A West London dentist has recently spoken out on the benefits of dental implants as a restorative procedure. The main benefit he explains is that the patient feels that the implant is a natural tooth, this will come as the implant adheres to the bone in the jaw, which can take a few months. False teeth that are on a plate will always be just that, false teeth, and they will always make the patient feel that they have lost the fight in keeping their teeth. An implant is not just a molar that we use for eating, it very often replaces not just a damaged tooth but a tooth that is also discoloured, misshapen or misaligned. The psychological benefits a dental implant has will often boost the confidence of the patient as well. Being fixed permanently to the jaw, as a natural tooth is, means also that the patient can just put out of their mind the fact that the procedure has taken place at all. With a plated false tooth there is always the constant consciousness that you are wearing a plate, plus there is the maintenance involved on a daily basis. The implant itself will last the patients whole life and is made of a material that needs little or no looking after, even if it gets chipped it can easily be replaced quickly or in some circumstances it can be repaired in part. If it is chipped there is no pain as an implant has no nerves, although a temporary repair would be advisable to prevent any sharp edges damaging the tongue, cheek or lips. The cost is a one off as well, where with false plated teeth there is a constant need for special cleaning materials and glue to keep it in place, it may be more expensive at first, but in the end it will often work out more economical.
Archives for April, 2010
A West London dentist explains the Benefits of Dental Implant as a Restorative Procedure
April 24th, 2010Why Floss? A West London dentist explains why
April 23rd, 2010
Flossing is a method of cleaning in between the teeth to get rid of food debris, and keep down the build up of tartar says a West London dentist. Imagine your house having a clean floor with dirty skirting boards, which would look so out of place that it would be very obvious. Well that’s exactly what flossing is, it is the cleaning of the areas that the main method of cleaning miss, you wouldn’t vacuum a carpet and leave dirt around the sides, so why clean your teeth and not floss? It’s not as if it’s even a hard or time consuming exercise. Tartar will build up around the sides of your teeth if flossing isn’t done on a regular basis, this is generally chipped off the tooth when we get our 6 monthly check up, but to prevent the build up in the first place is the sensible thing to do. Flossing is as important as brushing and rinsing properly, even more so, as brushing and rinsing does not remove most of the food residue in between the teeth. This food is attacked by bacteria which feeds on it and then as a by-product, produces harmful acids that damage the enamel on the front of the teeth. Bacteria can then penetrate deep into the tooth and cause infections, if the problem continues we either end up losing the tooth or getting a root canal treatment, neither of these are worth avoiding a few minutes a day that flossing requires. Washing the mouth with water throughout the day will also help to keep down acid build up, but be sure to have a little floss first. Flossing isn’t just for the morning and the evening, it should be done after each meal throughout the day to be fully effective and keep diseases of the gums at bay.
Avoid nasty dental pain with treatment from London W1 dentist
April 17th, 2010
If you have ever experienced tooth pain you will be all too aware of how unpleasant and debilitating it can be. Dental pain can be caused by a number of factors. One of the most common is enamel erosion. Enamel is the top layer of the tooth that is there to protect the more sensitive dentine and dental nerve that form the inside part of the tooth. If the enamel is eroded by decay or general wear it can expose the more sensitive parts of the tooth to extremes of temperature and bacteria. This will cause sensitive teeth, which can involve very sharp pain that makes eating, and especially drinking, very difficult.
If enamel erosion has occurred to a more serious extent, it could result in a tooth infection. Cavities in the tooth enamel caused by plaque acid can lead to bacteria penetrating into the tooth and causing infection. This infection will attack the dental nerve, eventually killing it if not treated in time. The dental nerves are very sensitive and can be extremely painful if subjected to infection. Some patients assume that when the dental pain has gone the problem is resolved. This may not be the case but simply occur as a result of the root dying. The infection may still be present and spread to other teeth in the mouth and even enter the bloodstream. This is why it is so important to see a London W1 dentist as soon as you experience any dental pain.
Dental pain can come in many varieties. It can be dull and throbbing or sharp and intense. It can also be acute and chronic. It can treated with over-the-counter medication and painkillers but it is always recommended that you see a dentist rather than trying to treat the pain yourself. Dental pain is often very progressive and will become more severe over time. Acting fast and with appropriate treatment from a dentist will hopefully allow you to avoid and further pain.
Dental care parental control by a dentist in W1 London
April 17th, 2010
All parents have a parental duty of care to their children, and quite rightly so says a W1 London dentist. Starting off early in life is a good basis for getting our children into a healthy regime of oral care. Dental diseases can start in children very young, and so it is important that they realise the importance of having good teeth and healthy gums. We teach our children so many things about life to prepare them, first for school, then their teen years, then adulthood, mainly we will be teaching them to not make the same mistakes as we did. However, some lessons need to be passed on as not all of our life’s experiences are bad ones. Teaching our children simple routines like how to brush our teeth properly, flossing and getting into the habit of having a conscious mind about oral hygiene, will go a long way to living up to our parental duties says a dentist with a practice in W1 London. Gum disease is a major problem in the U.K. and one of the causes is a lack of parental control in dental care that is of course on top of a bad diet which includes too much sugar, salt and saturated fats. Once gum disease takes a hold the teeth begin to suffer, and a circle of deterioration is hard to stop, all it really needs is for good parental control in the early learning years. The expression `A stitch in time saves nine` is not heard so much these days, but it is a very true one. Children are quick learners, but you have to bring some fun into it if you are going to get a result. Making the cleaning of our teeth a family affair will instil in our young ones a happy medium that they will associate with all through their lives, and healthy teeth and gums is a result of all the effort.
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Protect damaged teeth with dental crown from Central London dentist
April 15th, 2010
Teeth can be damaged in many ways. Chips, cracks and breaks can occur as the result of sporting injury, motor vehicle accidents or from any other kind of head trauma. Broken teeth can be very painful and also expose the sensitive inside parts of the tooth to the risk of infection and disease. Teeth can also be damaged by dental decay and enamel erosion. This again leaves them vulnerable to attack from disease, which could eventually lead to tooth loss. When teeth are damaged in this way it is necessary to protect them from further injury and also to restore the cosmetic appearance.
One of the oldest and most effective ways of protecting teeth is to fit a dental crown over the top. A dental crown is a ceramic or metal and ceramic cap that is designed to fit over the damaged tooth, covering all parts of the tooth above the gum line to act as a barrier to further damage. A Central London dentist will first need to remove some of the existing enamel so that the crown can fit comfortably over the top. The crown, which will have been made in laboratory conditions to be the same size and shape as the original tooth, will then be cemented over the top using composite bonding.
Crowns are made from metal and ceramic as these are very versatile and strong materials. Ceramics such as porcelain also have a very similar appearance to tooth enamel, giving an improved aesthetic appearance. Once firmly in place the crown will perform all the functions of the original tooth.
Crowns are also used after certain dental surgeries and treatments to add a dimension of protection to the teeth. If dental decay has causes significant damage that a filling is not sufficient to protect the tooth, then a crown may be used to offer greater protection. Crowns are also used after root canal treatments to prevent further infection
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Q and A session on Dental Implant surgery by a City of London dentist
April 13th, 2010
Q. What exactly is a Dental Implant?
A. It is a permanent false tooth that is fixed into place by anchoring it to the jaw
Q. Who performs such surgery, is it a plastic surgeon or a dentist?
A. A dentist is a wide expression, and some dentists are not surgeons. Usually a dental surgeon will perform such an operation. It isn’t a cosmetic operation as such as it has a very practical use.
Q. Who is likely to want a dental implant?
A. Any patient who has a problem tooth would qualify for a dental implant, it is very common in cases where a tooth is badly damaged through chipping or a bad crack, and cannot be saved.
Q. Can I get a dental implant in every town/city or is it something that is so specialised clinics are few and far between?
A. You can get this operation anywhere, as a dentist in the City of London I can assure you most towns and cities have dental surgeries that perform dental implant operations.
Q. Is it expensive compared to say false teeth on a plate?
A. Not really, a plate of false teeth is a lot cheaper than a set of dental implants, but this procedure is really recommended for individual teeth rather than a whole set.
Q. So what exactly is entailed in this procedure?
A. A dentist will remove the old damaged tooth and clean up the jaw line. Then a hole is drilled into the jaw where the old tooth was, a plate is fitted that has a central screwed hole. The new tooth is made by an Orthodontist and fitted with a screw; it is designed from digital pictures of the patients mouth and jaw line. The new tooth is then quite simply screwed into place, and can be used just the old natural tooth.
Worried about yellow teeth? Ask a Central London dentist about teeth whitening
April 12th, 2010
As we age, our teeth naturally lose their colour and begin to turn yellow. Just like greying hair and wrinkles, this is one of the unfortunate and unattractive signs of aging. Teeth lose their natural colour because the enamel becomes stained over time from the food we eat and liquids we drink. Some substances are especially bad for enamel staining such as coffee, tea and red wine and smoking is also particularly bad for your teeth.
Cleaning your teeth effectively every day will help to slow the process of yellowing teeth but once the enamel has become stained it cannot be cleaned using conventional oral hygiene methods. However, there is one sure-fire way to return your teeth to their original and healthy-looking colour. Teeth whitening is one of the most affordable and widely used cosmetic dentistry treatments. It involves placing a gel against the surface of the teeth in a specially designed tray. This gel contains the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide, which will seep into the enamel and gradually bleach it white.
There are many different kinds of whitening treatments available that range from short half hour sessions to more comprehensive two-week treatments with daily whitening sessions. Teeth whitening starts from as little as £60 and is suitable for almost all types of teeth. Some patients may experience more immediate results than others but it is capable of improving the colour of your teeth by up to ten shades in some cases. To fond out more about the possibilities of teeth whitening, as your Central London dentist at your next check up appointment. If you are worried about the colour of your teeth, teeth whitening could be the perfect solution to make you more confident with your smile.
Early oral cancer detection at City of London dentist
April 12th, 2010
Cancer will affect one in three of us at some point in our lives and is one of the UK’s biggest killers. It is therefore important that we are aware of the signs and symptoms of all cancer, as early treatment is so fundamental to surviving this terrible disease.
Oral cancer is a common form of the disease with visible symptoms that if detected early enough has a better than 80 per cent survival rate. Oral cancer can affect anybody at any time but certain factors do make people more susceptible. Smoking and heavy drinking, particularly when done together, can make you many times more likely to contract oral cancer. Males tend to be twice as likely as females to suffer, especially males over the age of 40.
There are several signs to look out for that may be indicators of oral cancer. Small red or white sores in the mouth, resembling mouth ulcers, that don’t disappear naturally after a couple of weeks, may be the first sign. Other symptoms include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, toothaches and headaches. Any unexplained weight loss may also be indicative of oral cancer.
The most important thing to remember is that if you are experiencing any unusual activity or pain in your mouth, make an appointment to see a City of London dentist as soon as possible. It is also worth remembering that dentists are rained to spot the signs of oral cancer and can conduct a routine examination at your next check up.
Get rid of bad breathe caused by gum disease says a dentist in London W1
April 12th, 2010
Gum Disease is a major problem that causes us not just dental problems, but social and personality problems as well says a dentist from W1 in London. One problem exasperates another once we have contracted a gum disease; such as the advanced disease Gingivitis. Once the problem takes a hold it is almost impossible to cure, the best we can hope for is a prolonged delay in the deterioration of the gums. Acids and bacteria are the most common causes of bad breath from diseased gums, although liver and gastric problems, along with a poor diabetes regime will also add to the problem. When we eat or drink something pieces of debris get lodged in between the teeth, the bacteria in the food and our mouths then react with the sugars, fats and chemicals in the debris and this is what produces the odour. The bacteria then infects the gums and disease sets in. As the fleshy part of the gums die off the bacteria gets to congregate around the exposed part of the tooth, and tartar builds up. Tartar is the hard off white substance that we has a rough edge to it, your dentist will generally scrape this build up off when you get your 6 monthly check up. The best way to eliminate bad breath caused by gum disease is through a good regular oral hygiene regime, every dentist has a hygiene nurse and it takes just a few minutes to get good advice. Brushing throughout the day, flossing after every meal and the use of a good mouth wash will all go some way to beating bad breath caused by gum disease. Try carrying some flossing sticks with you and drink a regular amount of water throughout the day, both of these simple measures will go some way to beating the problem and making you more confident and socially acceptable.
Find out the link between diabetes and oral health at West London dentist
April 9th, 2010
Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK suffer from diabetes. It is a problem that is becoming worse because of the poor nature of many people’s diets and alcohol consumption. There are many complications with diabetes including heart and kidney problems but one of the least well-known is how it can affect your gums and teeth.
It has also recently emerged that the problem may well be a two-way street. Not only are people with diabetes at a greater risk of gum disease but people with gum disease are more likely to start suffering from diabetes. Serious gum disease has the potential to affect blood glucose levels which will increase the risk of contracting diabetes.
People with diabetes are at a greater risk of gum disease because a weakened immune system makes them more susceptible to infection and disease. Bacteria that builds up in the mouth cannot be as easily removed if you are suffering from diabetes. It is recommended that if you have diabetes you should be making very regular visits to your West London dentist. The dentist will be able to closely monitor your gums for the first sign of disease and infection. Not only will this protect your gums but it will help to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and also interrupt the link between gum disease and heart disease. Controlling gum disease will also help you to deal more effectively with your diabetes by reducing the amount of infection in the body. Your dentist will also be able to give you wider health information about what to do and avoid, to help keep your diabetes under control.
