May 22nd, 2010
There are many new technologies and treatments currently being used by West London dentists in the UK. Dental technology is advancing at an incredible rate with tools such as dental lasers making dental surgery less uncomfortable and more accurate, and also significantly reducing the time taken to carry it out. One of the most important and useful new technologies available to dentists is the digital x-ray. This has made possible a huge number of other dental treatments and reduced waiting times and treatment times for all dentists.
Digital x-rays have several major advantages over conventional x-rays. One of the most obvious is the time taken to receive the image. Traditional x-rays needed to be developed in a dark room in special conditions using a number of chemicals. Digital x-rays simply transfer the image directly to a computer almost instantaneously. This means the image can be either printed out or stored in the patients file. This makes comparing x-rays before and after treatment much easier for the dentist. The image is usually available about fifteen seconds after it has been taken and is of an excellent quality. Old x-ray images were developed like photographs and often suffered from the same drawbacks, such as being slightly blurred or of inferior quality.
Digital x-rays also use up to 80 per cent less radiation than the old style x-ray machines. This means they are much safer to use and less damaging to both patients and dentists. This has been a major concern for dentists using x-rays for many years.
Digital x-rays are also very useful for diagnosing muscular problems related to the teeth and jawbone such as TMJ. Internal examinations for these problems are very difficult, if not impossible but digital x-rays allow the dentist to gain an impression of the muscles around the jaw.
May 21st, 2010
Zoom teeth whitening is one of the most up to date whitening products on the market, using a special power lamp to activate treatment for speedier results. Zoom works like most other tooth whitening treatments by applying an active gel to the surface of the teeth to bleach any discoloured areas.
Teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic dentistry treatment that can really improve the appearance of discoloured and stained teeth. Teeth become stained over time because of foods that we eat and other lifestyle choices. Substances that are particularly bad for the teeth are red wine, coffee and tobacco. These can leave teeth yellow or brown spoiling the appearance of a smile making you seem older. Teeth naturally discolour as we age, so any premature discolouration will have the effect of adding years to your appearance as well as looking unhealthy.
Teeth whitening using Zoom can restore the appearance of discoloured teeth, making the teeth look cleaner and healthier and giving you the confidence that comes from a beautiful smile. Your West London dentist will apply the gel in specially designed trays so that it is in close contact with the teeth. They will also use any necessary safety equipment to keep the soft tissue of the gums and tongue safe.
Some patients may experience some slight sensitivity after treatment but apart from this the process is completely painless. Some patients will notice results immediately but others may require a few treatments, depending on the individual’s teeth. Teeth whitening is one of the most effective and affordable cosmetic dentistry treatments so ask your dentist what it could do for your teeth.
May 20th, 2010
Losing your teeth can be a painful and embarrassing experience. It can also be the cause of further health complications, as well as making everyday activities such as eating and talking quite difficult. When the teeth are lost, the face also loses some of its underlying structure. This can cause a sagging appearance in the facial tissue, which if not dealt with will become permanent and also make the patient look significantly older.
This is why London W1 dentists recommend that patients who have lost their teeth should replace them with a set of dentures. Modern dentures are more comfortable and realistic than ever before. They will be designed and manufactured specifically for your teeth so that they fit comfortably and firmly around the gums. A well-made set of dentures should stay in place by suction alone, although due to gum erosion this can sometimes be a problem. Some patients resort to using denture adhesive gels or strips to secure the dentures although these can sometimes be a bit messy. If your dentures are loose and causing anxiety then you should make an appointment with the dentist to have any necessary adjustments made.
There is also another alternative called mini-implants, which can act as a solid base for dentures. Mini-implants are a series of small screws that are secured directly into the jawbone. These screws are used as the base for clips that can be used to attach dentures. The dentures can then be clipped on and off when they are removed. This alleviates the anxiety that can sometimes be caused by loose dentures and means there are no foods that are off-limits, which can often be the case for regular denture wearers.
To restore your smile and confidence, make an appointment with a London W1 dentist to discuss the possibility and suitability of dentures.
May 19th, 2010
Looking after the health of your mouth is very important. Good oral hygiene, with effective brushing and flossing every day will help to keep your teeth and gums free from disease. However, it is very important that you also see a dentist for a check up appointment every six months to ensure your teeth and gums are not suffering damage. It is also necessary to see a dentist to protect yourself from other diseases and conditions that affect the oral cavity.
Perhaps the most serious of all the conditions that affect the mouth is oral cancer. This is classified as any cancer affecting the lips, tongue, cheek lining and throat. Oral cancer is a very nasty form of the disease that will be fatal if not caught and treated early enough. If the cancer is detected in time you stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of making a full recovery.
Oral cancer usually appears as small sores, lumps or patches on the soft tissue. These will be very sensitive to extremes of hot and cold and very painful. They also do not disappear after two weeks like non-cancerous sores in the mouth. They are often red or white or a combination of the two.
Your London W1 dentist will be able to examine any suspicious areas in the mouth and carry out a brush biopsy to test for cancerous cells. There are other signs of oral cancer which you need to be aware of including unexplained bleeding in the mouth and sudden weight loss. If you suspect oral cancer or are unsure about a certain part of the mouth make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible, it could be the most important decision you’ll ever make. Also ask your dentist for more information about oral cancer at your next appointment.
May 18th, 2010
When playing any physical sport it always necessary to ensure you are wearing the right protection. For football this will include shin pads; for cricket you will need pads, a box and gloves; for motor racing a helmet and protective suit. But it is very important when playing games with a high physical risk to protect your teeth. This involves wearing a mouth guard.
Over half the cases of knocked out or broken teeth seen by dentists are caused by sporting injuries. A misplaced hand or ill-timed shot is all it takes to have a tooth knocked clean out or broken in the mouth. Ask anyone who has experienced a dental trauma such as this and they will tell you that it is pretty painful and unpleasant. You also have to bear in mind that you may well need several months or even years of costly dental surgery and restorations to restore the appearance of your teeth.
A mouth guard from a Central London dentist could prevent this eventuality with relative ease and at a fraction of the cost. Although it is possible to buy mouth guards in sporting good shops, dentists recommend that you have one professionally fitted. This is because an ill-fitting mouth guard can offer little more protection than none at all.
A good-fitting mouth guard will protect all the teeth by cushioning any impact and spreading the blow across the whole of the dental arc rather than just impacting on one or two teeth. This will help to ensure that your teeth are not dislodged or broken.
May 17th, 2010
Mini-implants are a relatively new way of securing dentures to alleviate the anxiety suffered by many wearers that their dentures are going to fall out. They also make eating a lot easier and remove the need for messy denture adhesive strips and gels.
When patients lose several or all of their teeth their dentist may recommend dentures to restore the appearance and functionality of the teeth. Missing teeth cause many dental health problems, as well as removing rigid facial structure that supports the muscles on the face. This often creates a sagging appearance in the face that can become permanent if not addressed. Dentures are the solution to these problems, restoring not just the appearance of healthy teeth but also allowing the patient to eat and talk naturally.
Dentures should ideally stay in place through suction alone but due to gum erosion and the changing shape of gum tissue they can often become loose and prone to slipping out. This can be a worry and make eating a very difficult experience. Mini-implants are small metal screws implanted directly into the jawbone to act as a solid base for the dentures. The dentures are fitted with small metal clips which are then able to clip on and off to the mini-implants as desired. This means the dentures are held firmly in place when needed and easily removed for cleaning and sleeping. There isn’t even a need to get new dentures as the clips can easily be attached to your existing set.
Five mini-implants will be needed in total and can be positioned with ease during a short surgical appointment. They will need several weeks to fuse with existing tissue but could make a huge difference to your life. Ask your City of London dentist if you are concerned about loose dentures.
May 16th, 2010
Sometimes our teeth can suffer from problems that spoil their appearance and make us self-conscious about our smiles. Discolouration and staining, worn tooth enamel or unevenly spaced teeth can all make the teeth look unhealthy and unattractive but there are a number of cosmetic treatments available from Central London dentists that can restore the appearance of damaged teeth.
One of the most effective ways of making teeth look healthier is to use veneers. These are very thin ceramic caps that fit over the top of your existing teeth. They will have been specifically designed for your teeth, to restore the natural and even appearance of healthy teeth. One of the most modern and effective veneers on the market is called Lumineers. These are a very thin veneers manufactured by Cerinate in the US. They are much thinner than traditional laboratory veneers but also incredibly strong. Lumineers are about the same width as a contact lens and involve little or no enamel removal prior to fitting. This can often be the case with some other veneers so that they can fit naturally over the top of existing teeth without appearing too big in the mouth.
Lumineers are so thin that they can even fit over the top of existing dental work such as crowns and veneers already in the mouth. The veneers will cover the front part of the tooth, adding an extra layer of protection against tooth decay and enamel erosion.
Not all dentists will offer Lumineers as they are required to be registered as official suppliers of Cerinate Lumineers. Ask your Central London dentist if they are Lumineer suppliers and you could benefit form the restorative powers of these very thin ceramic caps. Lumineer veneers are very durable and have been clinically proven to last up to twenty years.
May 15th, 2010
The train-track brace has become an almost iconic symbol of the teenager. It has associations with that most difficult of times; adolescence. And let’s face it, it isn’t exactly the nicest thing to look at. Not only are the metal brackets and wires unattractive in themselves, but they also trap food and can be very messy when eating. Fixed metal braces can also be very bad for dental hygiene because they make effective tooth cleaning very difficult.
Thankfully, one company has designed a brace that tackles all of these factors and many more. Invisalign braces are clear, one millimetre thick plastic retainers that fit over the top of the teeth and gradually move them into the desired position. Not only are Invisalign retainers almost completely invisible when in the mouth, but they are also 100 per cent removable. This means that your teeth will be straightened without the need for fixed brackets or wires and you can even take out the brace to clean your teeth.
The system works by using a series of the retainers, usually about twenty in total, each worn for a period of about two to three weeks. Each retainer will be specifically designed for your teeth with small adjustments being made each time to gradually manipulate the teeth. There is no metal involved and no need for painful tightening.
Another major advantage of the Invisalign system is that on average treatment lasts about 18 months, which is about six months faster that with traditional fixed braces. With all these advantages, the Invisalign system really has taken the sting out the tail of wearing braces. If your child needs orthodontic straightening, ask your West London dentist about Invisalign.
May 14th, 2010
Being told you will need braces can be a very difficult time for a young adult or teenager. We are all aware of braces and how they can look in the mouth. The traditional, train-track style metal brace is a ubiquitous cosmetic tool among teenagers but let’s face it, it isn’t exactly the most attractive thing to look at. This is the reason no one ever really wants to wear one.
However, in the last ten years or so, a number of companies have decided to try and design orthodontic straightening devices that maintained the straightening power of the brace but didn’t impact as dramatically on the aesthetic appearance of the patient. One of these new straighteners is called the Inman aligner and has been making great waves in the dental community because of its incredible speed of treatment. Inman aligners can straighten misaligned teeth in as little as six to ten weeks. Although it must be said dentists encourage you to wear it for longer to obtain more complete results.
The other advantage of the Inman aligner, other than speed of treatment, is that it is very discreet. With most of the force needed to move the teeth coming from a coil located on the tongue side of the teeth, only a small metal straightening bar is visible across the front of the teeth. The Inman aligner is also completely removable so it can be taken out for sports or even social occasions.
Although it is true that not every one is suitable for an Inman aligner, with heavily rotated teeth requiring more extensive straightening, the Inman aligner is perfect for putting the finishing touches to a smile. Many people are even using the Inman aligner for some last minute improvements before a wedding or other big social occasion. You may think that with all these benefits the Inman aligner would set you back a fortune but treatment is actually cheaper than most other straightening devices. Ask your London W1 dentist for more information.
May 13th, 2010
The colour of your teeth can really make the difference between a good smile and a great one. The healthiest looking teeth are the ones that are the cleanest and whitest but over time our teeth tend to lose their natural whiter colour as they are affected by colouring in the food we eat and other lifestyle choices we make. This can spoil the appearance of otherwise healthy teeth and make us look older.
There are a number of cosmetic dentistry treatments that can be used to brighten the teeth. These include using cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers and most commonly, teeth whitening treatments. One of the most popular teeth whitening treatments is Enlighten. This has been proven to be effective and capable of whitening teeth by up to ten shades.
Teeth whitening works by applying a special gel to the surface enamel of the teeth. This gel contains the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide which penetrates the enamel and bleaches it white. Treatments vary in duration according to the desired results of the patient and the extent of discolouration that needs treating. Although tooth enamel varies from person to person and whitening will be more effective for some than others, teeth whitening will improve the appearance of almost any smile.
It is also possible to have special trays made up by your City of London dentist which you can wear at home. These will usually be less concentrated than the gel used in surgery, as the dentist is able to use all the necessary safety equipment to protect the teeth. The cost of teeth whitening with Enlighten will vary depending on how extensive a treatment you want but it can cost as little as £60 for initial treatment. If you want to feel more confident about your smile then teeth whitening might be able to give your teeth the little lift they need.
