Straight Talking

Created on 10th September 2009

Dr Bob Khanna is a cosmetic dental surgeon and an internationally renowned expert in facial aesthetics. Every issue he discusses the latest treatments and procedures and answers your questions

How long will a veneer last?

This depends on a number of factors such as the material used, e.g. porcelain, acrylic or composite resin, and how sound the underlying tooth structure is and how well the veneer is cemented or glued. All things considered, high grade porcelain veneers in my clinical practice can last in excess of 12 years.

The commonest reason for replacing veneers is slight chipping through natural wear and tear. The latest porcelains I use are so strong that I suspect even this will cease to be a problem. The other huge benefit of such veneers is that they simply don't stain like teeth - so you never have to have teeth whitening!

I've heard that gum disease could affect my overall health. Is that true?

That is very true. Apart from giving rise to bad breath (halitosis), gum disease, if left untreated, can progress into periodontal disease which is a more serious deterioration of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth leading eventually to mobile teeth and tooth loss. This may of course effect the digestion of food and lead to gastro-intestinal disorders. There is also a greater chance of developing heart-related diseases in patients with periodontal disease.

Masterclass... SUPER FAST TEETH STRAIGHTENING

Now it is possible to straighten crooked teeth in less than three months with a special clear removable brace system that I use. Look at this case which took less than eight weeks to complete, finished off with teeth whitening for a natural whiter, brighter smile!

NOSE JOBS WITHOUT SURGERY

Many people are unhappy with the appearance of their noses - that's fact. They feel that either it is too big or crooked or both. Up until now, having a nose operation was the only solution to fixing this very common complaint and thereby restoring a person's confidence. However, surgery is of course an invasive procedure and carries certain risks, especially as most of the time a general anaesthetic is required.

In my clinic I have been using a non-surgical remedy to this very common problem using dermal fillers to reconstuct and re-shape hooked and crooked noses. I also use Botox to raise the tip of the nose to help improve the overall aesthetic result. The procedure is totally painless as I use a special local anaesthetic system (the wand) and it takes no more than five minutes to complete. There is very little bruising and swelling, if at all, and all patients can go back to work immediately. The results will last for at least ten months and can last 18 months if I use certain types of fillers. So now most people can improve the look of their nose without an operation!
CS&AM