Cosmetic dentistry and the popularity of tooth enhancing treatments is on the rise - with British celebrities and reality stars alike flashing their perfect, pearly whites; often jetting off overseas to secure their new smiles.
And it's not just the rich and famous looking to optimise their smiles either - adult braces, teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures have become much more commonplace across the nation in recent years. Another unexpected effect of the pandemic has been the rise in people looking to book aesthetic dental treatments; making the most of the #WFHlifestyle, and face-masks to disguise their adult braces. New figures from the British Orthodontic Society found that since the start of the pandemic:- 84% of orthodontists have reported an increase in adult patients seeking dental treatments- 60% of orthodontists reported seeing a larger than expected demand for treatments over the last 12 months- 88% of these adult patients were 26-55 - and 80% of them, female As we begin the New Year, reflecting back on the past 12 months and looking ahead to the future, we sat down with Dr Aneka Khaira (based at Harley Street Dental Studio) to learn more about the future of cosmetic dentistry in the UK - and the trending tweakments she predicts we'll be booking in the forthcoming months.
Dr Aneka reveals that in 2021, some of the most popular treatments at her clinics were Invisalign / adult orthodontics, bonding, whitening and minimal prep porcelain veneers. But will these procedures continue to surge in popularity in 2022, or are there new tweakments about to hit the world of dentistry that we should know about? Let’s find out!
Dr Aneka doesn't believe that the trending tweakments mentioned above are going anywhere any time soon. In terms of the trends she predicts will continue to be big in 2022, she says,
"Align, bond & bleach! These 3 words - and this process - will be a continuing trend in 2022; as it creates a beautiful smile by using the patients own teeth firstly by straightening, whitening and then adding a small amount of bonding material to the teeth in order to improve the size and shape. Benefits of this approach is that is no preparation to the teeth, so all tooth structure is preserved and as long maintained this can provide long lasting results. Invisalign, whitening and bonding: average cost = £5000-8000."
Veneers will also continue to dominate dental wish lists in 2022 - but minimal preparation porcelain veneers, as opposed to more invasive, shark tooth-esque procedures that involve lots of filing and damage to natural teeth.
"Veneers are still the gold standard when it comes to aesthetics however tooth trends have changed along the years," says Dr Aneka.
"Patients and most cosmetic dentists want real smiles; for the smile makeover to look as natural as possible. There are still elements of the ‘Hollywood smile’ patients wish to employ... however for the final result to look like they’ve been born with it."
"Veneers can be life changing - especially for those patients who have severe discolouration, gaps, small teeth and teeth which have been worn down. On average, they can last up to 12-15 years... and require little maintenance as they tend not to chip easily or stain. Average cost of veneers = £1200 per tooth."
How will new, up-and-coming 2022 technology effect the dental treatments we book?
"New technology, materials and procedures have - and will continue, to evolve; playing a major role in the cosmetic dental boom," Dr Aneka tells us.
“Same-day smiles have become a reality, as cutting-edge CAD/CAM systems, advanced intraoral scanners and sophisticated 3D imaging software have been combined to facilitate improved diagnostics and treatment. Plus, it's now easier to provide a preview of the proposed smile-makeover to a patient (without having to do anything irreversible to the teeth) than ever before!"
"This technology can also show patients what treatment can achieve with regard to dental function and aesthetics," Dr Aneka continues. "In fact, highly accurate restorations – including crowns, veneers, onlays and inlays – can now be fabricated on-site within a single appointment, ensuring reduced chair-time and improved patient compliance."
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