 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
www.thisislondon.co.uk Confessions of a doctor www.chillipowder.com Dr Sunny Luthra is known by the celebrity A-list as the‘tooth-whitening king' www.gm.tv GMTV - Lose 10 years in 10 hours www.redhotcurry.com Asian Business Awards 2003 How to get a Hollywood smile www.timesonline.co.uk The moment I wake up-Life & Style-Women-TimesOnline The Observer Ursula Kenny goes to the dentist Cosmetic dentistry used to be derided as the ´hairdressing´end of dentistry, according to Dr Martin Fallofield at the British Dental Association, but not anymore. British dentists are currently swept off their feet meeting the ever-increasing demand for bleached teeth, closed gaps and restructured gums. Dr Sunny Luthra at Capital Dental Care, for example, currently whitens smiles for some 90 patients a month. Yes, his clients do include Chelsea FC, the Indian cricket team, Elite model Agency and several Bollywood film stars, but he is also treating a huge number of ordinary people - ´largely because the treatment is cheaper, quicker and easier than ever before´. Available procedures include whitening stained teeth, applying thin porcelain veneers over crooked teeth and gaps, remoulding gums using grafts and replacing lost teeth. Prices start at about 350 for a package of seven or eight bleaching sessions and rise to 20.000 for a whole set of new teeth. Effects can be dramatic. Fallofield recommends visiting two or three dentists and comparing prices and environments before you commit. ´See what the offices are like; generally, the more aesthetically pleasing the surroundings, the better treatment.´Standards are generally high, but he stresses the importance of communicating you expectations to your dentist and, in turn, making sure that he or she thoroughly explains the likely results. ´The only complaints we get are from customers who didn´t really understand what they would end up looking like. For example, once your teeth have been whitened, you´re going to look very strange if your gums are still discoloured and unhealthy.´ Fallofield also advises avoiding home teeth bleaching sets which are available mail order. ´You can burn gums, so go to your dentist.´ Meanwhile, he hopes the craze continues, and not only because it´s lucrative. ´I find changing someone´s smile very satisfying indeed,´ he says. ´It´s a rewarding and creative process, and it´s a lot less boring to carry out than fillings.´ Universal studios ´Island Of Adventure´ in Orlando recently asked psychologists to create a ´stress-management´ course aimed at helping especially nervous costumers on to its more terrifying rides. Treatment involves being taken to a ´calming zone´ and taught relaxation techniques, and then watching a video that lets you experience the ride from the rider´s point of view….In that case, why bother with the real thing at all? Back to top Smile and the world smiles with you Modern dentistry in the West revolves around image enhancement. That these days is the name of every game. Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja, Italian footballers Roberto de Matteo and Gian Franco, top British models smiling nattily on TV screens all know that the best way to strike a rapport with their fans is by flashing a perfect smile. No longer is brushing your teeth with a brush and bubbles or neem datun the effective way to having good teeth. Dentistry has changed rapidly in the last decade and the present emphasis is on incorporating a host of innovative technologies which include implants, gnathology, acrylic prostheses, chrome cobalt and gold dentures and other precision attachments. Patients are offered customised shade reproductions that come closest to simulating their natural teeth. The latest technique sweeping the West is implantology where a lost tooth is no longer replaced by a denture. Rather, an implant requires that a titanium root is actually embedded in one's gums to practically perform all the functions of a normal tooth. Dr Sanjay Luthra, an Indian born dentist practising in the UK, has specialised in this treatment. Armed with a diploma in implantology from the Eastman Dental Centre in London, Luthra claims, "Titanium is the only material the human body accepts. The appearance of the titanium root is like a screw, which over a period of eight months to one year, gradually integrates into the body. People are opting for implants over dentures since this is akin to having a new tooth." The equipment required to go in for implantology is expensive. In Britain, few people have dentistry insurance. Even so, they would prefer to spend upto L300 on this treatment, because they feel it has lasting value. Trends in the West are towards providing ceramic crowns with greater flexural strength, ensuring proper chemical bonding and gearing towards providing exceptional fits. In his clinic in London, Dr Luthra uses an intra-oral camera to let his patients to see what is going on on a TV screen suspended from the ceiling. "People have become extremely vain. A pop singer came to me recently and demanded a diamond be placed on my front tooth. I created an impression that it had been embedded there, but it had actually been placed in a veneer. Several black West Indians want their teeth framed with gold frames. This is being done entirely for effect. I am willing to undertake cosmetic treatment as long as it does not damage the remaining teeth," he insists. "Several customers want the shape of their teeth to be altered. Most alterations are undertaken with the assistance of computers and oral cameras that spell out suitable alternatives. Another form of cosmetology is to hide ugly grey and black fillings by covering them with veneer plastic or porcelain fillings. Here again, I have a machine that simulates artificial light. We simulate their smile under different lighting and then work out the shade that seems most suitable for them," explains Dr Luthra. He believes, in the future, dentists will discard drills in favour of lasers. The emphasis will be on electric tooth brushes and fluorides and of course overall prevention. Dr Luthra has acted as a consultant to the Indian cricket team on some of their foreign sojourns. Having played cricket himself, many cricketers are his personal friends. In 1982, he was on a cricketing tour of Australia when he was contacted by Abbas Ali Baig, then manager of the Indian cricket team, to be on call for an emergency." I did some emergency treatment on Sachin Tendulkar in a hotel bathroom in Sydney shortly before he had to go out and play a match. I received no financial remuneration for this work," he claims. Vinod Kambli is a great prankster and wanted me in the dressing room so he pretended he had a severe toothache. This was in Adelaide and was just a pretext to get me in," he adds. Looking after one's teeth is no monkey business especially with bills running into thousands of rupees! RASHME SEHGAL Back to top Dental gloss Do you want to look five years younger, instantly? Before you even consider Botox, laser skin resurfacing or an eye-lift, get your teeth whitened. It's one of the best-kept anti-ageing secrets, but a growing number of people are wising up and flocking to dentists such as Dr Sunny Luthra, a self-styled "tooth-whitening king" who specialises in the latest cosmetic dentistry techniques. "Pop stars and actors, particularly soap stars, come to me," he says. "If you look at British television, nobody has poor teeth. And the public are noticing and thinking, 'I want my teeth to look like that.'" Teeth naturally yellow with age, partly through staining-from tea, coffee or cigarettes, and partly because the enamel gets worn away by eating and brushing, exposing more of the dentine inside the tooth. That's why a dazzling white smile, like bright, clear whites of the eyes, is one of the strongest indicators of youth. Wendy Lewis, an independent consultant on cosmetic surgery who divides her time between London and New York, has advised past clients who have come to her for information about face-lifts to get their teeth done instead. "Just like the skin, teeth show visible signs of ageing. If your teeth are neglected or in need of repair, I always recommend that you get them in better shape before cosmetic surgery. Having a face-lift that costs L10,000 without paying attention to the condition of your mouth is akin to redecorating your sitting room, but keeping your old sofa that has the stuffing falling out." she says. The good news is that having your teeth professionally whitened is not only affordable - about L400-L500 per treatment, which should last a lifetime with occasional top-ups - it is also a simple, noninvasive and virtually fail-safe procedure. "The bleaching process has been in use for over 12 years in America and no side effects have emerged in that time. The worst-case scenario is that patients experience some tooth sensitivity while the treatment is in process, which happens in about 30% of cases," says David Cook, a London-based dentist who has a steady stream of clients. SALLY BROWN Back to top Sunny smile A mouth that once looked mossy takes on a toothpaste-ad twinkle in summer thanks to a combination of bronzed skin, healthy eating habits and something to smile about. Fake it in the rainy season by spending a bit more time on your teeth.Most of us brush for only 20 seconds a day, while dentists say an arm-breaking 90 seconds is more like it. If this sounds too much like hard work, invest in an electric toothbrush like the Interplak MuItiAction, L44.99 (find it in Index, Currys, Comet and Allders). Every tuft twists back and forth up to 4.2 times a second in your mouth without you having to do a thing. Perfect if, like me, you struggle to emerge from a coma pretty much every single morning. For a few lucky people in Essex, the tap water has a natural fluoride content (perhaps the reason for Denise Van Outen's radiant grin?). For the rest of us, make sure you use a toothpaste containing fluoride, and take a tip from South Sea Islanders who live on seafood (which has a high level of natural fluoride) and all sport killer smiles. If your teeth are stained due to smoking/a serious coffee habit/drinking cola all day, don't spend hours scrubbing the scum away or your gums will start to recede. Instead, invest in a whitening toothpaste to dissolve the dark deposits: Rembrandt Whitening toothpaste, L7.75, is the number one for Americans (and you know how white their teeth are) or try Pearl Drops Icemint Advanced Whitening Toothpolish, L3.99. If you're still not dazzling them with your smile, perhaps it's time to consider teeth bleaching. The secret behind many a British model's mega-watt smile, it's safe and not too scary on your finances. Phone Capital Dental Care on 0171-349 8889 for your nearest in-the-know dentist. Framing your teeth with the right shade of lipstick can do a lot to lighten your ivories, too. Our expert make-up artist, Beverley Brooke, recommends steering well clear of orangey-toned and pale pastel lipsticks as these can make your teeth look yellow. For a smile that's brighter, choose more bluey tones of pink, crimson and mauve. Back to top Capital Dental Care Dr Sunny Luthra set up Capital Dental Care in October 1997 in Chelsea. It is fast becoming one of Britain's premier dental practices and they are the official dentists for the England Cricket team and Chelsea Football Club. Featuring state of the art equipment, minimalist interior design and cable and digital TV that patients can watch while being treated Capital Dental carte provides a very relaxing and informal setting for the always scary dental work. However they have also become a centre of excellence for all types of dental cosmetic surgery. I went down to look into their teeth whitening expertise. The first thing that struck me was how nice the place was and how welcoming Dr Luthra was, he was alert interested and knew his subject inside out - which if you are as fearful of dentists as me is always an encouraging start. He then proceeded to tell me that my teeth were so white already that there was no point in me going through with the process, so instead he explained how it all works. The process is simple fairly quick and totally painless. First of all your teeth are zapped by a laser and then you are fitted with a mouthguard which you wear either all night or twice a day for 1/2 and hour for about ten days, or until you are happy with the results achieved. The initial appointment is only half an hour with a follow up one of about an hour, where you are encouraged to see the hygienist. The process is completely safe and solutions are organised to suit the needs of individual users. There are no side effects, no teeth damage and No Pain! Dr Luthra sees about 50 patients a week for teeth whitening of which about 65% of them are male. It is becoming one of the easiest and safest ways to improve your image and thus your self esteem that there is - certainly much less effort than going to the gym! Dr Luthra realised the potential behind this service 10 years ago and has been researching and studying the various techniques used all over the world. Now he is a leading specialist and regularly gives talks at dental seminars all over Europe. It Costs L450 for the whole mouth - so if you want a way to cheer yourself up and look even better give them a call on 020 7349 8889, or call in to 298 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW10. Back to top Cosmo's how-to-change-your-smile guide Braces: Orthodontics, which uses sustained pressure to reposition teeth over time, is the longer-haul journey to straight teeth - you´ll really need the stamina for a year or more of sporting a metal mouth. However, some modern braces can be applied to the inner sides of your teeth or be worn at night only. Even newer ones are made form white ceramic and far less obvious than metal. Cost: Starts at around 2000 for a brace. Whitefillings : Consider having old amalgam fillings replaced with white composite fillings. Matched to your natural tooth colour, the evidence of years of childhood indulgence in sweets can be wiped away just a session. White filling material can also be used to fill gaps without damaging teeth. Dr. Newbury considers you´ll be doing your health a favour too - he has collected evidence to suggest mercury can leak from fillings into your bloodstream and may be linked to ailments from lethargy to Alzheimer´s. Cost: From 40 to 100 per tooth. Non -invasive veneers : These are bonded onto teeth like porcelain veneers, but made of a malleable resin and sculpted on free-hand. Suitable for altering the shape of teeth, repairing chips, closing gaps and improving the colour. Dr Newbury is a fan: "There´s usually little need for filling of the natural tooth and the process can be completed in one visit." Cost: From 350 per tooth. Bonding : Veneers are a good option for ´virgin teeth´that have had undergone little or no restorative work. They can perfect teeth that are uneven, or those badly spaced or discoloured. Some of the tooth´s surface is filled away and a fine cover of translucent porcelain or ceramic is made to fit over the front. One of the best technicians is Richard Greenless, who offers an haute couture service - you sit in his studio while he crafts a perfect match. The cost can be over 1000 per tooth - "the price of a couple of posh frocks you only wear twice," quips Greenless. Cost: Starts at about 350 per tooth. Bleaching : Although bleaching is carried out perfectly safely in many countries, there have been restrictions on its use here, owing to the UK´s different classifications regarding the use of hydrogen peroxide for cosmetic purposes. However, cosmetic dentist Dr Sunny Luthra at capital Dental Care uses a different ´permitted´ chemical, with or without the additional use of a laser with dazzling results. Cost: Prices start at 350. Back to top You and Your Wedding Having a dazzling set of teeth is definitely something to smile about. But if your pearly - whites aren´t all they could be there´s range of cosmetic treatments that promise to give you that Hollywood smile. Cosmetic dentistry has long been American obsession, but now we Brits are now becoming more orraly fixated. And it´s no longer the preserve of the rich and famous. It´s affordable and accessible for brides-to-be. When you´re spending a fortune on your hair, dress and reception, why not invest a bit of money in your teeth so your smile doesn´t let you down? Everybody´s teeth yellow slightly with age. Tea, coffee, smoking, red wine and food contains colouring will accelerate the process and discolour your teeth. Brushing with bicarbonate of soda and salt lighten teeth, but these are temporary solutions. There´s a host of whitening toothpastes on the market, but results are negligible. You & Your Wedding went along to capital Dental Care in London´s Chelsea, where we asked Dr Sunny Luthra to explain how teeth can be permanently whitened for the big day. "Tooth whitening used to be very expensive, but nowadays every bride can have white teeth at a reasonable cost," says Dr Luthra. "The process is safe and there are no side effects - apart from whiter teeth." Dr Luthra has studied various whitening techniques and materials, and has devised a method that is tailormade to each patient. First, a laser is used to break down stubborn stains on the teeth. Then a special gel is applied, which is left on for one hour in the surgery. "This does two things," says Dr Luthra. "It slightly lightens the teeth on that first visit, which gives patients an immediate confidence boost, and it makes the next stage more effective." Stage two involves a home kit. The patient has a specially made mouth guard, which holds the whitening gel. This worn at night for 10 days or twice a day for 45 minutes for 10 days. The process is gradual and subtle, and the results look natural. The whole process costs 450 and doesn't´t reverse. With couples spending an average of almost 14,000 on their big day, it´s a small price to pay for a dazzling smile. Back to top Smiles better Requesting tooth whitening. "People have been influenced by what is going on in America, but the increased availability of whitening toothpastes and even chewing gum has also raised awareness about the attractiveness of white teeth." The process is now so sophisticated that you can even choose the exact shade of white you would like your teeth to be. "You don´t have to opt for that ultrawhite look," says Luthra, "It´s popular with Americans, but it can look artificial. I usually suggest that people go for just one or two shades lighter." The teeth are professionally whitened using a carbamide peroxide gel, which, when applied to the teeth and activated by heat, converts into hydrogen peroxide. This permeates the tooth and removes the stains from both the enamel and the dentine inside the tooth, which will show through the enamel if it is stained. It usually takes two week of applying the gel daily for up to two hours at home using specially designed mouthguard. Other dentists prefer to kick-start the treatment by using a laser to activate the gel in the surgery, with shorter at-home follow-up sessions. Unlike many whitening toothpastes, which removes stains by using an abrasive action that can damage the tooth surface,the bleaching process leaves the teeth intact by dissolving the stains alone. "The average concentration of hydrogen peroxide in gel is 2%, which is so weak, it would be safe enough to use as a mouthwash. But it is effective as a tooth whitener because it is localised - it is applied directly to the teeth using a mouthguard," says Cook. An additional bonus, he says, is that it can temporarily improve your gum health by killing the bacteria that cause gum disease."That's how the process was discovered," he adds. "During treatment for gum disease, teeth were becoming whiter." But it´s not just the colour of your teeth that can he pl look younger; the shape ot the teeth and the contour of the smile line also play a part. "As you get older, your teeth get worn down and so become smaller," says Jennifer Golden, the managing director of the London-based cosmetic dentistry chain Denties. "In a youthfull smile, the teeth tend to be larger towards the front and get shorter towards the back ot the mouth. As we age, the front teeth can get so worn down that you get a ´reverse smile curve´, where the teeth get longer as they get to the back of the mouth. Having veneers - porcelain covers that are individually designed to fit over your existing teeth - can take years off your looks, and it is much easier to do than a face lift because it is not a surgical procedure." The most commonly used veneers are made from thin layers of porcelain that are permanently attached to the existing teeth, which are reduced in size to accommodate them. Skilful use of venners can straighten crooked teeth and close up gappy teeth. Modern materials and techniques mean that they are indistinguisable from natural teeth, but they are not cheap - prices start at about 300 per tooth, and most people have between 6 to 8 teeth done. For the best results in both processes, choose your dentist carefully, ideally going on a (no pun intended) word - of - moth recommendation. Currently, there are no mandatory qualificatins beyond normal dental training, although Luthra suggests that dentists who choose to specialise in this field do so because they have a talent for it. Dentics sends all of its dentists, who must have had a minimum of five years´ clinical practice, on 3-month training course and requires them to become member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and attend its conferences regularly. Many who specialise in this area are members ot the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, a voluntary forum that offers its members access to conferences and lectures on the latest techniques. The chairman, Dr. Tidu Mankoo, says: "It´s an intergration of science and art, so ability varies according to the flair of each dentist. A lot of dentists offer a basic form, but to get the top-class treatment you need to go to the top people." If you don´t have a word-of-mouth recommendation, then exercise caution, advise Dr.Jacinta Yeo of the British Dental Association. "Cosmetically, some dentists have a better eye than others. Ask how long they´ve been doing the procedures and ask to see photographs of previous work. Patients are costumers, and they should make sure that they are happy with their dentist." Back to top Great white smirk Cosmetic surgery is, in most instances, best left to septuagenarian grandmothers from California who like the idea of having their cheeks pinned behind their ears. The average young Brithis male, on the other hand, should have no truck with cosmetic body enhancements. Except, perhaps, teeth whitening . This procedure, developed by Dr Sunny Luthra of capital Dental Care in London, can genuinely turn your yellowing tombstones into pearly-white gnashers. It´s easy,painless, permanent and has nothing to do with those so-called ´whitening toothpastes´, most of which are at best useless, and at worst harmful. The process uses oxidiation to turn tetth white, rather than simply scraping the enamel, and it doesn´t damage your teeth or gums. It works like this: you go into the clinic for a consultation, then you have any stains removed by a dental hygienist, followed by having a mould made of your teeth. On the next appointment you get your ´gum shiled´ trays that fit your teeth perfectly. You also receive the chemical solution that you place in the trays, fit onto your teeth and then wear overnight. Keep it up for a few days and your mouth will be transormed from Shane McGowan to Tom Cruise. And that´s something to smile about. Prices starts from 450. Call Capital Dental care an 020 7349 8889 for more details. Back to top Dentistry, cricket and rugby: A Capital mix Capital Dental Care is owned and run by Sunny Luthra, a man who enjoys venturing beyond dentistry when it comes to developing his bussiness. Originally from India, although a resident in England since the age of one, Sunny manages to mix dentistry with his sporting passions - cricket and rugby - whilst also dabbling in the art world, exhibiting monthly exhibitions on his practice premises in London´s Fulham Road. Capital Dental Care has been open for business since October 1997 and Sunny´s pathway to ownership has been rather diverse. A graduatev from Manchester University in 1990, Sunny then undertook NHS Vocational Training and decided that hospital work was not for him. His experience playing cricket for Midlesex and Lancashire meant a job offer to work with the Indian Cricket Team in the 1992 World Cup one-month tour in Australia was too tempting to turn down and resulted in a year-long stay working in a dental practice just 100 yards from the beach. Moving on On his return to England, Sunny worked both as a locum and as a private practice associate in Maidenhead Surrey, picking up tips all the way from his principals about running a bussiness. In 1994 he joined the Whitecross Group where he was responsible for the Hammersmith branch (then only a building site). He built up the practice and decided after three years that it was time to move on. ´I can do this, I thought,´ says Sunny, ´and at the very least, I knew exactly what I didn´t want to do.´ Gaining financial support from banks was not difficult, he says, due to his previous track record, and so all that remained was to target an area and find a suitable location. Sunny was familiar already with the Chelsea area and asked acquaintances to help spread the world that he was planning to open a practice somewhere around that locality. The current premises were spotted as he drove down Fulham Road one day and within six weeks he was ready to sign the contract and move in. His aim was to create a clean, warm and friendly practice environment which avoided dental stereotypes (i.e. no out-of-date magazines). Marble floors were shipped across from India and mailny glass exterior makes it easy for passers by to see inside. Satellite television with screens in every room means patients can watch whatever they want (even the football!) before and during treatment. With the majority of patients with Denplan and only 10% treated on the NHS (exempt groups). Sunny wanted to create an atmosphere which made people aware that they were in a private practice, offering the best and widest range of equipment and materials avaible. NHS patiens are treated with different materials than private ones. Sunny asserts that this doesn´t mean they get subjected to poor products - everything is of the highest quality, however the top-of the-range materials are reserved for private patiens alone. The professionals complementary to dentistry (PCDs) working at Capital Dental Care came highly recommended to Sunny, and his associate Amalia Fahmy was someone he knew previously. Prior to joining the practice, Amalia worked at the European Medical Centre in nearby South Kensigton and several of her patients followed her to Fulham Road when she left. Another associate, Mark taylor, was recruited later through a British Dental Journal advertisement and came on board to help relieve the practice´s ever increasing workload. Sunny also employs two hygienists, one of whom is also employed part time in the Army. Artists and celebrities Capital Dental Care now boats a 1,500-strong client list, a third of which Sunny says are a result of world-of-mouth recommendation. In addition to advertising in health club area, the practice also has special deals running with model agencies Models One and FM, Chelsea football players and a variety of cricket and rugby players. Sunny also treats several celebrities, which inevitably has raised media interest in the business. Artists and visitors to the monthly art exhibitions are a source of different marketing for the practice and there is a private viewing and party held on each exhibition´s opening night. Sunny´s passion for cricket is matched only by his passion for rugby and he plays for the Old Isleworthians, a team he also sponsors. The team shirts carry Capital Dental Care logo and Sunny supplies the gumshields. He also makes these for other ruggby players who can have them made in their team colours, sporting their own logos. PCDs at Capital Dental Care receive extensive training and Sunny regularly attends postgraduate lectures to keep abreats of current techniques in dentistry. He is a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Dentistry, the British Society of Restorative Dentistry and the European Association of Endodontics. He has also undertaken a year-long implantology course. As a result, the only referrals the practice does are in the area of orthodontics. Everything else is undertaken on the premises. Looking ahead The vast practice basement is to be developed and turned into a centre for complementary therapy and a large local company has shown great interest in this proposal. Sunny hopes that such a venture will, like the art exhibitions, provide a valuable source of passing trade. Sunny has no plans to franchise Capital Dental Care in the manner of some other dental companies and wants to stay in charge personally. He does, however, hope to open two more practices in the future. ´Similar area, similar concept, similar clients,´ he says. However, he adds, good staffing is the key factor: ´There is no point in being in a high profile area when you have substandard associates.´ It appears there could be some excelent job opportunities arising in the near future. Back to top Beautiful teeth - it's never too late Frightened to smile? These days no one need hide crooked, stained teeth. The latest hi-tech treatments in cosmetic dentistry can work wonders - albeit at a price! We´ve been slow to catch on to the marveles of modern dentistry. As you might expect, Americans have been visiting cosmetic dentists as part of their beauty regime for years. Now, we´re following suit and the good news is that techniques in 2000 are better than ever. Removing stains Discoloration is one of the main problems with teeth as you get older. This is due not only to staining caused by food, drink, smoking and so on, but also because the tooth enamel gradually becomes thinner and the darker dentine in teeth then shows through. Diet drinks and citrus-fruit drinks are two of the worth culprits for eroding tooth enamel, according to top cosmetic dentist Dr Phil Stemmer. ´And if people rush their teeth after having these drinks, they´re spiting their teeth down the sink!´ he says. ´Acidic drink soften enamel for 30 minutes, so if you brush your teeth straight away, you just strip away the enamel. Wait half an hour.´ Essential when removing stains is determing what´s caused the problem. If stains are just topical, ultrasonic scalers which fire abrasive powder at teeth, will restore them to the colour they were before. Sessions cost around 35 for 30 minutes. Power whitening For easy, one-step whitening, you can´t beat the latest laser technique - but it does cost between 450 - 800 depending on the condition of the teeth. You can see what our tester thought of it, below right. Some dentists follow up the laser treatment with bleaching. Dentit to stars and founder of Capital Dental Care, Dr Sunny Luthra says that for best relusts they always follow up with a home kit to bleach teeth - but this is done strictly under dental supervision. Made to measure With all modern techniques - laser, veneers, new crowns - you´re in full control of how white you wish your teeth to look. ´Advancements in cosmetic dentistry allow the shape and shade of a patient´s teeth to look the best they possibly can in a totally individual way, which is the crucial point,´ says Harley Street specialist Dr Anthony Newbury, whose new concept in the Smile Design. ´The perfect shape and structure of your teeth can be cosmetically corrected to suit the shape of your face. Equally, the shade of your teeth has to suit your complexion.´ Cutting edge technology. . . You can now get metal-free crowns and enamel-bonded crowns, which give strenght without your tooth having to be chiselled away to a tiny peg. ´The new procera crown gives the best fit ever,´ says Dr Luthra, ´because after an imprint has been taken, your tooth is scanned in via a modem and the crown is then made using computer enhancement techniques. So you can get an absolutely perfect fit.´ ´Another new procedure is that of implanting titanium roots for people who have lost teeth. The titanium root is surgically put in place, then eventually a crown can be fitted,´ says Dr Luthra. It can take up to a year for the whole procedure to be completed and costs a hefty 2,000 a tooth. And if you´re terrified of the drill, the latest air abrasion method removes decay painlessly, without a drill in sight. Brace yourself Rememeber that you may have to wear a brace for anything up to three years. Cindy Crawford turned the brace into a fashion accessory, but for those who´d like theirs to be less of a feature, you can now get tooth-coloured braces and those worn on the inside of the teeth - though these will be more expensive. What you can - and can´t - get done on the NHS There´s not much cosmetic dentistry avaible on the NHS because funds, time and materials are limited and most dentists prefer to do cosmetic work privately because that enables them to use the latest equipment and materials. The British Dental Health Foundation says even white fillings will be offered only for front teeth, and crowns for back teeth are made with metal tops rather than white ones. Cosmetic dentistry on the NHS is really only a possibility if you´ve suffered a serious accident. Back to top Man behind the winning smile A CELEBRITY dentist has struck a nerve as India's secret worid Cup weapon. Dentist-to-the-stars Sunny Luthra, owner of Capital Dental Clinic, Fulham, has landed the job of looking after the teeth of the Indian cricket team. And his brief is to make sure the shine isn't taken off India's campaign. The 31-year-old cutting edge dentist will be on 24-hour call throughout the World Cup. Despite India's opening match, Sunny jokingly predicts: "I have been called in to drill into them that the team's teeth are whiter than white when they lift the cup." Sunny denies the plan is to have their teeth so white and shiny that opposing bowlers will be blinded when they face India's batsmen. However, he revealed the Indian squad have never before taken such steps to prepare for a tournament - a warning to other teams. "A large part of their strategy this year is about forward thinking. The team want to minimise problems on the field by minimising problems off the field. They want to make sure they are filling in great shape - body and soul. This will eliminate mishaps." "If one player is in pain because of a toothache it can take the edge of a polished performance." Ex-cricketer Sunny as a teenager in India was encouraged to play cricket by his father and competed in the Ranji trophy. He has played games with the likes of Prabhakar, Tendulkar and Ravi Shasri. In England, he played for the Middlesex and Lancashire county teams with and against Tufnell, Nasser Hussain and Fraser. After graduating from dental school he set up a clinic wherc several cricketers became top clients. In 1992, he was asked by Abbas Ahbag to follow India on the World Cup tour of Australia. Sunny said he has no regrets about choosing a career in dentistry: "I have played with 70 or 80 cricketers who are not stars and not all of them have a steady profession to fall back on like I do." Back to top No threats, just opportunities It is ironic how differently a person´s age is perceived in various professions. I have just watched Chelsea beat Tottenham HotSpur. A footballing legend, George Weah, age 33, made his debut for Chelsea in this match. A dentist of similar age was once considered by his peers to be at the beginning of his career. I say ´was´ because number of dentists of a younger age with their own practicies is growing faster than ever. The geriatric footballer scored the winning goal, proving that ´If you are good enough, you are old enough´, or in Weah´s case, young enough. Having taken the plunge myself and opened a ´cold squat´ practice 3 years ago, I can sympathise with fellow colleagues who have reservations about doing the same now. THE CORPORATE THREAT Being a businessperson as well as a dentist can be daunting. A good accountant and practice manager can assist. Young dentists are worried about the rise in corporate dental groups and the possibility of being put out of business. Business handbooks and management theorists have a cliché for every occasion. Why not look at this development from the perspective that there are ´no threats, just opportunities´. For exapmle, these bodies corporate are doing a good job of increasing public awareness about dentistry. Although they my appear to be taking over the profession, a lot can be learned from their marketing and management skills. INCREASING LITIGATION Another issue of growing concern is the threat of litigation. Despite the emergence of high profile advertisements for personal claims/injury lawyers with their ´no win, no fee´ slogans and the recent dentist bashing in the media, we have not yet adopted the mentality of the USA, and in my opinion, we never will. I have heard that certain personal injury lawyer´s work by getting an out-of-court settlement. I don´t know how much of this is true, but two recent threats by patients started me thinking. I recently made a set of dentures for an eldery woman who wanted the best. Money was no object. We agreed on a fee (for argument sake 1000). She was a pleasure to treat the visits preceding her final fit and was pleased with the final result. I kept her models and made her a copy in an inexpensive material as a ´spare´. To my surprise, her reaction was to treaten legal action. A chance meeting with her husband shed light on the matter. He explained that because I had given his wife two sets of dentures, the original denture was devalued to a mere 500. A simple withdrawal of the free set resolved the matter. A young model requested venners to cosmetically enhance her appearance for a movie casting. When she did not get the part, she found herself out of pocket. Although she had liked and approved the teeth at the fitting stage, she subsequently proclaimed them to be too big, preventing her from breathing during sleep. Her lawyer had even suggested she visit a ´sleep specialist´. During this time, she received an offer of another movie and the case was dropped. Both situations taught me that as long as a dentists´ work is of a good standard, ethically correct and accompanied by accurate records, there is no need to fear threats of litigation. CONCLUSION The path from dental student to well-respected member of the dental community is not as long and winding as it used to be. Memberships of organisations such as the BDA Young Dentists Group are a must, as they are informative and offer an opportunity to network. Younger dentists should not be embarrased about their age or intimidated by elder colleagues. Times have changed. Back to top |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Any names or opinions expressed in this media section are those of the author and are the sole responsibility of the author. They do not necessarily reflect those of anyone associated with capital dental or Dr Luthra.All articles are readily available in the public domain. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
