You mightn’t think of a visit to the dentist as a way to enhance your face or improve your overall health, but you also mightn’t be aware of all the options available to you in 2020.
Now, even cosmetic injectables are available at our dental clinic – as well as new cosmetic dentistry techniques. Plus, there’s increasing evidence suggesting that maintaining good dental health helps prevent many serious health ailments.
1. Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening procedures have been around for a while, and there are a stack of over-the-counter products available, but we thoroughly suggest that a dentist oversees your teeth-whitening treatment. This way, you can be prescribed a formula that won’t damage your teeth enamel, won’t leave your teeth sensitive – and gives you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of whitening. Professional-grade tooth whitener can give you a whiter, brighter smile in only a couple of weeks. And, you can do it all in the privacy of your home.
To get started, you’ll need to book an appointment with the dentist for a quick examination to make sure your teeth are fit for the treatment. The dentist will then customise a bleaching tray for you, give you the correct teeth-whitening strength for your teeth, and then send you home to get started.
2. Invisalign
Teeth straightening is not just for teens. For any number of reasons, many adults didn’t manage to have their teeth straightened in adolescence, but this is no reason for you to live with crooked teeth for the rest of your life. Besides, straighter teeth don’t just look nicer, they’re healthier. This is because straighter teeth are easier to clean and floss, and don’t get food and debris caught in-between, which can cause nasty decay and further problems.
The Invisalign teeth straightening process involves using a series of custom-made clear aligners, such as Invisalign or ClearCorrect, to move your teeth a tiny bit at a time, slowly bringing them into correct alignment. Read more about it here >
3. Cosmetic injectables
Did you know that our in-house dentist, Dr Monica Hernandez, has been performing cosmetic injectables here at our Leederville clinic for a couple of years now? A dentist is an ideal professional to perform injectables as they have sound medical training in the anatomy of facial muscles – as well as excellent experience in giving injections.
There are several cosmetic injectables treatments available. You can have wrinkle relaxers (aka anti-wrinkle injections – commonly referred to by name we’re no longer allowed to advertise on the Internet), which can be injected into a variety of areas of the face, but quite commonly around the eyes and forehead to remove crow’s feet and frown lines. Anti-wrinkle injections last approximately three to five months and can give a wonderful boost to your appearance, smoothing away lines and wrinkles and giving a more ‘rested’ appearance.
We also have a variety of dermal fillers. Some fillers are used for the lips to enhance, smooth, or give volume to the lips. Other fillers are very thin and used to eradicate the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. Then, there are volumising fillers available to give volume or shape to facial areas such as the cheekbones, jawline, or around the temples.
It’s worth the time to book an appointment with Dr Monica, discuss your cosmetic concerns, and let her assess your face and suggest the most appropriate action. You may be pleasantly surprised by how she thinks she can help.
4. Keep your breath fresh!
Keep your breath fresh and teeth clean with a professional dental scale and clean. It sounds basic, but many of us forget to make this important appointment. A professional clean is usually recommended every six months – as there is a limit to how much we can achieve for our dental health at home with brushing and flossing. A professional dental scale and clean will remove any tartar buildup and prevent tooth decay. Also, the cleaning will help remove any nasty stains, making your teeth look whiter and brighter. Plus, it will help eliminate bad breath!
5. Maximise your dental health benefits
If you’ve got private health insurance, take a closer look at your plan and make sure you’re getting the maximum return for your money. Most extras benefits give you a free scale and clean – once or even twice a year, so make sure your book in for your preventative dental appointment. You may also have funds available for other dental treatments you’ve been putting off, so make 2020 the year you get on top of your dental health to keep your teeth and your body in the best shape possible.
At Oxford Street Dental, we’re with all health insurance funds, plus we’re an HCF ‘More for Teeth’ provider, and a Westfund preferred provider.
6. Mouthguards (for the sporting types!)
Do you play a contact sport? If so, you’ll need more than just an over-the-counter boil and bite mouthguard to protect your teeth. Professionally fitted custom sports mouthguards can greatly help protect your teeth if you play a contact sport such as football, rugby, boxing or martial arts. Custom sports mouthguards are also useful for those playing non-contact sports such as hockey, netball, cricket, skateboarding and basketball. And, if you have private health insurance, you could get a good proportion of your money back. Speak to your dentist, because investing in a custom mouthguard could be time and money well spent.
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