Services offered
Treatments
We offer a full range of cosmetic dentistry. This includes crowns, bridge work, porcelain veneers and inlays, posterior white fillings, composite inlays and tooth whitening. We also offer full mouth makeovers with accompanying before and after photos.
Hygiene therapy
We have three specialist and friendly hygienists
St Helens Dental Plan
Spread and reduce the cost
of your dental care
Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening is a safe way to brighten up your smile
Headaches
In some cases, headaches can be of dental origin
Orthodontics
Moving teeth to their ideal position for a perfect smile
Missing Teeth
There are several ways you can replace missing teeth
Hygiene therapy
We have three specialist and friendly hygienists
Denplan
Spread the cost of your dental care
Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening is a safe way to brighten up your smile
Headaches
In some cases, headaches can be of dental origin
Missing Teeth
There are several ways you can replace missing teeth
Orthodontics
If you are unhappy with the position of your teeth
We are able to offer a range of cosmetic dental treatments, whether you want a complete transformation, or would just like to give your smile a lift. With smile design technology a simple photograph is all that is required to be able to show you within minutes what you could look like following a makeover.
Professional Tooth whitening
Professional tooth whitening is a safe way to brighten up your smile. Your dentist will take an impression or scan of your teeth so that trays can be made to precisely fit your teeth. These are used with professional whitening gel to gradually and safely whiten your teeth over a period of two weeks, with results that will last for years. You can either wear the trays overnight or for 1 hour during the day. With Enlighten whitening you are guaranteed great results and no sensitivity during your treatment.
Composite bonding
Want to repair a chipped tooth or cover discolouration? Composite bonding is a fast, effective treatment that involves tooth-coloured composite being attached to your teeth. This material is then cured using an ultraviolet light, which hardens the material so that it looks and feels like your natural teeth.
Composite bonding can be used to reshape teeth, replace metal fillings, mask a discoloured tooth, repair chips and close small gaps between teeth, making it an excellent option for people who want to quickly and safely transform their smile. It protects your natural teeth and requires very little or no drilling, so that you can keep as much of your natural teeth as possible.
You can also combine composite bonding with tooth whitening to really transform your smile!
To find out more about composite bonding and whether it’s an option for you, please contact the dental team today. We can arrange a ‘trial smile’ so you can see and feel what the result will be before committing to treatment.
Choose a BACD dentist!
Our practice has cosmetic dentists who are members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD). This means that they are dedicated to providing an exceptional standard of cosmetic dentistry, including procedures such as tooth whitening, cosmetic bonding, veneers and more!
By choosing a BACD dentist you are choosing absolute quality, giving you ultimate peace of mind that the professional treating you will help you to achieve your desired results.
Build confidence and socialise with a smile
Don’t let your smile hold you back from having fun and creating happy memories – be sure to speak to your dentist today to find out more about how they can help you to love your smile again!
Composite bonding – what is it and how can it improve your smile?
Want to refresh your smile? Composite bonding is a relatively simple technique that your dentist can use to transform your smile with ease.
What is composite bonding?
When you choose to have composite bonding, your dentist will use a tooth-coloured composite resin to shape, repair or correct the shape of your teeth. One placed, this resin is hardened using an ultraviolet light.
After the resin has been hardened (cured), your dentist will often trim, polish and shape it so that it seamlessly blends with your smile while also correcting any damage.
What can composite bonding do for my smile?
Composite bonding is a versatile procedure that can be used in a variety of situations.
It can be used to:
- Repair any minor damage to teeth (chips and cracks)
- Fill gaps between teeth, for example, if you want to have a gap between your front teeth narrowed or closed
- Reshape uneven edges of teeth
- Fix tooth discolouration
- To replace amalgam (metal) fillings
What are the benefits?
Composite bonding can transform your smile in as little as a single visit to your dentist!
It’s a fast treatment option that can not only completely transform your smile, but also transform your confidence too! It can help to you to have a more natural-looking smile, especially if you want to replace existing metal fillings.
As composite is added to the teeth during this procedure, that means that there’s often no need for any drilling or removal of your natural tooth.
Composite bonding is also a much more affordable and less time-consuming option compared to treatments such as veneers. It doesn’t damage your natural smile, unlike the placement of dental crowns. In fact, if you combine composite bonding treatment with tooth whitening, you can often achieve a smile that looks completely different but still beautifully natural!
How long does it last?
Much like your natural teeth, composite is subject to wear and tear over time. Usually, composite bonding will last for 5 to 7 years, though this will depend on factors such as your diet as well as certain habits and behaviours. For example, if you often eat hard foods or clench and grind your teeth in your sleep, it’s reasonable to expect composite bonding to need attention a little sooner.
The plus side of this, however, is that composite bonding is easy to repair and replace when necessary!
We have dentists who are members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD). This means that they are passionate about cosmetic dentistry and are experts at providing composite bonding as part of the education supported by the Academy.
To find out more about composite bonding and whether it’s an option for you, please contact the dental team today. We can arrange a ‘trial smile’ so you can see and feel what the result will be before committing to treatment.
Veneers
Veneers are a trusted way to change the look of your smile. This process involves your dentist removing some of the enamel (hard coating) on each tooth you want a veneer on before sticking on a perfectly formed covering that is usually made from ceramic or other tooth-coloured materials. This process requires multiple appointments, but veneers typically last for up to 10 years, for enduring, beautiful results. If you are unsure whether veneers will give you the result you would like, speak to your dentist and we can arrange a ‘trial smile’.
Crowns
Crowns are useful to cover teeth that have very large fillings, including molar-teeth that have been root-treated, to protect them from breaking. They are also useful to build up teeth that have been severely worn or fractured, and to restore implants. They can be made from a variety materials. Tooth-coloured crowns are matched to your own teeth. In some instances your dentist may recommend a gold alloy crown. With new scanner technology there is no need for traditional impressions when we make your crown. If you are unhappy with your old crowns, or are worried about your heavily filled teeth, speak to your dentist about how we may be able to improve your smile using modern materials.
Having missing teeth can knock your confidence, and affect the way you eat and speak. Replacing missing teeth can:
Restore your smile
Restore the ability to properly chew and speak
Maintain the shape of your face
Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position
There are several ways you can replace missing teeth:
Implants
Bridges
Fibrebond
Dentures
Implants
A dental implant is a long-term solution to replace missing teeth. They are placed directly into the jawbone, where they provide an artificial replacement for the root of your missing tooth or teeth. They can support crowns or dentures, similar to the way that roots support natural teeth. Dental implants offer a long-lasting and discreet choice of treatment for replacing teeth. A dental implant itself is a titanium screw, which is placed directly into your jawbone, replacing your
missing tooth root. After it’s fitted, the bone surrounding your implant will gradually fuse to it, holding the implant firmly in place. A false tooth (a crown or denture) is then fitted to the top of the implant (the abutment), giving a natural look to your smile. We offer dental implants via referral to Noel Perkins in Kendal. Our dentists are able to check the health of your implants during your routine dental health check and our highly trained hygienists are able to provide routine care for your implants.
Bridges
Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap. They can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. They have the advantage that they are fixed into place, but they rely on the neighbouring teeth, which often has to be trimmed down to support them.
Fibrebond
Fibre bond offers an innovative way to replace missing teeth in the medium-term. It avoids the need to trim down healthy teeth, and it is reversible and metal-free. As well as replacing missing teeth, it can be used to secure loose teeth.
Dentures
At St Helens Dental we offer only the highest quality enigmalife as standard on all our dentures to give the most life-like appearance. We can customise your dentures to give you the appearance you desire. Bring in an old photograph so that we can aim to replicate your old smile.
Amanda Strong is able to provide Gerber dentures. The Gerber-Condylator system provides dentures with more comfort and stability than ordinary dentures. Measurement of jaw joint movement and motion, matching your dentures to you.
Dentures are made of either acrylic (plastic) or metal. A ‘complete’ or ‘full’ denture is one which replaces all the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
A ‘partial’ denture fills in the spaces left by lost or missing teeth. It may be fastened to your natural teeth with metal clasps or ‘precision attachments’.
The Dental Health foundation has more information about denture.
Hygiene therapy
We care about the overall health of your mouth. At each Dental Health Check your dentist will assess the health of your mouth, teeth and gums. If necessary we will refer you to one of our three friendly hygienists. Maintaining a healthy mouth is not only beneficial for your teeth and gums, but can be beneficial to your general health. We want to help you in every way we can.
Oral hygiene instruction
Our dedicated team will take time to give you tailored advice on the best products and techniques to maintain a healthy dentition. This may also include advice about diet and smoking cessation
Air polishing
A traditional scale and polish doesn’t always get rid of all unsightly stains from the teeth. Air polishing gives superior results. If you experience staining from red wine, coffee and smoking then an air polish could give you dramatic results.
Sensitive teeth
If you hate visiting the hygienist because you have sensitive teeth, then this treatment is for you. Air polishing with a special formula seals the teeth to reduce sensitivity immediately prior to having your teeth cleaned with a scaler.
Children
Children’s dentistry is particularly important to us as it paves the way for a lifelong healthy mouth. All children are advised to visit the dentist at least every 6 months, as children can be particularly vulnerable to tooth decay. Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practise for the future. Fluoride varnish is offered to all children over 3 years of age at each Dental Health Check to help strengthen the teeth and prevent decay. Join us and experience our newly refurbished family waiting area.
If you are unhappy with the position of your teeth, they can be corrected using orthodontics. Amanda and Andrew able to offer clear removable aligners. These discreetly move your teeth over a period of a few months and can be combined with tooth-whitening to give you a beautiful smile. As part of your assessment we can show you what the final result will look like! Book an appointment today to see how this simple treatment can transform your smile.
In some cases, headaches can be of dental origin. All our dentists have completed an advanced course on Occlusal Equilibration. This looks at how your teeth bite together – if there is a problem with how your teeth meet you can get pain, clicking, headaches or tooth wear. If you suffer from any of these symptoms we can help. About a quarter of headaches may be caused by teeth that don’t meet together properly.
Is your snoring causing your partner sleepless nights? We have the answer. Amanda Strong is able to offer snoring devices that are custom made to fit your mouth to prevent snoring.
We recommend you visit every three months if you are suffering from persistent gum disease or have persistent dental problems.
