November 23rd, 2009
Porcelain veneers are one of the most realistic and elegant of all the cosmetic dentistry treatments. Veneers are incredibly thin tooth-shaped caps that are cemented over existing teeth to disguise dental repair work and defects such as discolouration. Veneers can be used individually or as part of a complete renovation of the dental arc.
The discolouration of teeth can be due to a number of factors. It could be the result of a hereditary condition or medication for another disease. Some patient’s teeth are discoloured by lifestyle factors such as smoking or drinking coffee or red wine. However, by far the most common cause for discolouration is age. Just as we lose our natural hair colour over time, so do we lose the natural colour of the teeth. Stained enamel cannot be cleaned so the options are bleaching or veneers. Many people find teeth whitening procedures ineffective but a set of porcelain veneers will almost certainly produce a stunning effect. A row of dental veneers will also be suitable to restore the appearance of worn or unevenly spaced teeth.
Teeth that become damaged either as the result of dental trauma or tooth decay can also be repaired using porcelain veneers. Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be very painful and also destroy the structural integrity of the tooth. Once repaired it may be necessary to cap the tooth with a veneer for structural support and to protect the tooth form further damage.
Modern veneers are incredibly thin with some of the latest being the same width as a contact lens. Because they are so thin it is now unnecessary for dentists to remove tooth enamel prior to application. This also means that veneers are now removable without causing further damage to the existing teeth.
The manufacture of porcelain veneers has been dramatically affected by the introduction of new technology. In the past, porcelain veneers needed to be measured using a system of dental moulds and x-rays. These were time-consuming processes, as was the laboratory conditions needed for their manufacture. Today, by using the latest in 3D imaging and digital x-rays, a dentist can use a computer to design and manufacture a porcelain veneer in as little as six minutes. This has significantly reduced treatment times and discomfort for patients.
It is now possible for London W1 dentist to design, manufacture and fit a whole dental arc of porcelain veneers in an afternoon. You could have a completely new and youthful set of teeth in just one day. Ask a London W1 dentist about the latest in porcelain veneer technology.
November 22nd, 2009
Of all the cosmetic dentistry procedures, few have as an effective or dramatic impact as teeth whitening. This is a process that aims to make the teeth whiter by up to an incredible ten shades. It is widely offered by most dentists and is one of the most widely used and affordable of the cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Teeth can become discoloured for a number of reasons. In some cases it may be the result of a hereditary condition or medication that a patient is taking for another disease. Teeth can also become stained by certain products such as tobacco and red wine that represent lifestyle choices. More often than not however, teeth are discoloured because of the effects of aging. As we grow older, just as our hair loses its natural colour and turns grey, our teeth also begin to lose their natural colour and start to turn a yellow colour. This occurs because over time the enamel, the hard substance that coats the surface of the teeth, becomes stained by substances ingested through the mouth. Enamel staining can be kept to a minimum by effective brushing and cleaning. This is because the pellicle film that is responsible for enamel staining can be removed by brushing. However, if the enamel itself becomes stained, there is no option but to bleach the teeth white. Because teeth whitening appears to reverse the effects of time by making the teeth look whiter it can be very effective at making the patient look much younger than they are.
Whitening is offered by most dentists. It will almost certainly be carried out in the surgery for the first appointment. This is because the active ingredient in whitening gels is hydrogen peroxide. This substance can be very damaging to soft tissue such as lips and gums in high concentrations and incorrectly applied. A dentist will be able to protect these vulnerable areas while offering the maximum strength whitening for your teeth. After initial treatments, it may be possible for the dentist to prepare lower strength treatments in trays that can be used at home. Never buy or use any whitening kits from the internet as the inconsistencies in strength can be very dangerous.
Teeth whitening is offered by Central London dentists as one of the most effective and affordable treatments. If carried out by a dentist, the risks associated with some teeth whitening are significantly reduced. In fact the most discomfort that patients will feel is a slight sensitivity for a few days after treatment. Teeth whitening is immediately more effective for some people than others and may take several treatments for some people to notice results. Ask your dentist more about the benefits of teeth whitening. Call 020 7935 5332 for a free consultation.
November 21st, 2009
Dentists are increasingly offering small-scale cosmetic facial treatments as part of a wider smile makeover treatment. A smile makeover is a comprehensive restructuring of the smile to give more even and white teeth and an all round more attractive appearance. Just as every picture needs a frame, the smile needs a healthy and firm looking lips and facial tissue to complete the appearance.
Facial tissue wrinkles and sags over time as one of the inevitabilities of life. Even the most rigorous skincare regime can only delay the process. Dermal fillers, such as collagen and Botox can artificially reduce and even reverse the impact of aging on the skin. When injected into the facial muscles they interrupt the transmissions of nerve endings which cause movement in the muscles. It is this repeated movement that causes tissue to wrinkle and sag.
First used in the US about twenty years ago, dermal fillers are no longer the preserve of the rich and famous. The wider availability combined with a greater affordability means that dermal fillers are now considered a normal cosmetic treatment like a hair cut.
If applied by a professional, dermal fillers carry little or no risk and involve no surgical cutting of the skin beyond an injection. Because they mostly utilise substances that occur naturally in the body and have only temporary effects there is little risk of any long-term damage. The active ingredient hyaluronic acid is the substance that naturally makes skin look plump and healthy.
90 per cent of patients notice a visible improvement in their skin within 48 hours and treatments last up to four months before they need topping up. Make an appointment with a City of London dentist to find out more about dermal fillers and the benefits for your skin.
November 20th, 2009
The Inman aligner is a type of orthodontic straightening device that can be used to straighten overcrowded or unevenly spaced teeth. The Inman aligner is perfectly suited for the straightening of slightly overcrowded upper and lower front teeth, the teeth most commonly seen when smiling. Serious or heavy overcrowding may need some prior orthodontic treatment or extractions before the Inman aligner can be effective. A consultation with a City of London dentist will determine whether you are suitable for an Inman aligner.
Similar to other modern straightening devices the Inman aligner is completely removable. This means it can be taken out for teeth cleaning, sports, important social or professional occasions and most importantly eating. Eating with any kind of orthodontic appliance can be messy and unpleasant and some food can even be impossible to eat. The Inman aligner can be removed so the impact of the retainer is reduced.
The Inman aligner works by using the power of a coiled spring to move the lateral teeth out to create room for the front teeth to move into. A bar that runs along the front of these teeth straightens them by pushing and pulling them into position. This metal bar is the only part of the retainer that is visible. This is more discreet than the old-fashioned fixed metal braces but not quite as discreet as some of the modern day invisible plastic retainers.
The Inman aligner may lose out slightly on discretion but it more than makes up for this with speed of treatment. Treatment times usually average between six and sixteen weeks, depending on how long the patients wear the retainer for each day. This is an incredible 75 per cent faster than other treatments, including most transparent retainers.
The Inman aligner may be slightly uncomfortable when initially fitted but this usually fades after a few days. Most orthodontic appliances will be similarly sensitive when initially used. After this there is very little discomfort experienced by most patients. The cost of treatment usually varies between £1,250 and £1,500 depending on the scale of treatment needed by the patient and who is fitting the aligner. Make an appointment to see a City of London dentist to find out more about the Inman aligner.
November 19th, 2009
Just like the clinically proven Invisalign adult range, the Invisalign Teen retainer system offers straighter teeth with a much higher degree of discretion than conventional metal braces. Invisalign is a system of one millimetre thick plastic retainers worn for small periods to make small adjustments and replaced on average twenty times throughout the treatment.
Nobody really wants to wear a brace but everybody accepts it as a necessary sacrifice to have straight teeth. For years, the only real option for orthodontic teeth straightening was the wire and bracket ‘train track’ braces. These were uncomfortable and very unattractive. Because most orthodontic treatments are most successful in the developing teenage years it was at this age that most braces were fitted. This could often have very negative emotional effects on brace wearers and could lead to a loss of confidence and even bullying in extreme cases.
The Invisalign Teen brace system is specially designed to help teenagers maintain their self-confidence and self-esteem right the way through treatment. Unlike other braces and especially fixed-metal braces, the Invisalign Teen system is designed to fit around the lifestyle of a teenager. It has been created and manufactured in tandem with orthodontists who understand both the teenagers’ social and orthodontic needs. The Teen system has all the straightening power of the adult range with a few added extras. The revolutionary Blue Dot Wear Indicators fade when it is time to change the retainer. The braces are also made with eruption tabs to accommodate for the growth of molars during treatment.
Invisalign braces are manufactured using the latest in 3D imaging and digital x-rays to provide a high level of accuracy. The retainers need to be worn for about 20 to 22 hours a day but can be removed for meal times, brushing teeth and important occasions. They can also be removed when playing sport to accommodate a mouth guard.
Invisalign teen allows the teenager to maintain their lifestyle and make as few sacrifices as possible to have straight teeth. The retainers aim to make the straightening process as straightforward and pleasant as possible. By minimising the impact on the lives of the young patients, Invisalign Teen is becoming a popular choice for teenagers who want straighter teeth. Costs for Invisalign treatments vary but are rarely more expensive than any other orthodontic treatments. Ask a Central London dentist about the benefits of the Invisalign Teen treatment.
November 18th, 2009
Fear of the dentist is one of the most common fears we have. In the UK a recent study found that over 90 per cent of people admitted to having a fear of the dentist. For most people this fear is easily controllable and they are able to weigh up the need for dental treatment against their fears. For other the fear is more severe and can range form anxiety to a full-blown phobia. This can be very upsetting and the cause of many emotional problems, not to mental dental ones.
Nervous patients are a big problem in the field of dentistry. It can be a very distressing experience for some patients to be in the dentist’s chair and no matter how experienced, this can affect the ability of the dentist to do their job. It is very important that the patient is calm before they begin their appointment.
This can be achieved in a number of ways. Very often just talking to a dentist can help to allay any fears. Dentists are trained to help calm nervous or anxious patients and can run through exactly what is likely to happen during the check up. This is often enough to remove the fear of the unexpected procedures or lack of control that is so fundamental to many patient’s anxieties.
Other techniques to help patient’s stay calm include self-hypnosis and aromatherapy. Self-hypnosis is a series of simple breathing exercises aimed at regulating the heart rate and inducing a mild trance-like state. This can help patients to make it through appointments in a relaxed fashion. Other recent studies have shown that lavender oil before an appointment can help to calm nerves.
Whatever the nature of your anxiety, it is always very important to receive the dental treatment you require to keep your teeth healthy. City of London dentists are trained to help nervous patients so make an appointment to see how they could help you stay calm and in control.
November 17th, 2009
Everybody wants to have straight teeth and a perfect smile but many people who want to have straight teeth are put off by the though of having to wear braces for as much as three years. Conventional fixed metal braces are a large sacrifice to make to have straight teeth but now there is a wider choice of modern braces that are discreet and fast-acting. One of the latest innovations in the field of orthodontic teeth straightening is Six-Month Smile braces. The Six-Month Smile treatment can be used to treat a variety of orthodontic straightening needs including problems with crowding, spacing and all forms of bite alignment.
The obvious benefits of the Six-Month treatment is that it only takes, and yes you’ve guessed it, six-months to straighten teeth. This is an improvement on average of 75 per cent when compared to more traditional braces. But there are also other benefits to the Six-Month Smile brace. The wires are small, discreet and tooth coloured and very hard to spot unless standing up close to the patient’s mouth. Also, because of the gentle repositioning of teeth discomfort is kept to a minimum. Perhaps more importantly though is that it costs only half the price of other braces, including Invisalign clear plastic braces.
If you decide to opt for the Six-Month treatment a dentist will first assess your teeth using photographs, x-rays and dental moulds. The dentists will then be able to tell you whether the braces are suitable for your teeth. If the treatment is suitable you will be fitted with the small, white brackets that are manufactured at the Six-Month laboratory in the United States. Once fitted you will require short ten-minute appointments every month so that the dentist can assess your progress.
The braces utilise the very latest technology to achieve such rapid results. So quick is the treatment that many patients are using it to straighten teeth before an important social occasion such as a wedding. Because the wires and brackets are all discreet it means patients can generally avoid the stigma attached to wearing braces, especially if in later life.
If you are considering orthodontic teeth straightening but can’t face the prospect of up to three years with a mouth full of unseemly metal, then ask a West London dentist whether the Six-Month Smile treatment would be suitable to straighten your teeth.
November 16th, 2009
Temporomandibular disorder, more commonly know as TMJ, affects the tempromandibular joint, a part of the head that includes the hinge of the lower jaw and the temporal bone of the skull below the ear. This is the area of the head that controls chewing, biting and all other movements of the jaw. This means that TMJ can cause pain when carrying out the simplest of activity such as eating and talking. This pain can range from mild to severe and intermittent to constant.
It was commonly though that TMJ was caused by emotional or psychological disorders such as stress, but common opinion seems to favour a wider variety of causes. One of the most common causes is a problem affecting the bite. This is the way the top and bottom teeth sit together and can be caused by any alterations caused in either dental arc. For example, a knocked out or chipped tooth could alter the way the teeth sit together. This can cause muscular problems in the areas around the jawbone which lead to TMJ. In other cases it is believed that TMJ is caused by a head trauma such as a sudden jolt. This can cause misalignment of the joint that affects its movement.
Unfortunately, the most common symptom for TMJ is pain. Diagnosis usually follows a period of pain in the patient, which can spread to the neck and shoulders. The dentist will conduct a clench test, which sees whether the teeth and jaw hurt when the top and bottom teeth are clenched together. If diagnosed, the dentist will make moulds of the teeth and bite and mount them on an instrument called an articulator. This mimics the movement of the jaw so that the dentist can ascertain what is causing the pain.
Temporary relief can be had from TMJ by taking over-the-counter pain medication. Hot and cold packs also provide some relief from muscular pain. The dentist may also advise preventative measures such as limiting jaw movement and staying away from crunchy or chewy foods.
Long-term treatments are usually in the form of physical therapy and medication, although it is increasingly being found that dental appliances such as a mouth guard or splint can be used to improve bite and limit the causes of TMJ.
If you are experiencing unexplained pain in the jaw, head or neck, make an appointment to see a London W1 dentist. There is an end to this painful condition with the correct diagnosis and treatment form a trained dentist.
November 15th, 2009
A dental crown is a ceramic cap that is cemented over an existing tooth to repair damage or to restore its cosmetic appearance. It is most commonly used to cap teeth that have been filled or to protect teeth broken as the result of a head trauma.
There are many ways a tooth can be damaged. Sporting injuries account for up to 50 per cent of dental injuries. Dentists advise wearing a mouth guard when playing any sport with a high level of physical contact or that can involve any kind of collision. However it is still common for teeth to be chipped, cracked or broken when playing sport. Teeth are also commonly damaged in motor vehicle accidents or from simply accidentally chewing on hard food. Damage to teeth will initially be repaired with composite dental bonding. This tooth coloured resin is used to fill cracks and repair chips but it can itself be susceptible to damage. Dentists therefore often use a dental crown to sit over the damaged tooth to protect it from further injury.
Dental crowns are also used to protect teeth that have had cavity fillings. This is especially true of teeth with large cavities as dental bonding, used as a filling material, is weaker in large areas. Crowns are also used to protect teeth that have been subject to a root canal procedure. This is when an infected tooth has been hollowed to remove the infection. A dental crown is the last step in a complex process designed to preserve the functionality of the patient’s original tooth and prevent extraction.
Dental crowns are commonly manufactured from porcelain, a type of ceramic with a similar consistency and appearance to tooth enamel. Modern crowns are increasingly fabricated using the latest computer-aided technology. Using 3D imaging and digital x-rays dentists can construct images of the patients’ teeth on a computer. They can then use this information to manufacture a dental crown by milling it from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. This new technology has reduced treatment time for patients and improved the accuracy of treatment.
Dental crowns are very versatile and useful dental tools that can prevent the need for further treatment. Patients with damaged teeth should make an appointment with a City of London dentist to discuss the benefits of dental crowns.
November 14th, 2009
Maintaining a good standard of dental hygiene can keep your mouth healthy and prevent a lifetime of costly and unpleasant dental problems. Nearly all dental disease can be prevented by carrying out a few small but very important cleaning procedures each day. The saying ‘look after your teeth and gums and they will last you a lifetime’ is very true.
The two most important factors in maintaining a good standard of dental hygiene are brushing and flossing. Tooth brushing has been in existence since Egyptian times over 3,000 years ago. Back then they used leaves on the end of twigs but the premise was the same. They had worked out that by keeping teeth free of debris and clean they would last a lot longer. The Egyptians may have not understood exactly why, as they were unaware of the existence of microscopic bacteria, but they knew it worked. Today we know that brushing helps to remove plaque, a bacteria rich substance that clings to the surface of the teeth and gums. Acid from decaying bacteria in plaque erodes the enamel on the surface of the teeth. This causes cavities to form in the enamel. If left untreated these cavities can continue to grow until ultimately they penetrate to the centre of the tooth. This central cavity can then become infected leading to tooth ache, abscesses and eventually tooth loss. By brushing for three minutes twice a day with a suitable brush and paste, as dentists recommend, you can prevent the build of cavity forming plaque and the formation of any dental cavities.
Flossing is also very important for dental hygiene. Flossing reaches the parts of teeth that regular brushes cannot. For instance, food debris gets trapped between teeth which is too narrow for a normal brush. Dental floss can remove this debris which is the cause for over 90 per cent of causes of bad breath. Flossing also helps to clean below the gum line, where bacteria can build up. This helps to keep gums healthy and prevent painful and destructive gingivitis, also known as gum disease.
By making these few small sacrifices and tying it together with the all important six-monthly check ups with a West London dentist you can help to prevent any future dental concerns. An extra few minutes each day to maintain dental hygiene is a small price to pay for a life free of the pain and worry caused by dental disease.
