It varies in every case as sometimes they just need re-polished and other times a small chip may need repaired. If you look after them, in general at least 3-6 years. All composites normally carry a minimum 12 month guarantee beyond this point it is unlikely that you are going to have a catastrophic failure unless you traumatize the area. We advise patients where appropriate to wear a night guard or retainer to help protect the teeth and maintain their positions.

It is recommended with all composite bonding (white filling veneers especially), requiring reconditioning and polishing every year to maintain their gloss and margins kept clean (this will be an additional cost). We will go over all the finer details in your consultation and informed consent forms at your consultation appointment.

Prices range in general is per tooth depending on the level of complexity. We work under high magnification to see every detail and plan every case digitally therefore a huge amount of planning and work goes into every case. Some of the most complex cases are where we have to rebuild a lot of the tooth or close large gaps between the front teeth (called a diastema).

This is where we take multiple polarized photographs of your natural teeth (and with the aid of specialized digital imaging software), create a custom color palette to make sure our restoration looks invisible and blends with your natural teeth. A more simple explanation would be taking a color sample to a paint center and they use a computer to create a paint that will exactly match.

This depends on what happens to them i.e. trauma or biting especially hard on something. At the end of the day the composite material is just a form of white (non-toxic) resin that we glue to your teeth. Resin is not as strong as your natural healthy teeth - therefore if your natural teeth fractured and nothing changes with regards to your bite, behavior etc then there is a high chance this may happen again. In many instances we may recommend moving the teeth using orthodontics first followed by any whitening and then composite bonding.

This is where you may have worn and chipped edges to your front teeth and we add the ideal length back by bonding the white composite filling onto the end of them. This must be planned very carefully as it can in some cases alter the bite and needs supervision from a dental professional. The advantage is that the bonding only occurs at the worn edges of your teeth and does not cover the whole tooth but the small amount of surface we have to glue to, the less strength we have in cross-section and increases fracture/de-bonding likelihood.

Yes... but any composite bonding or artificial materials in your mouth will not whiten. Therefore we advise you to whiten your teeth first to a color you are happy with and then your dentist will match the color of the composite to your ideal shade. Your natural teeth will fade in color over time therefore you may need to do some top up whitening for a few nights every 6-12 months. If your composite bonding is darker than your natural teeth or fades over time it may need to be replaced for a new whiter composite color (this normally incorporates a new fee).

If you leave your teeth as they are, they may fracture more, wear down more and this can result in pain, infection and premature loss of tooth. Where simple composite bonding may be needed, if left, you may end up needing crowns or more invasive and expensive treatment. Teeth can move and drift over time and therefore the issue can become progressively worse making our job harder and more complex to solve.

1) Perform composite bonding.

Advantages: Normally performed very quickly (1-2 visits lasting a few hours each depending on complexity). Very rarely do we need to cut or damage your tooth underneath therefore we call the procedure 'minimally invasive'. We can normally match the color of your teeth with the material we choose so it should look relatively invisible. Most patients feel little to no pain during or after the procedure as no drilling of your natural tooth occurs - hence this has become a very popular procedure. If you do not like the shape, length, color or something chips of breaks - fixing it is a very simple procedure and can be done very quickly.

Disadvantage: Can be prone to chipping or fracturing. Will need regular reconditioning and replaced every 3-5 years. Color and polish can fade over time. Margins can become stained and irritate the gums if not smooth. Can look bulky or thick if masking a darker color underneath or layered incorrectly and not polished back. You need to find someone with a lot of experience in this field to ensure it is done correctly and ethically. Please be aware this process is NOT reversible. Once you bond composite to teeth, removing it can be very complicated and time consuming - anyone that tells you otherwise has not done it often enough and lacks the long term experience.

2) Porcelain ceramic veneers.

Advantages: These are far stronger than composite veneers. They keep their color and shine for longer. They normally do not need to be replaced for at least 8-15 years. They normally feel smoother, thinner and cleaner than composite especially over time. We have noticed the margins around the gums are cleaner and healthier near ceramic than composite - our patients normally tell us that cleaning and flossing around them feels very smooth compared to areas with old composite fillings. They can be extremely thin and mimic natural tooth with the right technical knowledge and skills.

Disadvantage: Normally takes minimum 3-8 weeks as must be planned very carefully. Is more expensive than composite bonding. Requires a mock up and prototypes made beforehand to make sure you are happy with the look of the teeth before proceeding. In many instances requires tooth preparation (i.e. we have to drill a small amount of the tooth away to create space for the veneer). This can result in post-operative sensitivity which is normally transient and settles over time. If it does not settle there is always a risk the tooth may require root canal treatment - although rare, this is a risk.

3) Orthodontics with reshaping of teeth or bonding or ceramic porcelain veneers.

Advantages: In general as dentists this is our preferred option (ask your dentist what they would do if they were you). If we move the teeth into the ideal position and do a little whitening and polishing, this normally makes our patients and us very happy. Why? Because no damage to the teeth, hardly any pain or drilling needed, it is your own teeth so the maintenance is minimal over the course of your life. Also no need to replace any bonding or veneers or crowns if none are needed in the first place. Cheaper over the long term course of one's life. If we do need to do some composite bonding or ceramic veneers it normally means that any drilling required to your natural teeth is very minimal and the outcome will be much more favorable (especially for the long-term).

Disadvantage: Normally large initially outlay cost and time needed varies between 3-18 months depending on complexity. You will invariably need a retainer of some sort to be worn especially at night for the rest of your life to prevent movement of the teeth.

It is true teeth whitening can be sensitive on some while others notice nothing. The reason why this may occur is because your enamel protective layer on your tooth, has become very thin and exposed the underlying dentine close to the nerve. As a result the whitening gel can create a sensitivity normally this is temporary and resolves itself. Ways to get around this are: i) Use less gel in these areas ii) Use a lower concentration of whitening gel initially iii) Cover and seal any exposed dentine before treatment iv) Use a sensitivity toothpaste like pro-enamel. If very sensitive you can alternate whitening days with sensitivity gel days.

No. As long as you are monitored by a professional dentist and have custom trays made with a specific prescribed gel you should be fine.

In the long term no - because the high percentage concentrations must be prescribed. In the short term many of these items can temporarily work, as they coat your tooth with a fine white powder. This gives the illusion of white teeth but the reality is that they tend to fade very quickly.

Initially every day for a minimum of 3 hours ideally for at least 2 consecutive weeks. After your initial whitening we advise a top of whitening for a few nights every 6 to 12 months.

The truth is there is no real limit you can stop. whenever you wish. You can keep whitening until you are happy.... although it has been noted that teeth reach a saturation point of how white they can go.

The reality is the maximum percentage you get at home is the maximum we can provide in office. In actual fact many other systems previously advertised this as an answer for long term whiter teeth but the reality is that the in office treatment was just dehydrating your teeth - hence makes them look whiter at the end of the appointment. Yes we can do a session in office to help accelerate the process but the truth is the - home whitening with custom made trays and professional teeth whitening gel produces the safest and best long term results. We do not provide laser whitening for the same reasons as stated above.

No, they will have to be replaced to match the new color of your teeth. In order to maintain your whitening shade you will need to buy additional gels and do a few extra days of whitening every 6-12 months.

Depends on the size of the syringe and what system you use. In general we normally provide enough gel for 2-3 weeks. If you wish to go whiter you will need to buy additional gels. Keep going until you are happy!

- You need an examination (and hygiene) to make sure that it is safe to do whitening on you (ie no existing conditions like decay, gum disease, severe recession. fractures etc that need attention first).

- You need an examination (and hygiene) to make sure that it is safe to do whitening on you (ie no existing conditions like decay, gum disease, severe recession. fractures etc that need attention first).

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- Once cleared for this, we will take a digital scan and photos of your teeth. You will also sign a consent form saying you are aware of the benefits, risks and cost.

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- After 2 weeks your custom trays will have been made by our dental laboratory and you will attend for fitting of these trays and it will be explained how to use them.

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- You will then wear your trays with the special whitening gels (carbamide peroxide 10-16%) as prescribed and you will return 2-3 weeks later for review with your dentist. (Please be aware that if you wish to go whiter you may need to purchase new gels).

Your safety is our priority therefore the reason we ask you to attend for a consultation first is to assess whether it is safe to do teeth whitening. If you have any gum disease or decay etc then these need to be dealt with first. Some patients say "well I have had a check up recently so i'll be fine", unfortunately this still doesn't help. Unless we have a written referral from your dentist with x-rays then we will still need to do our own assessment. Also not every whitening system is the same and certain discolored teeth need more attention therefore we must change our approach to ensure you get the best possible result.