A bright, confident smile can light up a room and boost self-esteem. However, age, diet, and lifestyle habits can lead to dull or discoloured teeth.
It’s easy to associate the colour of your teeth with your overall quality of oral health, and so much of the emphasis society puts on the appearance of your smile can leave you feeling self-conscious.
The good news is that there are several ways to revitalise your smile, from simple at-home care to professional treatments. At LUME, we’ve mastered the art of smile enhancement.
In this guide, we’ll share some smile self-care tips and discuss the treatments we offer to address your dull or discoloured smile.
How Can I Improve a Dull or Discoloured Smile At Home?
The first step in improving your smile is maintaining good oral hygiene. Here are a few essential tips you should follow.
- Brush twice daily with a whitening toothpaste
- Floss daily to remove plaque between teeth
- Consider using an electric toothbrush for more effective cleaning
Over-the-counter whitening products like strips or gels can provide slight improvements. However, their effectiveness and safety don’t compare to professional treatments.
Certain foods and drinks can stain teeth. Limit consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, and dark berries. If you do indulge, rinse your mouth with water afterwards. Quitting smoking can also significantly improve tooth colour.
Professional Hygiene Treatments
Regular dental cleanings remove built-up plaque and tartar that can’t be eliminated through at-home care alone. These treatments can brighten your smile and improve overall oral health.
We provide minimally invasive cleaning treatments using compressed air, fine jets of water, and powder to break down tartar and surface stains for a deeper clean.
Our dental hygienist will also provide tailored advice on maintaining your new, brighter smile during your appointment.
We recommend regular hygiene appointments to all our patients in addition to routine checkups.
Boutique Teeth Whitening
For more dramatic results, consider professional teeth whitening. We offer boutique teeth whitening, a system that provides superior results to over-the-counter options.
This treatment uses custom-fitted trays and professional-grade whitening gel to safely and effectively lighten your teeth by several shades. Teeth whitening penetrates deeper into the surface of your teeth and removes particles embedded in the pores of your teeth.
You can use Boutique from the comfort of your home and whiten your smile while you relax. The beauty of this treatment is once the lab has created your custom whitening trays, getting a top-up treatment is even easier.
Dental Veneers
If you want to brighten your smile and make changes to the overall appearance of your teeth, veneers offer a transformative solution. We provide three types:
Layered veneers: Thin shells bonded to the front of teeth
Porcelain veneers: Durable, stain-resistant option for a natural look
Composite veneers: This affordable option can be completed in one visit
Veneers improve tooth colour, address issues with shape, size, and minor misalignments, and cover cracks and other damage. Every veneer is custom-made and combines artistry and science to provide a natural look for your smile.
How Do I Decide Which Treatment Is Best for Me?
You will need to consider several factors when deciding which treatment is best for you, including:
- Severity of discolouration
- Budget
- Time available for treatment
- Long-term maintenance considerations
A consultation with our team can help determine the most suitable option for your unique needs and goals.
Smile Enhancing Treatments in Cheshire
Everyone’s smile is unique. What works for one person may not be the best solution for another. We encourage you to book a consultation with our team to discuss your options and create a personalised plan to achieve a bright and confident smile.
With the proper care and treatments, you can say goodbye to dull, discoloured teeth and hello to a radiant smile that you’ll be proud to show off.
Contact us today to book your appointment.
In a world where obtaining the perfect smile is talked about more than ever, you might hear lots about popular treatments like porcelain veneers, Invisalign, or teeth whitening. And amid all these exciting possibilities, you may be less aware of composite bonding.
The perfect marriage of artistry and clinical precision, composite bonding uses tooth-coloured resin to improve the aesthetics of your smile. We apply the resin directly to your teeth before sculpting it seamlessly and perfecting your smile.
If composite bonding is a new concept to you, it’s natural to have questions about what it can achieve, how the procedure is performed, and what you can expect from living with a smile that’s enhanced using this treatment.
In this guide, we’ll share the answers to some of the most commonly asked composite bonding questions.
What Issues Can Composite Bonding Improve?
Composite bonding is a versatile treatment that can address several cosmetic issues. These include:
- Repairing chips, cracks, and other damage to your teeth
- Tackling stains and discolouration
- Building up misshapen teeth
- Closing small gaps in your smile
We’ll invite you to a consultation, during which we’ll discuss the areas you’d like to improve and examine your smile.
Does Composite Bonding Hurt?
No. Composite bonding is among the simplest procedures, and it’s pain-free. In fact, where most procedures require an anaesthetic first, composite bonding is so painless you won’t typically need one. We won’t use any drills or needles, so there’s no discomfort to worry about.
The process involves applying the resin directly to your teeth. We’ll then refine and shape the resin until it blends with your tooth and looks natural. The resin is then bonded to your teeth before being polished and tidied.
How Long Does Composite Bonding Take?
Your treatment will be specifically designed around your needs. As such, the length of the treatment will vary depending on your treatment plan.
Addressing issues on single teeth can take as little as half an hour, while more comprehensive treatments incorporating your full smile will take longer. Most treatments are performed in a single appointment.
What’s the Recovery Time for Composite Bonding?
Once we’ve completed your composite bonding treatment, there’s no need to wait for the anaesthetic to wear off. Nothing about the process should cause you pain, and there should be no sensitivity or discomfort.
You can return to your normal activities immediately after your procedure. Some people book in for simple composite bonding procedures and return to work the same day.
How Long Will Composite Bonding Last?
We want you to enjoy the benefits of your beautiful smile for a long time. With proper care, composite bonding can last for around five to ten years.
How Do I Take Care Of My Bonded Teeth?
It’s easy to look after your teeth after you’ve received composite bonding treatment. Brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush is essential. Flossing daily will also help remove bacteria and debris, which could cause damage.
We recommend visiting us twice a year for a checkup and making regular hygiene appointments.
Because the resin isn’t as strong as natural enamel, you must avoid biting into anything that could cause damage. This means you shouldn’t chew anything solid, like pen lids.
Composite Bonding at LUME
Composite bonding may not have the social media reputation of porcelain veneers, but it offers some fantastic benefits. It’s a simple and effective way to improve your smile without discomfort or complicated procedures.
Contact us today to schedule your composite bonding consultation.
Porcelain veneers are among the most popular cosmetic treatments in dentistry—with good reason. At LUME, we elevate veneer placement to an art form, enhancing the natural beauty of your smile with high-quality custom-made veneers.
These fine porcelain shells coat the fronts and sides of your teeth, essentially giving your smile a whole new look.
It’s natural to want to know more about the benefits and process before making the decision to get porcelain veneers. We’re here to help you understand everything you need to know so you can make an informed decision about your care.
In this guide. We’ll discuss six reasons to love porcelain veneers and share a basic outline of how they work.
1. Porcelain Veneers Look Completely Natural
At LUME, we only use the highest quality materials to enhance your smile. The porcelain we use is carefully colour-matched to your teeth, so it seamlessly blends with the rest of your smile.
Whether you’re having one or two teeth enhanced with porcelain veneers or the whole of your smile, we’ll ensure they look balanced. People may take notice of your beautiful smile, but they won’t assume you’ve had veneers.
2. Porcelain Veneers Offer Versatility
Porcelain veneers can make many changes to your smile. You could use your treatment to cover up the things you dislike, such as chips, cracks, stains, and discolouration. Veneers can also close gaps in your smile and improve the shape of your teeth.
Before treatment, we’ll meet with you to discuss the changes you want to see. This helps us create a personalised treatment plan that suits you.
3. Porcelain Veneers Are Uniquely You
Every aspect of your porcelain veneer treatment is tailored to your wants and needs. Based on the information gathered in your initial consultation, we’ll create beautiful bespoke veneers specifically for your smile.
We consider every detail of your veneers, including colour, shape, size, and texture.
4. Porcelain Veneers Bring Instant Confidence
Once your veneers are bonded in position, you’ll see an immediate change in your smile. Because we’ll work with you throughout the process, we’re sure you’ll love the results.
These new changes bring a self-esteem boost. Your smile could make a big difference in your life.
5. Porcelain Veneers Protect Your Smile
Although veneers are widely regarded as a cosmetic treatment, they have other benefits. Fixing damaged teeth adds an extra barrier of protection from bacteria that could enter cracks and cause infections.
6. Porcelain Veneer Placement Is Simple
Your porcelain veneer placement involves three steps. First is the initial consultation, where we learn about your smile, assess your oral health, and discuss your goal.
Next is the preparation stage. At this point, we remove a very small portion of enamel from your teeth to make way for the veneers. We’ll give you an anaesthetic first to maximise your comfort. Removing enamel ensures your teeth are the right size when the veneers are positioned.
Once we’ve prepared your teeth, we’ll take impressions so the skilled lab team can produce your veneers.
When your veneers are ready, we’ll bond them into position and make any final adjustments.
7. Porcelain Veneers Are Designed to Last
With the proper care and attention, your veneers should last a decade. To ensure they last, brush your teeth thoroughly twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily, and use mouthwash, too. We also recommend checkups twice a year and regular hygiene appointments.
Dental enamel is the strongest substance in your body. Porcelain looks and feels like dental enamel but is not quite as strong. With this in mind, avoid biting anything that’s solid to prevent chips and cracks.
Porcelain Veneers at LUME
Porcelain veneers look and feel natural, repair defects, and give your smile a more uniform and balanced appearance. At LUME, we’ve mastered the art of porcelain veneer placement, producing countless beautiful smiles. We want to help you love your smile.
Contact us today and schedule your veneer consultation.