March 10th, 2010
It has recently been reported in the press that drinking a moderate amount of red wine each day is good for the health. This has often been reported in the past, but new findings have shown that those who drink one or two glasses a day are less likely to be overweight than those who stick to soft drinks.
Good news for drinkers then, but perhaps not such good news for their teeth. Wine, especially red wine is known for being especially acidic and this is not good for your teeth at all. If you’ve ever drunk a moderate amount of red wine in one sitting in the past then you’ll probably be well aware of how unpleasantly dirty it can make your teeth feel.
Red wine can corrode your teeth badly and it is also likely to cause a significant amount of discolouration too, especially if you’re drinking it regularly. Teeth can be easily stained by red wine consumption, and this can become quite unsightly! Naturally the effect can also be worsened through excessive smoking too!
Thankfully, for those of us who’ve regularly enjoyed a glass or two of red and now have discoloured teeth as a result, there are many different teeth whitening procedures available that can be effectively used to significantly reduce the staining! If you have stained or discoloured teeth and you’d like to do something about it then your local cosmetic dentistry specialist will be able to give you plenty of advice on the teeth whitening methods available to you!
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
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March 3rd, 2010
Many people will have had to wear braces during their childhood to correct teeth growing in at unusual angles. However, there is a small percentage of people who didn’t wear braces when they were younger, even though they really should have. In some cases this has caused a great deal of problems for these people in later life as their teeth may have grown in such a way that they have caused the individuals pain.
Not wearing braces during childhood, despite an apparent need can leave people with many different problems, some of which can be quite serious. However, in the majority of cases these problems will be purely aesthetic, and in the majority cases they can be corrected with cosmetic dentistry. The number of adults undergoing orthodontic treatments has increased sharply in recent years as more people who should have been wearing braces as children become aware of the fact that they can have the resultant dental problems corrected.
It’s quite common for people who didn’t undergo orthodontic treatment as a child to have very overcrowded teeth, as braces were not in place to control the direction of tooth growth. Most people will have this corrected for purely cosmetic reasons, however it some instances teeth that have gown in irregularly can cause some serious and quite painful problems!
Of courses, it would have been much better for these people if they could have prevented the problem in the first place, but thankfully adult orthodontics allows them an opportunity to sort out these problems in later life. If you think you could benefit from adult orthodontic treatment then get in touch with a cosmetic dentist today.
Tags: braces, Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontics
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March 1st, 2010
With the popularity of “extreme makeover” reality TV shows, cosmetic dentistry has featured fairly heavily in prime-time schedules of late, normally demonstrating some of the more extreme treatments that involve surgery to completely rebuild someone’s jaw from scratch. Such an invasive procedure could well put you off having any kind of smile correction, but the truth is that there are a number of far less severe methods of realigning your smile that will never require a general anaesthetic.
One such method is using Invisalign aligners to close small gaps and correct misaligned teeth. The Invisalign system works by using a series of slightly different shaped aligners to gradually move your teeth in to the desired position. The great advantage of the Invisalign system over traditional braces is that they can be removed for eating and teeth cleaning, and they are almost invisible to the casual observer. No more train tracks, no more metal wires. Although there can be some discomfort experienced from wearing the aligners, it is far less than having a dental surgeon go in with a knife.
For people with only slightly misaligned teeth there is also the Invisalign Express system. This treatment is completed in around half the time of the normal Invisalign system, and because it uses fewer aligners it is also significantly cheaper. Of course, whether you are suitable for the shorter option will be something you can discuss with your cosmetic dentist during your initial consultation.
Tags: braces, cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign
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February 25th, 2010
With the increase in popularity of cosmetic dentistry procedures in the UK in the last couple of years, there has also been an increase in the number of court cases brought against some practitioners for alleged substandard work that they have done. The number of cases of UK based patients visiting their dentist to correct poor work that has been done by cosmetic dentists overseas, in particular by dentists in Eastern Europe, has also increased. This is partly to be expected as a scale increase to the increased number of UK residents now investing in some form of cosmetic dental procedure, but it also highlights the risks you can be taking by not doing your homework prior to choosing your clinic.
Now there is nothing wrong with shopping around for a bargain, but it is far more important to shop around for a clinic renowned for the quality of its work than one offering the lowest price. Porcelain veneers, for example, can be expensive, but poorly fitted or sized veneers aren’t worth even the reduced price you will pay for them at a cowboy clinic, and if the paring down process prior to fitting is done incorrectly, you may eventually be paying out thousands of pounds for root canal surgery to repair the damaged teeth as a result. Add to this financial cost the intense misery that weeks of sensitive teeth and a sore jaw can bring and you could be looking at one of the most miserable mistakes of your life.
There is no reason to be worried about electing for a cosmetic dental treatment providing you do your homework first. When selecting a cosmetic dentist, make sure they come highly recommended within the industry, not just with a couple of celebrity endorsements, and speak to as many clinics as you can before deciding. Stay vigilant and you will be fine.
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, Porcelain Veneers
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February 22nd, 2010
Scientists in Canada have just released a study suggesting that staying happy is the key to reducing your risk of heart disease. Their wonderfully unround sample group of 1739 volunteers received a happiness rating of between 1 and 5 (5 being the happiest) based upon their answers in an interview, with the study concluding that over 10 years, the risk of developing heart disease was 22% lower for each additional happiness point. At the same time, depression appeared to increase the chances by 4%.
Although the study methodology isn’t entirely flawless, for example some people with high happiness scores may not actually be that happy, and vice versa, it does highlight possible links between positive thinking and good health, something that has been linked before through studies in placebo treatments. If this is really the case, then perhaps it’s a good reason for people who are unhappy with the appearance of their smile to do something about it, increasing their happiness and thus potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.
There are a range of cosmetic dentistry procedures that you can explore to improve the appearance of your smile. These range from full on cosmetic dental surgery, all the way through to simple teeth whitening kits that you can use at home. If you do feel that a smile makeover could improve your confidence and therefore your quality of life, many cosmetic dentists offer no obligation consultations where you will be able to discuss the options available to you. With more and more people opting for cosmetic dental procedures and their prices coming down all of the time, why not treat yourself? You never know, it may have more benefits than you realise.
Tags: Cosmetic Dental Procedures, Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, Heart Disease, Smile Makeover, Teeth Whitening
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February 19th, 2010
Even if you have never worn them yourself, everybody knows exactly what is meant by a “brace” or “braces” when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Some countries have a higher usage rate than others, but chances are that if you went to school any time in the last 40 years that you will have had a friend who had to wear a brace. Back in those days most braces were obvious and ugly, often requiring a head strap or even face mask to be worn to apply the required pressures to the teeth and jaw.
Nowadays these obvious and demoralising rigs are rarely seen, and there are even some orthodontic systems available, such as Invisalign, that are subtle enough to go unnoticed by all but the keenest eyed observer. Realignment of teeth or bite will almost always have to be done by brute force alone, but the existence of such unobtrusive options as Invisalign compared to what was available 40 years ago is testament to how far this field of medicine has come.
People have been trying pseudo-medical methods to straighten teeth probably for as long as they have been combing their hair, but the modern field of orthodontics didn’t really come in to being until towards the end of the 19th Century, with the first school of orthodontics being founded by Englishman Edward H Angle in 1901. In fact the classification system laid out in Angle’s “Treatment of Malocclusion of the Teeth” was used worldwide and still forms the basis of the field today.
Modern orthodontists have a much better understanding of hygiene and infection control than they did in Angle’s day, but it his testament to his intellect and methodology that so much of his original teachings remain.
Tags: braces, Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign, Orthodontics, Orthodontists
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February 16th, 2010
No Valentine’s cards this year? Never mind, you’re probably too busy to be out meeting people anyway, and your work doesn’t exactly put you in contact with many desirable members of the opposite sex. Or maybe the aura of suave confidence you exude is just too overpowering, leaving your many admirers too intimidated to declare their interest. Yea, it’s definitely something like that.
Let’s be honest though, you’re probably being overlooked for a reason. It’s true that when it comes to adult relationships that personality is the biggest turn-on and the mind the largest erogenous zone, but first impressions are also incredibly important, and how is anyone ever going to find out about your razor wit and velour charm if they’ve pigeonholed you as a loser before you’ve even opened your mouth? This isn’t an advocacy of the shallow nature of some human beings; it’s simply a pragmatic analysis of the cruel facts, ones which hold even truer in the cattle market bars and clubs that most people in the Western world rely on to meet members of the opposite sex.
So what can you do? Well, for most people it’s just a simple case of a nice shirt or dress and a new pair of shoes, maybe a new hairstyle, while others may find a few trips down the gym improves their shape, posture, complexion and confidence. For others, it may be your teeth you need to look at.
How we express ourselves facially is hugely important to the way humans communicate with each other, and therefore plays a large role in any attraction. If you have crooked or misaligned teeth then maybe people don’t like looking at your mouth when you smile, or perhaps you don’t like people looking at them, meaning you don’t smile or talk as much as you would like. Issues such as these require a little more help than just a gym membership, but there are all kinds of braces available these days that will help you express yourself the way you want and help improve that all important first impression. The ultra-modern Invisalign system is so inconspicuous that most people won’t even notice you’re wearing one, so braces won’t turn you in to the geeky playground outcast during your treatment.
Sometimes first impressions are just down to confidence rather than anything you look at, but some new clothes, dropping some weight and a nice new smile aren’t going to hurt that either, are they?
Tags: braces, Invisalign
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February 12th, 2010
The concept of medicine itself was in the news this week as thousands of homeopathy sceptics gathered at various locations around the country to stage a mass “overdose” of homeopathic remedies. The intention of the exercise was to draw attention to the alleged ineffectiveness of homeopathic remedies sold over the counter at high street stores, with cynics claiming that due to the incredibly small quantities of active chemicals in these remedies, people are being sold little more than placebos. The issue stirs strong feelings in the cynic camp as they feel this is little more than profiteering from the hope/desperation of the sick.
There were plenty of homeopaths on hand to defend their position, countering that the prescription of homeopathic remedies has helped in thousands of cases where “modern medicine” has failed, and that contemporary science fashions should not get in the way of ancient remedial methods, however hard they are to rationally qualify. Whatever your view of the situation, it does throw light on the importance of being able to trust the diagnoses and treatment recommendations you are given as a patient, whether this be for illnesses with obvious or well known causes, or conditions that aren’t quite as well known such as TMJ pain.
TMJ pain is caused by a disorder of the temporomandibular joint and can manifest itself in a variety of different ways, including pain while chewing and swallowing, aching in the neck, shoulders and back, or even nausea headaches and dizziness. Due to the wide range of different symptoms that TMJ disorder can cause, it is important to have a cosmetic dentist that you can trust so that you follow through with any treatment they may suggest. TMJ treatment can be costly and invasive, and so this bond of trust between patient and clinician is incredibly important. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has a much better success rate of proving the medical and emotional benefit of their procedures than homeopathy.
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment
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February 9th, 2010
No one would argue with the theory that if some dental procedures weren’t incredibly uncomfortable then more people might receive their recommended, regular check-up. Unfortunately, it only takes one bad experience (or even just an average one really) with a dentist’s drill and someone can be put off for life, often not attending even when they have strong suspicions of a problem. These people wouldn’t even start to consider visiting a cosmetic dentist for an aesthetic reason, and so therefore not only deny themselves excellent dental health but also a potentially life-changing perfect smile.
The good news for these drill-phobes is that there is rapid progress being made in the field of plasma cavity treatment, meaning no need for the always uncomfortable, often painful, drilling required before a filling. The way this new technique works is to blast the affected tooth with a stream of cold plasma, which is simply a bunch of atoms which have been ionised (stripped of one or more of their elections to give them a charge). This plasma kills the bacteria in the cavity, leaving it ready for filling, and the patient doesn’t feel a thing!
Removing the drilling element from dental work will be a boon for many potential patients, and it may open their minds to a range of other beneficial dental procedures, such as using dental veneers to cover crooked teeth and close gaps. The most common type used are porcelain veneers and, following a small amount of preparation, are simply “cemented” over the top of existing teeth to form a new, perfect, hardwearing smile over the old one. Regardless of whether less drilling really will increase enthusiasm for cosmetic procedures, this is one medical advance which is sure to improve overall dental health in every community.
Tags: Cavity Flling, cosmetic dentist, Dental Procedures, Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
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February 5th, 2010
The gleeful scaremongering of the American press has now turned its attention to the realm of cosmetic surgery, with coverage of an MI5 investigation in to bombs being sown inside suicide bombers by cosmetic surgeons. Quite what the likelihood of this actually happening is anyone’s guess, but it has British spooks worried enough for them to set up a dedicated team of agents to look in to it. The theory has been confirmed as plausible by NHS surgeons, claiming that a small amount of explosive could be inserted in the buttocks or abdomen, or behind the breasts in women, inside a sealed plastic sack, with the bomber activating it with an injection. With these “boob bombs” undetectable by conventional security scanners it will be a brave diabetic who takes their insulin pen out mid-flight.
Fortunately we are yet to see any reports of explosive teeth, although one Indonesian man did recently receive compensation from a cigarette company after one of their products exploded in his mouth, taking 6 teeth with it. It’s amazing the lengths some people will go for a smile makeover, although the compensation should prove more than enough to get any resultant bite problems sorted out. In fact this is a little celebrated element of the development of cosmetic dentistry techniques, the fact that more and more victims of accidents or violence are now able to have their smile rebuilt rather than live their life forever carrying the scars of their bad luck.
Tags: Bite Problems, Cosmetic Dentistry, Smile Makeover
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