A client came to see us recently, who was kindly referred by another patient, who was fed up of seeing a different dentist every time she went for an examination or treatment. Not only was she nervous of treatment in the first place but the fact she required substantial treatment made things even worse. A dentist should be a person of trust whom you will allow to help you through a journey to maintained oral health. This simply cannot happen if you are seen by differing personnel, where you have to explain the history over and over again. Unfortunately, we are seeing this becoming more and more common.

However, there are excellent, caring practices out there which offer continuity of care. Progressive Dentistry is one of them. You will see the same dentist and hygienist every time; it is your choice. We believe in personal dentistry where we will do our best to appreciate your individual circumstances and tailor the treatment accordingly. If you require appointments early morning, late evening or at the weekend; this will be arranged. If you need a longer appointment even for a routine treatment, we will oblige. If you would like us to arrange travel arrangements for you after treatment, you have just to ask.

Don't put up with poor service, poor communication and poor attention to detail. As one of the best dentists in London, we're different. Give us a try and see how.

As you may know, fluoride is used in dentistry to prevent dental decay. It can be taken up into the crystalline structure of enamel, replacing the normal hydroxyapatite crystal structure into a structure called fluorapatite. This can resist acid attack to a greater degree and there is a reduction of the solubility of enamel in acid. Prevention is far better than cure! What's more, fluoride also has an inhibitory effect on oral bacteria which cause decay as they produce weaker acids and polysaccharides which diminishes the overall acid attack. In most adult toothpaste, there is 1000-1500ppm F.

As a general rule, there is NO need to use a lower PPM F toothpaste for children just use a small amount (pea sized). Encourage your child to spit out the excess paste and not swallow. If you live in a water fluoridated area, there is an argument to use toothpaste at 500ppm F due to the lower risk factor. High fluoride toothpaste should NOT be used fort children due to the risk of fluorosis. This is where adult teeth can develop with a mottled, chalky and discoloured appearance which is unaesthetic and very difficult to treat.

Mouthwashes generally have a lower fluoride concentration and hence are safe to use as an adjunct on a daily basis for children over six years old as long as they can spit out and not swallow. Non alcohol mouthwashes which are less harsh on the oral mucosa should be used. Fluoride varnish such as Duraphat by Colgate can be a very useful treatment for those at high risk of tooth decay. The concentration is high, about 22mg/ml, and can only be placed by a dentist or therapist. It has been reported that such varnish applications can reduce decay rates by up to 46% in the adult dentition.

The question of toxicity always arises when fluoride is discussed. Thus far, there have no reported cases of acute toxicity due to ingesting toothpaste which is reassuring. However, as with everything in life, care should be exercised when young children are involved. Keep all oral care products out of reach and in a safe bathroom cupboard for example.

If you suspect that your child has consumed excess fluoride, get them to drink lots of milk and seek immediate medical care.

Today is the 47th anniversary of the moon landing. Just think what has happened in the world over those past years. Our world revolves around dentistry. The change in dentistry in just fifteen years has been incredible. Here are some of the major advancements that we have seen in the world of dental care:
 

1. Digital x rays - in the past x rays would have to be developed in a dark room or processed taking more than ten minutes. Today, scanning of phosphor plates takes seven seconds or images are available immediately with sensors.
2. Lasers - laser dentistry is still relatively new but an major part of dentistry in the future. Lasers can disinfect, aid regeneration, aid healing, remove decay, sterilise gum pockets and much more.
3. Adhesive dentistry - long gone are the days of cutting teeth heavily to fill them with mercury containing amalgam fillings. MI dentistry is now the in thing with adhesive technology and composite bonding.
4. Prevention - one of the best pieces of advice is prevention, prevention, prevention. Most disease can be avoided with sound home care techniques. Early decay can be reversed and gum disease can be treated in part at home.
5. Intra oral cameras - seeing is believing. In the past you would simply have to take the dentist at his word. Now you can see everything in your mouth in great detail. Communication is the key to success.
6. Microscopes and magnification- even 2.5 x magnification allows us to see in great detail. Microscopes are now used by endodontists on a regular basis. In fact, we would not refer to one without a microscope.
7. Super seals- Biodentine is a new 'super seal' which helps to allow pulpal healing rather than the dreaded root canal. In the past deep decay resulted in root canal treatment in almost every case. Now, we have a 70% success chance of avoiding this.
8. Implant dentistry - dental implants are the gold standard in replacing teeth. The world of implant dentistry has evolved at an amazing rate and we can now predictably place implants due to the great advancement in CT scanning technology.
9. CT scans - these allow 3-D images of the hard tissue structures of the mouth to allow planning in great detail. We can plan dental implant treatment in great detail without having the patient present. Stents can be made to allow us to place the implants in the correct position and avoid anatomical structures.
10. CAD-CAM and intra oral scanning - we now have the ability to take scans of your teeth and gums without impressions. These can be e mailed to the laboratory for the fabrication of crowns, bridges, implant work, study models, orthodontic appliances and much more.

We could go on and on! Ask your dentist which of these advancements they have adopted and seek treatment that is right for you. After all, we do not live in 1969!

We appreciate that we all have very busy lives and we rely on public transport to run to schedule. However, recently many of you have been arriving late for appointments. Turning up late can disrupt the entire morning or afternoon. It is unfair to the patient booked directly after you and any subsequent patient. This is the sole reason why we run late for appointments and is incredibly unfair to all concerned. Please check the transport updates prior to making your journey and aim to arrive to us at least ten minutes before your appointment. Thank you in advance.

Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss. On the whole, gum disease can be prevented. Here are 9 key facts to prevent gum disease:

1. Always clean your teeth twice a day.

2. Clean in between the teeth using floss or inter dental brushes daily- you will be amazed how much builds up on a daily basis.

3. Visit the dentist and dental hygienist twice a year minimum. If you have gum disease, quarterly visits may be required.

4. Do not smoke- smoking is just a big a cause of gum disease as poor oral hygiene.

5. Use additional aids to keep motivated. Plaque disclosing tablets will highlight new and old plaque which will show you where you are missing.

6. New devices such as Philips Airfloss Pro can be extremely useful if you hate flossing

7. For troublesome areas, you may need special brushes. For example, dental implants may require small headed tufted brushes to clean deeper with the the gum sulcus.

8. Dental x rays will show bone levels around teeth. These should be taken every 3-4 years as a screening method and more regularly should you have a higher susceptibility.

9. Genetics can play a part. Ask you parents if they suffer from gum disease. If so, more regular appointments may be required.

 

If you are worried about gum disease, please contact us. We have specialised screening techniques to analyse your risk and provide bespoke treatment to stabilise any disease.

Would you like whiter teeth? Do you want to avoid using home trays and gels? Would you like an affordable option? If the answer is yes to the above, we have the solution. Oral B white strips. These are simply placed over the teeth like sticky tape for 1 hour and then disposed of. This is repeated for up to 14 days and hey presto, whiter teeth! We have a very special offer of just £75 for a 2 week course of treatment (upper and lower teeth). 

Call us to reserve your strips.

The Summer is here, the sun is shining and it's now a great time to whiten your teeth. We have 3 great ways to whiten your teeth this year:
 

1. Philips Zoom LED - this is our best tooth whitening technique by far with consistently excellent results achieved. The process involves a 90-120 minute session at the practice for instant results. We provide a FREE take home kit to continue at home for 3-5 days and maintain your new pearly whites. We have a special offer at just £499 at present. (usual fee £795)
2. Philips Zoom Take Home kit - a take home kit involves special tooth whitening trays made from models of your teeth and whitening gel 6% hydrogen peroxide. 1 hour per day for 14 days will take shades off your teeth and make a real difference. The cost is just £275 at present. (usual fee £375)
3. New Oral B strips - these are the latest strips from Oral B, a trusted brand. A box contains a weeks supply of strips which are simply placed over your teeth and left for 1 hour. These are great for a quick top up, stain removal or prior to a big event. We have a special introductory offer of just £75 per box- stocks are limited so call to reserve yours!

Teeth whitening is the most common form of cosmetic dentistry and is accessible to all. Why put up with yellow, discoloured teeth when a brighter, whiter smile could be yours in just 90 minutes? Call us today.