These are your 4 options to replace missing teeth or gaps in your smile

You essentially have four options to fix or replace your missing tooth/teeth:

1. Do nothing! In some instances, it may be appropriate to leave the gap and not do any treatment. For example, if you have a lost one tooth but have all your other molars present. Especially if its not going to present an aesthetic concern. However, it is important to bear in mind that adjacent and opposing teeth are likely to shift over time; this means that the opposite side starts to take more of the chewing load which can lead to breakages, it is up to the individual and the dentist to predict the extent and impact of this as the age and health of a patient can determine the best outcome.
2. A removable denture: this is essentially a set of false teeth (or tooth) that u take out every night. It can be be a good option if you are missing multiple teeth and/or want a cost effective option. It can also serve as a temporary or interim option until a definitive treatment is finalised. 
3. A bridge: this is a fixed option and may be suitable for a single and or few adjacent missing teeth. Essentially, there are crowns placed on teeth on either side of the gap and ‘false’ tooth/teeth attached to these that sit in the gap.
4. Implant: this involves surgically placing a screw in the jawbone below where the gap is, and screwing a false tooth onto it to sit in the gap. It is a popular, and often most ideal, option as it is fixed (meaning you don’t remove it routinely), generally easy to clean and maintain and, in the absence of risk factors (see your Dentist for more information) has a very good prognosis. However, it is also the most expensive.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

How to Whiten your Teeth Easily

A Simple Way to Whiten Your Yellow Teeth

If yellow teeth keep you from smiling, it can take a big hit on your confidenceWhen someone smiles, others see them as friendly, confident, positive, and interested in them. When someone hides their smile, the opposite is true.

Modern technology has made getting a bright white smile easier and faster than ever. In about one hour, you can go from hiding your smile to sporting whatever shade of white you desire. No more hiding your smile. No more missed connections. No more lost opportunities.

At Heidelberg Dentist, we offer simple, affordable teeth whitening that will help you get the pearly white smile you deserve.

How it Works

When you come into our office, we will treat you like a VIP and our teeth whitening service will leave you smiling bigger and brighter than ever before.

First, we will show you a shade guide so you can pick the shade of white you want your teeth to become. After you pick your shade, we begin with letting you know all your options onhow you can achieve the smile you want.

If its with teeth whitening then you will have a choice of a take home kit, which is customised trays and bleach you take home and apply yourself- the bleach is at a lower concentration to keep your gums and teeth safe. It can take a little longer, but is a good option if you constantly have food or drink that stain your teeth, or if you are a smoker, as you can top up whenever you want.

 In chair teeth whitening procedure we do in the dental chair using protective guards for your lips, cheeks, and tongue. We will then apply a resin barrier to your gumline. Together, these steps make sure you are completely comfortable and the teeth whitening gel only comes in contact with your teeth.

We will then begin applying the whitening gel to your teeth. For the next thirty minutes, you will relax in our pleasant office atmosphere while the gel turns your teeth whiter. We will then remove the whitening gel.

After the procedure, you will leave with your own set of at-home whitening trays and gel. Yes that’s right, we still give you a take home kit as many patients like to apply additional whitening at home or perform maintenance if their teeth start to yellow in the future. We make sure you can easily do that and give you step-by-step instructions for doing so.

Who Is It For?

At Heidelberg Dentist, we believe everyone deserves to have a bright smile. If you are over eighteen years old and have experienced yellowing of your teeth, teeth whitening services could help.  If you are under 18, we do have other options to help brighten your smile but still protect your teeth till you are old enough.

How Much Does It Cost?

Like other cosmetic procedures, your exact cost could vary depending on your specific needs. The only way to know is to have a trained professional examine your mouth.

At Heidelberg Dentist we know how important it is to understand exactly what a procedure will cost before moving forward. We will examine your mouth, answer any questions you have, and let you know exactly what your out-of-pocket costs will be.

The Next Step

If you are sick and tired of hiding your smile because your teeth are not the shade of white you desire, simply schedule your no-pressure teeth whitening consultation with one of our hygienists today.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

A clear & (almost) invisible alternative to metal braces that straighten your teeth fast

Clear Braces Can Be A Simple Fix for Crooked Teeth

A smile goes a long way. It’s the first thing people notice about you. Whether they are first meeting you or have known you for years, people assume you are unhappy or disinterested if you are not smiling.

Leaving crooked or otherwise misaligned teeth untreated can also lead to additional health problems, such as bad breath, tooth decay, and chronic headaches. It can even lead to TMJ disorders and gum disease.

Given all that, fixing your smile can be one of the most important investments you make in your life.

Fortunately, you do not need braces to fix crooked teeth, an overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite, or overly crowded teeth anymore. There is a much simpler and better solution now in Clear aligners, with common brands such as Invisalign.

At Heidelberg Dentist we know traditional braces are obvious, uncomfortable, inconvenient, and can sometimes be slower. We know they traditional braces could cause you to hide your smile, miss out on eating food they you love and feel uncomfortable while you're going through the process.

This is why we can offer both options of fixed traditional braces and removable clear aligners from Invisalign.

How Does Invisalign® Work?

Invisalign® can help if your teeth are crooked or misaligned because of a gap, an overbite, underbite, crossbite, overcrowding, and more.

Instead of attaching brackets to your teeth and using ugly metal wires, Invisalign® uses a series of clear aligners to gently guide your teeth into perfect alignment.

When you come to Heidelberg Dentist to have Invisalign® guide your teeth into place, we will design a custom Invisalign® treatment plan for you.

Once you approve your plan, we will create a series of clear, custom-designed aligners to gently and gradually align and adjust your teeth into place.

All you will need to do at that point is wear the aligners.

Unlike with braces, the aligners are removable and clear. As your teeth shift, you will change to the next set of aligners. Typically, this happens every one or two weeks.

We will have you back in the office every six to eight weeks to check on your progress, but your results will start to occur fast. We also monitor your progress with a take home scanner box which will send us videos and photos when you change each aligner.

Every time you change to a new set of aligners, it means your teeth are getting closer to the perfect alignment you deserve.

Since your Invisalign® aligners will be removable, you can take them out when eating and when you are brushing and flossing your teeth. You only need to wear them between 20 and 22 hours per day for optimal results.

Who Is Invisalign® For?

Invisalign® is suitable for teens or adults who want a straight smile without all the discomfort, inconvenience, and cosmetic drawbacks of braces.

If you have been hiding your smile because of crooked or misaligned teeth and are ready to transform your smile (and your life!) our team of Invisalign-trained dentists can help!

How Much Do Clear Braces Cost?

Because each patient’s teeth are different, it is impossible to predict your out-of-pocket costs for Invisalign® with any accuracy without a consultation.

At Heidelberg Dentist we believe every patient deserves a bright, straight smile, so we offer free, no-pressure Invisalign® consultations. You will also get to choose from our range of dental payment options that could help you "buy now, pay later".

During your consultation, we will examine your mouth, discuss your custom treatment plan, and show you several options to help fit Invisalign® or other clear aligner companies into even tight budgets. We will answer any questions you have and give you the same VIP treatment we give all our incredible patients.

The Next Step

The next step to getting the smile you deserve is to schedule your no pressure Invisalign® consultation with us. During this consultation, we will be able to answer all your questions and you might even be able to see how your new smile will look before you make a decision.

If that sounds like something you've always wanted to do, then here are your three options to take the next step to straight teeth and an amazing smile:

Get Invisalign FAQ

Or you can book an appointment by calling us on (03) 9459 6300 during business hours

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

What is the real cost of porcelain veneers in Thailand?

Veneers are a way to fix the shape and colour of your crooked and stained teeth into a stunning smile with straight teeth that you're proud of. A veneer is a thin cover for your teeth, similar to having a fake nail put on your fingers.

Veneers can be done in porcelain or in resin (white filling material). Porcelain veneers are what you see many celebrities have or what they do in the extreme makeover shows to get those amazing results in what literally seems like zero time.

Its well known that veneers are cheaper in Thailand or other popular medical tourism destinations. I often get asked why?

Dental treatment in Thailand is cheap, but what about your body?

I'll get to that shortly, but first it's important for you to appreciate that any high quality dental procedure, particularly cosmetic dental procedures takes time, both in the chair and also with the lab. Your dentist takes this time to not only give you a great looking smile, but to also ensure the right fit so that you're not in pain later.

Time is also a crucial factor in helping your body and your mouth adapt to the new fittings in your mouth. If you're forming the conclusion that this is one aspect of life that cannot be rushed, you're spot on.

One of the main issues we see with work being done on holiday (or even dental holidays), is that it gets rushed. This can lead to an improper fit, crowns or veneers falling out or, in the worst case scenario, your tooth having to be removed.

The reason dental treatment in Thailand or other popular medical tourism destinations is cheap is because of the material that's used, the cost of labour and the dedication to post-procedure care. All of these are significantly cheaper in Thailand (or other less developed countries).

Your peace of mind is important

It's worth you keeping in mind the old adage when it comes to your dental treatment: you get what you pay for.

You can get a lot of peace of mind by getting your dental work done in the country you live in. If you have a reaction or if something doesn't feel right, you can easily get it checked, fixed or even replaced without unnecessary waiting times (or an extra flight) and difficult questions that you many not be able to answer.

In some cases the overseas work done on some people has been so bad that it costs them many multiple of what they initially spent to get it fixed in Australia.

Ultimately, the choice is yours and we know that the cost will be cheaper - but at what biological cost?

If price is the only factor holding you back from getting your smile makeover at a trusted and caring dentist in Heidelberg, Melbourne, we offer interest-free dental payment plan to ease the pressure on your budget. Your treatment can also be spread out over a longer period to give your body and your wallet more time to recover.

If you have questions about any dental work done overseas, book an appointment with our caring and approachable dentists. We will be able to give you affordable options that are in line with modern treatment techniques that are considered best-practice by local dentists in Melbourne.

Or you can book an appointment by calling us on (03) 9459 6300 during business hours

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist