July 21st, 2010
Dental technology is advancing all the time. New tools and devices are being used to improve the quality and efficiency of treatment and one such device is the new Waterlase laser tool which uses a gentle spray of water to make dental treatments more comfortable and less unpleasant for patients. A relief, I’m sure for those of you who aren’t exactly keen on going to the dentist . Unlike the old-fashioned dentist’s drill, which uses heat, vibration and pressure to be effective, Waterlase lessens the impact on the mouth meaning patients require less anaesthetic and in some cases, none at all.
With Waterlase, your appointments will not last as long and you will be free to carry on your normal business much sooner and with far less discomfort. You also most likely wont need a nasty anaesthetic injection before surgery, common with other tools. This has understandably made Waterlase very popular with patients. For dentists, it means that operations and procedures can be carried out quicker and with fewer appointments.
Lasers themselves are not new to dentistry but the revolutionary use of water with Waterlase has improved upon the existing technology. Lasers can be used in many dental procedures including for fillings, crowns and root canal surgery. The other benefits of lasers at London W1 dentists are that they sterilise the wounds and make recovery time quicker. They can also cauterize any open tissue making the chance of infection significantly less. Ask your dentist about the new Waterlase technology for your next procedure.
March 8th, 2009
When you go for routine dental exams in West London, your dentist will check for the most common signs of dental decay. Unfortunately, even if you are very careful about brushing and flossing your teeth, cavities can begin to form. As you may be aware, it is best to halt the progress of tooth decay as quickly as possible. If you keep up with your scheduled cleanings and exams, it may only take a minimal amount of effort to keep your teeth in good condition.
Before certain types of bacteria begin making holes in your teeth, there will be some noticeable changes to the enamel. This may include changes in color, as well as other evidence that will be picked up on xrays. At this early stage, fluoride therapy and sealants can be used to stop dental decay. In some cases, making some dietary changes will even make it possible for small areas of enamel to regain good health.
Once cavities begin to eat away at the outer layers of your tooth, it will be necessary to clear away the affected tissue. Dental fillings can then be used to seal up the area, and make it possible for you to chew as you normally would. Ideally, these procedures should be done before the hole reaches the pulp, and nerve tissues located deep in the tooth structure. Unfortunately, once the pulp area becomes infected, it will be necessary to remove the tooth.
Even though you may not like dental drills and procedures, your dentist has a number of medications that can help you remain pain free and calm. Without a question, if you have cavities, it is better to treat them now, rather than try to deal with the consequences of not doing so later on. Aside from helping preserve good dental health, you will also be able to enjoy an attractive smile for the rest of your life.
July 19th, 2008
Londoners have a very efficient system in detecting and filling up potholes in their streets. Once the presence of a pothole is reported, a team will immediately fill it up to avoid future problems and accidents.This is very like our teeth, although no one can report the presence of holes except for your dentist and yourself. And once detected, it should at least be taken care of as soon as possible. Why? Well, a lot of people think that it is just a small hole and it does not interfere with how they eat. Unfortunately, small holes can be big holes plus the chance of bacteria getting inside and living in those crevices. When this happens, it can cause an infection in the area and lead to a terrible tooth ache, and eventually to the loss of your tooth.
One of the dental procedures often done by dentists involve filling up those potholes in your teeth. First, they clean the area thoroughly so as to not trap any foreign material inside the crevice after filling. They may also widen the crevice a bit more by scraping off decay with a burr. This is of course done with local anaesthetic unless the pain is tolerable. When everything is clean, they prepare a mixture of ingredients, which may include silver, copper, tin, and a very minimal amount of mercury. This is referred to as an amalgam filling which are often durable to grinding and chewing. Other fillings can be coloured to the natural shade of the tooth so as to not be quite noticeable. For worse cases, a crown may be fitted on the tooth.
So just like a pothole, these crevices on your teeth should be taken care of. This promotes a healthy oral cavity and great smile as well.
June 14th, 2008
Oral health is an important part in the person general health. It has been taken for granted by most people that as long as his teeth are in good condition his oral health is also good. Most dentists also seem to take care of their patients’ teeth only and overlook the health of the oral cavity. The need for dentists in West London to revamp their dental services to a more holistic and comprehensive care is much waited for.
There is an urgent need that besides doing the normal dental fillings, tooth extraction, denture, crown and bridges; dentists also need to care for oral health and oral related diseases.
Oral health and oral related diseases
The most common oral health problems are Canker Sores and Bad Breath (Halitosis).
Canker sores or medically called as aphthous ulcers, are one of the most common oral conditions affecting people everywhere. As many as 25 percent of the population have these small, painful, persistent sores, and many of them are chronic in nature. The recurrence rates for Canker sores can be as high as 50 percent. Typically these Canker sores will heal without treatment. However, using the pro-biotic based toothpaste and regular intake of vitamins B and C can prevent recurrent.Researchers have determined that bad breath typically originates during open-air interaction with bacteria in the mouth, the nose or the stomach. A smaller proportion of bad breath cases have its beginning in the nose. There are many nasal triggers for bad breath. Nasal dysfunction, including a genetic abnormality in the nasal passage, may inhibit proper mucous flow. The bacteria found in sinusitis, post-nasal drip and allergies may pass from the nose to the back of the tongue where, if neglected, it can lie dormant due to improper saliva flow or poor dental hygiene.
Tooth sensitivity is another common problem affecting a large proportion of the people throughout the world. Tooth sensitivity may be experienced as a tingly feeling or a flash pinch of pain that affects few teeth, some areas of certain teeth, or many teeth overall. The pain associated with tooth sensitivity may occur constantly or intermittently. Most of the time intermittent tooth sensitivity is due to ingestion of hot or cold food or beverages or cold air hitting the teeth. Sometime, tooth sensitivity may be mistaken for root damage.
Other oral related diseases are Oral Herpes and Oral Cancer. As these conditions may exist without any symptom, dentist is perhaps the best person to detect them. With proper health education given by the dentist or his staff, dental clinic can serve as a holistic oral health centre. When these above services are written in the dentist’s office, greater awareness will be created among the public. This will definitely make your dental clinic an oral health friendly and a more comprehensive dental care centre.
