Pregnancy causes hormonal changes to a woman's body and increases their risk of developing oral health problems including tooth decay, gingivitis or periodontitis. Research shows that almost 70% of pregnant women at some stage during the pregnancy will develop some oral health problems which can have a detrimental effect on both mother and the unborn child. Pregnancy gingivitis (gum inflammation) is the most common condition in pregnancy and is caused by poor oral hygiene (mainly plaque) and increased hormone activity. While pregnancy gingivitis can occur anytime during the pregnancy, being at it worst during the second trimester, it is often a pre-existing condition. Managing pregnancy gingivitis is very important so that it doesn t progress to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis can cause serious oral health problems that eventually leads to tooth loss. Research suggests that untreated oral conditions in pregnancy can lead to pre-term labour, low weight of baby at birth and even miscarriages. 

Hence it is paramount for a mums-to-be to take a great care of themselves and their mouth. If you find that your gums are painful, swollen and bleed easily or just want to double check that everything is fine please contact the surgery or arrange an appointment with our dentist or dental hygienist. 


Oral care tips for a healthy pregnancy:

1. Regular check-ups and hygiene visits.

2. Strict home care routine and meticulous plaque removal even before you are pregnant.

3. Flossing and cleaning in between teeth is paramount.

4. Find time for oral care at the time of the day when sickness is not present.

5. Use fluoride toothpaste and employ spit don t rinse technique.

6. Choose a softer toothbrush if your gums are sore or bleeding.

7. Alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash can help with nausea and after frequent snacking.

8. Rinse your mouth after morning sickness to prevent the acids from affecting your teeth.

9. Stop smoking and have a healthy diet (if possible reduce the amount and frequency of snacking on sugary food and drinks).


And remember that giving special attention to your gums and teeth will prevent any complications in the future and set a great example to your new child. 

Should you have any questions, please e mail us: info@progressivedentistry.co.uk

Our case of the month for September involves a dental implant to replace a missing molar tooth. Initially, the tooth was lost due to extensive tooth decay that was not treatable. This resulted in a space which affected eating. Although back teeth are not particularly visible, it is important to replace them for a number of reasons:
 

1. Restore the bite
2. Prevent movement of the adjacent teeth
3. Prevent movement of the opposite teeth
4. Preserve the jaw bone
5. Aesthetics if visible on smiling

In our case, the missing tooth was on the upper right side:
 

Our case of the month for August involves a combination treatment called ABC. A is for alignment. Teeth straightening initially will not only give a greater aesthetic appearance but allow for further cosmetic treatments with a minimally invasive approach. B is for bleaching. Whitening your teeth can make a huge difference to your smile and self confidence. C is for cosmetic bonding. Teeth can be enhanced with bonding to the existing tooth structure rather than cutting away healthy enamel for veneers for example. Here is the initial smile for our patient. There is crowding of the teeth where the right lateral tooth is hidden from view, uneven edges and discolouration.
 

Our case of the month for July 2018 involves teeth straightening using lingual braces. Lingual braces are placed on the inside of the teeth rather than on the outside, which makes them the only INVISIBLE brace. If you dread the thought of traditional metal train tracks or just could not commit to the regimented regime of Invisalign, this could be the technique for you. Here is our case:
 

Do you have a fear of the dentist? Are you scared of the dental drill? Are you a needle phobic? If the answer to the above is yes, we can help. We are experts in providing virtually pain free dentistry and use the latest technology to offer alternatives to the dreaded dental drill and needles. Here are some ways that we can make dental treatment more comfortable and stress free:
 

Dental implants are the best way to replace a single missing premolar tooth; at present there is no alternative that can offer the same benefits as dental implants. These include: 

1. A fixed tooth to replace the missing one
2. The adjacent teeth do not need cutting down
3. Preservation of the bone and gum tissue
4. Restoring function to that of the natural tooth
5. Excellent aesthetics as the new tooth emerges from the gum line
6. Dental implants cannot decay
7. Longer lasting than traditional alternatives such as dentures or bridges
 

Our case of the month for June is a Social 6 lingual brace to correct the upper front teeth. The Social 6 lingual brace is excellent for straightening the front 4 teeth, or the incisor teeth. The canine teeth are the anchors of the brace. Hence, the brace is placed on 6 teeth but can only correct the front 4 teeth.
 

Our case of the month involves the removal of a fibro epithelial polyp using the Waterlase iPlus laser.
 

We love transforming smiles; it is what we do and we are the best around! In this modern day and age, we need to be familiar with all of the latest dental techniques, technology and materials to be able to provide stunning smiles. For example, fifteen years ago, dental implants were a rare thing and hardly done. Nowadays, every dental practice on the high street offers dental teeth implants and there are over 400 hundred systems available worldwide, if not more! Of course, it would make sense if the majority of systems had the same design, used the same screws, screwdrivers and other components. Unfortunately, everyone wants to be different and there are thousands of varying components for dental implants. Thankfully, we have numerous implant kits and can manage most of the common systems on the market. Our case, was such a case where we had to work on a dental implant not placed by Dr Nissit Patel and using a different system. We also needed to replace some failing porcelain veneers. The end result was dramatic and a smile transformation in the true sense of the word.