Clear braces are now available from dentists in London
If you asked a crowd of people what they picture when they hear the word ‘braces’, they would probably describe the famous metal train-tracks. However, orthodontic treatment has advanced rapidly and there is currently a varied selection of appliances which are completely invisible or highly discreet.
In the past, if you wanted orthodontic treatment you had a limited range of options, which pretty much included variations of the standard fixed metal brace, but this is no longer the case. Thanks to amazing developments in the field of orthodontics, you can have treatment without anyone even realising.
Clear braces
Clear braces provide the perfect solution for people who want straighter teeth but do not want to wear unsightly metal braces for months on end. Treatments such as Clearstep and Invisalign move the teeth using clear plastic aligners, which are invisible to others. Both systems use a series of aligners that are worn for a set period of time before being replaced by the next in the series, until treatment is complete.
Why choose clear braces?
The major benefit of clear braces is that they are invisible to others, which is great if you are worried about how you will look during the treatment process or embarrassed about wearing braces. The aligners are transparent and nobody will be able to tell that you are wearing them. In just a short period of time you can show off a straight, healthy looking set of teeth and feel confident that you have a beautiful smile.
The other major advantage of Invisalign and Clearstep braces is that the aligners are removable, which means you can take them out to eat, drink and clean your teeth. They can also be removed if you are attending a special event or occasion. The aligners are custom-made and move the teeth gently, meaning you shouldn’t experience any pain or discomfort and there are no brackets or wires to trap food, which will decrease the risk of developing oral health problems.
Posted in: Orthodontics
Tags: Clear braces, Clearstep, Invisalign, orthodontic treatment
| December 6, 2011 at 3:36 pm | No comment
London dentists look at why dental phobia needs more attention
You are at the dentist office. If the perspiration is falling from your face, your heart rate is increasing, your hands are shaking and you’re only in the waiting room, you’re not alone. Four out of the five people sitting there feel the same way. When the technician calls your name, the shaking gets worse and your stomach turns over. Why? You have what is known as dental phobia (fear of the dentist, the dental work, dentistry, and that entire field of medicine).
What is the reason behind it?
Dental work, while thought to be minor on a medical scale, can become majorly horrific to a person who is fearful. Some dentists offer sedation (some light and some heavy) in order to calm the patient and make the procedures more tolerable. However, very little is known as to why people are so apprehensive. The very person, who would go to a general practitioner and endure poking and probing, blood work and injections with minimal stress, would walk on hot coals in order to avoid dental work.
Whether generated by white coats and sterile surroundings, the equipment that has the appearance of robotic arms or simply the possibility of pain, the major cause for dental phobia is unknown. Many phobias are caused by the fear of the loss of control of the situation or helplessness. Some are caused by the mere site of objects or people. Other phobias appear to have no recognisable basis. Fight or flight panic attacks control the patients whole being and for a time nothing can be done to calm the fear.
The truth about dental phobia
In the play, “Little Shop of Horrors,” dentists are portrayed as sadists who derive pleasure from causing pain. The play is funny, the perception is not. Many patients feel that dentists are uncaring and malicious when actually the opposite is true. Dentists strive to eliminate any pain or discomfort and many dentists will contact patients after a procedure is done in order to make sure everything is okay. However, many people consider dental work as an unnecessary evil and they put off going to the dentist as long as possible. This action in itself is harmful because in the long run, putting off needed dental work causes the need for more dental work.
More studies should be done into why so many patients are afraid of dental procedures. Dental phobia is very real and very debilitating. Sedation helps, Novocaine helps, sodium pentothal helps, but to date nothing exists that can take away the knot in the stomach when a patient realises it’s once again time to go to the dentist.
Posted in: Dental Phobia
Tags: anxiety, dental treatment, scared of dentist, sedation
| November 30, 2011 at 1:40 pm | No comment
Don’t let the winter months get you down – London teeth whitening can brighten your day
It is a well-known fact that the weather and seasonal changes can have a massive influence on a person’s mood. With the temperature dropping and the nights drawing in, winter is well and truly on its way.
As darkness descends yet again, there is no need to despair, as winter doesn’t have to be a dull and gloomy time. You can go a long way towards brightening each winter day with a smile that sparkles, thanks to new and improved tooth whitening techniques, which are sure to shift those seasonal blues.
What teeth whitening options do I have?
There are plenty of ways to achieve whiter teeth and a more radiant smile and the benefits are self evident, with a better smile meaning more confidence, which translates to a happier you, in both your social and professional life. There are three main kinds of tooth whitening experiences available, so everybody is sure to find a way to improve their smile, which can fit both their lifestyle and their budget.
Enlighten Deep Bleach:
Utilises a super seal extreme whitening system, which is guaranteed to provide excellent results. This simple system negates the need for any sort of light activation or high concentration gels and it is a market leader in tooth whitening.
Ramp home whitening:
This is a gel based system made by Enlighten, which gently ‘ramps up’ the concentration of the gel used, in order to give a perfect white smile over the course of 15 days. Patients can subsequently use a ‘mini ramp’ kit, which works over a shorter duration of six days, if they want to ‘top up’ the whiteness of their treated teeth.
Zoom laser teeth whitening:
This is a super speedy option, which is capable of enhancing the whiteness of a smile by as many as 10 shades in as little as an hour!
Posted in: Teeth Whitening
Tags: home whitening, Professional teeth whitening, Tooth whitening, White smiles
| November 24, 2011 at 1:37 pm | No comment
London dentists look at the relationship between alcohol and oral health
We’ve all heard about the negative effects that alcohol consumption can have on our bodies: liver damage, dehydration and various other physical maladies. Rarely, however, do we take the time to think of what alcohol consumption and/or alcohol addiction can have on our oral health. For many of us this can be a damaging thing, as the negative effects of alcohol on oral health are indeed plentiful. Indeed, it can lead to the need for expensive treatment from cosmetic dentists such as dental implants and dentures.
Tooth Decay
You wouldn’t eat candy for every meal of the day because you know what it can do to your teeth. Many are surprised to find that the over-consumption of alcohol can have the same effects. Sugars and acids contained in alcohol bind with the bacteria in the mouth and coat the teeth and oral tissues with an acid. This acid can erode the enamel of the tooth and eventually cause cavities and other damage. One drink isn’t going to hurt; multiple drinks over several hours just may. By not giving your teeth a chance to re-mineralise, you are wreaking havoc on your dental enamel.
Dry Mouth
Alcohol dries your mouth, reducing the salivary output and thus the washing away of harmful bacteria. This interruption of the natural processes of the mouth can speed the formation of erosion and eventual decay of the teeth.
Poor Healing
Persons that consume large amounts of alcohol damage their bodies to the point that healing after accidents or surgeries is impaired. If a person must undergo oral surgery of any type, and is a moderate to heavy drinker, they can expect a less than average response with regards to healing time and success.
Oral Care Compliance
People who face addiction to alcohol and other drugs often neglect their health. The addiction takes prime importance above all else. This lack of regard for maintaining health, particularly oral health, can lead to many forms of disease. Gum, tongue and oral tissue irritation, tooth decay and periodontal disease are all seen more often in those that consume alcohol on a regular basis.
It has been found when studying those persons in treatment for alcohol addiction that a great percentage are missing teeth, have poor oral health conditions such as gum disease in general and/or are at a great risk for developing oral cancers. It is strongly urged that anyone consuming moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol seek help for their addiction in order to restore their overall health.
Posted in: General dentistry
Tags: alcohol and oral health, oral care, oral health, tooth decay
| November 18, 2011 at 1:34 pm | No comment
Invisalign teen is ready and waiting at London dentists to straighten teeth
Being a teenager can be an incredibly difficult time, especially if you suffer from orthodontic problems. Luckily, dentistry has come a long way in recent years and braces treatment for teenagers has moved on from traditional and potentially embarrassing metal braces.
Modern Brace Treatment
Although braces are a necessary part of dental treatment for many people, they can be both unsightly and uncomfortable, which can make going to the dentist seem like an undesirable necessity. However, Invisalign Teen offers teenagers a fresh perspective on this age-old problem, providing discreet, unnoticeable and effective treatment, without the need for wires or metal brackets.
Clear, Effective Treatment
The Invisalign Teen treatment is different from most traditional treatments, as it can fit around a teenager’s lifestyle and provides a sense of control and flexibility, which isn’t available with other brace treatments.
Invisalign Teen utilises a series of barely visible aligners, which are custom made for each individual’s teeth. Treatment with Invisalign Teen is extremely quick and easy and provides many benefits over traditional orthodontic treatments. Chief among these benefits is its removability and patients are able to take out their aligners whenever they want, whether out with friends, playing sports or giving a presentation.
Effective Treatment within a Small Time-Frame
The treatment is highly effective and results can be seen in a relatively short amount of time compared to traditional braces. The aligners are changed every two weeks, to ensure that they are providing optimum performance and complete treatment.
Patients also get the added bonus of increased confidence, as the aligners are virtually undetectable when worn and Invisalign Teen looks set to be the orthodontic treatment of the future.
Posted in: Invisalign
Tags: brace treatment, Invisalign, Invisalign braces, Invisalign teen
| November 12, 2011 at 1:32 pm | No comment
The difference a dental cleaning from your London dentist can make to your smile
Most people think the only way to achieve a perfect smile is to undergo numerous cosmetic dental treatments, such as tooth whitening, veneers and invisible braces. While these are all excellent options to transform dull, tired smiles, one of the most underrated procedures, dental cleaning, can make a world of difference to your smile, without the need for expensive or costly cosmetic dental treatments.
Dental cleanings are commonly known as a scale and polish and thoroughly rid the mouth of plaque and tartar deposits, which may have built up over time. Teeth can gradually develop a build up of a chalky deposit (a calcium build up), in much the same way that a kettle can develop limescale over the duration of its life. This build up is referred to as tartar, which can greatly damage a person’s teeth and gums if it goes unchecked and can also affect a person’s smile, as tartar can be an unsightly brown colour.
Fortunately, dental cleaning is a quick and simple procedure that leaves the teeth both clean and smooth, which makes it very difficult for bacteria to spread. As well as providing a healthier mouth and smile, dental cleaning also leaves the teeth feeling incredibly slick, smooth and radiant.
Dental cleaning can be performed with a variety of instruments, including an ultrasonic vibrator (which ‘tickles’ tartar loose), fine hand tools and polishing devices.
The procedure is extremely quick and painless and can go a long way towards making a difference to a person’s smile.
Posted in: Dental Health
Tags: dental cleaning, oral bacteria, oral health, scale and polish
| November 6, 2011 at 1:17 pm | No comment
Teeth Whitening to Brighten Your Smile at Your London Dentist
Is the discolouration of your smile grating your nerves? Would you give almost anything for a reason to smile all day long? Well, there is a way you can do this and that way is teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is a very simple cosmetic treatment that your dentist can offer you. Of course, there are some home kits you can buy from the local supermarket but the professionals are the only ones who know how to do it right.
Why do teeth become discoloured?
Your teeth can get stained and ruin your smile in a number of ways. This is often based on the way we live our lives and can happen through things like drinking coffee and red wine or smoking. It can even happen because of certain medication you have been taking. It may be because of age that your teeth have lost their pearly whiteness or through tooth decay and fillings or even if they have been knocked a few times, as this damages the nerves and blood vessels inside your teeth.
Restore your tooth whiteness
Teeth whitening is basically a way to restore the original whiteness of your teeth. The procedure itself depends on a number of things, such as what type of stains you have and where it is located. This will then impact on the amount of time the whitening gel will be used, the concentrate of peroxide inside the gel and the intensity of light used to whiten the discoloration of the teeth.
The best bit about tooth whitening is that it is practically painless. Your teeth may feel a little sensitive after the treatment, but after a short while the discomfort should subside and you can go about your life exactly how you used to – but with a much whiter and confident looking smile.
Posted in: Teeth Whitening
Tags: cosmetic treatment, discolouration, Teeth Whitening, Tooth whitening
| October 29, 2011 at 12:12 pm | No comment
Invisalign at Your London Dentist For The Invisible Route to Straighter Teeth
Have you had enough of your teeth looking irregular or do you hate the idea of braces to get the perfect smile? Then Invisalign is the treatment for you.
For those of you who don’t know what Invisalign is: It’s a treatment that consists of almost invisible aligners that are changed every two weeks to make room for your next set of aligners. The aligners that you have are moulded and made for your teeth, so you don’t have to go around wearing obvious braces for the world to see.
There are a number of different orthodontic problems that Invisalign can treat; these include problems such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, crowded teeth and widely spaced teeth.
To begin you will need a consultation to discuss whether Invisalign is for you, after which a treatment plan will be put in place before the dentist takes impressions of your teeth to be sent off for processing. This then allows the dentist to plan the movements of your teeth throughout your treatment and will allow you to see the before, during and after effect of your teeth via a 3D image.
After this is done and the treatment plan has been agreed, you will be issued with your first set of aligners allowing the treatment to begin. You would be required to meet with your dentist every 4-6 weeks during your treatment to monitor your progress, and you will begin to see that your teeth will gradually realign themselves into that perfect smile you’ve always wanted.
The full treatment tends to take between 9-18 months depending on the individual and would typically include 18-36 aligners for both the upper and lower teeth.
Posted in: Invisalign
Tags: Invisalign, Invisalign aligners, invisible braces, teeth straightening
| October 24, 2011 at 12:06 pm | No comment
Dental Veneers are Available at Your London Dentist To Makeover Your Smile
If your smile is getting you down and is impacting on your confidence, then maybe you should try out dental veneers to help you get that confident glow back in your life.
If your smile bas become stained, crooked, damaged, chipped or you have gaps in your teeth, then dental veneers are probably the best option for you. Age and other lifestyle factors can have a damaging effect on the way our smiles look, so it can be a good idea to get a helping hand from your cosmetic dentist.
What are they?
Veneers are very small pieces of material coloured to look like your other teeth, which are cemented to the front of the tooth you have issues with. This results in a much better looking smile to brighten your day. There are two different types of veneers, which are porcelain and composite. The better and more popular option of the two amongst patients is the porcelain veneers; this is down to them being stronger and lasting longer than composite ones.
Porcelain veneers are also designed to give a more natural look to your newly formed smile, as well as being much harder to stain than composite veneers. They also last between 5 and 10 years as long you look after them, whereas composite can last up to two years at most.
What does the treatment involve?
The procedure for the treatment is very simple. It starts with a consultation where the dentist will see if you are suitable for veneers and they will then explain the procedure to you. During the procedure a small piece of the surface of the existing tooth will be removed before the veneer is shaped and sculpted onto the tooth. Anything left over from the procedure will be polished off leaving you with a fresh new smile.
Posted in: Smile Makeover
Tags: Chipped teeth, Dental Veneers, Porcelain Veneers, Smile Makeover
| October 17, 2011 at 11:49 am | No comment
London Dental Implants Can Remedy Your Missing Teeth
Do you have issues with the fact that you have fewer teeth than you should? Is it causing difficulty with day-to-day things like eating or just genuinely making you feel insecure about your smile? Well, maybe dental implants are something you could consider.
Dental Implants are made up of titanium metal, which responds well with the body. This is then implanted into your jawbone as a support for however many false teeth you require. You can attach dentures, crowns or bridges to the implant with the use of screws or clips to attach them to the top of the implant.
So How Do They Do It?
There are a number of procedures depending on whether you have lost one tooth, several teeth or perhaps all of them. The procedure itself is then done under a local anaesthetic and the implants are placed during a small operation, in which a small hole will be drilled into the jawbone where the implant is required and the titanium implant then inserted.
The gum is then stitched covering the implant. What is typically done if there isn’t enough bone material is a bone graft, where the dentist will build up narrow or thin jawbone in order for the bone to be thick enough to hold the implant, and bone loss can vary from person to person. If the bone loss is in the upper jaw then a sinus shift may be performed.
After the procedure a little discomfort may occur due to the natural healing process. It can take up to 6 months for the implant to bond with the jawbone.
But it is worth it in the long run because, depending on how you look after your new teeth, they can last a lifetime.
Posted in: Dental Implant
Tags: bone graft, Dental implants, False teeth, sinus shift
| October 11, 2011 at 11:41 am | No comment
