case studies | The Clinic

tooth-coloured fillings

This mercury amalgam is 'ditched' that is, its edges have curled up and a gap has formed around it. Metal fillings do not bond to tooth enamel and this common feature of older amalgams allows bacterial infiltration of the filling margins.

tooth-coloured fillings

Huge mercury amalgams like these are increasingly undesirable presences in patients' mouths today. Unsightly in themselves, they impart an overall grey complexion to the tooth that I think is nowadays incompatible with our aesthetic aspirations.

tooth-coloured fillings

With very little enamel remaining and containing a large, cracked mercury amalgam, this molar no longer resembles a tooth at all. All amalgam fillings, including this one, release mercury vapour.

tooth-coloured fillings

This patient had been living with temporary dressings in his upper premolars for over a year. His dentist had declined to provide mercury-free fillings, on the grounds that mercury vapour from amalgam is completely harmless. As you can see, the tooth-coloured fillings that we provided at The Clinic are almost undetectable.

tooth-coloured-fillings

In the near future, I believe that it will be unthinkable for people to carry unsightly mercury fillings like these.

tooth-coloured fillings

Cracking of back teeth is a common problem now that we are keeping them for life.

tooth-coloured fillings

As is increasingly common, this patient was concerned by what she perceived as the potential health risk attached to these old amalgams. The whole replacement process was completed in 40 minutes, using rubber dam protection, and I 'sandblasted' the cavities before placing the white fillings in order to ensure that no mercury or staining was left behind.

tooth-coloured fillings

Amalgam fillings do not bond to teeth - rather, they simply occupy the cavity prepared for them. This can result in stress and cracking, as can be seen clearly on the outside of this discoloured molar.

veneers

Instead of porcelain veneers, this patient had had composite veneers placed 'freehand' several years before. Although the technique is cheaper, composite is unable to withstand the rigours of longterm functioning and quickly becomes unsightly and worn, as can clearly be seen here.

veneers

Worn and chipped teeth and fillings, discoloured enamel and an obvious crown - a lifetime's dental history can be seen in this image. Her gum condition and oral hygiene were in fact excellent, but was difficult to get this patent to smile for the 'before' photograph.

veneers

This attractive lady disliked her upper front teeth, which were slightly yellow, uneven and protruding. After some minor laser gum-straightening, I bleached all but her four upper incisors, which I then veneered to the new colour. Working on healthy teeth is not something to be undertaken lightly, but the result has transformed her smile.

veneers

This is similar case involving an attractive, professional woman. The ‘before’ photograph shows the even gum-line immediately after painless lasering and the ‘after’ images show the effect of fitting just four porcelain veneers. No bleaching was done and this simple procedure was all that was required to make her very happy (as you can see).