Archives for the year 2008

007 Licensed to Drill

October 20th, 2008

Did you know that James Bond star Daniel Craig lost two teeth whilst making Casino Royale?

So what can you do if you happen to lose a tooth?

Dr Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Brentford says `Missing teeth are sometimes unsightly and can also affect your appearance. Gaps left by a missing tooth can also mean that a greater strain is put on the teeth at either side. Gaps can also affect your “bite” as the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth bite together. This can then lead to food getting packed into the gap, which causes both decay and gum disease.”

If you have a missing tooth or several missing teeth, there are many ways in which the gaps can be closed to give you a beautiful, healthy smile:

  • Partial denture – where you have a false tooth or teeth which are removable attached to a acrylic or metal plate
  • Fixed bridge – where there are fewer teeth to replace, or when the missing teeth are only on one side of the mouth

  • Implant – where a titanium metal rod is placed into the jawbone. It is used to support one or more false teeth

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Trick or Treat Yourself this Halloween!

October 14th, 2008

Halloween is on its way on the night of 31st October with halloween activities of trick or treating, ghost tours, bonfires, pumpkins, costume parties and haunted houses…and it’s the only time of year where vampire and werewolf looking gnashers are totally acceptable!

Fang-like Teeth

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No need to only come out at night as transforming your vampire or `fang like’ teeth into sparkly whites, is now easier than ever!

Fangs All Gone! (Smile Transformations by Dr Sunita Verma)

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At Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hounslow transforming your gnashers may be simpler than you think. Dr Sunita Verma says, “There are many things that we do at Sparkle, from whitening discoloured or stained teeth, to re-aligning crooked teeth, to closing spaces or gaps left by missing teeth to restoring chipped and broken teeth and much, much more!”

“We can restore teeth and greatly improve their strength, appearance and longevity with bespoke porcelain veneers or crowns. With a fang like tooth, a porcelain veneer or crown can be shaped, coloured, sized and positioned to dramatically improve the look of this tooth. The best thing is that crowns or veneers are made from natural looking translucent porcelain, so blend in well with neighbouring teeth so that no one can tell that you have them.”

 

 

So this Halloween, treat yourself to a beautiful looking smile and greater self-confidence and who knows catching an apple in the traditional Halloween `apple bobbing’ game may not be the only thing you catch…

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Sparkle at the Smile Awards 2009

October 7th, 2008

The FMC, the leading communications company operating in the UK dental sector, recently announced the launch of the Smile Awards. 

The Smile Awards have been created to promote clinical excellence in dental and facial aesthetics and reward all those practising at the highest levels of aesthetic dentistry.

Sparkle Dental Boutique’s Principal, Dr Sunita Verma says “The Smile Awards are a great way to promote clinical excellence. These awards push us to try to create the most aesthetically pleasing cases possible.” “I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to create some beautiful smile transformations this year from what started out to be very unusual or challenging cases.”

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After: A Stunning Result (Smile Transformations by Dr Sunita Verma)r4pic_id00004545_495x371.JPG

Sunita from her practice in Ealing goes on to say “I have been nominated by my patients under the category of Patients Smile, which is a real honour and I am planning to put forward entries under the categories of `Conservative Smile’ and `Restorative Smile. It will be great to put Hanwell on the map again” An independent judging panel of renowned experts will be studying the entries and compiling a shortlist for each category.

Sunita says “The Smile Awards Ceremony will take place next year at The Royal Garden Hotel in London on Friday 20 March and it will be a great opportunity to mingle with the crème de la crème of the profession and celebrate a truly amazing and rewarding profession.”

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Now You Can Be Queen and Its Just Not For a Day!

October 3rd, 2008

Wearing the crown jewels may not be a possibility for most of us, but make no mistake wearing a porcelain crown will not only rejuvenate your smile but will make your feel like a queen!

Crowns have always been used to restore teeth that have been severely damaged or weakened by trauma, root canal treatment or large fillings. They are also used to support bridges which are used to close gaps and can be attached to implants to rebuild and enhance your smile.

Crowns are now often used to enhance protect and strengthen teeth and improve the looks of your smile.

Dr Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hanwell says “Crowns have come a long way from the all metal restorations, which are often made of gold. They are strong, long lasting but unsightly at times. Porcelain fused metal crowns create a more natural look than all metal crowns and though the metal limits translucency, it adds strength, which is particularly useful at the back of the mouth.”

“The all ceramic or all porcelain crowns look the closest to natural teeth enamel and do not have the tell tale dark metal margins at the gumline as sometimes occurs with porcelain fused to metal crowns. These crowns are strong, long lasting and youthful looking. In fact, we use all porcelain crowns for a lot of our smile design or smile transformation cases to give patients beautiful smiles.”

Today, replacing outdated crowns is a way to take years off your age and appearance!

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Its World Smile Day!

September 19th, 2008

This year on 3rd October 2008, Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hanwell will be celebrating World Smile Day! The theme for the day is to “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile” and the image that leads the way on this day is the yellow smiley face.

 

The smiley face was created in 1963 by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. This image has gone on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.

Harvey had became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol and how its original meaning and intent had become lost. Out of that concern, he came up with the idea for World Smile Day. He thought that everyone should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. This lead to the first Friday in October each year being dedicated to World Smile Day!

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Chiswick says `Our patients love our home made luscious lip balms and lavendar handcream..so we’ve decided to celebrate World Smile Day by giving each patient who has an appointment with us that day, the gift of a Sparkle goody bag, with oral hygiene products, a Sparkle compact mirror and of course our special lips balms and creams! This should certainly put a smile on their faces.”

So go on and make someone’s day…share your smile!

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To Add Fluoride or Not Add Fluoride: That is the Question?

September 15th, 2008

In a recent article in the The Dental Tribune (15-21 September), the first series of consultations have started to have water fluoridated.

It is widely believed that water fluoridation is the most effective way of reducing the large number of tooth fillings and extractions needed and will also improve general oral health. As a result of fluoridation, the Primary Care Trusts believe that the average child is likely to have two fewer decayed teeth and that 15% more children will be totally free from tooth decay. Evidence also suggests that where countries that have had fluoridated water for over 40 years such as the USA and the Irish Republic, adults as well as children benefit from fluoridation.

However, anti fluoride campaigners, UK Councils Against Fluoridation claim that by putting fluoride in water, one in eight children will grow up to experience discoloured or mottled teeth, which may result in the need for cosmetic dentistry.

Dr Sunita Verma, Sparkle Dental Boutique, Acton says “Many reports have been published about the pro’s and cons of fluoridation with fluoride helping to reduce decay, with no harmful side effects to general health. Around 5.5 million people in Britain already drink fluoridated water.”

Sunita goes on to say “However on a recent trip to a village in India, I saw many young children who had noticeably discoloured teeth as a result of the amount of fluoride in their water. Public consultations are running at the moment and it will be interesting to see the outcome early next year”.

Children in India with fluorosis

 

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No Need to Look Like Ugly Betty!

September 4th, 2008

The invisible brace which promises the perfect smile in a month!

If your front teeth are crooked, crowded or rotated but you don’t want to look like Ugly Betty having them sorted out, then a revolutionary new procedure may be the answer.

At Sparkle Dental Boutique, Kew voted London’s Best Practice, patients can now benefit from the Inman Aligner, a brace which can straighten teeth in just a month, at a fraction of the cost of traditional braces. Traditional braces can cost up to £4,000 whereas Inman Aligners start from £1,500.

The great news is that the Inman Aligner is barely visible, apart from a single clear wire, and it can easily be slipped in and out of the mouth, allowing you to go brace-free for meals and important occasions.

While a standard brace can take more than two years to create the perfect smile, the new spring-loaded device takes between four and 16 weeks to nudge teeth back where they belong.

Dr Sunita Verma, Principal says “We are one of the first practices in West London to be certified to offer this fantastic procedure. The Inman Aligner is a versatile removable appliance which can cut both treatment times and cost for patients with mild to moderate crowding of their front teeth. It’s a fantastic procedure which adds to the portfolio of services that we provide here at Sparkle Dental Boutique, which includes general dentistry, porcelain veneers, white fillings, teeth whitening, crowns, bridges and cosmetic dentures”.

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Acid Erosion and Children’s Teeth

August 27th, 2008

It was reported in the Dental Tribune (14 – 21 July 2008) that children should brush their teeth no more than twice a day and not straight after meals.

A survey by Sensodyne of dentists, parents and children revealed that 79 per cent of dentists are seeing the effects of acid erosion on children’s teeth at least once a week. Fizzy drinks, chocolate, fruit and fruit drinks which are high in acid are the main culprits, as are foods covered in sauces or dressings.

The situation is made worse by parents getting their children to clean their teeth after every meal. This is the worst time to clean teeth as the acid has softened the enamel.

The survey found that:

  • 53% of five year olds have some form of erosion
  • 9 out of 10 parents know about acid erosion but were unsure what types of food and drink contain acid
  • 6 out of 10 parents said their children smothered their food in sauces and dressings

The greatest cause of acid erosion in children is through drinking carbonated drinks without a straw and the frequent drinking of soft drinks.

What can be done about acid erosion?

Sparkle Dental Boutique, Brentford says that parents should encourage children to drink acidic drinks with a straw placed towards the back of the mouth away from teeth. In addition, children should be encouraged to avoid brushing their teeth immediately after consuming acidic food or drinks as this is when the enamel is softest. Its best to brush before hand or wait as long as possible after an acidic meal.

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Dazzling Whites: Hygienists Given the Go Ahead

August 21st, 2008

The General Dental Council (GDC) have said that Dental Hygienists/Therapists can now carry out tooth whitening procedures `on the prescription of a dentist if they have the necessary additional skills`. Tooth whitening can only by carried out by dental professionals and is illegal to do so by any non dental professional.

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hounslow says, “Tooth whitening is a safe, effective and very fast way of having brighter, whiter teeth when administered by a dentist. With the growth in demand for Hollywood white teeth, clinics across the country have been cashing in on this trend, but many of these clinics whether it be hairdressers, beauticians, gymnasiums or beauty spa’s have been employing beauty therapists who, after a few days of training, have been applying harmful chemicals that can damage patients gums and teeth.”

A Which? Investigation earlier on in the year revealed that beauty salons were allowing unqualified staff to carry out teeth-whitening treatments and inflicting permanent damage to patients teeth. In the survey, the reporter posed as a potential client at six London beauty salons. At all six salons, the procedure wasn’t performed by a dentist and half were using dangerous chemicals, including chlorine dioxide. This chemical is a bleaching agent more commonly used to purify water and is very acidic thereby damaging tooth enamel. Others use hydrogen peroxide in strengths above the legal limit.

Sunita says, “At Sparkle, I see all my patients for a dental examination before we carry out any teeth whitening procedures. My dental hygienist Hardip Dhillon, who is also a dental therapist is already able to carry out dental procedures such as fillings, taking x-rays and placing temporary crowns. With the new guidance from the GDC and planned training course, she will be able to carry out teeth whitening treatments by September 2008.’

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Child Banned From Singing at Olympics Because of Crooked Teeth!

August 18th, 2008

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In an article in The Times (13th August 2008), it appears that China banned a seven year child singer from singing at the opening ceremony because of her crooked teeth.

The real singer Yang Peiyi, a seven-year-old was deemed not pretty enough to be the face of China’s most watched moment in history and was substituted by Lin Miaoke at the eleventh hour by Communist Party officials desperate to present the best possible image of Chinese youth to the rest of the world.

As Yang Peiyi sang the Ode to the Motherland behind the scenes, Lin Miaoke lip synched in front of millions in the Bird’s Nest stadium.

Chen Qigang, the contemporary composer and French citizen who directed the music for the opening ceremony said “The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings and expression. Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects but in terms of voice Yang Peiyi is perfect.”

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