Maintenance of a Perfect and lasting smile
Achieving a perfect, harmonious and lasting smile is possible through basic treatments and other more advanced techniques that Stomatologists and Dentists have at their disposal today.
However, those who think they don’t need to do their part after a certain treatment is done, are in for disappointment… For long-lasting results, patients must follow the recommended oral hygiene care.
It is really a teamwork: «It is necessary for health professionals to make each patient responsible for maintaining oral health and, consequently, general health», says Paula Sequeiros, Stomatologist, Maxillofacial Surgeon and director of the Clínica Sanoral, in Lisbon.
It is wrong to think that after achieving a white, perfect and radiant smile, it is not necessary to take any special care. Don’t forget that the results will last longer if you follow your doctor’s recommendations. «It’s just five minutes a day and that will allow you to contribute to maintaining excellent oral health», adds the specialist. It is therefore necessary to integrate
oral hygiene recommendations into your daily life, whatever the state of your teeth or the treatments you have undergone.
By: Claudia Pinto
Creating and maintaining oral health is everyone’s responsibility and a highly rewarding process. «We must be our own guardians and incorporate into our lives habits that preserve us and give us pleasure for the good they make us feel. These are as diverse as having a healthy diet, exercising, sleeping well, having time for ourselves, having good oral hygiene, not
smoking and finally smiling a lot. It cannot be a sacrifice for people to love themselves and take care of themselves», emphasizes Paula Sequeiros.
In addition, we should all go to the dentist every six months. This is the routine that this Stomatologist maintains with the patients and clients of her clinic. «There are some patients who need a tighter routine, namely those who have periodontal disease who must come to appointments more regularly, every 4 months», says the Stomatologist. : «No matter how hard a
professional tries, there is never good oral health without adequate oral hygiene. This is a team effort in which we need the patient’s cooperation.»
UltimateBeauty describes some of the main treatments and care to be taken to guarantee, maintain and prolong the results.
1. Tooth whitening
Paula Sequeiros believes that this is a technique «that should be part of the wealth of possibilities.» Some people benefit from teeth whitening as long as it’s done well. However, not all people can undergo this treatment. Tooth whitening is not recommended for people suffering from tooth hypersensitivity.
– «I have a protocol in which I combine whitening performed in the office and at home procedure, with very good results that ca last between two and four years», defends the Stomatologist.
– As a first approach, it is necessary to screen for cavities and causes of darkening of teeth, which is why it is essential that this procedure is exclusively carried out by a Stomatologist or Dentist Fully certified and registered with the Portuguese Dental Association.
«When we are sure that the person has no cavities and no other situations to be treated, then yes, we can proceed to do the whitening», says Paula Sequeiros.
The step-by-step procedure
– First, «impressions the teeth are made on which individual trays are manufactured ( they incorporate a kind of reservoir in the anterior part of the tooth where the patient will load the product and thus increase the effectiveness of the treatment).»
A whitening session is scheduled at the office.
«In this session we first isolate all neighboring structures (such as the lips) and place a gingival barrier as we are going to use a whitening product in high concentrations that must not touch the gums“. Subsequently, the most suitable product for each case is applied, repeating two to three times.
Just with the session in the office, the teeth become whiter, but the results must be strengthened and consolidated. For this, the patient will use the product at home for a minimum period of two weeks, choosing to do it for one hour a day or for all night. Usually, the night product is more effective. «Depending on each case, I select the product to use and teach the person to apply it in the trays ». If the patient follows the recommendations, he will have white teeth for two to three years.
– The precautions to be taken while whitening include avoiding all types of food that could stain teeth (coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, etc).
After two to three years, a whitening touch-up can be performed. «It all depends on the reaction of each patient and their hygiene care». At that time you will only need to purchase the home application product syringes.
2. Porcelain veneers
The veneers are based on a technique of adhesion of ceramics to our enamel. «We can either completely cover the front of the teeth or make small adjustments with micro-veneers (for example closing a small gap between the teeth).
Veneers are the procedure that guarantees the best aesthetics, better integration into the gums and less tooth wear (sometimes we don’t even have to touch the tooth). For these reasons they are, when indicated, the treatment of choice when it comes to rejuvenating a smile or solving small gaps between teeth, fractures or even correction of crooked teeth (in people who do not want to wear braces, with the problem solved in a month ).
Looking after your veneers
Go to an appointment every six months and have careful oral hygiene (as is advised to all people, regardless of whether they have undergone this technique or not). «The vast majority of people take more care in terms of oral hygiene after veneers are placed because they are more proud of their smile and are more aware of the importance of these habits», defends Paula Sequeiros.
3. Implants
They are titanium screws placed on bone with a minimally invasive surgery. This is followed by a waiting period (usually three months) after which crowns are placed over these implants.
Immediate loading implants imply careful selection of cases. Immediate loading means that temporary crowns are placed on the implants immediately after surgery eliminating the waiting time. After the osseointegration period (3 to 6 months), this provisional crown is replaced by a definitive crown.
– «There are two fundamental aspects that can dictate the failure of an implant: excess load (occlusion problems) and infection.»
– Before placing an implant, any focus of infection in the mouth must be eliminated. It is necessary to check if there are cavities to be treated, if there is gingivitis or active periodontal disease and to clean the mouth as much as possible.
– «It is also essential to screen for smoking habits because tobacco is the great enemy of osseointegration of implants. Above 10 cigarettes is not good news», explains Paula Sequeiros, at least, in the first month after the surgery, due to the fact that it alters the microcirculation and all the healing», explains the stomatologist.
4. Invisible Orthodontics
Paula Sequeiros came into contact with Invisalign a few years ago in the USA but the costs of this method were so high that she never integrated them into her practice.
Meanwhile, similar products began to appear and in a course in Madrid, Alineadent® was presented to her, whose success has been notorious in this clinic.
How does Alineadent work?
The correction is made with a series of sequential clear acrylic aligners tailored to each patient through an advanced 3D digital system that simulates the treatment from beginning to end.
These aligners, which must be worn 22 hours a day (take them off to eat and brush your teeth), are practically invisible and extremely comfortable when compared to traditional fixed braces.
– The treatment is always less time consuming than Classic Orthodontics, ranging from six weeks to two to three months.
– «This system is not indicated for major orthodontic treatments, but it is a precious aid for small retouches», Paula Sequeiros advances. It has the enormous advantage of being able to be removed for cleaning, which does not happen with fixed orthodontics.
