Archive for December, 2009
A New Smile For A New Year
With the New Year comes a whole host of new ideas and promises to yourself, with the vast majority of them being health related. Eat a healthier diet, exercise more, perhaps even drink less, but few include their dental health in this equation, often considering their current oral hygiene routine to be sufficient. However many people only go as far as brushing their teeth twice a day, neglecting the flossing and use of mouth wash that dentists recommend. This is most likely because we are brought up as children with cleaning our teeth twice a day, yet flossing and mouthwash are best left until adulthood and so do not form as much of an automatic habit. That said, we pick up enough bad habits as adults, so there is no excuse for not picking up one or two good ones as well. There is plenty of information online and available from your dentist about proper flossing and mouthwash usage, so if all you do is brush; make it one of your New Year resolutions is to take the next step.
Taking care of yourself better in the New Year can be made easier if you get a New You as part of the equation. If you aren’t 100% comfortable with the appearance of your smile then it is worth speaking to a cosmetic dentist about what treatments may be available. Perhaps you’re concerned about staining or discolouration, or maybe there are alignment issues that prevent you from having complete confidence when smiling. Like all fields of medicine, cosmetic dentistry is constantly developing new and more effective treatments for a range of issues that are much more common than you probably realise. You would also be surprised at the amount of people who regularly visit a cosmetic dentist to maintain their smile, even if they might not admit to it! Get the New You the smile they deserve by speaking to a cosmetic dentist in 2010.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic dentist
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, Dental Hygiene
| December 17, 2009 at 11:42 am | 1 comment
Smile Like The Stars
Movie stars seem to have all the luck. Not only do they exist in a world of glitz and glamour, getting paid to do something they love, they also seem to have been gifted with the best genes available. Perfect hair, great bone structure, and those fantastic dazzling bright smiles that are flashed at the world time and time again at premiers and award shows the world over. Or that’s the illusion they’re happy for you to believe anyway.
The truth is that it is incredibly hard to maintain dazzling white teeth, even with an excellent dental health routine. This is because our lives are full of foodstuffs and drinks that stain our teeth, and sometimes even brushing, flossing and using mouthwash regularly will not prevent discolouration occurring eventually. Movie stars are no different, but they will employ one or all of a collection of teeth whitening and smile makeover treatments to make sure they’re smile stays as white as possible.
The most common treatments for lightly stained teeth involve a bleaching process where your dentist will ask you to wear a mouth tray containing a mild bleaching agent. This can be done either in surgery under supervision or you may elect for an at-home system that you can do as and when you have the time. This treatment is normally best for patients with only light staining, as for heavier stains a scale and polish is normally recommended. This is when your dentist uses electric instruments to polish plaque or tarter from the surface of the teeth.
There are several other types of teeth whitening treatments available but speaking to a cosmetic dentist will avail you of all your options and which solution would be best for you.
Posted in: Smile Makeover, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Hollywood Smiles, Smile Makeover, Teeth Whitening
| December 17, 2009 at 9:58 am | 1 comment
Getting Your Teeth In To TMJ Pain
Few people understand just what a profound effect not having a correctly aligned jaw can have. If your bite is just slightly off then any time you chew or swallow there is a massive amount of pressure being exerted by your jaw on itself. A human being can actually bite hard enough to grind their own teeth to dust, but you are prevented from doing something that extreme by the nerves in your mouth. However it does indicate just how large the forces are that are involved, and just how problematical this force could be if misapplied.
It is these kinds of forces that cause TMJ pain, which is important as it can cause all kinds of knock-on health issues associated with your neck and cranium. Luckily, many of the issues that cause an incorrect bite can be resolved through modern dental care. Some of these are quicker than others and some are more expensive than others, but if you think you are suffering from TMJ pain the only way to receive a correct diganoses and avail yourself of your options is to speak to your dentist.
You dentist will be able to tell you just what kind of TMJ treatment is available, whether it be something relatively simple and cheap such as a tooth extraction or a more longer term solution that involves orthodontics. Perhaps you get frequent headaches or dull pain in your jaw and neck, but you struggle on regardless. Obviously TMJ pain is not life threatening, but ex-sufferers do often claim that its cure has transformed their lives and cannot believe they didn’t bother to get it fixed sooner.
Speak to your local dentist today to hear more about TMJ pain and the problems it may be causing you. They will be able to advise you fully on all the treatment paths available to you and the timescales involved, and hopefully set you on your way to better dental health.
Posted in: TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment
Tags: Bite Problems, TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment
| December 17, 2009 at 9:51 am | No comment
Bracing Yourself For A Dazzling Smile
One kind of orthodontic treatment that you may have heard people talking about is the Inman Aligner, an orthodontic appliance which is used to straighten misaligned teeth and bite problems. The Inman Aligner achieves this by applying slight pressure to various teeth to push and pull them in to a straighter smile. Although this treatment isn’t suitable for all patients, those with severely overcrowded mouths for example, it can be incredibly effective at straightening both upper and lower teeth.
The Inman Aligner is not quite as discreet as other treatments such as Invisalign braces, as there is a thin narrow bar that rests across the front of the front teeth. However it is still a far cry from the rows of brackets cemented on to each tooth that are seen with “train track” braces. Some patients also experience some pain or discomfort as the teeth are gradually forced in a smarter alignment, but the flip side of this is that Inman Aligners produce some of the quickest results, with treatments generally lasting between 6 to 18 weeks. This is of course down to how long the patient wears their braces each day, as with removable braces there is always the temptation to leave them out while socialising or addressing colleagues at work. 20 hours a day is the recommended minimum.
Although this treatment is significantly cheaper than the Invisalign system it can be harder to find cosmetic dentistry clinics that offer it, and it may not be suitable for teeth that require a large amount of movement. However, arranging for a consultation with a cosmetic dentist will allow you to find out exactly what treatment is best suited to giving you the smile that you’re after, and they will be able to answer any further questions you have about the treatment, including pricing and timescales.
Posted in: Bite Problems, Cosmetic Dentistry
Tags: Bite Problems, Cosmetic Dentistry, Inman Aligner, Straighter Smiles
| December 17, 2009 at 9:47 am | 4 comments
The Wonder Of Invisible Braces
As mentioned in a previous blog, an excellent example of how the world of cosmetic dentistry has developed over the years is the Invisalign system. This kind of orthodontic treatment straightens crooked teeth and closes gaps in your smile with the use of a clear plastic aligner, rather than strapping up your mouth with metal wires and elastic bands. This is not only a lot more comfortable for the wearer, who can remove the aligners while eating and to clean their teeth, but they are also far more discreet. In fact most people won’t even notice that you’re wearing them at all!
The first step on the path to a straighter smile from Invisalign is a trip to a cosmetic dentist for a consultation. Most Invisalign certified dentists will not charge you for your initial consultation and this will give them a chance to discuss with you exactly what you’re looking for from your treatment and what procedure they would recommend. In the event that you aren’t suitable for the Invisalign treatment your dentist will still be able to suggest alternative courses of action, some of which we will talk about in later blogs. Either way, this consultation will allow you to make the most informed decision possible and won’t cost you anything, so what do you have to lose?
Should you decide to proceed with the treatment your dentist will take a mould of your teeth and several photos of your bite. These will then be sent to the Invisalign laboratory, where they will create a 3D model of your teeth and use their patented software to simulate the movement of your teeth from their present state to your desired one. The lab will then produce several sets of retainers, each designed to be worn for 2 weeks at a time, moving your teeth little by little to their desired position. Your dentist will explain to you everything you need to know about how to wear your new Invisalign braces, how to clean them and how long the treatment is expected to take.
As these kinds of braces can be removed by the patient, successful treatment does require a certain level of dedication and commitment. If you never wear them then they aren’t going to work, and there is nothing your dentist can do about that! However even if there is some initial discomfort it will be worth it for the winning smile you are left with.
Posted in: Invisalign, braces
Tags: Aligners, braces, cosmetic dentist, Invisalign
| December 17, 2009 at 9:38 am | 2 comments
Counting the Cost
As we grow older, minor issues with the alignment of our teeth or bite can manifest themselves as serious problems, some causing discomfort, others leading to serious infection or damage to surrounding teeth and tissues. However, if you were to speak to most adults with slightly misaligned teeth, the vast majority would not put getting them fixed very highly on their list of priorities for the week, month or even year, even once made aware of the risks to their oral health that they are taking.
Part of the reason for this is the perceived cost of serious orthodontic work, as although a sick man will put no price on regaining his health, an otherwise healthy person with a busy lifestyle and multiple financial commitments will find it hard to justify the outlay on fixing a problem they consider to have not happened yet. The good news is that the vast majority of cosmetic dentists offer some kind of payment plans for large treatments, often at 0% interest. This of course takes a large lump sum that many people may struggle to find in one go and turns it in to little more than another phone bill each month – well worth your future dental health.
Another turn-off for a lot of people is the effect they fear having a mouth full of wires will have on their personal relationships, both at work and in their social lives. What they don’t realise is just how far cosmetic dentistry has come in recent years, and how inconspicuous modern orthodontic treatments can be. One such treatment is known as Invisalign, which involves the wearing of clear aligners that you remove for eating and teeth cleaning. Invisalign aligners are different to the “train-track” braces of old, not only because they can barely be seen when worn, but also because they require no permanent fixings within the mouth, making them significantly more comfortable to wear. We will cover these kinds of braces in more detail in another blog, but if you have been put off orthodontics in the past then it would be well worth your time to revisit the subject with an orthodontist and see what new treatments may be available to you.
Posted in: Orthodontics, Orthodontist
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Invisalign, Orthodontics, Orthodontist
| December 17, 2009 at 9:31 am | 4 comments
The Power Of Veneers
Despite the continued rise in elective cosmetic treatments in the UK, many people are still at a complete loss as to what cosmetic dentistry could do for them. This is most likely because when many people think of cosmetic procedures they think of intrusive surgical options, such as breast enlargement or liposuction, when in reality most people’s smiles can be transformed without any surgery whatsoever.
The most common way of turning crooked or uneven teeth in to that classic Hollywood smile is with the use of dental veneers. These are essentially little shields of material attached to the front of the tooth with a type of dental cement, and can be made from a variety of materials, yet the most common are porcelain veneers. They do not “fix” damaged or misaligned teeth, but they allow your dentist to build a new, straighter, brighter smile on top of your existing one.
Veneers can cover up teeth that are chipped or discoloured, and can also be used to close prominent gaps between existing teeth. They are not a be all and end all in regards to a perfect smile though, as severely crooked teeth will need to be moved using more traditional orthodontic methods first.
The first step towards deciding if veneers are suitable for you is to speak to a good cosmetic dentist. They will be able to take a detailed look at your mouth and tell you exactly whether they think veneers can help and if any additional dental work is needed first. After this meeting you will be armed with all the facts and costs and be able to make an informed decision over how you wish to proceed.
Posted in: Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
Tags: Cosmetic Procedures, Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
| December 17, 2009 at 9:21 am | No comment
