5 Major Mistakes People Make When Whitening Their Own Teeth

Stained teeth are a common dental problem, which can be caused by various factors. Certain types of food and drink can cause staining, including coffee, tea, red wine and a few fruits and vegetables. Smoking can contribute to discoloured teeth, and other more major health concerns, as can poor oral care, such as a lack of adequate brushing and flossing. Sometimes trauma or disease can also cause discolouration, both in children and adults.

Luckily, tooth whitening treatment is available which can brighten your teeth and give you a shining smile. There are numerous types of tooth whitening treatment, but some of the more popular options are take home kits, which allow you to whiten your teeth in your own time. However, if they are of poor quality or used incorrectly, they can cause more harm than good. Here are the top 5 major mistakes that people make when whitening their own teeth:

Mistake:	Often people don’t use tooth whitening products that contain the correct amount of peroxide.
Correction:	At our Midlands Smile Centres practices, we use the latest tooth whitening gels that use the legally safe amount of peroxide.

Mistake:	Many people don’t know it is illegal for anyone other than GDC registered dental professionals to sell or apply the correct treatments.
Correction:	In all our MSC practices, we are fully trained and insured to make sure we deliver the best treatment to our patients, in a safe and trustworthy environment.

Mistake:	Poorly fitted whitening trays, not made specifically for your mouth by trained dentists, can result in unpredictable results.
Correction:	We only use high quality dental labs to make our bespoke trays. The better fitting the tray, the more predictable the result.

Mistake:	If you do not attend a check-up before the treatment, this could result in damage to your teeth and gums.
Correction:	Only a qualified dentist can make sure you are not at risk of causing harm to your teeth and gums, by ensuring your mouth is healthy before starting treatment.

Mistake:	Some people do not get crowns and fillings checked to make sure the colours will match after tooth whitening.
Correction:	Our dental team will ensure your treatment meets your needs, including helping to ensure your tooth whitening treatment gives you a smile that compliments any other dental treatments you may have had.

Getting professional advice before you start treatment is vital. Whatever it is that you want to improve, at MSC, we can give you the best advice and create a treatment plan to guide you towards your ideal smile.

Start your journey towards a brighter smile today!

How Smile Dentistry Can Benefit You

How Smile Dentistry Can Benefit You

*We believe that smile dentistry can benefit almost any smile. There’s always something that can be improved, which is why we’re reposting this blog with some additional problems that cosmetic dentistry can solve.

Smile dentistry encompasses a range of cosmetic treatments designed to improve the look of your smile. These may be as simple as removing staining, improving your fillings, or hiding damaged teeth. There isn't always a compelling health reason for undergoing these procedures; having them done is dependent mostly on how you feel about your teeth and how they look.

What Problems Can Cosmetic Dentistry Solve:

1. Stained or Yellow Teeth

Stained or yellow teeth can be a result of dietary habits. Drinking coffee, wine, or eating strongly coloured foods such as curry spices and berries, or acidic foods such as oranges can contribute to staining of the teeth. Smoking is also a common reason why teeth become yellow or stained. This staining effect is exacerbated if the natural enamel on your teeth is already weak.

You may feel that your teeth are yellow or stained, and this may cause some anxiety towards smiling. You may feel less confident about smiling or showing your teeth in the manner that you wish you could.

Tooth whitening treatment is a form of smile dentistry that can help with stained teeth. At MSC we provide tooth whitening in the form of a tooth whitening kit. Firstly, your suitability for this treatment will be ascertained by one of our dentists. Then trays made specifically for your teeth and jaw will be created. After that you will wear the trays filled with whitening gel for a few hours every day until you are satisfied with the colour of your teeth.

2. Dull Grey or Dark fillings

Traditionally patients were given fillings by dentists that were composed of a metallic-looking material. These metallic-looking fillings were grey in colour and not especially appealing to the eye. They can cause a person to look older, or less healthy. This less-than-attractive appearance can make those who have these fillings feel self-conscious about laughing or smiling. They may even feel that their fillings are a hindrance to them achieving the perfect smile.

White fillings are a form of smile dentistry that offer a cosmetic alternative to more old-fashioned grey fillings. White fillings offer a more natural, attractive appearance than traditional fillings, and they are also just as strong as grey fillings. At MSC, our highly experienced dentists will be happy to replace any grey fillings you may have for new, natural looking, white fillings.

3. Discoloured Teeth

Some people may have certain teeth that are not the colour they are supposed to be. When individual teeth are discoloured, they stand-out from the rest of the teeth in a person's mouth. This can lead to feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness for the person affected, bringing about a desire to hide their smile from others.

The problem of discoloured teeth involves dealing with individual teeth instead of a whole set of teeth. Therefore, in this case, tooth whitening treatment is not the solution.

In this case, we would recommend veneers. Veneers are thin layers of material. They are usually made from porcelain and are placed over the discoloured tooth to hide its imperfection. The difference a veneer can make is a very profound one, and often surprising. It is sure to elevate the standard of your smile.

4. Damaged Teeth

Teeth can become damaged in all sorts of different ways. Sometimes, the damage is as minimal as chipping. However, for those who have suffered this dental damage, the imperfection may be discomforting, damaging their smile and their self-confidence.

Again, veneers are what we would recommend here. With that thin layer of porcelain to cover the tooth, the flaw will be hidden from view and you can relax knowing that your smile looks just as it should. With the use of Veneers, the cosmetic improvement to your smile can be easily achieved.

5. Missing Teeth

This is a frequent occurrence in Britain and it is common for our dentists to see this on a daily basis. A missing tooth commonly causes a reduction of self confidence in a person, damaging their overall self-esteem. A Dental Implant is a fantastic way to regain your smile and confidence. This treatment ensures a more pleasing and natural look to your smile. A dental implant can also help prevent other problems caused by missing teeth, such as jawbone shrinkage and pain caused while eating.

6. Crooked or Uneven Teeth

Teeth can become crooked or uneven due to a few different reasons, this can lead to spaces developing between your teeth, or crowding of teeth. Not only can this cause a cosmetic issue, it can also cause other more serious dental problems. Fortunately, there are treatment options available that can straighten your teeth and give you your ideal smile.

One of the most popular forms of orthodontic treatment is Invisalign, which can straighten your teeth without getting in the way of your everyday life. Unlike traditional metal braces, this system is removable and almost invisible, which means you can enjoy smiling without wires and brackets getting in the way.

If you’re interested in Invisalign, Sheldon Midlands Smile Centres are running an Invisalign Open Event on 26/09/19 and 28/09/19. By attending, you can find out more about how your smile could look after Invisalign and make use of the various offers only available during the event. Find out more about our Invisalign Open Event.

The Smile That You Want

Achieving the smile that you want, unquestionably depends on taking good care of your teeth. However, there are times when a little outside help or adjustment can also be appropriate, and you may choose to have cosmetic or smile dentistry treatment. Whatever you are hoping to achieve with your smile, Midland Smile Centres' team of expertly skilled dentists will listen to you, assist you and help you reach the results you are looking for.

More About Midlands Smiles Centres

Midlands Smile Centres are conveniently located in several different locations around Birmingham including Sheldon and Selly Oak. To enable our patients to receive the treatments they want without excessive financial restrictions, our Smile Plan spreads out the costs of the dental treatments you opt for, making them more affordable for you. Our commitment to continued professional development, means that all our dentists attend training regularly in order to learn about the latest dental treatment methods and dental instrumentation, so that you are given the most up-to-date standard of dental care.

Get in touch with us today to find out more about what we can do for you!

10 Dental Services for a Perfect Smile

The desire for perfection is one that many people share around the world. For different people, this can mean the ‘perfect body’, the ‘perfect style’ and even the ‘perfect smile’. This ‘perfect’ look is specific to each person and does not mean there is one idea of perfection.

Getting the smile, you’ve always wanted can be a hard task to achieve and will often require the help of a professional. This doesn’t mean however that it is an impossible task, in fact it’s quite the opposite. With the correct guidance and help the smile you’ve been after could be only a matter of time away.

To help you on your way and to open your eyes to what’s out there, here are 10 services that are available to you at your Local MSC.

Veneers

Veneers are a great way of correcting and hiding an imperfection in your teeth. The treatment involves a small porcelain veneer being placed over the required area. Then this is shaped to give the desired look. To ensure that this offers the patient exactly what they are looking for, the veneer is also coloured to match the ordinary teeth in your jaw to give a more natural look. A veneer can be used to hide gaps in the teeth or as a way to hide small chips in the tooth that may be visible.

White Fillings

For many people, a filling is something that they have had or at some point in the future will experience. What some people don’t know however, is that white fillings provide a more aesthetically pleasing look, as well as helping to look after and protect your teeth from further damage or decay. This, for many, is an approach which offers discreet yet effective results for both dental health and dental appearance.

Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry covers a much wider bracket in the dentistry field. People generally consider this as a form of treatment for the elderly generation, however, with many people performing detrimental activities such as smoking, drinking alcohol or consuming an abundance of sugar, this has become a much more likely form of treatment for all ages. Restorative dentistry includes; bridges, crowns and dentures, as well as a whole host of others. These treatments are able to fill gaps in your teeth, returning your full smile.

Airflow

Airflow is a very popular form of teeth whitening, which has been used by dentists for years as an effective way to not only whiten, but also clean teeth. The process of airflow involves pressurised water, sodium and air being shot towards your teeth in order to lift off stains. Imagine it’s a car jet wash but scaled down for your teeth. It is a painless process which often produces great results, helping to remove plaque and stains from teeth, leaving the patient with a whiter smile. For someone looking to whiten their smile, this could be the ideal service for you.

Gold Services

Gold Services are often a unique form of treatment and not for everyone. As I’m sure you may have already worked out, our gold services include any dental treatment that involves using gold instead of using the generic material for that treatment. This can range from a gold filling all the way to an entire set of gold teeth. This is often popular with the younger generation and has become quite fashionable. There are also some benefits to using gold including its strength and its ability to almost never corrode. This does, however, make it quite expensive.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is probably one of the UK’s most common dental treatments. It has been part of dentistry for years and is not only able to fill the gap in your smile but to restore functionality to your jaw and mouth. Midlands Smile Centres are lucky enough to have a team with years of experience in this field and can offer a service, which time and time again, has provided the people of Birmingham with a full, confident smile.

  

Orthodontics

The range of orthodontic treatments is vast, and each treatment has a number of pros and cons which ultimately decide which service is best for you. In more recent years the development in Invisalign braces has drastically improved. This means patients can now get the smile they have always desired without the uncomfortable feel and unappealing look that traditional braces may offer. However, there are a few more options that may also work well for you, lingual braces and Six Month Smiles also offer a similar benefit to Invisalign including its ability to be hard to see it with the naked eye.

Hygienist Treatment

It’s all well and good having a nice smile but keeping it in tip-top condition can be harder then it may seem. Attending regular dental hygienist appointments will often help to keep your teeth in best possible condition. While at an appointment you can also find out the latest and greatest ways to look after your teeth at home. Dental hygienist appointments are available at all Midlands Smile Centres practices.

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is a very popular and sort after form of cosmetic treatment. It offers a patient a nice white smile. There are several forms of tooth whitening, including Pola whitening and Enlighten whitening. Both forms of whitening involve a take-home kit, which includes a mouth tray and gel. When worn, this helps to remove stains from your teeth, providing a bright, white smile. If you’re interested in having a whiter smile, talk to your dentist to find out the best form of treatment for you.

Inlays

If you have a large cavity with a healthy surrounding tooth, Midlands Smile Centres can provide Inlays or Onlays. Onlays can replace the cusp of a tooth which helps to sustain the shape of the tooth, while Inlays, which are usually made with tooth-coloured porcelain, are inserted into the hole in the tooth. This can help to provide a more natural looking smile to the recipient.

Midlands Smile Centres

Midlands Smile Centres offer a huge range of services which could be just what you need in order to find the smile of your dreams. Our highly trained dentists, hygienists and orthodontists offer years of experience and can provide a service which is right for you. The first step is getting in touch, to book a consultation.

Your local MSC could change your smile for the better, so get in touch today and begin your journey to the smile you’ve always desired.