand, if your teeth are a good shape and alignment, you may not need to mask them so much as bleach them. Teeth whitening is your opportunity to address those deep-seated stains unreachable in a regular check-up and clean. When it comes to teeth whitening, you have two options: take-home whitening trays or an in-chair procedure. If you opt for the in-chair procedure, you may wish to use the take-home trays to maintain your results.
Take-Home Whitening Trays
Customised to your smile, take-home whitening trays allow you to apply whitening gel in your own time. As the name suggests, you use whitening trays in the comfort of your own home. With consistent use, this type of teeth-whitening treatment should take three to four weeks to yield significant results. As aforementioned, it can also be an excellent supplementary treatment following in-chair whitening.
In-Chair Whitening
In-chair whitening is an efficient way to attack stains, taking no longer than an hour. At Stanley St. Dental, we use Zoom Whitening, which is the most popular process in the dental world. What sets this whitening process apart from other methods is the Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp, which activates 25 per cent more hydrogen peroxide in the whitening gel. When the dentist applies the gel and laser light to your teeth, the oxygen in the activated hydrogen peroxide assists in bleaching the enamel and dentin. Not only does the process make teeth up to eight shades whiter, but it also preserves tooth structure throughout.
If you believe your teeth could use some whitening, always consult a dental professional. Avoid abrasive over-the-counter whitening strips, which can weaken tooth enamel.
Invisalign®
Want to correct your overbite, underbite, crossbite, dental gaps or dental crowding? Invisalign® is the smile makeover for you. A far cry from the wires and brackets of braces, Invisalign is the less restrictive orthodontic solution of the 21st century. Invisalign® treatment involves moulding multiple dental trays — or clear aligners — to your teeth, which you wear for 22 hours daily to give teeth a gentle nudge towards a straighter disposition. Many patients prefer Invisalign® to braces as it’s not only more comfortable, but it also looks more discreet. While braces inherently draw attention to themselves, Invisalign® will often go unnoticed. This is excellent news for kids, who might be worried about schoolyard teasing or the nicknames often associated with braces-wearing.
The other perk about Invisalign® is that it’s user-friendly. While braces may trap chunks of food in their brackets, Invisalign® clear aligners are completely removable, meaning you can take them out when it’s time to eat. For this reason, Invisalign® is a far more hygienic choice. On average, they also have a shorter treatment duration (six to eighteen months, compared to one to three years in the case of braces).
The Invisalign® Process
When you get Invisalign® at Stanley St. Dental, the first step is to take a three-dimensional scan of the inside of your mouth: the 21st-century alternative to taking a gag-inducing dental impression using putty. This process not only gives the dentist an idea of what they’re working with, but it also allows them to create a simulation of what your smile will look like post-treatment. During this phase, the dentist will map out the changes in your mouth, showing you every pre-planned shift your teeth will undertake.
How do we create the clear aligners? Using a 3D printer and precision trimming — the latter of which will prevent discomfort or cuts along the gums. You can count on Invisalign® for a snug fit, thanks to its SmartTrack material and biomechanical engineering — though you may experience initial discomfort when you switch to a fresh tray each fortnight. If this becomes an issue, we can attach invisible fasteners to your teeth to ease these transitions. In any case, they should generally feel more comfortable than a pair of braces.
Smile Makeovers & Beyond at Stanley St. Dental
Stanley St. Dental wants you to have a smile you can beam with pride — and smile makeovers are just one piece of that puzzle! If we’ve dazzled you with our cosmetic dentistry options, you’ll also love how we bring things back to basics.
Keep your dental health in check with check-ups and cleans — or, in a worst-case scenario like periodontal gum disease, take more drastic measures like root canal treatment or tooth extraction. For the kids, we provide children’s dentistry; for the whole family, we offer a gentle, holistic approach all around, with the option of sleep dentistry for anxious patients.
If you have issues with sleep apnea, Stanley St. Dental is the perfect place to diagnose its origins, as its roots lie in poor oral health. We also have the resources to help if you have a dental emergency.
Restorative dental talk: Stanley St. Dental can bridge the literal gap with dental bridges, implants, and crowns or replenish your mouth with dentures or All-on-4 implants. We also have CEREC® available if you prefer same-day service on your prosthetics.
Whatever the final bill, our private health insurance holders are covered. We work with HICAPS, whose partnerships include many different health funds. Book your appointment with Stanley St. Dental today for affordable smile makeovers and so much more.