Archive for the “Cosmetic Dentistry” Category
Good References Important Before Taking Cosmetic Dentistry Plunge
In the news this week has been the Houston physician jailed for administering fake Botox injections to her patients. Over 170 patients were treated in this way, believing they were receiving the official brand-name botulism derivative Botox, when actually they were being treated with a cut-priced alternative which had not yet been cleared for use in humans. Perhaps most alarmingly, the doctor in questions still appears unrepentant for the risks she took with her patients for the sake of a quick buck, telling a judge, “I made a mistake, and it became a federal case.”
If anything this demonstrates the vulnerability of patients to unscrupulous practises by those who owe them a duty of care, but cases of such malpractice are incredibly rare and are barely ever seen in the world of cosmetic dentistry. It is, however, important to always secure quality, independent references vouching when choosing a clinic for any elective procedure, such as porcelain veneers or teeth whitening.
Of course, in some countries, black market cosmetic procedures are knowingly embarked upon by patients. Take the case of “The Silicons”, a gang from, Venezuela, recently jailed for performing hundreds of cosmetic surgical procedures with little or no formal medical training. Scary stuff, but fortunately unlikely to happen to Harley Street!
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening
| April 19, 2010 at 1:33 pm | No comment
Cosmetic Dentistry Is More Than Celebrity Makeovers
It is easy to get caught up in the negative publicity that some cosmetic medical procedures generate and tar the whole industry with it. Cosmetic treatments often have the same blanket generalisation applied to them as being unnecessary, or only for the incredibly vain, and this has extended at times in to the world of cosmetic dentistry through their increased exposure from extreme makeover reality TV programs.
Whatever your opinion of the people featured on those programs or the celebrities who (allegedly) spend more time under the knife than not, it is important not to forget the serious medical benefits that recent advances in the science have brought to thousands of people worldwide. There are many people who, through no fault of their own, develop a teeth or jaw alignment which is not only unattractive to look at, but actually affects their eating, breathing and general health. These issues go far beyond the mere aesthetics of the mouth and the changes provided by orthodontists have far reaching and life changing implications for the individual. Especially in the case of long term sufferers of TMJ pain.
It is also important that if you suffer with your teeth, perhaps from a misaligned bite or just the lack of confidence from a wonky smile, you shouldn’t be put off doing something about it just because of what you fear people might think about you. Your happiness and health should never be allowed to suffer due to the prejudices of others.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontists, TMJ Pain
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontist, TMJ Pain
| April 16, 2010 at 10:11 am | No comment
Easy Stain Removal With Teeth Whitening
If you are feeling less than confident about your teeth when you smile then teeth whitening can be a very effective way of making the natural colour of your teeth lighter without removing any of the tooth’s surface.
There are several reasons why you may wish to get your teeth whitened, everyone is different and just as everyone’s hair or skin colour varies so does the colour of our teeth, not everyone can have brilliant white teeth. Also the colour of our teeth can change as we get older. Your teeth can also become stained from the food and drink we consume such as tea, coffee and red wine and of course if you smoke that can also stain your teeth.
There are several teeth whitening solutions available but the most effective is a professional teeth whitening procedure carried out at your cosmetic dentistry practice. These will give the better results and will be longer lasting. Other solutions are available such as home whitening kits which can vary greatly in the quality of results achieved and of course you will all have seen whitening toothpastes on your supermarket shelves. Whitening toothpastes don’t actually white your teeth as such or change their colour but they are effective at removing stains so therefore improving the appearance of your teeth.
How long your teeth will stay whiter can vary from person to person but cutting down on those foods or drinks that can stain teeth and stopping smoking will of course help the results last longer, along with a good oral hygiene routine.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
| April 12, 2010 at 9:17 am | No comment
Porcelain Veneers For A Touch Of Hollywood
I’m sure you will agree that first impressions count. Imagine that if every time you smiled you were very confident that your teeth were as straight and as sparklingly white as a Hollywood film star. Well thanks to cosmetic dentistry you can be! Dental veneers are wafer thin shaped porcelain pieces that attach to the front of the teeth which means that you can say goodbye to stained, crooked or damaged teeth forever.
The easiest way to think of dental veneers is in the same way as false finger nails. Veneers are bonded to the front of the teeth in a quick and painless way leaving you with a perfect and dazzling smile.
You should consider dental veneers if you have damaged or chipped teeth; stained teeth from food, wine, coffee and smoking; crooked teeth, for teeth that are not overly crooked; also for spaces and gaps between your teeth, dental veneers can correct all of these problems.
There are two materials that are used to make dental veneers, a composite material and porcelain. Porcelain veneers are by far the more popular option as they are much stronger, they do not stain as easily, are much more natural looking and they will last much longer. Porcelain dental veneers can last up to five or ten years whereas composite veneers will last for a year or two at most. Of course to make your veneers last as long as possible it is important to follow a good oral hygiene routine and to visit your dentist at least every 6 months.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers
| April 7, 2010 at 3:47 pm | No comment
Orthodontists Bearing Their Teeth At TV Show
Dentists have recently condemned the hit American TV Show ‘Ugly Betty’ for its negative portrayal of dental braces. In the show the lead character wears a pair of ‘train track’ wire braces. Orthodontics experts are worried that this could discourage people who need braces, as they may associate the unsightly train track style with orthodontic work. However, it is very rare for adults to be fitted with this style of braces and on the odd occasion when they are they are usually only ever required to wear them for a maximum of two years. The fact that braces are associated with ‘ugliness’, as portrayed in the program, has orthodontists worried about people avoiding having the treatment, when they may desperately need it.
However, if you’re one of these people who need corrective work done to their teeth, but are turned off by the idea of wearing braces then you should consult your orthodontist. They’ll be able to offer you a range of alternative treatments, and if it turns out that you are required to wear braces then it’s pretty unlikely you’ll have to wear the train track style wire braces. Modern braces are much more discrete and if some cosmetic dentistry experts are even able to offer their clients alternative corrective treatments that are just as effective as braces, but barely noticeable.
At the end of the day, you shouldn’t be worried about wearing braces as although popular TV shows may portray them as being typically unsightly, the fact is that most people probably won’t even notice you’re wearing them.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontics, Orthodontists, braces
Tags: braces, Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontics, Orthodontist
| March 25, 2010 at 4:03 pm | No comment
Grinding Out The Recession
It has been widely reported in the press recently that dentists across the country have noticed a massive increase in the number of people with damage to their teeth brought about by teeth grinding. Naturally the blame for this has been aimed squarely at the recession, the cause of all evil in the world. It’s hardly surprising that people are grinding their teeth to the point where they’re causing permanent damage, with the never ending stream of economic strife being broadcast through all media outlets it seems as though we’ve got plenty to grind our teeth about.
Of course, teeth grinding is neither productive nor healthy, and this habit can actually end up causing some serious damage to your teeth. Some of the worst news is that teeth grinding, like all unbalanced overuse of the jaw muscle, can bring on the dreaded TMJ pain. This is a most painful an irritating condition to suffer from and it’s surely far worse than any recession. It can bring about intense pain in the mandibles. Thankfully there are plenty of kinds of TMJ treatment that a cosmetic dentistry expert could advise you on, and many of these treatments have been shown to effectively relieve TMJ pain.
Of course, you could always try to relax and perhaps knock the teeth grinding on the head. It’ll save you a lot of stress and sleepless nights, and perhaps you’ll manage to avoid the onset of TMJ pain, an experience that nobody should have to suffer!
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, TMJ Pain, TMJ Treatment
| March 23, 2010 at 3:17 pm | No comment
Jet Setting Teeth Whitening
It seems that an interesting new teeth whitening procedure that allegedly takes only twenty minutes is now being offered to travellers passing through Birmingham airport! As strange as it sounds to have a service such as this available in an airport it is presumably it’s a good way to kill some time if you’re waiting around for your flight.
However, cosmetic dentistry experts might cast a wry eye on a service such as this, as effective teeth whitening procedures, even a simple bleaching, will generally take significantly longer than twenty minutes to complete successfully. Although it might be tempting, with cosmetic dental procedures now being offered at international airports, to attempt a quick fix, most experts would recommend that you consult a cosmetic dentist before making any decisions about treatment. At any rate, a teeth whitening procedure that purportedly takes only twenty minutes and is available at an airport is unlikely to as effective as the treatments performed by a cosmetic dentistry expert in a surgery.
At any rate, if the thought of having some corrective work done to your teeth has crossed your mind then you’d be better off having a proper consultation as many cosmetic dentists will be able to offer you a variety of treatments, not just teeth whitening. So, you could have TMJ treatment, if you’re a sufferer of TMJ pain, and a smile makeover to augment your teeth whitening.
The airport certainly isn’t the place to make hasty decisions about cosmetic dental treatment, so consult an expert and have your teeth corrected professionally.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Densitry, Cosmetic Dentists, Teeth Whitening
| March 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm | No comment
Surgary Drinks Not Always The Right Choice
The latest step in the government’s never ending quest to make sure we know what is good and bad for our health is a series of adverts highlighting the various illnesses that can be brought on by excessive alcohol consumption. This isn’t the first time that the dangers of alcohol have been pointed out to the general public and revellers on nights out are often encouraged to drink soft drinks rather than vast quantities of alcohol. Of course, this will make sure that you don’t get too drunk and end up making a fool of yourself, but it’s not necessarily good news for your teeth.
Rather than having a soft drink in-between your alcoholic beverages when you’re out on the town have some water instead! Most alcoholic drinks aren’t particularly good for your teeth at the best of times, notably wine, but soft drinks are even worse and if you’re drinking them regularly then this could cause you problems with your teeth! This is a very good way to go about corroding and discolouring your teeth, so avoid the pop and go for water. This doesn’t just apply to nights out though; ditching sugary drinks in general will do a lot of good for your teeth.
We all know prevention is the best cure, but we might not have enough self restraint to resist the temptation of sweet soft drinks. Thankfully there are a range of teeth whitening solutions and other treatments available from your local cosmetic dentistry specialist that can improve the appearance some of the damage and staining caused by excessive sugary drinks. So, if you’re not happy with the condition of stained discoloured teeth you should perhaps look into the possibility of teeth whitening procedures, a qualified cosmetic dentist will be able to fill you in on the details. However, you really should try and avoid the problem rather than seek to correct it!
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening, cosmetic dentist
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
| March 17, 2010 at 4:52 pm | No comment
Dental Hygiene A Long Term Issue
Recent research has shown that an alarming number of children are suffering from oral diseases as a result of their poor dental hygiene. There has been an increase in the number of children and young people suffering from oral diseases and tooth decay in the past twenty years, which may come as a surprise to some people as we live an age of excellent health care.
However, the problem seems to be that people aren’t teaching their children how to care for their teeth. How to brush properly is a very important skill that needs to be taught at an early age and the introduction of other oral hygiene techniques such as flossing and using mouthwash should be explained to children as soon as possible too.
Many problems can arise in later life as a result of not properly looking after your teeth as a child, and not all of them will be purely cosmetic. It’s certainly true that many oral problems can be tackled with cosmetic dentistry. For example, discolour teeth can be whitened using porcelain veneers. But, you must remember that cosmetic dentistry is just that, cosmetic. So, there are many serious oral problems that can arise from not taking proper care of your teeth as a child that cannot be fixed by a cosmetic dentist!
It’s best to ensure that your children know how to take care of their teeth and ensure that they also do if you want them to avoid serious dental problems in later life.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, cosmetic dentist
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers
| March 12, 2010 at 2:29 pm | No comment
Red Wine – The Latest Health Food
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!
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
| March 10, 2010 at 10:17 am | No comment
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