Newcastle University

This event is part of Convocation Weekend 13.

“Cosmetic” dentistry, when done well and appropriately, can work wonders for some patient’s dental appearance and their confidence. Very acceptable improvements can often be achieved for suitable patients in a minimally destructive way and at sensible financial costs.

Recent social and market pressures to have a currently fashionable 'lavatorial white' and very even smile now mean that dental appearance has become the primary concern for some dentists and their patients. However, some patients are demanding and receiving 'extreme smile makeover' types of supposedly 'cosmetic' treatment without, apparently, appreciating fully  the very  real  risks involved , nor the electively destructive nature of some of  the procedures  being  carried out on their  existing  sound tooth tissue and other structures in order to achieve their desired ‘cosmetic’ outcome.

This Founders and Benefactors lecture will address some of the clinical, ethical, marketing and legal issues in this controversial but fascinating field and highlight some of the longer term implications for society at large.