We're slowly dispelling the myth of bad British teeth. That’s down to two key factors. The first is a surge in demand, driven by social media, increased video conferencing, and a broader cultural shift towards aesthetic enhancement through cosmetic dentistry.
Scottish patients today are more informed and eager to improve their appearance, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing through a broad range of cosmetic dental procedures, such as teeth whitening, highly marketed clear aligners and dental implant treatments to replace missing teeth. READ MORE: Skin Deep: The Herald goes inside Scotland's booming cosmetic sector SPECIAL REPORT: How did we get here? Past, present and future of cosmetic industry What did Herald readers' survey reveal about the state of NHS dentistry? The second driver is the quality of treatments on offer throughout the country. Innovations such as short-term orthodontics and the use of digital technology in all aspects of dentistry including treatment planning and diagnostics have created a quiet revolution in the field.
Dentists can now leverage 3D imaging and digital intraoral scanning to plan precise, less invasive treatments that yield natural-looking results. This shift, unimaginable a mere generation ago, not only preserves more of the natural tooth structure, but also offers patients options that are more sustainable in the long-term. The widespread belief across Scottish dentistry is that there is nothing more aesthetic than a healthy natural tooth .