Snap on Smiles

What are Snap-on Smiles?

Snap-on Smiles are one of the newest dental innovations available, providing an instant improvement to teeth that are crooked, damaged or stained. Other treatments, such as veneers, braces and teeth whitening can take a long time to show any improvement or can be prohibitively expensive. Snap-on Smiles, while not exactly the cheapest option on the market, offer one major advantage over these long-term options – speed. Also, with a Snap-on Smile, you are guaranteed an immediate improvement to your problem smile.

Promises like this may seem impossible, but a Snap-on Smile does exactly what the name suggests. A set of lightweight veneers are made that simply "snap on" to your own teeth, covering up the blemishes and unsightly gaps that have made you lose confidence in your smile. They can be made for the lower and upper jaw, will be designed to fit your own mouth perfectly and you can even choose certain aspects of your new smile, such as teeth size and colour.

What problems or treatments can Snap-on Smiles be used for?

There are a multitude of reasons why you may wish to choose Snap-on Smiles:

  • Crooked or gapped teeth – if you are looking for quick results for your misaligned and gapped teeth, Snap-on Smiles can offer an instant solution.
  • Discoloured teeth - badly stained teeth can be remedied through this advanced treatment and you can even choose the shade of your new teeth.
  • Not a candidate for bridges or implants - if you have been informed that dental implants or bridges are not an option for your dental health needs, Snap-on Smiles may still be an option to return your smile to its former glories.
  • Hollywood smile - Snap-on Smiles is not only for people who want a glamorous smile like the celebrities, but that doesn't mean it's not achievable. Your smile can be given a touching up or you can go all out and get dazzling whites, without the need for invasive treatment.
  • Instantaneous results - if you have a special occasion coming up, and other treatments will take too long to achieve the results you desire, Snap-on Smiles is one treatment that can truly give you instantaneous results.

How do I get Snap-on Smiles?

#If you decide that the simplicity and speed of a Snap-on Smile is for you, then the first step is to visit a cosmetic dentist to find out if your teeth are suitable. Sometimes, people who have severely crooked teeth or lots of gaps may be told that the treatment wouldn't work for them. After all, the Snap-on Smile has to fit over your existing teeth and needs enough places to "snap on" to. If your case is suitable for treatment, then the dentist will first take X-rays, moulds and photographs of your existing smile in order to assist in the manufacture of your Snap-on Smile, which is made of a durable resin. This resin is an ideal substance for Snap-on Smiles as it is strong yet thin, meaning that your new smile should not affect the way you eat or speak, or cause you any discomfort.

There are several different teeth styles to choose from and over 20 different shades of white. Many people prefer to choose styles and colours that closely match their natural teeth, so that their new smile will not stand out too much, but if you want to choose a dazzling white Hollywood smile, there is nothing stopping you. Once the dentist has taken all the measurements and impression that he needs, and the patient has chosen their new teeth, you will have to wait a few weeks for them to be manufactured. At that time, the patient will return to the dentist for their Snap-on Smile to be fitted. It is important that you do this at the dentist as there may be some problems or adjustments that need to be made that only a dental professional might notice.

Is it easy to wear and look after?

After that you can wear your Snap-on Smile as much or as little as you like. Some people wear them all the time, while others use them only on special or social occasions, though it does need to be removed at night. You can wear them while eating, but you must remove the appliance for cleaning your teeth – and to clean the Snap-on Smile itself. Pieces of food can easily become lodged between the appliance and your natural teeth and gums, and if this area is not cleaned twice a day, with toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash, then the risk of tooth decay can increase.

Snap-on Smiles are designed especially for your jaw and your teeth, meaning that they should fit securely in place, with no loose parts or movement. If you find that your appliance isn't secure, then you should return to your dentist to have it checked. Similarly, the appliances are designed to be as comfortable as possible; there should be no long-term irritation on the inside of your mouth. If this is occurring, then there is a possibility that an adjustment may need to be made to the shape or size of your appliance. Other people will not be able to notice you are wearing a Snap-on Smile, as the appliance fits right to the gum line, completely covering any imperfections, gaps or discolouration on your teeth.

Is speech affected?

Speech will be affected for a few hours when you receive your Snap-on Smile. The length of time this is the case will differ for each patient, but your dentist will be able to offer advice on verbal exercises to help speed up the acclimatisation process.

Will the results look natural?

If you choose to have a shade that is not too 'Hollywood', the results will look completely natural – it is ultimately down to individual preference. It is often recommended to choose a shade similar to the whites of your eyes, otherwise people may be drawn to your teeth by their startling colour – but if that's the result you were hoping for then all's well. In addition to this, the Snap-on Smile can be fabricated with varying degrees of thickness to offer a more natural contour according to your teeth.

What are the disadvantages of using Snap-on Smiles?

While Snap-on Smiles are a great short-term or temporary fix for any problems with your smile, each appliance does have a short lifespan when compared to other more permanent treatments. Each appliance will last between three to five years, depending on how well you take care of them and how often you wear them. For example, wearing them while eating, particularly hard foods, will wear down the resin much faster. If you take good care of your appliance and your own teeth, then you should be able to enjoy the benefits of a Snap-on Smile for longer, before you need to go back to the dentist for another set or to try out a more long-term approach. Unfortunately, you cannot wear a Snap-on Smile while you are undergoing some other cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as wearing braces or aligners, but you can wear them while you are having treatments like teeth whitening.