Starry Smiles

Created on 01st August 2008

Cosmetic dentist, Dr T. Nghiem, observes the growing trend in the UK to emulate the beautiful smiles of celebrities

The British have long been the butt of jokes about the state of our misaligned and yellow teeth, but when even Gordon Brown has a brand new smile it's obvious that something is happening in the world of cosmetic dentistry. Half of Brits are keen for a veneer of perfection as they follow the Hollywood trend of getting their teeth done, according to a new survey by Orbit Complete and the British Dental Health Foundation.

Forty-seven per cent have had cosmetic dental surgery ranging from white fillings to full veneers - influenced by the smiles of mega stars such as Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Kylie Minogue and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

When the stars step on to the red carpet, they'll talk about who designed their fabulous gowns, suits, jewellery and shoes, but they're unlikely to mention the people who may have had the biggest hand in creating their picture-perfect looks - their plastic surgeons, cosmetic dermatologists and cosmetic dentists. No Hollywood A-lister worth their Oscar would brave the red carpet without a dazzling smile - which is why the vast majority of stars are turning to top cosmetic dentists like Dr T. Nghiem of UltraSmile, voted UK's Practice of the Year, to perfect their smiles.

According to Dr Nghiem, cosmetic dentistry really took off in the UK about eight years ago when Dr Larry Rosenthal, the US top cosmetic dentist, started lecturing to dentists here. Its popularity grew along with makeover shows such as Extreme Makeover and Ten Years Younger. "More and more of us are beginning to understand our neighbours across the pond when they say that an attractive smile is the key to personal and professional success," says Dr Nghiem.

There are, Dr Nghiem says, a number of different cosmetic procedures available to achieve that perfect smile. Porcelain veneers can be used effectively to alter the length, width, colour and shape of a tooth. They are thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front of teeth and are considered the cosmetic dentist's greatest tool for enhancing a smile. Ten veneers would typically cost between £7,000 and £10,000. A cheaper option would be to go for a 'mini-makeover' which can be achieved through the re-shaping of the sides of the teeth in order to make them more even, the use of white composite fillings to fill any gaps and tooth-whitening to finish. This would cost between £2,000 and £4,000. Dental implants are the option of choice when considering a replacement for missing teeth. These can cost between £1800 and £3,000 for a single tooth. And then there is tooth whitening, by far the most popular cosmetic procedure. This is between £425 and £800.

While tooth-whitening will get your teeth whiter in the majority of cases, it is a misconception that it will do this every time. Tooth whitening works differently on everyone. Some might achieve the desirable B1 shade while others will not. In general, it will get your teeth whiter but only to your own teeth's natural shade. Veneers, on the other hand, are the only way of guaranteeing you the shade that you want. They also have the advantage of being resistant to stains.

"A perfect smile can be created within a matter of weeks using porcelain veneers. This is why they are so popular. More and more people are looking for that instant confidence fix," concludes Dr Nghiem.
CSMUK