Archive for the “Teeth Whitening” Category

Is Cheap Cosmetic Dentistry Overseas Worth the Risk?

There is an increasing trend amongst people seeking cheap plastic surgery to travel abroad. The same is true of people who are looking to save themselves some money on cosmetic dentistry. However, there are obvious hazards and risks that have been discussed thousands of times before, and the utmost of care should be taken if you’re planning a trip abroad for surgery.

However, it is interesting to note that Turkey, one of the world’s hotspots for medical tourism has recently undergone a significant number advanced developments to their health care system as a direct result of increased revenue from the high number of visiting medical tourists. The once dilapidated Turkish health care system is now highly developed and is comparable to that of much richer countries. So medical tourism in Turkey has had yielded benefits for more than just the patients!

Of course, despite this the medical tourist should be wary. Cosmetic surgery and cosmetic dentistry might be significantly cheaper abroad, but it could potentially end up costing you more than you expected.

Ultimately the best view to hold is that you get what you pay for, and extremely cheap procedures carried out overseas are not likely to be as effective, and in many cases as safe, as those carried out in the UK. For example, if you’re planning on trying some teeth whitening procedures you may be better off having them performed in the UK, even though the same treatment may be less than half the price in other countries. The risks are well publicised, and the number of success stories do outweigh the number of horror stories, but it is always best to take the necessary precautions as there is nothing worse than finding yourself in an extremely difficult situation miles away from home.

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| May 6, 2010 at 9:04 am | No comment

Green Tea Could Help Avoid Need For Cosmetic Dentistry

A recent study conducted in Japan has shown that regular consumption of green tea can in fact improve your oral health. Almost one thousand male subjects participated in the study. They were carefully examined for signs of periodontal disease and those who were experiencing inflammation of the gums and other similar ailments found that their symptoms were eased with the consumption of green tea.

The results are fairly conclusive that drinking green tea is an effective way to alleviate gum disease and improve oral hygiene, although unfortunately it is not entirely clear why. It is thought that the anti-oxidants that are found in green tea are effective in reducing the body’s inflammatory reactions to the various bacteria that cause these diseases.

Good news then for fans of green tea and perhaps something to consider for those who have a poor level of oral hygiene. As far as the world of cosmetic dentistry is concerned, any news like this is good news and your cosmetic dentist will encourage you to get into good habits that are likely to help protect your teeth. If you are a fan of hot drinks such as coffee and tea that can damage your teeth then perhaps you should consider switching to green tea instead. If you’ve recently undergone teeth whitening procedures then green tea may actually be a far better choice of drink as it is less likely to cause staining in addition to various other oral health benefits. It seems that is a far better choice than other popular hot drinks if you want to take good care of your teeth and mouth.

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
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| April 30, 2010 at 9:10 am | No comment

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
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| April 19, 2010 at 1:33 pm | 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.

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| April 12, 2010 at 9:17 am | No comment

Jet Setting Teeth Whitening

Teeth WhiteningIt 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
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| March 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm | No comment

Surgary Drinks Not Always The Right Choice

Cosmetic DentistThe 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
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| March 17, 2010 at 4:52 pm | No comment

Red Wine – The Latest Health Food

Teeth WhiteningIt 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
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| March 10, 2010 at 10:17 am | No comment

Smile Your Way To A Healthier Heart

Cosmetic DentistryScientists 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.

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentists, Smile Makeover, Teeth Whitening
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| February 22, 2010 at 4:14 pm | No comment

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
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| January 29, 2010 at 3:12 pm | No comment

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
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| January 25, 2010 at 10:15 am | 1 comment

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