Archive for January, 2010
Effortless Beauty
Right, with Christmas gone and daylight lasting fractionally longer each day, winter is on the out. Yes, there’s still snow on the ground and it’s too cold to go out in less than three layers or even go out at all, but remember how Christmas came around faster this year? Well, summer will too. It won’t be long before magazines will be running those articles about getting your body in shape for the summer weather and beach time. You’ve got six months, probably less, and they’ll be urging you to start exercising now, to start dieting (a standard New Year’s Resolution anyway) and to consider a wide range of skin products designed to “improve” your general glow from your face to your feet.
Before After
But there are still six months till summer, no matter how quickly they may pass by: the weather is still too cold to go on a diet or go for a run in the park and actually enjoy it, and as for those skin products, anything that even remotely implies a tan in January will draw ridicule, and deservedly so.
But where can you start? Well, there’s always cosmetic dentistry. A stunning, bronzed beach body might impress from afar, but the effect can be offset—nay, completely undone!—by a shabby smile. And, as your face is the only part of you on display at this cold time of year, a knock of confidence in that direction can ruin your enthusiasm to get down to your preparations for summer health. Ask your orthodontist about any cosmetic dentistry options applicable to yourself, from teeth whitening to the correction of crooked teeth, and try building up the summer image immediately. Remember, a beautiful smile doesn’t have to wait until summer to be shown off…
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontist, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Crooked Teeth, Orthodontist
| January 29, 2010 at 3:12 pm | No comment
A Pain In The Neck… And Head… And Back… And Jaw
TMJ Pain
Martial arts students or people who study self-defence will tell you that one of the most effective methods for rendering an assailant unconscious quickly is by applying enough force to the jaw to cause sudden pain in the joint connecting jaw to skull. This then renders whoever is on the receiving end unconscious, so clearly this is an important part of the anatomy; if the reaction to sudden severe pain in this area by the nervous system is to knock you out until it doesn’t hurt quite as bad anymore, then it’s clearly not an area to take risks with.
TMJ pain is caused by structural disorders in the same area, causing symptomatic appearances of pain due to the massive force that the human bite can bring to bear being misaligned and causing damage to one or both of these joints. This is bad news and the pain this causes can be found in the neck and shoulders too, and is not something one should live with. There are temporary pain relief measures, but nobody wants pain as a constant companion.
A cosmetic dentist can tell you about the various TMJ treatment options available, which vary depending on the cause and severity of the pain. Now, TMJ pain is not fatal, but constant uncomfortable pain in this area can have various knock-on effects to your mood, health and even your ability to complete necessary daily tasks, such as work, for example. In addition, relying heavily on painkillers to manage TMJ pain can be detrimental to your health. The best option is to consult your local dentist and have the problem fixed and the pain stopped.
Posted in: TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment, cosmetic dentist
Tags: cosmetic dentist, TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment
| January 25, 2010 at 3:11 pm | 2 comments
Finding The Middle Ground
Many people manage to quit smoking. It is possible, it’s not a myth, and your health really does improve as a result. But while those nicotine stains on your smoking hand might fade away, the stains on your teeth that smoking causes will not, and your smile will always give you away as having been a smoker. Let’s be honest, it’s not a pleasant sight, is it? Shane MacGowan might be cool, but his teeth could scare children. Just because you don’t smell like smoke anymore doesn’t mean that the other aesthetic drawbacks of smoking will disappear overnight.
There are a few different ways to improve that smile—and despite rumours to the contrary, ex-smokers do smile—and the first of these would be over-the-counter teeth whitening kits. These are good options, although it is important to read the instructions or you could end up with a smile like David Schwimmer’s character Ross in that episode of Friends. You know, the one where he leaves the peroxide on overnight and his smile can be seen under a blacklight. A cosmetic dentist can tell you how to operate these kits, should you be in any doubt, and as you neither want to horrify nor blind people with your smile. It’s best to seek their advice if you have any queries over your teeth, and many cosmetic dentists offer free consultations about the stain removal and teeth whitening options available to you.
Faster, if more expensive, options are to have your cosmetic dentist whiten your teeth for you. The various methods they can employ depend on the severity of the staining, but as skilled professionals they can distance you from the Pogues look without making you the punchline of a sitcom gag.
Posted in: Teeth Whitening, cosmetic dentist
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Teeth Whitening, Teeth Whitening Kits
| January 25, 2010 at 10:15 am | 1 comment
Hollywood Smile or Slough Scowl?
Last night saw the stars of stage and screen, plus a few from elsewhere, turn out en en mass for the 67th annual Golden Globes. Although the ceremony can’t hold a candle to the Oscars in terms of rampant celebrity fervour, the Globes are often an early indication of who the winners and losers will be at the Academy’s own bash and so are monitored closely by industry watchers.
Before After?
This year’s ceremony offered a slight break with convention by being presented by a single MC for the whole night. What raised even more eyebrows was the choice of presenter with, love him or loathe him, Ricky Gervais being given free rein to lampoon and berate whoever he saw fit during the course of the evening. Ricky Gervais is somewhat of a novelty in Hollywood in that he still has his original smile when so many other actors and actresses (ie 99.99999% of them) buy in to the so called Hollywood Smile (the clue is in the name I guess).
Perhaps he is unsure of how braces may affect his confidence and public persona, how they will look on camera, or maybe just what his friends will think. This is something that many people worry about when considering dental procedures, but with modern developments like the Invisalign system there is no need to get hung up on having a mouth full of metal wires. The beauty of the Invisalign system is that they are completely clear and therefore nearly invisible. Perhaps if someone told Ricky about this he might be looking a bit more Hollywood in time for next year’s awards.
Posted in: Invisalign, braces
Tags: braces, Golden Globes, Hollywood Smile, Invisalign
| January 18, 2010 at 4:42 pm | No comment
No Excuse For A Great Smile
Having crooked or misaligned teeth can have a serious impact on your confidence. Are you the only one not smiling in your holiday photos? Do you feel self conscious when giving a presentation at work? You are not alone, with surveys showing that a huge proportion of people in the Western world would change something about their teeth if they had the chance. Well perhaps you do.
Before After
The science of cosmetic dentistry is evolving all of the time and so if all you know of orthodontics is a mass of metal wires then perhaps you might want to look again. There are all kinds of different treatments available now, some that are best for making slight alterations and others that can completely transform your bite, face and smile.
The most striking and immediate effect you will see is with dental veneers. These are essentially little shields of material cemented on to the front of your existing teeth, covering up any discoloured, chipped or uneven teeth along the way. They can also be used to close gaps between teeth and can be used to literally build a brand new, perfect smile right over the top of your existing one. Dental veneers can be made from a variety of materials but the most popular is porcelain.
This kind of treatment can be expensive but the vast majority of dental clinics offer some kind of credit and payment scheme, allowing you to spread the cost over a number of months. Having the renewed confidence that a new, perfect smile can bring can transform your life, and with such easy finance options available there aren’t many reasons left not to go for it.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Orthodontics
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Orthodontics
| January 15, 2010 at 11:58 am | 1 comment
Cost Efficient Smile Makeovers
Most people have some feature of their body that they don’t feel 100% comfortable with. In fact it’s such a common fact of life that phrases such as “Does my bum look big in this?” have become clichés quoted as often as the greatest works of philosophy and literature. In terms of body shape, often a change of diet and more regular exercise will produce the desired effect, but if you’re not comfortable with your smile then there is not a lot you can do to improve it without professional help.
Before After
This can be a stumbling block for some as they feel slightly embarrassed by seeking professional cosmetic help, and they automatically assume that it will be incredibly expensive. This is not necessarily true as with continuing advances in the field of smile makeovers, the cost of treatments is coming down all of the time. Many clinics also offer very sensible credit plans to help spread the cost of treatments.
Many cosmetic dentists offer free consultations where they can examine your current bite, teeth alignment and what you want your smile to look like, and advise on exactly what course of treatment they think in required to get there. One method of smile makeover which is becoming more and more common is using porcelain veneers. This method involves using a series of tooth shaped porcelain “shields” to essentially build a new smile over your old one, filling in any existing gaps and providing a bright, straight smile. Porcelain veneers aren’t suitable for everyone however, and some people may require additional orthodontic work to prepare their bite first. That said, if you are unsatisfied with your smile then you’ll never know what is possible until you speak to a cosmetic dentist, so why wait?
Posted in: Porcelain Veneers, Smile Makeover
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Orthodontic Work, Porcelain Veneers, Smile Makeovers, Teeth Alignment
| January 11, 2010 at 12:25 pm | No comment
Check Your Bite
Misaligned or uneven teeth can cause bite problems in people of all ages. The misalignment of teeth is called malocclusion, and can be caused by myriad factors including habits, accidents or just the way they have grown. It can also be a side effect of other dental treatments earlier in the patient’s life, but thankfully all types of malocclusion are treatable.
Before After
A common complaint following restorative dental work on a crown or filling is that it is too high or thick. This can lead to pain not just in that particular tooth but also complaints from pain in facial muscles being asked to work in an unfamiliar manner. Continued malocclusion can even lead to more serious problems such as TMJ pain.
If you are concerned that you may have bite problems then you should speak to a dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible. If the problem is more an aesthetic one then it may be best to seek the advice of a dedicated cosmetic dentist to make sure you receive the most relevant and up to date information as possible. These people will be able to diagnose exactly what they think may be causing the discomfort or pain and advise the most appropriate course of treatment or therapy. Remember that not all the treatments that you have read about may be suitable for you personally, but if you attend your consultations with an open mind then you will be able to make an informed decision with your dentist on the best course of action to take.
Posted in: Bite Problems, cosmetic dentist
Tags: Bite Problems, cosmetic dentist, Malocclusion, Orthodontist, TMJ Pain
| January 8, 2010 at 11:22 am | 1 comment
Smile Maintenance in 2010
With the holiday season behind us, now is the time to examine some of those general New Year resolutions we all made and perhaps distil them in to something slightly more realistic and manageable to achieve. Something many people promise themselves, especially those who have just invested a large chunk of change in some cosmetic dentistry work, is how they’re going to take better care of their teeth. Regular, correct brushing, flossing and the use of mouthwash all make up a good dental health routine, and everyone remembers from their childhood the damage that sweets and confectionary do. However most people could still improve their dental health further by reducing their intake of the following things:
Black Coffee – Can stain the teeth. Try taking it with milk or just cutting down your intake overall.
Black Tea – This can also stain your teeth, but herbal variants are much more smile friendly.
Red Wine – Also there are chemicals in red wine that can help guard against periodontal disease, excessive consumption can discolour teeth, while the acidic nature of the alcohol erodes the enamel.
Cola – The phosphoric citric acid found in most cola drinks is used to wash blood off the road by US highway patrolmen; so imagine what it’s doing to your teeth! These drinks are also typically very sugary.
Cranberry Juice – Although pure fruit juice is a far healthier alternative to the tipples above, the high concentration of pigment can turn your teeth yellow if drunk regularly.
If you feel like you simply can’t do without any of these things then do not worry. There are many teeth whitening products and treatments available that you can use to periodically top up the dazzle in your smile, many of which you can use by yourself at home. Good luck with those resolutions!
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Care, Oral Hygiene, Teeth Whitening
| January 4, 2010 at 3:29 pm | No comment
