Thinking about treatment options for chipped, cracked or misshapen teeth? Cosmetic dentistry can help restore your smile and regain your confidence using treatments such as veneers and composite bonding. But what treatment would best suit you? Here’s a detailed overview of each:

What are veneers?

Veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment that offer an effective way of restoring discoloured, chipped or misshapen teeth. They can also cover gaps between your teeth when orthodontic treatment isn’t a suitable option. They’re traditionally made from porcelain and are bonded to the front surface of the teeth to mimic the shape, size, and colour in order to create a natural look. Recent technological improvements have resulted in veneers being made from a variety of materials with excellent strength and aesthetic properties. You can get veneers on single or multiple teeth, depending on your individual needs and the cosmetic result you want to achieve.

How are veneers fitted?

Once your dentist has decided that veneers are a suitable treatment option for you, they’ll talk you through your options. In some cases it is necessary to prepare your teeth so they can hold veneers. Your dentist will remove a thin layer of the enamel from your teeth, so that the veneers can fit smoothly. In some cases, preparation isn’t necessary and the veneers can be attached straight on to your teeth. In both cases, , your dentist will create bespoke veneers to fit your teeth by taking an impression of your mouth. While this is being made, your dentist might place temporary covers over your teeth. Once your veneers are ready, your dentist will attach them to the front of your teeth and secure them permanently. If it has been necessary to prepare the teeth, then veneers are an irreversible procedure that change the structure of your natural teeth, so you need to be sure that they’re right for you. If preparation isn’t required, the procedure is reversible.

What are the benefits of veneers?

• Long-lasting fix for chipped, discoloured, small gaps or misshapen teeth
• Stain resistant and durable
• Produce bright, natural-looking results

How long do veneers last?

Veneers can last around 10-15 years, but only if they’re cared for properly. Your veneers will need regular care and attention – just like your natural teeth. It’s important you brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily and see your dentist regularly to maintain good oral health.

What is composite bonding?

Composite bonding is a cosmetic dental treatment which helps to fill chips, gaps, or fractures between your teeth and is very different to veneers.
Your dentist will attach composite resin to your tooth and reshape it, so it blends in with the rest of your teeth. The resin will be matched to the colour of your teeth, so it’ll look natural.

What’s the treatment process for composite bonding?

Your dentist will begin by selecting a resin that matches the colour of your natural teeth. They’ll then prepare your tooth or teeth for treatment by gently roughening the surface of the tooth. Then they’ll coat your tooth with a liquid that will ensure the resin sets effectively. Your dentist will apply the resin and mould it to the desired shape, before hardening it with a UV light. They will reshape the resin until it matches your teeth and looks natural.

What are the benefits of composite bonding?

• Treatment usually takes just one visit
• A fast and effective way of fixing minor cosmetic issues and improving your smile
• Can be a cheaper treatment option than crowns or veneers
• It’s a non-invasive procedure, which means the structure of your tooth remains intact after treatment

How long does composite bonding last?

Composite bonds can last for years as long as you maintain good oral hygiene and see your dentist for regular check-ups. Composite resin isn’t as strong as the enamel in your natural teeth, so you should take care to avoid extra hard foods that could crack the resin. In some cases, the composite resin can pick up stain over time.

Considering cosmetic dentistry?

Here at Smiles Dental, we’ve been helping people in Ireland improve their smile since 2005. So, if you’re conscious about the appearance of your teeth – whether they’re discoloured, chipped, misshapen or you have gaps – there’s a good chance we can help you with veneers or composite bonding. Book a consultation at your local Smiles Dental practice to discuss your treatment options and see how we can restore your smile.


PRSI Dental Entitlement 2020: Did you know that if you pay PRSI contributions, you may be entitled to a free dental exam, as well as a scale and polish for just €15 at Smiles Dental*?

The Treatment Benefit scheme – run by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) – is available to insured workers, the self-employed, and retirees with the required PRSI contributions.

It’s a handy way of looking after your smile and your pocket.

Yet, according to a 2019 article by the Irish Times, there were fewer than 805,000 applications for dental care under the scheme in the previous year.

So if you don’t want to miss out on free and discounted dental care, read on to see how the scheme works and how you could benefit from it.

Who can claim PRSI dental entitlements?

Anyone who has paid class A, E, P, H or S social insurance contributions can qualify for PRSI dental entitlements. The amount of social insurance you need depends on your age. You can find full information on how the age bandings work through the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection website.

You can also claim PRSI dental entitlements if you’re dependent on your spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant. Again, you can see full details on the DEASP website.

What dental treatments can I get through the Treatment Benefit Scheme?

You can use your PRSI entitlement to benefit from:

· A free dental check-up
· A scale and polish for just €15, OR a payment of €42 towards periodontal treatment (you have to pay the rest)

How often can I claim the benefit?

You can only claim the benefits you’re entitled to once per calendar year.

If you’ve missed out on claiming, or you simply forgot to claim in the past, unfortunately you can’t re-use the benefit.

That’s why it makes sense to use your PRSI dental entitlement every year: to save money while you protect your oral health and freshen your smile.

How will a scale and polish improve my oral health?

Even if you have a dedicated oral health routine, plaque and tartar can still build up on your teeth – especially in the nooks and crannies regular brushing can’t reach.

That’s where a professional scale and polish helps to:

· Remove any build-up of plaque or tartar, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay if left untreated
· Give your teeth a thorough clean to remove any superficial stains

In a nutshell, you benefit from improved oral health and gain a confident, squeaky-clean smile.

How can I check my eligibility?

It’s easy to see if you’re entitled to subsidised dental care under the scheme. Simply contact your local Smiles Dental practice and give reception your date of birth and PPS (Personal Public Service) number. They can use these details to confirm whether you’re eligible for free or subsidised treatment.

If you are eligible, we can then book you in with one of our registered PRSI dental providers.

While not all dentists are registered providers under the scheme, we do employ a significant number of registered practitioners across Ireland, helping to make the initiative as accessible as possible.

Can I use my PRSI entitlement during COVID-19?

After careful consideration, some practices will remain open for emergency care to both new and existing patients. Other practices will be available to take patient calls. But as soon as we’re able to offer our usual services, you’ll be able take advantage of your PRSI dental entitlements. You can keep up to date with the status of our practices by checking our COVID-19 information page or following us on social media.

*Terms and conditions:
PRSI is not applicable to all treatments and is subject to separate eligibility requirements – please refer to the Department of Social Protection for further details. A variety of at-home teeth straightening kits are available online, which are marketed as a solution to straighten your teeth without the need to see a dentist or orthodontist in practice.

Having orthodontic treatment is a big decision. We’ve put together some FAQs about at-home teeth straightening kits, so you can make an informed choice about your orthodontic options before you commit to treatment.

We always recommend you consult a specialist orthodontist before you seek any treatment.

What kind of braces are available with at-home kits?

At-home teeth straightening kits include clear aligners to rectify minor orthodontic complaints. Clear aligners are removable and look a bit like retainers. You’ll be advised to wear them for around 22 hours a day.

How do you take impressions with at-home kits?

You usually receive an impression kit in the post, where you’ll need to take moulds of your teeth and send them back to the provider to be reviewed. Some providers have ‘smile shops’ you can visit for a scan, or to take your impressions if you don’t feel comfortable doing it at home. Once your impressions have been reviewed by your provider, you’ll be sent clear, removable aligners in the post.

Do at-home teeth straightening kits work?

The aligners in at-home kits are only designed to treat minor orthodontic issues. If you have more serious orthodontic problems, you’ll need to visit an orthodontist to assess suitable treatment types.

We recommend you see an orthodontist before committing to any type of teeth straightening treatment, so they can carry out a thorough examination, assess your suitability and provide recommendations to achieve your desired result.

One of Ireland’s leading orthodontic societies, the Orthodontic Society of Ireland, has raised concerns about home teeth straightening kits, due to the lack of a thorough clinical assessment before treatment, and the lack of clinical guidance throughout the process*.

What guidance do you receive with at-home kits?

You’ll be given instructions on how to use your home teeth-straightening kit when you receive your aligners. It’s not clear how often your progress is reviewed, it varies from provider to provider. Ongoing aftercare is not provided as part of at-home teeth straightening treatment.

What sort of orthodontic issues can you fix with at-home kits?

At-home teeth straightening is designed for people with minor to moderate orthodontic issues, including gaps between teeth, minor crowding and minor corrections to bite problems. Even if you have a minor issue, we still recommend you see an orthodontist to assess your suitability for treatment.

If you have more complex issues with your smile, at-home teeth straightening kits are not suitable, always check with your dentist to see what they’d recommend.

Do you receive retainers with at-home kits?

Again, it varies from provider to provider. You don’t always receive retainers as part of your at-home straightening kit; you might be able to purchase removable retainers separately from your provider at the end of your treatment. Effective aftercare and retention are important to make sure your teeth don’t move back into their original position after orthodontic treatment. At Smiles Dental, we’d always recommend you wear a retainer post treatment, and speak to your dentist to monitor your teeth.

How long does teeth straightening take with an at-home kit?

The time it takes to straighten your teeth depends on your individual orthodontic problems. Minor orthodontic issues, which these kits aim to fix, can usually be completed between six months and a year.

Are at-home teeth straightening kits safe?

Choosing the wrong type of orthodontic treatment, or having it when your teeth aren’t suitable, can damage your teeth permanently. Which is why we recommend seeking orthodontic treatment in practice, overseen by a specialist orthodontist.

Orthodontic treatment can aggravate problems like gum disease, and it’s not always suitable if you have wisdom teeth coming through or missing teeth- seeing a dentist in clinic ensures these problems are addressed beforehand.It’s not clear who regulates all at-home teeth straightening kits, so seek professional guidance.

Looking for orthodontic treatment?

If you’re looking to discuss your orthodontic treatment options with someone, search for your local Smiles Dental clinic and book a consultation with one of our dentists or orthodontists. We’d be happy to talk you through your options.
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*Orthodontic Society of Ireland: here The subject of tax can seem like a minefield.

Some people avoid it for that very reason. But that’s where they end up missing out, especially when it comes to dental expenses. Here’s a short and simple guide on how claiming tax back on dental expenses works.

How does tax back work for dental expenses?

You can claim tax relief for dental expenses you have paid for. It doesn’t matter whether you paid for the expenses for yourself or another individual. As long as you paid for a qualifying expense, you’re entitled to claim 20% tax back. The treatment or care you receive must also be carried out by a registered dental practitioner. We can assure you all Smiles Dental practitioners are registered with the Irish Dental Council of Ireland.

What dental expenses qualify for tax relief?

You’re entitled to claim tax relief for non-routine dental care, such as:
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Tip replacement
• Gold posts
• Gold inlays
• Root canal treatments
• Periodontal treatment (gum disease)
• Orthodontic treatment (teeth straightening)
• Impacted wisdom teeth extractions (in a hospital)
• Bridgework (this includes enamel-retained or a tooth-supported bridge)

You can’t claim tax back for routine dental care. This includes:
• Hygiene appointments (scaling or cleaning)
• Tooth extraction
• Fillings
• Repairing or fitting dentures and artificial teeth

How much tax can you claim back?

The amount of tax you can claim on non-routine dental expenses is 20%. You should also know there’s a four-year limit on claims for repayment of tax. So if you’ve paid for non-routine dental treatment during that time, you could still claim tax back.

How do you claim?

It takes just two simple steps to claim tax back for your non-routine dental expenses:
• Have your dentist fill out a Med 2 form for you after your appointment (this is just a receipt for your records – it isn’t the claim form)
• Include the amount of your dental expense claim under the non-routine heading of your claim form
You can then claim your dental expenses as part of your health expenses at the end of the tax year – either online or through paper forms.

Need dental treatment or a check-up?

As Ireland’s biggest and leading provider of dental care, we’re always on hand to take care of your teeth and help you maintain your oral health.Find your nearest Smiles Dental clinic to book an appointment.

We’re delighted to announce we have received a whopping 30 nominations in total for the upcoming Colgate Caring Dentist Awards. The Colgate Caring Dentist Awards, in association with the Irish Dental Association, recognise and highlight excellence in the Irish dental profession through the eyes of the patient. As patient care & loyalty is at the heart of everything we do at Smiles Dental, this kind of recognition is extra special for us!

Smiles Dental ‘Caring Dentist of The Year’ 2019:
• Smiles Dental Balbriggan
• Smiles Dental Blanchardstown
• Smiles Dental Enniscorthy
• Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Smiles Dental Tallaght

Smiles Dental ‘Dental Team of The Year’ Nominees 2019:
• Dr Mollie Ann Gallagher – Smiles Dental Balbriggan
• Dr Salma Naz – Smiles Dental Blanchardstown
• Dr Shermeen Memon – Smiles Dental Blanchardstown
• Dr Katarzyna Dobrylko – Smiles Dental Waterloo Road
• Dr Meena Durai – Smiles Dental Blanchardstown
• Dr Nausheen Raza Hussain – Smiles Dental Blanchardstown
• Dr Ann Gilligan – Smiles Dental Cork
• Dr Ciara Cronin – Smiles Dental Cork
• Dr Alaa Aljibouri – Smiles Dental Dundrum
• Dr Ameerah Azeeza Fakim – Smiles Dental Dundrum
• Dr Deborah O’Reilly – Smiles Dental Waterloo Road
• Dr Edwina Meade – Smiles Dental Dundrum
• Dr Fernanda Mesquita – Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Dr Laura Fee – Smiles Dental Dundrum
• Dr Louise Hagen – Smiles Dental Dundrum
• Dr Martin Robledo – Smiles Dental Dundrum
• Dr Kathleen Byrne – Smiles Dental Enniscorthy
• Dr Chris Ford – Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Dr Michael Koukoulis – Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Dr Ahmed Abdelsalam – Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Dr Patricia Nalewajska – Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Dr Tomasz Geza – Smiles Dental O’Connell Street
• Dr Angelko Ashtalkoski – Smiles Dental Tallaght
• Dr Raluca Arama – Smiles Dental Enniscorthy
• Dr Morgan O’Sullivan – Smiles Dental Wexford

Congratulations to all of our dentists and practices who have been nominated for the 2019 Colgate Caring Dentist Awards & best of luck at the awards ceremony in December.

With the Halloween mid-break just around the corner, now’s the time to get your child’s dental health in check. For the entire month of October, we’re offering parents a FREE check-up for their little one, when they attend as a paying adult.

This means that if you’re attending a Smiles Dental clinic for an appointment, you can bring your child along with you and they can get a totally free dental exam. * With practices all over Ireland, and our convenient opening hours it’s never been easier to make sure your little ones have happy, healthy smiles. To book your next appointment, contact one of our many practices located across Ireland.

Check-up every six months
The Irish Dental Association recommends we go for a dental check-up at least once every 6 months. So if you haven’t had your 2019 check-up, it’s about time you booked in with your local Smiles Dental clinic.
By having regular kids’ check-ups, dentists can spot any issues before they develop into more serious conditions. It also gets them in the habit of looking after their mouth and teeth from an early age.

What happens during a dental exam
During a check-up, your Smiles Dental dentist will assess the condition of your mouth. They’ll examine your oral hygiene and take what is called a “dental base chart” of your teeth. They might use an X-ray or another diagnostic procedure to get more information. From their examination, they’ll be able to detect any problems and tell you exactly what treatment you may need to follow up with. They’ll present you with a tailored treatment plan detailing such and an estimation of pricing. You’ll know precisely how much you’re going to pay, before you arrive for your next Smiles Dental visit.

*Terms and conditions:
1. Offer only valid at participating Smiles Dental Clinics – please speak to your local practice to check eligibility.
2. Offer only available to private paying patients.
3. The closing date of the offer is 1 November 2019.
4. Adult patient must book and attend a fee paying appointment at the practice between 30.09.2019 and 01.11.2019.
5. Child patient’s free check-up shall take place at the same time as the adult patient’s appointment unless otherwise agreed with Smiles Dental.
6. Child patients must be 16 years old or younger to be eligible for the free check-up.
7. Offer subject to appointment availability.
8. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
9. Only one free child patient check-up per fee paying adult.
10. No cash alternative is available.
11. Offer may be withdrawn or amended at any time.
Mouth cancer has become a very important healthcare issue for Ireland. More than 400 cases of mouth cancer are detected every year nationwide. In the UK, the no. of reported cases of mouth cancer has increased faster than any other cancer in the past 25 years.



Dentists play a key role in the early detection mouth cancer by identifying those patients who are exposed to risk factors. The dentist can identify these risk factors by performing a short and painless oral exam during a patient’s visit. At Smiles Dental, we are committed to providing our patients with happier and healthier smiles so are delighted to support the upcoming Mouth Cancer Awareness Day by offering free oral cancer screening at Smiles Dental O’Connell St and Smiles Dental Clonshaugh.

To book your free cancer screen*, contact Smiles Dental O’Connell on [email protected] or by phoning 01 507 9201.Alternatively, you can contact Smiles Dental Clonshaugh on [email protected] or by phoning 01 847 0305. .

*Terms and conditions:
1. Offer only valid at Smiles Dental Clonshaugh to a limited number of patients. Appointments are subject to availaibility and offered on a first come, first serve basis.
2. The free oral cancer screen entitles the patient to a basic examination that includes a thorough look at all the parts of your mouth. Any subsequent clinical examinations and diagnostic tests and any associated costs will be discussed prior to treatment commencing.
3. One free screening per patient.
4. No cash alternative to this offer is available.
5. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
6. Smiles Dental reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time.
7. Patients must be 16 years of age or over.
8. Subject to patient suitability You’re reading an article about teeth straightening, which suggests you’re likely to be:

• Self-conscious about your teeth, or the impact they have on your smile.
• Considering the best way to straighten your teeth after receiving a recommendation for treatment from your dentist.
• Looking for a suitable treatment option for your child.

We offer a range of teeth straightening treatments at Smiles Dental – including Invisalign and traditional metal braces. But what exactly does each treatment involve? And what’s the best option for you or your child?

Here’s an overview of each treatment, including pros and cons, to help you decide.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign uses 3D computer-imaging technology to give you a complete overview of the treatment process. This means you can see how your teeth could look after you finish treatment. Then a series of clear aligners are custom-made for your teeth.

Since Invisalign aligners are almost invisible, they’re a popular choice for people who feel self-conscious about teeth straightening treatment.

Pros:
• Discreet – If you’re self-conscious about getting orthodontic treatment, Invisalign braces are almost invisible.
• Convenient – For best results, Invisalign needs to be worn for 20-22 hours each day. This gives you a window to remove the aligners for eating or brushing your teeth.
• Time-saving – Since Invisalign aligners are made using 3D scanning, most of your orthodontist’s work is done before you wear the aligners. So you need fewer consultations to check your progress.
• Comfortable – The aligners are tailor-made to you, which makes them more comfortable to wear.

Cons:
• Commitment – You must commit to wearing the aligners for 20-22 hours a day to get results.
• Cost – Invisalign can be expensive to some, depending on your budget.
• Taxing – Although being able to remove them to eat food and brush your teeth is convenient, doing this repeatedly can become taxing.

How do traditional braces work?

A traditional fixed brace is made of small metal attachments joined together with fine metal wires. These are bonded to the front of your teeth, and work to straighten them by using gentle pressure to move them to the right position.

They’re commonly used for teeth straightening after a person’s milk teeth have fallen out, which usually happens by age thirteen. They’re a suitable treatment for all ages – not just children and teenagers.

Pros:
• Effective – Traditional metal braces can be more effective at treating severe overcrowding than other teeth straightening options.
• Strength – Metal is very strong and durable compared to treatment options that use plastic or ceramic brackets, and therefore less likely to break.
• Cost – They’re a good option if you’re conscious of budget.
• Precision – Metal brackets achieve more precise teeth movements compared to other options.

Cons:
• Obvious – Metal braces can be rather prominent, which makes some people self-conscious about wearing them.
• Extra care – Cleaning your teeth can be more time-consuming with traditional braces as you must be extra careful not to let plaque build up around them. Otherwise you risk staining and decay.
• Dietary limitations – You have to be careful what you eat and drink if you wear metal braces as something too hard or too sticky could damage them, which will lead to prolonged treatment.

Get discounted teeth straightening with Smiles Dental

Whatever reason you’re looking for teeth straightening treatment – we’re offering free consultations and €500 off all teeth straightening treatment for a limited time only.*

So whether you want Invisalign clear aligners or traditional braces – request a quote for discounted orthodontic treatment here now.

*Terms and conditions apply – see campaign webpage for details.
Gate Dental Clinic’s Dr Brian Delgado features in the latest issue of the Connacht Tribune following his honourable work alongside charity Chernobyl Children International. Dr Delgado provided free dental care to six teenagers from an orphanage in the area most affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster during their month-long visit to Galway.

Chernobyl Children International, brings over 100 young people to Ireland each summer for a four-week holiday with host families to give them a health respite from the environment and high levels of radiation that persists since the nuclear disaster in 1986.

Brian donated several hours work to carry out dental work on the teens. As well as Dr Delgado’s time, Smiles Dental also contributed the necessary equipment and nurse support. While two of the teens had very healthy teeth, another two required extensive work.

The trips are a wonderful and life-changing experience for the teens. It has been shown that the break from the toxic environment can improve the children’s immune systems and increase their life expectancy. Smiles Dental are proud and delighted to have one of our clinicians support this amazing cause.
We’re delighted to announce that Smiles Dental is a proud partner of Family Carers Ireland. Family Carers Ireland (FCI) is a registered charity that provides practical services and support to over 355,000 family carers in Ireland, ensuring they are recognised, supported and empowered to care and to participate fully in Irish society.

Providing affordable and accessible dental care to all is at the heart of everything we do so we were more than happy to support such a worthwhile cause. Our partnership gives Family Care members 10% off general dentistry at any of our Smiles Dental clinics across the country. * All members need to do is show their membership card to our friendly reception team and we’ll apply the discount on the cost of treatment. For a full list of our practices, please visit www.smiles.ie/practices.

*Terms & conditions:
1. 10% discount only available to private paying patients at Smiles Dental who are members of the Family Carers Ireland organisation.
2. Patients will be required to show proof of membership at appointment to receive the discount.
3. 10% discount can only be used against the full price of the following general dentistry treatments: Routine Exam, Fillings, Dental Hygiene, Tooth Extraction & Teeth Whitening. 10% discount is not available against any Veneers, Root Canal Treatment, Dental Implants, Crowns, Orthodontics, Bridges or Dentures.
4. 10% discount is not available on any work carried out by Smiles Dental specialists.
5. The offer is only valid from 29.07.2019 to 29.07.2020, all appointments must be made and attended before the end date.
6. Appointments and treatments subject to availability.
7. Prior to treatment commencing, patients will need a dental examination to confirm suitability for treatment (to be determined by Smiles Dental).
8. One offer per eligible patient.
9. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with the PRSI subsidy or any other offer.
10. No cash alternative is available.
11. Smiles Dental reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time