Would you have a ‘facial for your smile’? Our beauty editor books in with dentist Dr Reena to give it a try…
Tweak of the Week is Citizen Femme’s tried-and-tested beauty treatment review series, covering the CF team’s recommendations for facials, massages, aesthetics, and everything in between. For this week’s review, beauty editor Becki Murray visited the RW Perio clinic of dentist Dr Reena Wadia to try the signature Polish & Perfect treatment.
Based on the belief that dental maintenance should be as luxurious (and effective) as your favourite monthly facial, here’s why Polish & Perfect – a hygienist-like deep-clean for your teeth – is quickly becoming our favourite way to brighten and maintain our smiles.
What is the Polish & Perfect treatment?
Performed by the dental expert and gum specialist Dr Reena Wadia at her glamourous Harley Street clinic, Polish & Perfect is a thoroughly deep clean for your smile. A supercharged version of a traditional hygienist appointment, the 45-minute experience uses the latest dentistry techniques and tools to polish away stains and rinse away germs, without leaving your mouth sore, irritated or numbed. The aim: to give you the brightest, healthiest smile, and reset your oral health in a similar way you might do with a deeply cleansing facial ritual.
There’s also the really sweet The Mini treatment, which is designed for your little ones’ smiles, helping them make tooth care a non-daunting part of their broader selfcare routine.
Tried and tested: what is having the treatment like?
This is not the scary, sterile dentist surgery you may remember being scared of as a child. In fact, as soon as you step inside the luxurious-yet-friendly atmosphere of the clinic, you instantly feel like you are about to be properly pampered – and instantly forget any nervous energy. That’s exactly the aim Dr Reena had in mind. Every appointment also begins with a bespoke in-depth consultation, where any concerns about your teeth, such as sensitivities or yellowing, can be discussed before a full oral health examination. Then, the ‘smile facial’ begins.
Unlike some dental appointments that leave your mouth feeling gritty and sore, the advanced polishing and Airflow technology that Dr Reena uses is really gentle and powered by ultrasonic vibrations. Even the protective glasses you wear feel more like sunglasses – not the cheap, pinchy eyewear you might be familiar with.
Despite the focus on your comfort, this is definitely a results-driven treatment still. Once your mouth is disinfected (don’t worry the products that are used don’t have an unpleasant taste), the system uses a combination of flavoured fine powder particles and compressed air to buff away stains and to remove gum-inflaming bacteria. Dr Reena even uses warm water to maximise your comfort.
As a result, you’ll instantly feel like you have a fresher, cleaner mouth – I even found I couldn’t stop running my tongue across my shiny, smooth teeth. If whitening is another concern of yours, this can be added on to your treatment (with an additional cost). Again this is a bespoke and gentle programme and you don’t have to worry about a fake-looking smile either. While the Enlighten system that Dr Reena uses is designed to be super fast-working and easy to continue using at home, the long-lasting results are as natural as you want them to be.
I have sensitive teeth. Who is Polish & Perfect suitable for?
If, like me, you have sensitive teeth and gums, you’ll be relieved to know that this treatment is not only more comfortable than most dental appointments – due to Dr Reena’s skill and high-tech equipment – but the teeth-cleaning vibrations, while a little odd, are not painful and you don’t get sore gums afterwards. That makes it suitable for anyone looking to look after their smile (and modifications can be made if you have had any particular dental work that you are concerned about).
You do need to try to avoid holding your breath – which can feel natural when keeping your mouth open and due to the water-based suction device – but Dr Reena and her team are always on hand to make sure you stay relaxed. In fact, from the padded dental chair to the digital floral artwork that dances above your head, every detail is designed to help you feel fully comfortable.
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What is the aftercare advice?
In good news, there’s really not much you need to think about after your treatment! The main advice is to avoid eating or drinking for at least an hour – but that’s not because your teeth will feel sore or sensitive (as may be true with other dental treatments); you just don’t want to spoil your results.
Good at-home dental hygiene is, of course, key to prolonging your results too, including the use of a round-brush electric toothbrush and gentle floss, according to Dr Reena. She also has her own product line, By Dr Reena, which includes a Tongue Scraper, Mouth Cleanse and the Lip Balm used at the end of the experience. These are specifically designed to prolong the health and appearance of your smile at-home, so come highly recommended.
How many treatments do you need?
Results can be seen in just one treatment – I certainly emerged with my teeth feeling the cleanest they had in ages! However, a bit like your favourite facials, maintenance appointments are recommended every three to six months to maximise your results. That’s especially true if you drink things like wine or coffee, as these lifestyle factors will restain your teeth over time.
Why is the Polish & Perfect treatment Tweak Of The Week worthy?
Dr Reena is passionate about making ‘smile care’ as much as a priority in people’s lives as facials and skincare, and after a treatment with her, you’ll be firmly on board too. It certainly helps that she’s redefining what it means to go to the dentist nowadays with her luxurious clinic and high-tech approach to dentistry. In fact, post-treatment you won’t want to skip a hygienist appointment ever again. You will not only emerge with a cleaner, brighter smile but also more confidence, if you need it, that your gum health is being properly looked after.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?