It's New Years Eve! Wow, how quickly has that year gone? Most of us will be glad to see the back of 2022 and hope that 2023 brings more stability. Alcohol is likely to be on the agenda tonight and why not indeed. Here, we have a few dental hygiene tips on how to look after your teeth after indulging in a glass or two.
It is a new year, Christmas is over and January is possibly the most depressing month of the year. However, a new year also means a new start and there is no better feel good dental treatment than tooth whitening. Everyone deserves whiter teeth and with modern technology, amazing results can be achieved. With a plethora of treatment methods on the market, it can be confusing which option to choose in terms of best results and costs. We will therefore provide a guide to over the counter tooth whitening vs professional whitening methods.
If you are thinking of transferring over to a private dentist but are unsure if the costs are worth it, there are many benefits you need to consider. Although we are lucky to get free or cheaper NHS healthcare in this country, sometimes paying more means getting more. If you are tired of waiting for treatment, you may want to transfer to a private dental company, here’s why.
| For some people, going to the dentist is a breeze, but for others, it’s nothing short of a horror situation. Unfortunately, it’s something we all need to do if we want to keep our teeth and gums fresh for years to come. Many people go to the dentist when they’re young, but then put it off for the next twenty years because they simply don t want to experience it again. However, going to the dentist at least once every six months is highly recommended and you’ll just need to be brave to get the outcome you want and need. If you’re looking for a new dentist, always make sure you consider the following to ensure you get a dentist that suits your needs and offers a reliable service. |
Is The Dentist Local?Finding the time to go to the dentist is sometimes an issue for people because they work long hours and have other things to do. Therefore, it’s important you choose a dentist that s close to home so you can limit travel time. It’s also wise to choose a dentist that s close to work so you can go for a routine check-up on your lunch break if you don t have any other spare time in the week. |
How Much Experience Does The Dentist Have?While many newly qualified dentists can offer you an excellent experience, it would be a better option to choose a dentist that has been practising dentistry for years. When you walk into the reception of a dentist practice for the first time, you should be able to find out what experience a dentist has. Their qualifications will usually be framed in the waiting room or held in folders at reception. |
Is the Dentist Licensed in the Area They’re Operating In?You’ll be surprised by how many people don t know dentists need to be licensed to provide dental care in the area they’re practising in. Make sure you take advantage of the business website to find a license number that you can use to confirm if they’re licensed or not. |
Does the Dentist Offer Emergency Services?The last thing you want is to have problems with your teeth on the weekend and then find out you need to wait a few days before you can see your dentist. Always make sure the dentist in question offers emergency services so you can contact them when you need to. Most surgeries will offer other options if the dentist you usually see is not available. |
How Comfortable Does The Dentist Make You Feel?The dentist you choose to keep your teeth in tip-top condition will need to make you feel comfortable otherwise the relationship isn’t going to work. Go and talk to your dentist first to get a feel for their personality and experience and that will give you a better chance of finding a dentist that is going to make the process much more comfortable. There are many dentists that offer good services, but it can be hard to find one that suits your individual needs. |
The health of your mouth is critical to your overall health, which is supported by robust scientist evidence. Here are 10 tips to help maintain a healthy mouth and healthy body:
1. Brush twice a day for two minutes. We prefer electric brushes.
2. Clean in between your teeth with floss or inter dental brushes every night.
3. Use plaque disclosing tablets occasionally. This will highlight where the deposits are building up allowing you to clean more effectively.
4. Waterjets are useful if you hate flossing. Our recommended one is Philips Airfloss.
5. A fluoride mouthwash after brushing can remove further bacteria and leave a fresh sensation. Anyone with fluoride will do.
6. If your gums bleed on brushing, use a chlorhexidine mouthwash for five days. If this continues, contact us. Our preferred brand is Corsodyl.
7. Change your brush head every three months.
8. If you have dental pockets, the use of a single tufted toothbrush can clean under the gum line. There is a special technique- point, push and splay. We will show you how to do this.
9. Do not brush too hard- this can cause gum recession, which is irreversible.
10. Clean your tongue. All of the dead cells from your mouth accumulate on the top surface of the tongue. Use your toothbrush or a dedicated tongue cleaner.
Call us to book your dental hygiene appointment today.
We are now into a new year, 2016 and what better way to start the year than transforming your smile. If you have a deadline in mind such as a special occasion, a holiday, a party or even your wedding now is the time to plan ahead. For example, here is list of how long treatments usually take:
1. Simple crowding: 1-3 months
2. Moderate crowding: 3-6 months
3. Advanced crowding: 6-12 months
4. Straightening and bite correction: 12-24 months
5. Porcelain veneers: 1 month
6. Tooth whitening: 90 minutes in surgery and then 1-2 weeks at home
7. Composite bonding: Immediate, one visit
8. Single tooth dental implant: 3 months
9. Multiple tooth implants: 3-6 months
10. All teeth implants: 6-12 months Of course, every case is different and time frames vary.
If you are considering transforming your smile in 2016 don't delay- call us and get the ball rolling. You only live once!
| As a dentist, I strive for excellence in all aspects of dentistry. In all indirect restorations, superb impressions are paramount for accurate recording of the prepared tooth/ teeth and surrounding soft mucosa, gingiva. It is all too easy to accept a sub optimal impression and ask the technician to 'do his best'. This is not acceptable. The working impression should replicate the patient as closely as possible. This will allow your technician to case an accurate impression and ultimately produce a well-fitting restoration with minimal or no adjustment. I will describe a technique that will allow an accurate impression in those cases with difficult access. |
Prior to taking the impression1. Ensure that the margins are clear and visible. |
Taking the impression- second mandibular molar sites are ideal for this technique1. These areas can be very difficult due to the limited access and muscular actions of the tongue. |
The futureThe future is digital. Intra oral scanners will become a greater part of dentistry in the next few years which will eliminate the need for conventional dental impressions. This is incredibly exciting and there are huge benefits with this technology. Having tested this in practice, I can say the techniques are incredibly accurate. However, at present the systems are too costly for most dental practices and time consuming. This will change as we have seen with digital radiography. Once it does, we will convert to intra oral scanning for all of our impressions. I will keep you posted. |
Did you watch the BBC documentary yesterday The Truth About Teeth? If not, it is well worth catching it on iPlayer. The programme highlighted significant statistics about dental attendance. Vast numbers of the population have not seen a dentist for many years. This is a shocking yet known reality.
If you have not been to see a dentist for a while and are nervous about doing so, please feel free to give us a call just for a chat. We will talk to you about modern day dentistry and how many of the old fears have now disappeared. The next episode will focus on the link between oral health and general health. Please do not miss this.
After fitting your orthodontic appliance (brace), it is important to follow some simple but important instructions. We have also provided some useful information and advice regarding after care.
Oral hygiene is critical to the success of treatment. Please brush normally 2-3 times a day using a manual or electric toothbrush. It will be very difficult to floss your teeth but interdental brushes can still be used, which are very effective. The use of a mouthwash is advised on a regular basis, ideally containing fluoride. The latest developments in interdental hygiene include devices such as the Airfloss by Philips and Waterpik units. These are excellent adjunctive techniques and highly recommended for the hard to reach areas. They use a combination of pressure, air and water (or mouthwash) to flush debris away from the contact areas of the teeth.
Adhering to a sound oral hygiene regime coupled with the use of fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash will generally prevent any decay around the brace. However, you should also carefully monitor sugar intake throughout the day. High frequency of sugar throughout the day will increase the risk of tooth decay considerably especially when wearing braces. Now is the time to really cut down on those sugary snacks and drinks! We strongly advise using MI plus paste by GC. This is excellent at reversing early decay within the tooth enamel and will help to prevent decay or dimineralisation around the orthodontic brackets. Simply rub a small amount of the paste around the brace with your finger and tongue and discard the excess. Then leave overnight, do NOT rinse with water or mouthwash afterwards.
It is important to adopt a soft diet for the first few weeks. This is especially important with lingual braces. Foods to avoid are:
If you have a tooth coloured brace, please avoid staining foods which could discolour the temporary elastics. These include:
Braces can cause irritation to the tongue or lip after fitting. This will settle once you have become accustomed to the appliance. In the meantime, orthodontic wax or putty placed over the brackets can help to provide some temporary relief. We will provide this for you.
Due to the modern technology, there is much reduced pain compared to systems of the past. However, there may be some intermittent pain. Regular pain relief such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or a combination of both should be effective. If there is prolonged severe pain, please contact us. Of course, the most important aspect is that dental braces are temporary! Time will fly by and your teeth will be straight before you know it!