What does Your Smile Tell You on Groundhog Day? Hounslow Dentists can Help

February 2nd, 2012

In Canada and the USA the 2nd of February is celebrated as Groundhog Day. Folklore has it that on this day the groundhog would come out of its burrow. If the groundhog sees its shadow due to the sun it will get back into the burrow, signaling that the winter is going to stay on for an addition six weeks, and if it is cloudy then groundhog will not return to its burrow, signaling that the winter will be over soon.

Many social events are organised to celebrate this day when speeches are made, jokes are cracked and food is served. Also, just like any other social event lots of smiles are shared. These social events can be slightly discomforting if your teeth are less than perfect and are causing you to hide them when you smile. You might be avoiding wearing braces as it might take up to three years for the treatment to complete, but there is a better option, which is Invisalign braces. It works very much like the regular braces, but has been modified to better suit your needs.

The aligners used in Invisalign are very discreet so it will not affect your confidence level. The time required for the treatment to complete is normally between 6 to 15 months, which is less in comparison to other braces.

However, the best part about Invisalign braces is that you can take them off and put them back whenever you want, unlike the metal braces which are permanently cemented to the teeth. This allows you to be without braces on special occasions. A wide range of teeth conditions can be fixed by Invisalign braces, these include overbite, under bite, highly crowded teeth and widely spaced teeth. It is always good to consult a dentist even if you feel your teeth are beyond repair.

 

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Invisalign, Orthodontics | No Comments »

Home whitening or in-clinic whitening from Chiswick dentists, or both?

January 30th, 2012

If stained or discoloured teeth are getting you down, treatment is available to remove stains and brighten your teeth, all of which can be done within the comfort of your own home or the relaxing ambience of our dental practice. Teeth can become stained through age, wear, drinking tea and smoking. Whatever the reason, at Sparkle Dental Boutique in Chiswick we have the very best dental cosmetic procedures and a dedicated team to give you a smile you will be happy with.

Different treatment options are available to whiten teeth, which include dental composite, veneers and teeth whitening. Zoom! Teeth Whitening is a whitening treatment provided within our boutique, however, there are also home teeth whitening kits that we can provide or a combination of in-house and home treatments.

Teeth whitening options

When considering the options available to you for teeth whitening, you may consider how soon you want results and what your dentist recommends for your safety and dental health. Once you have spoken with us about your teeth whitening needs, we can tell you more about the teeth whitening products available:

Zoom2! Chairside Whitening System

Zoom2! Chairside Whitening System is a safe teeth whitening treatment, which uses a gel activated by a light to give your teeth a shade six to ten times lighter. You can have this treatment during your lunch hour, in the comfort of our Crystal room, with music of your choice to help you relax.

Home Whitening
We also offer home whitening products containing teeth whitening gel and a custom fit tray system, which you apply to your teeth according to recommended guidelines. These home kits lighten teeth gradually, with whiter results over a two-week period.

Combination of Zoom2! and Home Whitening

Combining the Zoom2! and Home Whitening treatments allows you to benefit from the comforts of home and the relaxation of our Crystal room. We can help you monitor your teeth whitening for desired and safe results. You can receive immediate results for special occasions, topped up by home applications for regular whitening effects.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Teeth whitening | No Comments »

What can oral surgery from Acton dentists help with?

January 26th, 2012

Oral surgery in Acton can be helpful for a number of dental issues, including tooth extractions, dental implants and corrective jaw surgery, but for a number of people the idea of oral surgery sounds as scary as general surgery. While this can be true for some surgical dental treatments, there are also some that are somewhat less dramatic and invasive.

Tooth extractions

A simple and common form of oral surgery, tooth extraction may be needed for a number of reasons, including trauma and poor dental health, and is quite a straight forward procedure. Unlike some surgeries that require a day or two of recovery in a hospital bed, tooth extractions are short and apart from the alien feeling of a lost tooth and perhaps some aching afterwards, there is no need for recovery time

Dental implants

An increasingly common procedure, dental implants are another fairly simple treatment. The actual treatment time can vary depending on the intensity and number of dental implants needed. The general recovery time also varies and is debated amongst specialists, but can range from 2 to 6 months. The recovery time can also differ from person to person and is affected by the quality and quantity of bone structure in the jaw.

Corrective jaw surgery

Corrective jaw surgery is used for a number of things, including TMJ and other joint issues, as well as helping with trauma, incorrect bite, chewing, grinding of teeth and other problems related to the jaw. The choice to have the surgery will be decided by you, your dentist and a surgeon. Once the go ahead has been decided, the actual surgery should take anything from just one hour to multiple hours. Depending on intensity the recovery time can also vary from around 2 weeks to multiple months, depending on whether lower, upper or both jaws are worked on.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Light Up the Chinese New Year with a Whitened Smile from Ealing Dentists

January 23rd, 2012

Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide, especially due to the presence of Chinese communities all around the world. It is one of the most important traditional holidays for the Chinese and is celebrated by cleaning and decorating homes, wearing new clothes and stocking up on food.

Eating certainly plays a very important role in all Chinese celebration. Unfortunately for those who are not confident with their smile or teeth, the distress does not stop there, next in line is the family photo session. A picture perfect smile is never complete without showcasing a set of healthy and aesthetically appealing teeth. Lack in confidence while smiling can be directly related to the condition of your teeth. Due to accident or other dental conditions many have lost one or more of their teeth. A person with missing teeth will never smile openly and would generally cover their mouth while smiling.

Missing teeth can be easily replaced by implants from dentists in Ealing. Not only do missing teeth spoil your smile, but it also starts affecting the rest of your teeth. Due to the unfilled spaces within the teeth, surrounding teeth no longer remain secure and begin to drift out of position. This could lead to dental conditions like bad bite, gum diseases, TMJ disorders etc.

If several of your teeth are missing, then instead of replacing the missing teeth one by one using implants, bridge restoration can be used to get secure and stable natural looking teeth. Bridge restoration requires a minimum of two implants to remain secure. It avoids the need of preparing the adjacent teeth, as required by a conventional bridge. Once you have the missing teeth replaced, not only will your smile be perfect but you will also be able to clean your teeth effectively.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Dental bridge, Dental implants | No Comments »

How to deal with dental emergencies before you visit Brentford dentists

January 19th, 2012

Dental emergencies are never a welcome problem for people in Brentford, but being hit with sudden dental issues that require immediate notice can be a nightmare. It also doesn’t take much searching of the Internet to find horror stories concerning dental emergencies that haven’t been treated quickly, which have gone horribly wrong. Delays with a dental problem are not what you want and with sudden emergencies it could be far more devastating.

While most dental emergencies are rare occurrences, when they do happen immediate action is needed. But this is not always viable. In these circumstances, we may need to find ways of easing the pain ourselves while we wait for a professional. While this is only recommended in extreme circumstances, your first port of call should always be to find an expert dentist and home methods should only be used as a last resort.

Problems such as a lost filling or knocked out tooth can be dealt with to a certain degree at home. Dentists recommend using chewing gum to block any lost fillings as a short-term fix, while putting a lost tooth in a glass of milk is a recommended way of keeping it alive until a dentist can be seen.

Many dental studios have out-of-hours numbers that can be used night or day, and local studios will often set aside a certain amount of time, staff and resources to deal with dental emergencies in their area.

It is also recommended to keep an emergency kit. The last thing you want to be doing is searching for painkillers or swabs. Having a small amount of medical supplies available for any medical problem can really take some of the panic away if you are unlucky enough to suffer a dental emergency.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Why are ceramic braces becoming so popular in Hounslow?

January 16th, 2012

We’ve come a long way from metal braces and appliances to align teeth and correct bite. Advancements in technology and materials have enabled research and development into new types of braces for the treatment of orthodontic concerns. Ceramic braces in Hounslow are a new innovation which are not only affordable, but also speed up treatment time and remain largely unnoticed while you are wearing them.

If your dentist has identified that you will benefit from wearing braces, then you have a number of factors to consider:

  • How much does your teeth alignment need correcting?
  • The type of braces that will correct your bite and feel comfortable for you.
  • Any other dental treatments needed.
  • The type of brace treatment suggested by your dentist or orthodontist.
  • The length of potential treatment time.
  • The cost of braces treatment.

Benefits of ceramic braces

Ceramic braces are particularly popular because they use tooth coloured fixtures, which allow your braces to merge into the natural colour of your own teeth. You can wear these braces without it being obvious that you are wearing braces and, if photographs are taken of you while wearing ceramic braces, the braces will not show.

Made of composite materials and tooth-coloured polycrystalline self-ligating brackets, ceramic braces can have hinges and/or elastics to facilitate movement. Some ceramic braces have hinges and others have replaceable elastics that blend in as naturally with your own teeth as ceramic brackets do. You can discuss these options with your dentist.

Not only are ceramic braces strong and durable, but they are also resistant to staining. People who have worn ceramic braces report that they are comfortable to wear and do not irritate their teeth and gums. These braces are light, adhere to your teeth tightly and are designed not to break, so you needn’t feel concerned about braces shifting in your mouth. The customised size and fit of ceramic braces means that your teeth can be straightened within 17 weeks for a brighter glowing smile. Speak to our team at Sparkle Dental Boutique about ceramic braces and what they can do for you.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Braces | No Comments »

Treatment for multiple missing teeth at your Hounslow dentist

January 12th, 2012

Missing teeth can lead to problems with self-esteem, eating and speaking and your dentist will always recommend that you replace any missing teeth to prevent future dental conditions.

Dental implants are currently replacing dentures and bridges as the tooth replacement option of choice in Hounslow, as they are longer-lasting, provide a natural appearance and prevent other oral health problems from developing.

The dental implant is permanently inserted into your jaw and looks and feels like your own natural teeth and can be used to replace one or two missing teeth or even a full set.

A dental implant is a small titanium post that acts the same way as the tooth’s natural root structure. The procedure for dental implant placement is very straightforward. You will go for a series of appointments with your dentist, who will assess your mouth with x-rays and impressions. After this the soft tissue in your mouth will be prepared under general anaesthetic and a small hole will be drilled where the dental implant will be inserted.

Once the bone has grown around the implant, a crown, denture or bridge will be placed onto the dental implant. Please note that it can take anywhere between two to six months for the bone to fuse with the implant.

Once your implant is completely settled your tooth or teeth replacement will be fitted and your ability to eat, speak, smile and laugh will be restored.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Dental implants | No Comments »

The importance of retainers after braces treatment at Acton dentists

January 9th, 2012

For many patients in Acton finally getting their braces removed can be an extremely exciting prospect. However, it is vital that patients have a full understanding of exactly how important the use of retainers is following treatment with braces.

To put it bluntly a retainer is imperative if a patient does not wish to have their teeth revert back to the state they were in before their treatment. This is because a person’s mouth and teeth are constantly shifting and if they are not kept in check with a retainer, they may slowly but surely move into a less than flattering position.

Although this may all sound daunting (especially if you thought you were finally rid of dental devices), retainers are absolutely nothing to be scared of. Many patients find it helpful to think of them as the ‘next stage’ in their brace treatment and are made a few weeks before the actual braces are removed, from a plastic mould of the patient’s teeth.

It is very important that a patient wears their retainer 7 days a week once they have had their braces removed. This cannot be stressed enough, as the first few months following the removal of braces are the most vital for realising how successful the treatment will be.

Eventually, a patient will be able to wear their retainer less and less during the daytime, until they are finally only required to wear it while they sleep.

Although patients might experience some mild irritation from their retainer, they are certainly not painful and will soon begin to feel comfortable and habitual. Patients can sleep soundly and will barely notice that they are wearing a retainer.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Orthodontics | No Comments »

Causes and treatment for gummy smiles from Ealing dentists

January 5th, 2012

A gummy smile is the appearance of too much gum tissue covering the front teeth when a person smiles. Excess gum tissue can make it appear as if the front teeth are shorter or smaller. Having a gummy smile is not detrimental to your physical health, but can affect your confidence and therefore mental health.

Causes of a Gummy Smile

If you have a gummy smile, there could be a number of reasons. Gummy smiles can be caused by:

  • Genetic oral and facial development resulting in irregular gum development with protruding gum tissue.
  • Medical conditions, such as gingivitis, resulting in excess gum tissue growth.
  • Medications, such as Phenytoin, used to treat illness can trigger gingival growth, bleeding gums or excessive gum growth.
  • Hyperactive facial muscles causing the upper lip to overstretch.
  • Short upper lip revealing more of the incisor teeth and gums.

Treatment for a Gummy Smile

Understanding what causes a gummy smile can help in determining what treatment to have to create a normal gum line and a beautiful smile. A dental or cosmetic professional in Ealing can identify if you have any of the causes resulting in a gummy smile. Getting an appropriate diagnosis with treatment recommendation options is advisable. A number of treatment options are available and include:

  • Facial reconstruction to correct causes, such as a short upper lip.
  • Gum contouring to remove excess gum tissue growth.
  • Porcelain veneers to lengthen teeth and eliminate a gummy smile appearance.

Facial reconstruction is a cosmetic surgery to correct the form and function of the face, which may involve treating both the lips and gums.

Gum Contouring is the reshaping of the gums using anaesthetic, a scalpel and laser devices to remove the extra gum giving you the gummy smile.

Porcelain Veneers are wafer-thin laminates made out of porcelain to fit over and match the colour of your teeth for a natural looking smile, to lengthen the teeth.

These treatments can also be combined with Zoom2! Whitening for a stunning smile, which gives you confidence in both social and business interactions.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Cosmetic dentistry | No Comments »

What can be done by Ealing dentists to remedy broken teeth?

January 2nd, 2012

Teeth can break because of weak bone structure caused by genetics or ill health, tooth decay, teeth grinding or because of injury. Broken teeth not only cause discomfort and a loss of confidence, but also impact on dental and overall health. When a tooth breaks it should never be left untreated.

Health impacts of broken teeth

Common health impacts of broken teeth may include infection, further loss of teeth and gums, periodontal disease, teeth misalignment, improper bite and jaw irregularities. These dental conditions can cause other illnesses, such as migraines and increased blood pressure, which can then lead to heart disease and strokes.

Seeking medical attention immediately for a broken tooth is crucial to overall health and well-being. In the UK, dentists are available through NHS Choices and private and cosmetic practices in Ealing. A number of treatments exist to fix your broken tooth and improve appearance, which clean and prevent infection, remove discomfort, correct alignment and bite and give you confidence when smiling.

Treatments for broken teeth

Treatment solutions for broken teeth include porcelain crowns, bridges and veneers.

Crowns are moulded out of porcelain to the specifications of your tooth and permanently attach to the surface of your treated broken tooth. Porcelain crowns serve as a replacement tooth, which provides stability to your facial structure and restores your smile.

A dental bridge is formed out of porcelain according to the shape and structure of your teeth and mouth, in order to fill spaces between teeth and act as a replacement for broken or missing teeth. Bridges are designed to correct improper tooth bite and give you a set of healthy-looking teeth.

Cosmetic bonding, usually with composite resin, is used to restore broken, chipped, discoloured and crooked teeth. Porcelain veneers, such as Lumineers or Da Vinci veneers, are a more durable option to treat broken or unsightly stained teeth.

Sparkle Dental Boutique offers all these treatments and can fix your broken tooth or teeth within one visit.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | 2 Comments »
« Older Entries

Blog

Contact Us