So if you have decided that your teeth need straightening out then you will be faced with the decision of which method will suit you best. There are a number of high profile newcomers to the market place when it comes to teeth straightening and each of them has a unique selling point. Six Months Smile boasts that it is able to straighten out a set of misaligned teeth in only six months. Invisalign uses only clear plastic when straightening teeth so it is very discreet. Inman aligners also claim discretion because they use only one visible part.

All of these products developed in response so criticisms of the methods of the traditional metal brace. Often having to be worn for several years, the traditional metal brace means that the wearer has a mouth full of visible metal wires and brackets. These can be hard to clean and are not removable. However, the traditional metal brace is still the best way to solve all teeth straightening issues. The newer products, for instance are not able to rotate teeth.

Talk to your Central London dentist if you want to find out more about the different ways that you can have your teeth straightened. He or she will be able to advise you about which one might suit you best.

The effects of grinding your teeth in your sleep (it is clinically known as bruxism) can be detrimental on the health of your mouth. If your teeth are grinding together night after night the tough enamel which coats your teeth can begin to wear away, leaving you more open to cavities and tooth decay. The teeth themselves can even become broken down, with cracks or chips starting to appear. Bruxism also puts a degree of pressure on your jaw and can contribute to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). You might find evidence for nocturnal teeth grinding not in your teeth but in painful feelings in your jaw.

Medical professionals have determined that there are two main causes of bruxism although the two are not always mutually exclusive. Feelings of stress can manifest themselves with teeth grinding at night and it might be appropriate to receive therapy. The dental cause of bruxism can be that teeth are misaligned and when you are asleep they are clashing against one another because they are not in the right position.

In either case it is advisable to get a mouth guard fitted so that the impact of the grinding is softened and your teeth won’t get damaged. If your teeth are misaligned then you should talk to your London W1 dentist anyway about getting a brace fitted.

Misaligned teeth can cause problems with the occlusion (otherwise known as the bite and referring to the way the teeth sit together both when stationary and when moving). This can lead to painful conditions such as TMJ, bruxism and even migraines. Your London W1 dentist will therefore recommend orthodontics to correct the problem. The most common and well-known form of orthodontic treatment is the dental brace. This is an appliance that is fitted to the teeth, either fixed or removable, that gradually manipulates the teeth and moves them into a more desirable and healthy position.

There are many types of braces that work in different ways and for different types of misalignment. Over the last ten years, braces treatments have used new technology to improve both the speed and quality of treatment. Braces are also used for purely cosmetic reasons. This means that there might not be any purely functional reason for the teeth to be straightened but the patient simply wants to have straighter teeth for the benefit of having a healthier and more attractive looking smile. This form of cosmetic orthodontics can work wonders for the self-confidence and self-esteem of patients.

As well as this, orthodontic treatment is often used on teenage or younger patients as the teeth are more easily moved during their developing stages. Orthodontic treatments still work on adult patients but they often require more lengthy treatment periods. Speak to your dentist to find out the possibilities of orthodontic treatment for your teeth.

Problems occurring with the occlusion are quite common and often referred to generally as malocclusion. This means that the teeth do not sit together well and is often simply refereed to as bad bite. This can be the source of discomfort but it can also be responsible for many further health complications and problems.

Again being more specific, static occlusion is when the teeth are closed together and dynamic occlusion is when the teeth make contact when they are in motion. Problems with these types of occlusion can cause many problems not just with the teeth but also with the gums and with the temporomandibular joint and jaw muscles. These are commonly defined as grinding or bruxism, TMJ or a ringing or painful buzzing in the ears. These conditions can lead to wider health problems such as headaches, shoulder and neck pain.

The main ways of treating malocclusion involves your City of London dentist altering your bite in order to reduce the tension on the bite. This is commonly performed using a dental brace which will alter the way the teeth are aligned and the way in which they sit together. It will also have the added advantage of making teeth look straighter and more even.

Not only do missing teeth spoil the aesthetic appearance of the smile but they can also be responsible for many further dental problems. This is because missing teeth can allow more bacteria to develop in the hollows left by lost teeth. These spaces in the dental arc can also allow teeth to rotate and lean changing the alignment. This can cause problems with the occlusion or bite and lead to muscular problems and TMJ.

For these reasons, London W1 dentists always recommend that you should try and replace the missing teeth as soon as possible. There are a number of ways of doing this that include using a dental bridge, partial denture or dental implant.

Dental bridges involve filling the gap left by a missing tooth with an artificial tooth supported by two crowns, thus bridging the gap. Partial dentures are artificial teeth attached to a plate which fits into the palate. However, perhaps the most successful and popular dental replacement is a dental implant. This involves implanting a small titanium screw into the jawbone to act as a base for a replacement teeth. Dental implants are both very realistic and more solid than other dental restorations although they are also more expensive. Find out more about missing teeth and how to replace them at your next check up appointment.

The main symptom of TMJ is unfortunately pain. This usually occurs when the patient is chewing or yawning, or any other extended movement of the TM joint. There may also be a painful ringing or tinnitus in the ear. Other major symptoms include swelling around the joint, a change in the bite and profile and trouble swallowing.

One of the major problems when diagnosing TMJ is that a lot of these symptoms can be caused by manifold other conditions, some of which are far more likely to occur. This means that TMJ is often far down the list of diagnoses. Your West London dentist, if they suspect TMJ, will conduct something called a clench test. This involves clenching the jaw to assess whether there is a structural disorder that could be TMJ.

In most cases, treatment of TMJ will involve some level of orthodontics. In some severe cases, there may be a need for surgery but most bite misalignments can be cured with orthodontic treatment. During treatment, it may be necessary to wear a mouth guard to protect the lower teeth. There are various other treatments your dentist will be able to explain upon diagnosis of TMJ. If your jaw joints hurt or are swollen, then contact a dentist and ask for a test for TMJ.

It is important to replace missing teeth for a number of reasons. Missing teeth leave hollows in the gums, which can be breeding grounds for bacteria. This can cause further damage to the other teeth, resulting in further tooth loss. Missing teeth also encourage the remaining teeth to lean into the gaps and also rotate. This can cause interruptions in bite that can cause bruxism and painful jaw conditions such as TMJ.

One or more missing teeth can also cause problems with facial tissue. The teeth act as rigid supports for the facial muscles and if they are missing can cause unattractive sagging. A dental bridge will restore the support offered by real teeth and prevent other teeth moving around in the dental arc.

Although dental bridges are usually made using dental crowns, if the adjacent teeth are in good enough condition then a City of London dentist may choose to attach the pontic using resin bonded strips. This will remove the need for any unnecessary enamel removal which is often needed before fitting a dental crown. There are other dental restorations available in the form of dental implants and partial dentures but many patients opt to have bridges because they are affordable and involve minimal surgery. If you have suffered a missing tooth and are keen to replace it, ask your dentist about the possibilities of dental bridges.