Real Patient Cases

What we saw

Front and lower teeth with an even yellow-brown discolouration of the enamel surface, typical of long-term tea, coffee and tobacco staining.

What was done

Professional in-clinic whitening, done under supervision at the chair so the gums and lips are protected. Whitening changes the colour of natural teeth only; it does not lighten existing crowns, veneers or fillings.

What we saw

A visible gap between the two upper front teeth (a diastema), with the front teeth slightly worn at the edges.

What was done

The gap was closed by building up the sides of the front teeth with tooth-coloured composite, shaped and polished to blend with the natural teeth. Composite is added to the tooth rather than removing much of it, so it is a conservative way to close a gap.

What we saw

Brown staining and tartar built up along the gum line of the upper and lower front teeth.

What was done

A professional scale to remove tartar and plaque, followed by polishing of the tooth surfaces. Tartar cannot be brushed off once it has hardened, and left in place it irritates the gums, so removing it is a health step as well as a cosmetic one.

What we saw

An upper front tooth that no longer matched its neighbours in shape and shade.

What was done

The tooth was prepared and restored with a full-contour zirconia crown, made to match the neighbouring teeth in shape and shade. Zirconia is a strong ceramic, which is why it is used where a crown has to bear bite forces as well as look natural.

What we saw

Upper teeth on one side badly broken down, with a gap where a tooth was missing.

What was done

Full-contour zirconia crowns and a bridge to restore the damaged teeth and replace the missing one, so the bite is rebuilt on both sides of the gap. A bridge uses the teeth either side of the space as anchors, which is why those teeth need to be sound enough to carry it.

What we saw

Upper front teeth worn down or missing between the canines, leaving an incomplete, uneven smile line.

What was done

The upper front section, from canine to canine, was restored with zirconia so that the length, shape and shade of the front teeth are rebuilt as a set. Restoring the whole front segment together, rather than tooth by tooth, lets the smile be designed as one.

What we saw

A back tooth broken down by decay, with a large dark cavity and little natural tooth left to hold a filling.

What was done

The decay was removed and the tooth rebuilt with a fibre post and composite. When too little tooth remains to hold a filling, a post anchors the core in the root so the tooth can be restored and, where needed, crowned afterwards.

What we saw

A lower jaw with gaps where back teeth were missing, leaving only isolated teeth on either side.

What was done

A partial denture was made to fill the gaps and restore chewing on that side. A partial denture is a removable option: it is quicker and less invasive than implants, while implants remain the fixed alternative for a patient who wants one.