"A natural smile is a beautiful smile - a smile that makes you feel good, look good and completely changes the way that people react to you."

In the USA, a survey found that:-

• more than 92% of adults agreed that an attractive smile is an important social asset;

• nearly as many, close to 88%, said they always remember someone with an especially attractive smile:

• 85% agreed that an unattractive smile makes a person less appealing,

and yet, only 50% were satisfied with their smile.

In the UK it is the same. We spend billions of pounds each year looking good, but it's strange how so few of us have recognised the one key factor that can make the world of a difference to our looks - our smile. Even fewer realise how even small changes can make that difference.

You may have a number of reasons for wanting to change your smile. You may want to correct problems you've had since childhood such as discoloured, gapped or crooked teeth.You may want to fix condition you've developed over time, such as cracked or worn out teeth, to help create a more youthful smile. You may want a beautiful natural smile instead of your opaque white crowns,discoloured old bonding or dark metallic fillings from your past dental work. Today, there are a wide variety of techniques and materials that can correct these situations and make a real difference to your smile. And, whether we are matching to your existing teeth, rejuvenating your smile or creating a new look, we set out to achieve a naturally beautiful result, an appearance of facial harmony.

How long does it take? Each patient is an individual. Therefore it is difficult to say how long a procedure tailored to you will take. Bonding cases can be accomplished in a matter of hours at a single visit. Other situations that involve bridgework, porcelain crowns or veneers require two or three visits. In the latter case, after the first visit you will wear carefully prepared provisional restorations. These will reflect the final result and you will have the opportunity to approve your appearance before we fit the definitive restorations. Once returned from our skilled technicians, the permanent bridgework, crowns or veneers can be placed.

How long will it last? As with natural teeth, this is directly related to how well you look after them - this means daily brushing, flossing, at least an annual dental check and regular preventive visits. In the case of veneers or crowns, if well looked after we would expect them to last at least 10 - 15 years - (how long would you expect to keep your car?). Whitening treatments need to be repeated every 1 - 5 Years.

What happens after this time? Normal wear and tear will mean that in years to come your smile may not look as smart as it used to. If this is the case, you will simply replace them when you feel the time has come.

What about cost? The reason for improving your smile is to achieve the best, not the cheapest. You will wear your new smile every day for many years to come. Fees reflect clinical and laboratory skills acquired over years of continuallearning, as well as the time spent on each individual case. Therefore, don't opt for a quick fix, wait until you can afford what you want, as you will save money in the long run. This is an investment in yourself.