December 20th, 2009
TMJ is a disorder affecting the temporomandibular joints, or jaw joints, located in front of each ear, connecting the jaw to the skull. This joint is responsible for all movement of the jawbone including eating and talking so any disorder can be particularly serious. Approximately one in ten people in the UK suffer from a TMJ disorder of some description, although many may have no idea that’s what is causing the pain.
The exact cause of TMJ is not known but many contributing causes include stress, arthritis and hormonal change. However, it is likely that one of the key causes is an interruption of bite in the mouth leading to irritation and sub-conscious teeth grinding. This can cause tension to build up in the joint leading to painful TMJ.
Diagnosing a TMJ can be very confusing but will usually involve a dentist conducting a clench test to see if the joint hurts when clenching the teeth. Further diagnostic tests can be carried out if the cause of the problem is not clear. Unfortunately for sufferers, the most prevalent symptom is pain. This can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers and heat packs. More permanent relief can only really be sought from a dentist fitting a dental appliance to prevent any bite misalignment during sleep.
West London dentists are fully trained and equipped to diagnose and treat the pain of TMJ. If you are suffering from a painful face, jaw or neck and have been unable to get to the root of the problem with conventional diagnoses, make an appointment to see a dentist and ask about TMJ.
December 19th, 2009
Dermal fillers like collagen and hyaluronic acid are used to add volume to certain areas of the skin. This has the effect of smoothing out wrinkles and making the patient appear younger. The are being increasingly used by dentists as part of a more comprehensive smile makeover treatment to frame dental work that has already been carried out.
Dermal fillers work by blocking the transmission of signals between muscles. This has the effect of reducing muscle movement, which is the primary cause of wrinkles in the skin. One of the biggest worries about dermal fillers is their safety. If they are injected by a trained cosmetic dentist, in the proper conditions, there is very little risk involved in using dermal fillers. Some patients may experience some mild inflammation in the few days after treatment but this will subside naturally causing little discomfort.
The results of dermal fillers usually show after a couple of days and continue for up to four months. They can then be topped up with further injections with no risk. This is because the body will have naturally broken down the last injected matter.
If used correctly, dermal fillers can have an amazing transformative effect on the face. It can make patients look years younger in only matter of days with a minimum of fuss and risk. Make an appointment with a Central London dentist to discuss the cost and further benefits of dermal fillers.
December 18th, 2009
Healthy, pink and well-proportioned gum tissue can compliment and frame the teeth just like a picture. Gum tissue that is either unhealthy or out of proportion to the teeth can make your teeth look bad or your smile look crooked or uneven. About 15 per cent of women and 10 per cent of men suffer from an excess of gum tissue commonly known as a ‘gummy smile’ that can also make teeth appear disproportionately small compared to the gums. For all these problems the solution is laser gum contouring.
This is a process that used to be carried out with a scalpel but thanks to technological advancements, can now be carried out more simply with the heat of a dental laser. This has several advantages over the more surgical scalpel. Firstly, the heat of the laser kills any bacteria that may cause post-surgical infection. The heat also cauterises the tissue preventing infection from outside, reducing blood loss and speeding up the healing process. Laser contouring is also a lot less painful than removing the tissue using a scalpel, and is indeed almost completely painless.
The laser in the hands of a skilled London W1 dentist can be a very accurate tool and is capable of producing evenly sized and shaped gums which will make the teeth look straighter and more uniform, radically improving the appearance of the whole smile.
If you think you are a candidate for gum contouring or think it could help improve your smile, consult your dentist and ask about this safe, cheap and hassle-free treatment that can make such a big difference to your smile.
December 17th, 2009
Damon braces are not just an updated version of the conventional fixed-metal brace, they are a completely new way of straightening teeth. The key difference with the Damon brace system is that it involves no painful extractions of otherwise healthy teeth or palatal expanders to create the necessary room for straightening. This traditional approach to straightening takes longer and causes far more discomfort to the patient, and also creates a much narrower dental arch and flatter profile. The Damon brace aims to achieve a natural, healthy looking ten-tooth smile specifically designed to improve profile and the overall facial appearance of each individual patient.
The three main goals of the Damon brace system are to deliver straighter teeth faster, with fewer appointments and less discomfort. To achieve this, the Damon team had to create new innovative technology such as self-ligating wires and shape-memory wires. The self-ligating wire eliminates the need for elastic or metal ties removing the need for regular tightening and also being more hygienic. The shape-memory wires allow teeth to be moved faster and with fewer adjustments.
Damon braces produce results on average six months faster than conventional metal braces and require significantly fewer office visits during the treatment. Because fewer tightening appointments are needed, the level of discomfort during treatment is kept to a minimum.
Damon braces are creating new orthodontic technologies that are becoming more and more popular with City of London dentists. The faster, more comfortable treatment combined with the care taken to produce a strong profile is attracting more and more patients to the Damon system.
December 16th, 2009
The Inman aligner has been described by orthodontic dentists as the ‘greatest innovation in cosmetic dentistry since the porcelain veneer’. This is a bold claim given the incredible transformative power of porcelain veneers but the results attainable using the Inman aligner do seem to suggest a revolution in orthodontic straightening.
The Inman aligner is an incredibly effective and easy way of straightening teeth with results visible in most cases in a remarkable six to sixteen weeks. If you have always wanted straighter teeth but never liked the idea of having brackets stuck to your teeth, the Inman aligner straightens quickly but is also completely removable, making eating a lot less of an ordeal than with fixed braces.
Inman aligners are perfect for aligning teeth prior to the application of veneers and in some cases the results are so effective that veneers are not even needed after straightening.
The aligner works by using the power of a coiled spring to create room for the front incisors to move into and straighten. By concentrating the efforts on the visible front teeth, the aligner is able to gain such rapid straightening results. The only part of the brace visible to others is a small and discreet metal bar that runs along the front of the teeth but given the speed of treatment most people won’t even have time to realise you are wearing a brace.
The Inman aligner is available now from London W1 dentists to provide you with the perfect straight-teeth smile you have always wanted. Its remarkable straightening power combined with the short treatment time make the Inman aligner the ‘missing link’ between cosmetic dentistry and orthodontic straightening.
December 15th, 2009
Being a teenager isn’t easy at the best of times but being told you have to wear braces to straighten your teeth can be an added burden in the most emotionally unstable of developing years. Metal braces can make you stand out from the crowd and cause a loss of self-confidence and esteem at a time when you need it most. This was the thinking behind the development of Invisalign Teen invisible braces, by orthodontists who specialise in teenage patients.
Invisalign braces are made from one millimetre thick clear plastic that is virtually impossible to see unless standing very close to the patient. This completely reduces the visual impact of conventional braces minimising the impact on the life of the patient. This is also achieved in other ways, as the retainers are completely removable meaning they can be taken out for eating and social activities. Each retainer is worn for a period of two weeks before it is replaced with another computer-designed and manufactured brace. Each retainer makes small adjustment to gradually move teeth into the desired position providing beautiful straight teeth.
The limited impact means that teenagers are more inclined to wear the braces than they are other removable straighteners. Invisalign Teen braces also come with special tabs that indicate how long the brace has been worn for, so parents can check if their child has been wearing the brace for the correct amount of time. This and other innovations such as allowing for the development of further molars make the Invisalign Teen brace the brace of choice for parents and teenagers alike. West London dentists are using the Invisalign system to produce discreet straightening to achieve perfect life-long smiles.
December 14th, 2009
Cosmetic bonding is a process that has been transforming the appearance of patient’s smiles for years, and is one of the safest, easiest and most affordable of all the cosmetic dentistry procedures. Cosmetic bonding is also incredibly versatile and has a range of uses within cosmetic dentistry.
The bonding itself is made of composite resin and can be made up to closely resemble the tooth colour of each individual patient. This means it can be used to fix teeth internally or used on their exterior to disguise damage. The resin can be used by a City of London dentist to fill cavities, cover discoloured or badly worn teeth and even repair cracks and chips. The resin is moulded to the desired shape before being set hard with the heat of a dental laser.
Some minor preparation work is needed before use; the tooth enamel is etched by the dentist to allow for greater adhesion to the cosmetic bonding. When set, the bonding is buffed and polished to appear more like the existing enamel. When set, bonding is very durable and resistant to staining, although it must be said it cannot compete with a porcelain veneer for stain resistance. Cosmetic bonding is most effective for carrying out small repairs and minor cosmetic procedures but loses some of its effectiveness in larger areas.
One of the most popular uses for cosmetic bonding is filling cavities because it can be made to match the colour of the existing teeth. Many patients are choosing to replace their old dental amalgam fillings with cosmetic bonding for a more pleasing aesthetic effect.
December 13th, 2009
For patients who are unhappy with their smile but unwilling to face the pain and discomfort of fixed metal braces, a revolutionary system called Clearstep could be just the solution they have been looking for. Clearstep is an affordable and effective way of straightening teeth that comes with the huge advantage of being almost completely invisible.
The Clearstep system can be used to straighten teeth that are suffering from overcrowding, overlapping or all forms of bite misalignments. The system uses a series of thin plastic aligners to reposition teeth. Because the aligners are made of such thin and clear plastic they are very hard to notice, especially from any kind of distance. They are also completely removable so they can be taken out for important occasions. They can also be removed when eating food so the annoyance of having to miss out on certain foods because of fragile braces can now be avoided. Clearstep braces can also be used in tandem with whitening gels to help remove stains and discolouration in a remarkable time saving innovation.
The benefits of the Clearstep brace system clearly include the discretion the braces offer to more sensitive wearers. But further advantages also include a greater degree of comfort and less irritation to the soft tissue in the mouth. As the braces are removable, there is no hindrance to cleaning which often occurs with fixed bracket braces.
The cost of Clearstep varies but most Central London dentists will offer the treatment for between £1,500 and £2,500 depending on the level of treatment required by the individual patient. An initial consultation with a dentist will allow you to gain a clearer picture of the exact cost of treatment.
December 13th, 2009
Botox is a bacterial toxin, safe for use in the human body, injected into the facial muscles to plump and firm, remove wrinkles and make you look younger. Once associated solely with Hollywood celebrities, the use of Botox has become more widespread as it has become more affordable and a treatment now is little more unusual than a nail appointment.
Botox is a type of dermal filler that improves the appearance of skin by using the naturally occurring hyaluronic acid to firm the lines caused by muscle movement in the face. It does this by blocking signals that are usually transferred between the muscles, thereby reducing their activity.
Results can usually be seen one or two days after the treatment, but improvements in the skin will continue for up to a month after treatment. In most cases results will remain for about four months before requiring a top-up. The treatment is relatively painless and only involves a few small injections. These can be made even less uncomfortable by using an anaesthetic gel on the area to be injected. Some inflammation of the area may occur after the treatment but this will usually subside relatively quickly.
More and more London W1 dentists are offering Botox as part of a wider smile makeover. After all, a beautiful smile needs a beautiful mouth to make it complete. The firm and healthy looking appearance of Botox is the perfect accompaniment for new dental work.
December 11th, 2009
Teeth whitening is one of the most effective and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures and has been popularised recently by massive exposure of its benefits on television and in other media. We’ve all seen the makeover shows where even the most discoloured teeth are restored to a bright white colour and the dramatic effect this can have on a person’s appearance. This is almost certainly because teeth naturally discolour as we get older, so having whiter teeth is an instant way of looking younger and healthier.
There are several leading brands of teeth whitening treatment on the market, each with different treatment styles and benefits to best suit your particular condition and lifestyle. Two of the most popular systems are Zoom and Enlighten, each promising whiter teeth by up to ten shades with treatment in-surgery and with specially prepared less-concentrated take-home trays. West London dentists always recommend that you have whitening carried out by a trained dentist as many whitening kits available from the internet can cause damage to soft tissue, such as the lips and gums, if not correctly applied.
Whitening is usually effective for all patients but may take slightly longer for some people than others. This is simply because we all have an individual tooth colour and consistency and some teeth are more receptive to bleaching than others. Visible whitening results can usually be seen in all patients between a few days and a few weeks of treatment.
Whitening works by bleaching the stained enamel with an active agent, usually hydrogen peroxide. When activated, the peroxide releases oxygen into the enamel which begins to turn any discoloured patches white. Once bleached white, the enamel can stay white for up to three years helping you to have a younger looking and healthier smile.
