From the moment we are born, one of the things that awaits us for certain is old age. The definition of that changes from culture to culture and advances in medicine mean that many of us are living an active life for much longer. No wonder then, that we want to keep our teeth in good condition and looking as nice as possible for as long as we can.
Good oral health care, a sensible diet and seeing the dentist regularly gives us a good chance to do this, but over time, the wear and tear of daily life, in addition to any accidental damage to our teeth, can all take their toll. This can leave us with teeth that are not as strong as we like and which are also discoloured. Multiple tooth loss is also a possibility as we become older.
The good news for more mature patients of Rushey Green Dental in Catford, is that cosmetic treatments are not only for the young, and can really benefit our older patients too.
One of the most noticeable problems that sometimes befalls us as we grow older is tooth loss. Especially where a noticeable front tooth is missing, not only can it look strange but also adds years onto our age. If you have missing teeth then, this is perhaps the most obvious thing to address first of all.
Dentures are the most common solution to this problem and can look perfectly fine. Where they are less succesful though is in their practical use. Dentures are secured by suction or adhesives and can have a tendency to move around in the mouth. Aside from any embarrassment this might cause, it can make eating, and sometimes speech, more difficult.
A more secure tooth replacement option is to have dental implants placed. These do require some invasive dentistry but are as close to real teeth as you can currently get. Once placed, you can treat them as you would your natural teeth and eat whatever you chose, without problems.
Wear and tear is likely to have an impact on our teeth the older we get. Some enamel wearing is likely and some teeth might have even become chipped or broken. There are several option available for restoring teeth damaged in this way. These include veneers for where enamel is worn from the tooth surface, cosmetic bonding to restore minor damage, and, where there is more significant damage to teeth, crowns can be added to restore both appearance and functionality.
There is a misconception that if you eat a perfect diet, your teeth will remain white and bright. While this is true to a degree, especially regarding surface staining from coffee and red wine etc, the reality is that the dentin part of the tooth, located below the enamel, darkens naturaly over time. As the tooth enamel is translucent, this then shows through and makes the teeth more dull looking and gives your smile a discoloured appearance.
For those with mider discolouration, a teeth whitening procedure can work wonders and lighten the colour of your teeth by several shades. This is a non invasive procedure that most people also find affordable. Unsurprisingly then, this is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments that we offer here at our popular Catford dentist.
For those with more serious staining and discolouration, the above treatment may well not offer sufficient improvement. All is not lost though and porcelain veneers can be attached to the front of these teeth to provide you with a white, attractive smile again. This may require some minor invasive treatment but the results can last for ten years or more before further intervention is required.
Even if you feel that your smile is a lost cause, it may well not be and modern cosmetic dentistry offers a wide range of options to help. However bad you think your teeth might be, don’t write them off and instead, make an appointment at our local dental practice where an initial consultation will allow us to establish an action plan for your consideration. We offer payment plans too, to help you to spread the cost of your treatment over a period of time.
If you have entered your later years and would like to see if we can help you regain the smile you thought you had lost for ever, please get in touch to book your initial consultation with one of our dentists. Call us today on 020 8314 5066.
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