New year, new bod, new you — fancy a new smile, too? Quite possibly. The UK dental-care market was estimated to be worth £9.6bn by the end of last year, according to Mintel, up from £8bn in 2012. “We’ve seen a massive explosion in the amount of orthodontics that we’re now doing for thirtysomethings to middle-aged clients,” says Tim Bradstock-Smith, founder and consultant cosmetic dentist at the London Smile Clinic. “The increase in numbers has been incredible.” He puts this down to two things: the professionals who are at a point where they have the disposable income to spend on fixing their smile, and, more important, the developments in the type of treatment available. “There are many more invisible and accessible options now,” he says. “Treatments are much quicker and more comfortable, which before were painful and slow.”
“Remember, though, whatever treatment is prescribed, there’s always an element of upkeep
Whether it’s straightening out a smile, fixing worn-down teeth or repairing existing work, thirty- and fortysomethings are now investing in the perfect “midlife smile”, with the average overhaul costing about the same as a heavy splurge on Net-a-porter. Dr Richard Marques, from Wimple Street Dental, who has treated Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora (“Just whitening”), says prices range from £950 for whitening to £40,000 for a full restoration job. “This is where you’re doing a lot of work on every tooth, as well as implants,” he says, “but it’s an extreme case.” More than a pair of Gucci loafers, then, but cheaper than a crocodile Hermès Birkin.
Seemingly the days of pearly-white Hollywood gnashers are on the wane, as one of the biggest technical changes has been a move away from porcelain veneers in favour of bonding. “The old system of veneers [where part of the tooth is filed down and a thin layer is fitted over the top] is still used in extreme cases,” Marques says, “but bonding uses white enamel — similar to the enamel used in fillings — to reshape the tips of the teeth. It doesn’t remove any of the existing tooth and looks more realistic.”
It’s cheaper, too, starting from about £200 per tooth, compared with £1,000 for a veneer. “There are lots of reasons people might still have veneers,” says Marques. “Good veneers can look great, but we do tend to get patients who need repair work on bad ones.”
Another technical development is subtler braces. “Before, most were made from liquid titanium,” Bradstock-Smith says. “Now, with clear plastic braces such as Invisalign or ClearSmile Aligner, teeth can be moved incredibly efficiently, so you only need an appointment every six to eight weeks.” And it’s proving popular with professionals. “They work hard and have busy lifestyles,” he says, “so they can’t just pop in every five minutes. Modern braces are also far less visible, with no surrounding brackets or fine wires on the outside, so they don’t affect your speech — a worry if you have to host board meetings. I’ve worn them,” he adds, “and haven’t noticed any effect on my speech.”
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So, if you’re going to get your smile fixed, whose grin do you go for: the Duchess of Cambridge, Julia Roberts, Angelina? Marques starts the process with a 30-minute consultation. “We will examine all the options from the most simple, such as reshaping, whitening and straightening, to something more complex like veneers.”
Remember, though, whatever treatment is prescribed, there’s always an element of upkeep. Even the most up-to-date braces require a retainer or thin wire attached to the back of the teeth to hold them in place, while veneers need to be replaced every 10 years or so, and bonding every five to 10 years. Until then, say cheese.
For brighter whites
What to have Cosmetic bonding
Where to go Clifton Dental Studio, Bristol; cliftonsmiles.com
What is it? To disguise small imperfections, such as gaps, chips and cracks, a bonding solution, similar to that used for fillings, is matched to the natural colour of your teeth and then set in place with special light.
Price From £380 a tooth
What to have Invisalign Full
Where to go The Cosmetic Dental Clinic, Newcastle; thecosmeticdentalclinic.com
What is it? You wear retainers round the clock for two weeks (except during eating, drinking and brushing). Every fortnight you use a new set, and in 9-15 months your teeth should have straightened
Price £3,600
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What to have Zoom Whitening
Where to go SmileStylist, Manchester and Birmingham; smilestylist.co.uk
What is it? A gel is applied across your teeth and a blue light is set on the mouth area for an hour. Be warned, depending on your natural sensitivity, this can feel uncomfortable.
Price £299
What to have Incognito lingual braces
Where to go London Smile Clinic; londonsmile.co.uk
What is it? These are conventional braces except they’re bonded to the inside of the teeth and invisible from the outside. Expect to wear them for 6-24 months.
Price From £4,200