Cosmetic Dentistry in Cyprus

Find UK Dentists »

One of the more attractive features of Cyprus for a visitor from the UK is the preponderance of English-speaking inhabitants, and the near-certainty that communications with the clinic of choice will be clear. Cyprus is a relatively small island located in the Mediterranean, comprising mostly Greek and also a significant number of Turkish residents (as well as other peoples, including expats). Around two-fifths of its population of nearly 800,000 is concentrated in the capital, Nicosia. However, this is not to say that any medical tourist will be obliged to make an urban visit, as high-quality dental clinics are located all around the island.

Overall the level of healthcare in Cyprus is generally considered to be excellent, especially for residents for whom health insurance is free, but also for those seeking treatment abroad, for whom private insurance is not especially expensive. All dentists are members of the Cyprus Dental Association, which can be a very reassuring fact to consider. Furthermore, the beautiful Mediterranean setting, warm climate, and laid-back lifestyle is a feature that attracts countless many for regular holidays, so the opportunity to combine this with cheap medical treatment is one you may well not want to pass up. You may well also be surprised at how little flights can cost, which is always an important and sometimes deciding factor when planning such an excursion.

The combination of highly affordable prices with a lush Mediterranean backdrop makes Cyprus a very popular destination for medical tourists seeking cosmetic dentistry.

Teeth Whitening in Cyprus

There are many ways that your teeth can become discoloured, ranging from daily activities such as drinking tea and coffee, or smoking to simply aging. In today’s society, where we are bombarded with the ubiquitous images of the rich and famous and their pearly white teeth, anything other than this standard can be seen as undesirable. Consequently, many seek tooth whitening as a solution, leaving them with increased self-confidence and a greater willingness to smile. There are two main methods used by Cyprus dentists to achieve that whiter smile, both using the broadly similar principle of using bleach to colour the teeth.

Tooth bleaching in Cyprus

A universal method of whitening the teeth is simply called bleaching, where peroxide-based bleach is used. This is selected for its ability to colour teeth to a shade that appears genuine. How the bleach is applied to the teeth will vary with the dentist, but the idea is the same, and the bleach will spread throughout the teeth. Your gums are protected by gel or a shield throughout. Usually you will have to carry on the process yourself at your accommodation, or, in some cases, back home in the UK – this depends on the method and the discretion of your Cyprus dentist.

Laser tooth whitening in Cyprus

Laser teeth whitening is a fundamentally similar process to regular bleaching; bleach is still applied to your teeth. However, in this case a laser is then used to rapidly speed up the bleaching process, and leaving you with teeth several shades whiter in a single session. The running costs of using a laser do however make this a pricier option, but it can be seen as desirable for many medical tourists who do not wish to linger too long abroad.

After your tooth whitening treatment in Cyprus

It is likely that after the bleaching you will experience some mild irritation around your gums, but this should go away after a couple of days. If it does not you may wish to visit your dentist again, and for this reason it can be a good idea to stay around in Cyprus for a few days after the treatment. However, you should equally be able to visit your UK dentist if you have kept him or her informed, or if he or she has been in contact with the Cyprus dentist.

Porcelain veneers in Cyprus

If you have crooked, stained, or otherwise damaged teeth, you may be a candidate for the extremely popular porcelain veneer treatment. This involves fitting a wafer-thin layer of porcelain (the veneer) over your existing teeth, to give the impression of healthy white teeth. Porcelain is considered an optimum material as it is durable, has a similar appearance to and responds to light in the same manner as do normal teeth. They are also resistant to staining which makes them a good long-term investment, however they are not permanent. They can be very expensive to have done in the UK, however, and consequently many have sought porcelain veneer treatment abroad, and the numerous advantages of having such treatment carried out in Cyprus, including very reasonable prices, make it a very popular destination for veneers.

Consultation and diagnosis for porcelain veneers in Cyprus

Although you should first check with your UK dentist as to whether you are a genuine candidate for the treatment, a Cyprus dentist will nonetheless want to conduct his or her own inspections, but again it is exceedingly improbable that a set of teeth a UK dentist has passed as eligible for porcelain veneer treatment will be vetoed by a Cyprus dentist. These checks will be done in your first appointment, where the dentist will also examine your overall dental and medical health. It is important to do this because even if your mouth is in ample shape to be worked on, your gums may require additional work. This is also a crucial stage as you can have an input as to how you want your new smile to look upon completion. Once you and the dentist have come to an agreement on the aesthetics, you will likely return to your accommodation, but bear in mind that a different dentist might merge some of these stages together, and do more work in a single session. You should find out the proposed schedule in your research. If you do need gum work, it is likely that you will have an additional appointment slotted in before your next major one.

Preliminary impression for porcelain veneers in Cyprus

In the next appointment, the dentist will remove a thin layer of your teeth (generally only about 0.5mm, but possibly more in more extreme cases), and in most cases Cyprus dentists do not need to use anaesthetic as the amount taken off is so small. Once this has been done the dentist will take an impression of your teeth as they now are; this is sent off to the laboratory so the veneers can be created with the new data. It is likely you will be offered a temporary veneer, for a small additional cost, to protect your newly-sensitive teeth – but it is not required, as long as you brush and maintain overall dental hygiene to exceptional standards as outlined by the dentist.

Preparation for porcelain veneers in Cyprus

Once the veneers have been made, you will be called back for another appointment, where they will be tested on your teeth. This is generally the last opportunity for you and the dentist to fine-tune the veneers and make sure they fit and create the aesthetic appearance you desire. Veneers are extremely difficult to alter once they have been bonded to your teeth, so this is a vital stage. In some cases it may not be possible to fully adjust the veneers as required in one session, so you may be called back, and this may affect your accommodation and travel plans (in some cases, leaving a margin for additional treatment can be wise, although generally Cyprus dentists are open about the realistic times such treatment can take).

The bonding process takes on average between one and two hours. The veneers are simply cemented to your teeth by the dentist, resulting in a new set of healthy white teeth.

What to do after porcelain veneer treatment in Cyprus

Porcelain veneer treatment will usually require you to remain overall for between three and five weeks in Cyprus, making it one of the lengthier medical holidays you are likely to seek. This is partially because after the treatment you will probably be asked to remain in Cyprus for two weeks or so while your teeth become accustomed to the new veneers. During this time the dentist may well wish to observe your progress, so staying in Cyprus makes this realistic. It is also useful to remain in the case of any problems that arise, as you will be able to see the dentist quickly; once you are back in the UK however, it is neither easy nor cheap to return to Cyprus for emergency treatment. If you are unwilling to stick around, however, you can contact your UK dentist, and establish communication between the UK dentist and the Cyprus dentist, so the former is aware of the details of the procedure, and in a position to check-up on your teeth and act if any difficulties manifest. In any case, after you are back in the UK you will require a series of regular check-ups on the veneers to ensure their longevity. Again, this is made easier if there is prior communication between the dentists. Typically, as many Cypriots are reasonably fluent in English, this will not be an issue, but you may well have to use an interpreter or your medical tourism provider to guarantee that there is an understanding. The other main languages in Cyprus are Greek and Turkish so it should not be difficult to find an interpreter who is able to accurately translate and communicate.

All veneers deteriorate with time. Check-ups can help sustain the veneers for as long as possible, however, so be sure not to take them lightly. Cyprus has an excellent dental reputation and generally stories from British patients are positive, but you may wish to unearth as many of these as possible before committing to any particular Cyprus clinic. Veneers are irreversible which is the greatest risk of having them bonded, as any corrective treatment then becomes complicated and in some cases risky. Veneers can also shatter on impact, so you need to take extra care once you have had them fitted.

« Questions to ask the Dentist in Greece Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry in Cyprus »