Archives for April, 2012

Patients are Choosing the Correct Braces with the Help of London Dentists

April 28th, 2012

Orthodontic appliances can straighten teeth for improved smiles, but in addition they can also help patients from London when a tooth is missing. They are generally worn for approximately 2 years, although the time required depends on the severity of the problem. There are mainly three types of orthodontics braces available today. The best type of orthodontics braces for an individual depends on various factors and each brace has their pros and cons.

Metal Braces

These are the traditional or conventional braces. The biggest disadvantage and the main reason why people look for other kinds of braces are because they are very visible and obvious. However, the main benefit of these braces is that they are the most cost effective solution and those who wish to retain the cost to a minimum may have to go with this option.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are made of materials that look like natural teeth. Due to this colour-match material the brackets become hard to see and are less obvious. Because of this low visibility they are also known as clear braces. Even the colour of the wire that goes through the bracket would be much similar to the colour of the teeth. The major concern with Ceramic braces is that the material used is not as strong as the metal braces and could get broken. Along with being weaker than the mental braces, they are also expensive, which can be hurtful to your wallet.

Lingual Braces

The other major type of brace is lingual braces. They are fitted to the back and the inside of the teeth rather than at the front. Due to their positioning they can be barely seen and so are also known as invisible braces. These are certainly costlier than both Ceramic and metal braces, but given the benefit of invisibility, these braces are in high demand.

Tags: Braces, Braces London, London, Teeth straightening
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Dental Health Problems can be Addressed by London Dentists

April 26th, 2012

We use our mouths for many necessary things: eating, drinking, breathing, talking and kissing. We also use our mouths for many unnecessary things: opening sachets of food, holding hairpins and ink pens, chewing our fingernails. In a day, our mouths get a workout and are subject to dozens of objects and millions of germs.

Let’s take a look at some common dental health problems in London and the steps to take to avoid succumbing to them:

Toothache

Toothaches are caused by dental decay, fractures in the teeth, irritation after dental work or inflammation. Toothaches are best avoided by practising proper oral hygiene, so try to keep your teeth and gums clean and try to avoid indulging in too much sugar.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is typically caused by gum disease, tooth decay, catarrh, infections, reflux and other medical conditions affecting the oesophagus, stomach or airway. Bad breath can best be avoided by practising proper dental hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. Adding mouthwash to your oral routine can also be effective in preventing bad breath, but it is always best to avoid an alcohol based wash, as these dry out your mouth, causing further bad breath.

Cold Sores

Cold sores are fluid-filled pustules that appear on the sides of the mouth or other swollen areas of the face. They can be painful and tender and are contagious through touch. Avoiding directly touching a cold sore and washing your hands before and after touching the mouth can help to prevent cold sores. There are a number of factors that cause cold sores, which varies from person to person, including menstruation, exposure to sunlight and fever.

Tags: dental check ups, dental check-ups London, Dental hygienist cleaning, London
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Mouth Guards Available from London Dentists

April 24th, 2012

Traditional mouth guards are plastic aligners, which fit around the teeth and gums to protect them from impact or to correct jaw alignment. Initially used by athletes involved in contact sports, mouth guards have also found a new use in the treatment of patients with misaligned jaws.

The possible damage to teeth and gums caused by injury has always been a concern for those playing contact sports, but mouth guards have provided the necessary protection needed for many years, allowing players to fully engage in their sport without risking trauma.

However, through the advancement of technology it was also discovered that mouth guards could be used as a dental device for patients from London and around the world.

Issues can be corrected, however, with the wearing of an OSO Athletic Mouth Guard. This dental mouth guard works to bring the lower jaw into alignment, improving the wearer’s overall athletic performance.

An OSO mouth guard can be fitted for use in sports. No matter where it is placed, the results are the same: optimal athletic prowess, increased balance and strength, the risk of athletic injuries minimised and the recovery time increased for injuries that do occur.

Used to provide athletes with a competitive edge, the mouth guard can also be used for people who are not athletes but who could benefit from added stability in their normal life.

Tags: London, OSO Athletic Mouth Guard, OSO Athletic Mouth Guard London, Sports dentistry
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Why More Men are Turning to Cosmetic Solutions in London?

April 21st, 2012

In the past, any kind of cosmetic procedure – from the most superficial dental treatment to major operations like liposuction – were the domain of women. It was women who were bombarded with images in the media of what they should look like and many now choose to use some cosmetic dentistry to improve their look. But it isn’t only females choosing this route.

We have also noticed a great proportion of men choosing cosmetic dentistry in London, but what is the reason behind this? Think about how male role models have changed over the last 25 years and you might get your answer.

Just by looking at footballers you can see the difference between the scruffy, moustachioed men of the 1980s, and today’s young players, who seem to spend as much time on grooming products and doing their hair as they do on training. Now men are being bombarded with images of what the perfect male physique should look like, in the same way that women have been for decades.

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry another reason seems to be that older men are feeling more marginalised in the workplace and believe that a fresh new look will make them appear more youthful and energetic. Some people have lost their jobs and are finding it hard as an older man to get employed again – so smoothing out those wrinkles and fixing a crooked or stained smile is a great way to make the perfect first impression at an interview.

Tags: London, smile makeover, Smile makeover London, Teeth straightening
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Preventative Dentistry can Help Save the Pennies for People from London

April 19th, 2012

We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment, looking for ways to save money and keep paying the bills, while also enjoying a few treats where possible. It is during these times that it can be tempting to cut out things we don’t need right now, even though we may need them at some point in the future. It is amazing how many people think that preventative dentistry falls into this category and cancel dental check-ups in order to save a few pounds.

These savings could end up costing a lot more down the line.

Dental check-ups in London aren’t just an opportunity for dentists to make sure that your teeth are healthy – but also for them to check that there are no potential problems. They are looking for everything from signs of tooth decay and gum disease to oral cancer. The hygienist appointment is no less important. No matter how much time and energy we devote to cleaning our teeth, we will never do as good a job as a trained dental hygienist. This is a thorough clean which gets in all the hard-to-reach places, helping to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and reduce the need for teeth whitening.

If you are developing dental problems the sooner they are spotted, the easier (and cheaper) they are to fix. Some patients visit the dentist with severe toothache which has been bothering them for weeks, but they didn’t want to spend the money to find out what was wrong. By that time, the affected tooth has become too damaged to be saved and it has to be removed and replaced with a crown or dental implant – both very expensive procedures.

Wouldn’t it have been easier to pay a few pounds for a check-up and save all that hassle and all that money?

Tags: dental check ups, dental check-ups London, Dental hygienist cleaning, London
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Orthodontic Solutions Available at Your London Dentist

April 17th, 2012

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that fixes a variety of dental problems, including overcrowding, crookedness, overbites and underbites, misalignment and irregular jaw alignment. There are many advanced and effective solutions available from your London dentist.

Evolution of aligners

The treatment options for adults have expanded enormously over the years, taking into account important factors such as discretion, which is vital both for maintaining confidence and having the least impact on everyday interactions, and time taken out of a busy lifestyle.

To this end there are multiple alternatives to regular metal wire braces, and these are discussed on their own pages in this section. Invisalign boasts perhaps the fullest discretion with its near ‘invisible’ aligners that blend into the teeth, while products such as 6 Month Smiles offer an unprecedented shortness of treatment.

Benefits of orthodontic treatment

There are a number of long term health benefits of having treatment to correct orthodontic problems. Especially important are the reduced risk of tooth or gum decay, which can prevent further expensive treatment or tooth loss in future, and the fact that aligned and healthy teeth are easier cleaned and flossed than teeth left crooked or irregular.

Bad bites can affect your nutrition and cause premature wearing of the back teeth, while a misaligned jaw may interfere with your speech. Misalignment and malocclusion also affect the look and lower the self-esteem of many adults, who feel renewed and more confident after treatment.

Tags: 6 month smiles, London, Teeth straightening, Teeth straightening London
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Patients from London Consider the Correct Oral Healthcare Items

April 15th, 2012

Toothpaste

If your teeth have a tendency to form plaque or tartar, you should ideally be choosing toothpaste that helps fight this condition. Within the available brands, choose one that is evaluated and approved by the appropriate government agency. This becomes all the more important as there are a number of brands that will do the job, but do not adhere to or fall within the accepted levels scientifically. Choose one that has fluoride content as it helps in preventing cavities. Finally, it comes down to a personal choice of taste and feel of the toothpaste. If the toothpaste is irritating to your cheeks or lips, causes sensitivity to the teeth or your mouth feels irritated after using it, change the toothpaste.

Toothbrush

Once you have your toothpaste, then you need to choose the right toothbrush. Dentists recommend the use of a toothbrush with soft bristles, particularly for those people who have sensitive teeth or gums. There is a misconception that hard bristles help in the removal of tartar and stains. This is not so, as sustained use can even cause damage to the teeth. Choose a toothbrush that is contoured to the alignment of your teeth and gums. Be sure to select a toothbrush that has a small head and can clean one or two teeth at a time. The toothbrush should be replaced every three months or when the bristles begin to look frayed or start spreading out.

Mouthwash

Most people use a mouth rinse too. This also should be one that contains fluoride which helps prevent cavities. However, it is not advisable for children below six years to use mouthwash, as they may swallow the rinse. You can always check with your London dentist on what will work best for you. It makes choosing the right oral product easier.

Tags: General dentistry, General dentistry London, London, Teeth cleaning
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Importance of Sterilisation Procedures at Your London Dentist

April 14th, 2012

As we all know, our mouth is home for many microorganisms and these have the potential to cause dental problems if not monitored. The growth and spread of these organisms should be effectively checked, which is when dental sterilisation becomes so important.

In most cases the bacteria found in the mouth originate from the blood stream of a person. The other way bacteria are spread is from a sore throat or a cold. If the bacteria of one person make it to another person it can become even more dangerous and can create serious complications.

London dentists use many different instruments to complete dental procedures. As these instruments enter the mouth of a person they are exposed to a host of microorganisms, which is why it becomes very important to effectively sterilise instruments.

There are three major methods that can be used to sterilise dental instruments. The first is Dry, which involves heating the dental instruments to a very high temperature. Most of the harmful bacteria are not able to survive high temperatures. The second method that can be used to get rid of bacteria is Steam. This method involves a combination of high temperature and pressure to kill all kinds of microorganisms. The time taken for this method depends on the pressure used, as the higher the pressure the less time it takes. The third method use is heated chemicals, where the gas formed by the heating of a mixture of chemicals is used to sterilise the instruments.

While all the above mentioned method are very effective ways of getting rid of bacteria, immersing these instruments into disinfecting solution before using the advanced sterilising methods should not be overlooked. Traces of blood or other organic matter should be thoroughly removed and while handling a patient the dentist should wash their hands with soap or disinfecting gel and use gloves. This is not only beneficial for the patient, but for the dentist as well.

Tags: Dental sterilisation, Dental sterilisation London, General dentistry, London
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Periodontitis is a Problem that can Wreak Destruction on the Mouths of People in London

April 12th, 2012

The infection and inflammation of the bones and the ligaments that hold the teeth is called periodontitis. This condition arises when the infection or inflammation of gums is left untreated or when proper treatment is delayed. Periodontitis is the most common reason for missing tooth in adults from London and around the UK.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of periodontitis are bad breath odour, red or reddish purple gums, shiny gums, bleeding gums, tender and painful gums and swollen gums.

Treatment

The objectives for the treatment of periodontitis is to lessen the inflammation, remove the pockets and ‘find and treat’ the root cause. Any rough surface whether on a dental appliance or on the teeth must be immediately fixed and other known illness in the body should also be taken care of.

Cleaning the teeth thoroughly is the first step. Many different kinds of instruments can be used to remove the accumulation of plaque around the teeth. Even after professional cleaning is undertaken, patients should regularly spend time to keep their teeth clean. You can check with the dentist or the hygienist for the proper technique of flossing and brushing.

People who are suffering from periodontitis must try to visit the dentist more than twice a year to get professional oral cleaning. In case of the presence of deep pockets around the teeth, surgery would be required to get them cleaned. Teeth could also get removed if the infection has spread, in order to protect the surrounding teeth.

Tags: London, periodontal cleaning, Periodontal cleaning London, tooth extraction
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What Happens During a New Patient Consultation at the Dentist in London?

April 10th, 2012

We recognise that for many people going to the dentist is a stressful and nervy experience and this anxiety could be even more severe if you are a new patient attending an appointment with a dentist you’ve never met before. This is why we endeavour to make every client feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

The new patient consultation is an opportunity for you to get to know your dentist and a chance for your dentist to examine your mouth, check the status of your oral health and talk to you about the kind of treatments you may be considering.

Consultation options

We have a range of consultation options available to clients in London, from basic consultations to comprehensive evaluations. We recommend comprehensive consultations for new patients because they enable you to really get to know your dentist and discuss a range of issues related to dentistry. You also have the opportunity to ask any questions and raise any concerns with your dentist.

The comprehensive consultation lasts an hour and includes a thorough examination with one of the senior dentists. During the consultation dental X-rays will be taken and your dentist will discuss any issues you wish to raise. They can talk to you about existing dental problems, treatment options, including cosmetic dentistry and discuss any concerns you have related to dental anxiety or dental phobia.

For some treatments, we offer complimentary consultations, so if you want to find out more about treatments and free consultations, please do not hesitate to contact the practice.

Why are consultations important?

The consultation allows you to find out more about the treatments, talk to the dentist and ask any questions you have. The consultation also allows you to get to know your dentist better, find out about the treatment you require and learn about any existing problems you have.

Tags: dental check ups, dental consultation, Dental consultation London, London
Posted in Dental phobia, General dentistry | Comments Off