If you dread going to the dentist, procrastinate over booking check-ups — and reading this is filling you with anxiety — you may be surprised to hear that it doesn’t have to feel like, well, pulling teeth. In fact, taking care of your smile can become as much of a feel-good, pampering ritual as, say, booking a salon appointment…

Don’t believe us? Meet Dr Jasmine Piran, a holistic dentist and founder of boutique clinic, Smiles by Jasmine, in Marylebone, London. Here, you won’t find any hustle and bustle, harsh chemical smells or anxiety-inducing bright white lighting, and there’s even Netflix goggles on hand to help you breeze through lengthy treatments.

Image: Dr Jasmine Piran, and inside her luxury clinic, Smiles by Jasmine

Best of all, her core team, who have been there for nearly a decade, treat you like part of the family, so much so that she says, “clients often arrive early to catch up with us: they’re part of the inner circle.”

“Everything is designed so that our patients feel like they’re the centre of the universe,” enthuses Dr Jasmine. “We put a lot of focus into helping people feel comfortable, we want them to come in and feel relaxed, taken care of and safe.”

“We also want them to feel fully in control, so whenever they’re in the dental chair, they’re the boss and can direct that process, letting us know at any point if something doesn’t feel OK,” she adds. “Give yourself permission to express how you’re feeling: your mouth is your personal space and it’s our job to listen!”

Unsurprisingly, she is listed on the UK Dental Phobia Register. Dr Jasmine also has additional training in hypnotherapy and the mental reframing technique Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), so she can support you with breathing exercises to keep you calm during your visit.

The clinic constantly invests in state-of-the-art equipment to make your experience as comfortable and efficient as possible. For example, the latest iTero digital scanner means you don’t need gloopy moulds when taking impressions of your teeth. Plus, they harness AI software in X-rays and scans to catch early signs of decay with even more accuracy. This is part of a preventative approach to maintaining your oral health, so that you can reduce the need for more complex treatments in future.

From regular check-ups for healthy teeth to the highest standard of non-invasive “smile architecture” (through cosmetic treatments like Invisalign, composite bonding, whitening and veneers), as she puts it: here are five ways she can help you transform your relationship with the dentist — and your smile.

5 treatments to upgrade your smile, according to holistic dentist Dr Jasmine Piran

1. Straighter teeth in six months with Invisalign

With celebrity fans from Serena Williams to Kendall Jenner, Invisalign clear braces have become the secret weapon for straighter teeth at any age — and gone are the years of clumsy fixed metal braces.

Dr Jasmine’s clinic has over 15 years of clinical experience treating patients with the removable clear aligner system. She also lectures internationally on the best practices with Invisalign, having achieved ‘platinum elite’ provider status (granted only to those with a significant track record of success).

“If you have crowded teeth, gaps, under or over bites, the foundation of a long-lasting, beautiful smile is achieving the correct bite function and alignment — for both aesthetics and functionality”, she explains. “This non-invasive option can make a huge difference alone, so it should be your first priority before combining it with other restorative treatments [as below].”

Images: Two patients at Smiles By Jasmine pictured before and after a treatment using a combination of Invisalign, at-home whitening and composite bonding on the edges of teeth.

She’ll take a 3D digital scan of your teeth in minutes, as part of a bespoke design process to meticulously plan natural-looking results that are harmonious to your face, accounting for gum levels, smile width and tooth length.

You must wear the removable aligners for 20-22 hours a day (apart from when eating or drinking). Each aligner needs replacing every one to two weeks, as you progress through the plan and move your teeth in gradual increments, with check-ups every few months. It usually takes from six to 18 months to complete the treatment.

From £2900

2. A glow-up in only 30 minutes

We all know that we should visit the hygienist, but you really would be surprised by how much of a glow-up you can achieve with this alone — leaving your teeth looking instantly brighter and healthier. Yet, there is one hi-tech deep cleaning treatment a cut above the rest, Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), which Dr Jasmine’s clinic offers. This new technique achieves a more effective, comfortable and less invasive clean.

In a typical hygienist appointment, manual and ultrasonic tools are used to scale, polish and floss, to remove biofilm: the sticky buildup of bacteria that forms on the teeth and gums (plaque is the most common type, and tartar is the mineral deposit that forms when this hardens). This scraping can be slightly uncomfortable and take up to an hour.

With GBT, however, a dye is applied to more accurately highlight the biofilm. Then a jet of warm water and air, combined with a fine cleansing powder, is used to gently remove it, alongside a special nozzle to clean under the gums. You feel fewer vibrations, hear less noise, and it’s much gentler. This can be combined with traditional techniques, where needed, for maximum results.

“A hygienist appointment every three to six months — in addition to your six-monthly dental check-up — can go a long way towards preventing tooth decay, gum disease and discolouration,” emphasises Dr Jasmine.

From £138 for a standard hygienist treatment with GBT

3. Whiter teeth that still look natural

Nothing says clean, youthful and healthy like bright white teeth, which are often a neglected part of your aesthetics journey — and sometimes, a hygienist appointment can only do so much.

There have never been more whitening options available: from at-home teeth whitening pens — even Kendall Jenner has her own brand, Moon Teeth Whitening Pen — to walk-in appointments at your local shopping centre. However, a clinical whitening treatment is still the gold standard. “For deeper discolouration, this can be the answer, and it is possible to do so without causing damage to the teeth and gums”, says Dr Jasmine.

Images: Two patients at Smiles By Jasmine pictured before and after a treatment using a combination of Invisalign, at-home whitening and composite bonding on the edges of teeth.

Before treating patients, she thoroughly checks for gum disease, tooth decay and worn enamel. She also assesses your teeth to choose a natural-looking shade that matches the white part of your eyes. “The results happen gradually and you can stop whenever you reach your desired colour, so there’s no need to worry about unnatural results,” she explains.

You’ll receive custom-fitted whitening trays (like a retainer) that hold the whitening gel to your teeth. These come in varying strengths and protocols, for example, you might wear them overnight or for 30 minutes a day. This is adapted to your tooth sensitivity (although you may still feel some mild discomfort) and lifestyle. Typically, you will see results within a few weeks, and they can last for six to 12 months (depending on staining from red wine, coffee, and curries).

From £495 for an at-home professional whitening treatment

4. A more even smile using cosmetic bonding

Although not a new treatment, cosmetic or composite bonding has become increasingly popular as a more subtle, affordable and often drill-free alternative to traditional porcelain veneers (as below) — and our GTG editorial director, Victoria Woodhall, says it transformed her smile.

“This is a great conservative option to add volume and symmetry or brighten your teeth, if you have a good natural tooth size, but want to repair minor issues like worn edges or gaps, or improve the shape, colour and length of teeth,” agrees Dr Jasmine. She also lectures internationally on this non-invasive technique and is renowned for her artistic, natural-looking results.

Left: a patient at treated at Dr Jasmine Piran’s Smiles by Jasmine pictured before and after a treatment using veneers. Right: another patient before and after a treatment combining Invisalign, at-home whitening and composite bonding on the edges of teeth.

First, a 3D scan digitally models your teeth and facial structure. Then, after close facial analysis, this is used to mock up a smile design that fits with your face in terms of smiling, chewing and speaking. The treatment involves layering a finely colour-matched resin material onto the existing tooth’s surface to rebuild worn areas and adapt the shape. This is hardened using UV light.

It can be lengthy, taking 30 to 60 minutes per tooth, but it is generally painless, with no anaesthesia or numbing cream required (although you may have some mild discomfort or sensitivity for a few days). Results last five to seven years if carefully looked after with regular cleaning, flossing and hygienist visits.

From £295 per tooth

5. Porcelain veneers without the damage

Once a Hollywood staple — made famous by the likes of Simon Cowell — fine porcelain veneers cover the whole surface of the teeth for a more dramatic transformation. Yet, thanks to the more invasive traditional method of shaving teeth down to create space to apply the veneer without a bulky, unnatural-looking effect (hence the nickname, ‘turkey teeth’), they’ve fallen out of vogue in recent years.

However, new techniques mean it is possible to apply ‘no-prep’ or low-prep veneers, where a thinner material is bonded directly to the tooth, to keep enamel intact. “There are many different ways to place veneers”, explains Dr Jasmine. “We use a minimally invasive approach to limit any surface enamel removal, and instead focus on adding rather than taking away tooth tissue wherever possible”. (In some cases, for example if you have naturally larger teeth, more preparation may be required.)

They use the 3D scanner to create a personalised model. It is an art form, from choosing the teeth’s shape (oval, square, tapered) to size and colour and how they fit with your face and smile centre lines. You can trial the design by wearing a plastic mock-up of the veneers for a few days, too.

It can take one or two treatments to apply veneers and up to a few hours per tooth. If little or no drilling is involved, there is minimal discomfort and no anaesthetic. But where enamel does need to be removed by drilling, it can be more painful, as this exposes more sensitive layers of the tooth.

Although more expensive than cosmetic bonding, you don’t necessarily need them on all your teeth, and veneers have a longer life expectancy: around 10-15 years based on good placement and maintenance.

From £895 per tooth

Find out more about how to book in with Dr Jasmine Piran via The Gloss Book now