For mild gummy smile (1–3mm) caused by hyperactive lip muscle, yes — lip flip can soften the muscle action enough to cover excess gum show. For significant gummy smile (4mm+) caused by skeletal vertical excess or short clinical crowns, lip flip helps marginally; the underlying cause needs different intervention.
Most general dentists focus on dental health rather than smile aesthetics, and gummy smile isn't a 'dental disease' to be treated. DWL's combined cosmetic dentistry + aesthetic medicine background means we see smile aesthetics as part of the assessment naturally.
Most likely surface staining from coffee, tea, red wine, or other pigmented foods accumulated since placement. This is normal and expected if it's been 6+ months since last polish. The fix is a professional polish appointment (£85, 30 minutes) which removes surface staining and returns the finish close to original. If the staining persists after polish, that suggests interface staining or deeper resin degradation — assessable at the same appointment.
Per-tooth pricing reflects the actual work involved. A small chip repair takes 30 minutes and minimal resin; a complex anterior cosmetic case takes 90 minutes and significant artistic refinement. Composite bonding is £175 for simple cases and £350 for complex ones, which lets us match the fee to the clinical complexity. Flat-rate pricing means either overcharging simple cases or undercharging complex ones, and neither serves patients well.
For comparable cases the timelines are broadly similar. Mild cases with Invisalign can finish in 4-6 months, and moderate cases in 6-12 months, while complex cases can take 12-24 months in either system. Invisalign's advantages are usually comfort, hygiene and appearance rather than speed. Your timeline is confirmed after your iTero scan and ClinCheck plan.
Per-tooth pricing reflects the clinical work involved. A small chip repair takes around 30 minutes and minimal resin; a complex cosmetic case takes far longer and more refinement. Composite bonding is therefore £175 for simple work and £350 for complex work, so the fee matches the complexity. A flat rate would mean overcharging simple cases or undercharging complex ones.
Many clinics specialise in Invisalign and don't offer Inman. The skills required for Inman are different — fewer dentists are trained in Inman placement. At DWL we offer both so case selection can drive the choice.
Bonding is cheaper for single small gaps, at £175 per tooth for simple cases and £350 for complex ones. Invisalign costs more but addresses larger or multi-tooth cases that bonding alone cannot. Your free orthodontic consultation helps decide.
We can plan anaesthetic for comfort even when clinically unnecessary. We'd discuss at consultation. The treatment itself can be modified slightly for sensitive patients (gentler etching, careful temperature control during light-curing).
Treatment extends. Aligners only work when worn. Patients consistently below 22 hours per day see their cases run months over the predicted timeline. We discuss this honestly at consultation.
Book a repair appointment when convenient — unless the chip is sharp and uncomfortable, there's no urgency. Most chips can be repaired in a single 30–60 minute appointment by adding fresh resin to the affected area and matching the surrounding bonding. Repair from £85. For larger chips or multiple chips at once, partial re-layering may be more sensible than spot-repair — we discuss options at the appointment.
Four main causes: hyperactive upper lip muscle, short upper lip, short clinical crowns, or vertical maxillary excess. Identifying which cause applies determines which treatment is right — they're different presentations needing different interventions.
Soft foods, room-temperature drinks, and water are all fine from immediately after the appointment. Avoid hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot water), strongly chromogenic foods (red wine, turmeric, beetroot, dark berries), and direct biting into hard foods like apples or baguettes for the first 24–48 hours. By day 3 you can return to your normal diet — including coffee — though staining-conscious patients often rinse with water after coffee long-term.
Three factors dominate: bite force at night (grinders without splint are the single largest risk), the precision of the original placement (under-prepared enamel debonds early), and the quality of the resin used. Diet, hygiene, and maintenance compliance matter at the margins. Patients who tick all three primary boxes routinely get 8–10 years; patients who don't typically get 3–5.
No recovery, no soft food, no pain. Resume normal activity immediately. Mild gum tenderness for a few hours where the dental dam touched is possible but uncommon.
For Invisalign and other orthodontic treatment, no. The consultation is free and includes an iTero scan and ClinCheck, and you take away a written assessment and recommendation with no obligation to proceed. Other consultations are £65.
Single implants are slightly easier to clean (floss between like natural teeth). Bridges require interdental brushes specifically designed for bridge cleaning. Both are manageable with the right tools and instruction.
Often yes, over a 15-20 year horizon. Bonding annual maintenance: £85 polish + £165 hygiene (which you'd have anyway) = approximately £85–£165/year of bonding-specific cost. Veneers don't need polish but when they fail at year 15–20 the full per-tooth replacement cost applies. Bonding's incremental refresh model spreads cost; veneers' replace-only model concentrates it. The right answer depends on your priorities, not just the maths.
It depends on the plan. Invisalign is Express £2,200 (one refinement), Moderate £3,400 (one refinement) or Unlimited £4,500–£4,900 (refinements as the case requires, multi-year aligner cover, T&Cs apply). Fixed braces are quoted in writing after assessment. We match the plan to the complexity of your case, and the consultation is free.
We sit in the mid-market for London. Cheaper providers exist (£75–£100 per tooth, often using budget resins or shorter clinical time); more expensive providers exist (£400–£600 per tooth, sometimes warranted by exceptional artistry, sometimes not). Our pricing reflects nanofilled hybrid composites, clinical time per tooth, and Dr Vishal Patel's two decades of experience. We don't compete on being cheapest; we compete on being clearly worth what we charge.
The skin and aesthetic consultation is £65 and is redeemable in full against treatment. If you go ahead, the consultation fee is deducted from your treatment. If you do not, the £65 covers the clinical assessment and you take away a written recommendation.
Yes. The Invisalign consultation is free and includes your iTero scan and ClinCheck.
Yes in most cases. Because no significant enamel is removed for bonding, the resin can be removed and the underlying tooth returns close to its original state. Veneers are not reversible — enamel removed for veneer placement doesn't grow back.
Per tooth and per session, yes. Composite bonding is £175 for a simple case and £350 for a complex one, while porcelain veneers are £750–£1,500 per tooth and composite veneers £350–£500. Over a 20-year horizon the comparison is closer, because bonding needs ongoing maintenance and refresh while veneers typically need less intervention. We discuss the longer-term picture at consultation.
The honest comparison. Where Invisalign genuinely wins, where fixed braces still hold the advantage, and how Dr Patel decides which to recommend.