THE POWER OF SMILES 

Everyone’s smile is different and unique to them, It could be a favourite feature, one people notice, adore and remember, or it could be one you want to make over. A smile shows a persons beauty and personality, it naturally makes the recipient smile, showing friendliness. A smile is definitely an important, loveable feature and welcomed by all.

It is very natural for all humans to smile when they are expressing different emotions, like:

• Happiness
• Joyfulness
• Nerves
• Excitement

A lot of us may have attracted our life partners or someone from the past because of the cuteness of a smile and the impact it had. A smile is so powerful!  So we all want to have a smile we can confidentially use and like, or even better love.

Infectious smiles are everywhere, part of our everyday life. You may have a family or friend who is known for there smile, but the ones we really notice the most are the ones we see on our TV’s daily – our Top 10 Celebrity Smiles. These smiles are what so many inspire to have.

 

TOP 10 CELEBRITY SMILES 

Most celebrities have beautiful smiles, but these celebrities have been voted in the top 10 best smiles for 2021 in the world. Do any of them have a smile you long to have? And why have their smiles been recognised?

1. Ariana Grande
2. Jessica Alba
3. Usher
4. Alicia Keys
5. Beyoncé
6. Scarlett Johansson
7. Halle Berry
8. Angelina Jolie
9. Michael Jackson
10. Taylor Lautner

All these celebrities have been noticed not just because of their amazing talent, but because of how endearing their killer smiles are. These celebrities are in the top 10 because they use their smiles to enhance their performance, showing their audience appreciation, creating a buzz. This will automatically lead to bigger and better opportunities, making them more noticed but even better remembered. Look at Michael Jackson for instance, he is still being remembered today for his smile – Incredible!!!

If you had to pick your Top 10 Celebrity Smiles, who would it be?

 

HOW TO GET THAT TOP 10 CELEBRITY SMILE 

A lot of people think that there is a lot of work needed to created that perfect smile, this isn’t always the case. There are brilliant range of cosmetic treatments you can have, for instance:

• Teeth Whitening – Quite a simple technique, which will automatically make your teeth look white, naturally making you look younger and healthy.
• Teeth Straightening –  Clear braces can be used, so it’s less visible. Once the teeth are straight, you can whitening to get that radiant celebrity smiles. This is a popular choice for all ages with results that will not disappoint.
• Veneers, porcelain/ porcelain crowns – This strengthens your teeth, repairs chips and will result in that big smile makeover,

The great thing is there is a treatment for everyone, whether you want that natural looking smile, or that glam Hollywood top 10 celebrity smiles.

Why not check out Smiles YouTube channel for short videos of various cosmetic treatments available smiles centre – YouTube

 

DR RICHARD MARQUES 

Smiles have had the honour to work closely with Dr Richard. Dr Richard worked at the Smiles practice for around a year and is a top dentist specialising in cosmetics, restorative and implant dentistry. Dr Richard thoroughly enjoys creating those ‘ Big Smiles’ he has high end profile patients in his own practice in London, Rita Ora and Jamie Redknapp to name a few.  maybe he’s created one of your favourite Top 10 Celebrity Smiles.

Check out the interview with Dr Richard Marques Cosmetic Dentistry

From having the fantastic opportunity to work closely with Dr Richard. Smiles have built an outstanding, knowledgeable team with experience on how to create those celebrity smiles and are waiting to work on all you ‘celebrities’ out there.

If you want that smile you have longed for then contact the Smiles team Contact Us

 

 

 

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Take?

(more…)

Can I Remove White Spots on My Teeth?

If you have white spots on your teeth, you may be able to remove them with ICON treatment provided by a dentist. Not all dental practices can provide this service so worth checking with them before booking an appointment.

At Smiles Centre in Swindon, our dentist Kate Hollands is able to provide ICON treatment for you to remove the white spots.

What are the white spots on my teeth?
White spots are actually quite common in adults and children but cannot be removed with other cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, the spots are not staining but can be caused by past trauma, demineralisation and fluorosis, there are also other potential causes.

White Spots Caused by Trauma
Trauma to the teeth when they erupt can produce a mottled appearance that remains visible long-term but this can usually be easily treated with the ICON procedure.

White Spots Caused by Deminerilsation
When plaque builds up on the teeth this can create acid that leaches the minerals from the enamel causing the white spots to appear on the teeth. Having braces fitted and not being able to brush properly for long periods of time will often cause this.

White Spots Caused by Fluorosis
This happens because of high levels of fluoride exposure, usually when the teeth are developing, however, it is usually easily treated with ICON treatment.

Other Options to Remove White Spots
There are other options to remove white spots if ICON isn’t available to you, these might include veneers or composite bonding and it would be advisable to speak to your dentist about this, the advantage of having ICON treatment is that is non-invasive so there is no damage to existing teeth like there might be with other alternative treatment options.

Can I Remove White Spots on My Teeth? Video

The Results of Removing White Spots Using ICON Dental Treatment
The results can be absolutely amazing for such a quick and non-evasive treatment, just look at these before and after photos to see the impact this had for our patient Beth at Smiles Centre. 

After ICON Dental Treatment

It is quite incredible.

What Does It Cost For ICON Treatment?
At Smiles Centre, we charge £189 per tooth for this service, it can be a very cost-effective way to a happier and more confident smile.

If you would like to discuss this further then just head over to our Contact page where you can either book a full dental consultation or a free meet and greet if you’d like a little more information, this can also be helpful for nervous patients.

Contact Smiles Centre Here

Is ICON treatment Available on NHS?
It is highly unlikely but Smiles Centre is a fully independent private practice so we are unable to offer any advice on NHS services. This would most likely be classed as “cosmetic” and there are less likely to be NHS dentists with the training to provide this treatment.

 

 

Is it Cheaper To Get Dental Treatment Abroad?

We have been asked many times whether it is cheaper to get dental treatment abroad, the short answer is yes, it can be. The longer answer is slightly more complicated.

One of the most common types of dental work that the public have done in other countries is implants, this is typically an expensive treatment and can save the patient a lot of money. However, this is not always the case and there are risks to having this work done overseas.

According to DentalDepartures.com, the top 10 international destinations for dental tourism are:

1. Mexico

2. Indonesia (Bali)

3. Spain

4. Turkey

5. Malaysia

6. The Philippines

7. Poland

8. Costa Rica

9. Hungary

10. Thailand

What Is The Cost Comparison?

Typical Cost of a Single Tooth Implant Excluding the Crown

Uk £1,600

Thailand £950

Hungary £725

Poland £450

Turkey £400

That’s a serious difference in prices and you can certainly see the appeal of saving money and having a holiday at the same time, however, there are downsides to this and these points should be taken into account before making a decision.

What are the Downsides to Having Dental Treatment Abroad?

There are many factors to consider, the first point to consider is how many visits you’ll need to make to the dental practice. You’ll see many of these cheap offers stating that implants are placed in two stages, this is very misleading, this is the best possible scenario:

Stage 1 – Where necessary, removal of the existing tooth

Stage 2 – Implant inserted under the gum and stitched over to heal

Stage 3 – Stitches removed and observation appointments required

Stage 4 – A temporary tooth supplied to fill the space

Stage 4 – Typically, three to six months later, when the implants have fused with your bone, the gum must be cut back to expose the implant and then the final crown can be fitted.

Stage 5 – On-going check-ups and hygiene appointments

As you can see, it is not as simple as two stages, fitting implants is a complex matter and varies greatly patient to patient.  At Smiles Centre, we are a private practice in Swindon that provides implant treatment and we ensure that every patient has more than enough appointments booked in during and after the treatment has been completed, every patient is different and that must be taken into account.

On reflection given all these appointments that are required, it should be taken into account, what travelling will be needed, just allowing for 2-3 appointments is extremely risky, there is also likely a cost to additional appointments, a typical UK cost will include these follow-up appointments, there are also other costs to allow for such as Xrays, OPG’s, check-ups and the implant itself.

If you are travelling overseas for dental treatment, it’s important to know the process if your procedure doesn’t go to plan, or if you require follow-up appointments. What level of aftercare is offered by the clinic you’re using? Is the work guaranteed for a set amount of time? Is there a complaints procedure if you are unhappy for any reason? What are the cost implications if further treatment is required?

Another factor to consider is that these dental practices may use systems and materials that are not readily available, in our practice we have witnessed many patients that have had some obscure implant system that we have been unable to identify and this has often prevented urgent treatment from taking place, it would be advisable to check that the surgeon is using a well-known brand like Bicon or Nobel Biocare.

What if Something Goes Wrong?

It is possible that an implant could fail, I believe our success rate is around 99% but in that instance where there is a rare instance of a failure, we would always look to be an alternative treatment or to reimburse where necessary. There are other risks with intrusive surgery like implants such as infection, this risk might be extremely low but should you experience anything like this, the best place to be is in your country where you can quickly get the treatment that is needed.

In the UK, all medical professionals must be registered, and, with dentists, the registration is with the General Dental Council and they adhere to their standards. If you are treated by a dentist abroad, there are no guarantees that the regulations, qualifications, standards or safeguards in place are of a similar level to those in the UK, or are even regulated at all.

If you are unfortunate enough to have received negligent treatment from a dental clinic abroad then making a compensation claim through a solicitor based in the UK may not be possible. If you do travel abroad for dental treatment, you do run the risk of not having the same legal protections that you do when undergoing the same procedures in the UK

Why is Dental Treatment more Expensive in the UK?

Although you are able to pay less, there is the cost of accommodation and travelling to take into account. Even so, there is still a saving to be made and why is that?

One very obvious reason that treatment has a higher price is the cost of living is higher here in the UK, business rates, rents and wages are the obvious contributing factors but there are other reasons such as insurances, indemnities, regulatory bodies and the sheer amount of compliance involved in running a practice which is not helped by new Corona guidelines. Equipment is another factor to consider, both purchasing and maintenance is very costly, a fully kitted out practice can cost £100,000 plus per surgery. In our practice, Smiles Centre in Swindon, we invest heavily in our staff, ensuring that they are well paid and not overworked with a focus on training and development.

Is it Cheaper To Get Dental Treatment Abroad?

It might appear that private dentistry is a gold mine but I can assure you that the running costs are equally high and that as a business, the profits are not as much as you might expect.

If you’d like to know more about implant treatment then visit our page here: Implants

If you’d like to know more about our general treatment available click here: General Dentistry

Is a Private Dentist Expensive?

This is a question that we get asked a lot, the answer might surprise you.

If your dental health is good and you don’t need anything other than routine appointments
Believe it, or not, in this instance, private dentistry can be more cost-effective than going to see an NHS dentist. The reason is that routine appointments can usually be paid by way of an on-going dental plan.

So… Is a private dentist expensive?

Comparison of a couple ( any two from the same household )

NHS cost of two six month check-ups per person – £45.40
NHS cost of two routine hygiene appointments per person – £124.20 ( this is a thorough clean on band 2 )

Total Year Cost of NHS Dental Treatment – £339.20

Smiles Centre Private Couples Smile Plan, this cover the four routine appointments for both members – £24.99 x 12 months = £299.88

Total Year Cost of Private Dental Treatment – £299.88

So, for a couple of people with no treatment requirements, it is £40 a year less to go private!

Here is the link to all the Smiles Centre monthly plans – https://smilescentre.co.uk/smile-plan

What are the benefits of going private?

Speaking as a private practice, we typically have a lot more time to spend with our patients, our emphasis is all centred around providing exceptional service to our patients. It is true to say that Coronavirus has thrown a spanner in the works to our usual level of service, however, there is still a relaxed and calm environment for us to provide a great level of care, for example, at present, our receptionist will come and greet you at your car with an umbrella if it is raining! There are many reasons to go private but here at a few bullet points

Benefits of Private Dental Treatment

• More Time Per Appointment
• Relaxed Atmosphere ( great for nervous patients )
• Latest Equipment
• Better Quality Materials Used
• Guarantees on Work Completed ( up to 5 years )

At Smiles Centre, our on-going mission is to provide such a fantastic service that our patients actually look forward to their future appointments. This is achieved more than you might think, often, those that first come to us with a severe level of dental phobia now actually enjoy their visits.

Here is a link to our dental practice reviews – Smiles Centre Google Reviews

What about the cost of treatment?

We already asked, is a private dentist expensive, but, let’s take a look at a typical patient who requires a filling and an extraction, this is assuming that the work is done at separate times and therefore charged individually ( I find the pricing structure confusing )

Cost of NHS Filing – £62.10

Cost of NHS Standard Extraction – £62.10

Total NHS Cost is £124.20

Smiles Centre Private Fees Cost

Cost of Smiles Private Filling – £65 to £147 ( one to three surfaces )

Cost of Smiles Private Standard Extraction – £159

If we take a middle option on the filling, that’s £115 ( two surfaces) and then we add the cost of extraction, the total cost of private is £274

Total Private Cost is £274

The good news is that you can get this down by 10% if you are on one of the plans as mentioned above, let’s take that as a given. Again, is a private dentist expensive? This means the private cost is actually:

Total Private Cost is £246

This is pretty much double the price, however, there are ways to spread the cost of treatment with interest-free payment plans and you’re getting the additional benefits as mentioned above, if you then put it as a package, the total cost comparison is as follows

Year Cost of NHS as a couple with treatment including routine – £587.60

Year Cost of Smiles private as a couple with treatment including routine – £791.88

On that comparison, it is £200 more per year or less than £9 per month per person to upgrade to private including on-going treatment.

Less than £9 per month more per person for private dentistry

There are exceptions

NHS charges will depend on your situation, age, employment status and being pregnant are all factors and in many cases, will mean free treatment.

All Smiles Centre Prices can be found on our Prices Page

What About Cosmetic Dental Treatment?

This is kind of irrelevant as cosmetic work isn’t typically an option for NHS patients, Smiles Centre offer an extensive range of cosmetic work such as composite build-ups, teeth whitening, implants and very detailed, natural and great fitting dentures. For more information about our cosmetic work, please see this link > Smiles Centre Cosmetic Dental Treatment <

It is worth noting that you don’t have to be a regular patient to have cosmetic treatment, some of our patients choose to see an NHS dentist but just make appointments with us for their cosmetic work as and when they require it.

What do you think? Is a private dentist expensive?