Many of our patients have the same concerns when attending for improving their teeth or smiles and thereby creating more confidence.

Apart from wishing to be “dentally fit and healthy” these three wishes appear to be predominant.

Wish one: “I want whiter teeth”

The natural shade of our teeth varies from patient to patient.

The shade will depend on genetic predisposition , the maintenance of good oral hygiene, age and food intakes.

Genetics:

If mum, dad (or both) have dark teeth, it is unlikely that their offspring will glisten with gleaming white teeth.

Maintenance of good oral hygiene:

If your teeth are not brushed properly on a daily basis and are covered in plaque and food stains , it is unlikely that they will look beautiful.

Age:

A younger patient having had less years of food-staining diets will have whiter teeth than his’ or her’s older counterpart. It is also shown that due to a thicker enamel layer in younger teeth, teeth tend to bleach more effectively and with less sensitivity. The older we get the thinner the enamel will become. Also, the avoidance of excessive acidy drinks or acidy foods helps to maintain enamel thickness , avoiding enamel erosion.

Food intakes:

The darker the food or drink you take in ( red wine, blueberries, curries, black tea and coffee, spices ,etc) the more your teeth will stain over time.

Although the tooth-whitening toothpaste may help to remove daily stains, they will not whiten your teeth the degree of a “whiter smile”.

How to grant your wish

Only professional teeth whitening will give patients of all ages the bright smile they wish for.

WISH TWO: “I WANT EVEN TEETH “

The desire for even teeth is enormous. This is usually limited to the six upper and lower front teeth, the so called “sociable six” !

Our patients ask for symmetry whereby the size and length of the teeth are in proportion to each other and where the right and left side of the teeth look the same. Any rotations or teeth that “stick out” or “stand back” are perceived as unattractive. The beautifully aligned position of the teeth following the shape of your natural upper and lower arch are aimed for.

Treatment options depend on the patient’s age and the general condition of his or her teeth.

How to grant your wish

Even smiles can be achieved by :

Cosmetic orthodontic alignment (braces or removable aligners)
Composite bondings
Ceramic veneers or crowns

Wish three: “I want no spaces”

Although Madonna and Kylie have had a space in between their two front teeth, spaces are, in general , not regarded as a fetching dental feature and patients are often self-conscious about this type of gap.

The “full” smile with an intact dentition is enticing. Little or big gaps often look like dark spaces , pointy canines show up as “black triangles”.

While some cultures view gappy teeth as a sign of beauty, others may see them as imperfections.

Apart from aesthetic concerns gaps can create food traps which are diﬃcult to clean and cause gum problems. Larger spaces due to tooth loss will interfere with function such as biting and chewing. Uneven tooth wear , tooth tilting and undue pressure on other teeth may result.