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News - Nothing but the tooth

{ Posts tagged with "Teeth straightening" }

Showing 9 of 41
May 2014
13th
13th of May 2014

Discreet Options For Straightening Lower Front Teeth

Our case of the month for May 2015 involves teeth straightening of the lower front teeth. Crooked lower front teeth is a very common problem that affects many adults. In fact, there is a term for this as the teeth gradually become more and more crooked - 'late lower incisor crowding'. There are a number of reasons for straightening lower teeth: 

1. Cosmetic 

2. Improved hygiene - often plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) readily forms on the inside of lower front teeth 

3. Improved bite 

4. Prevent further movement 

Just have a look at our case below. He was originally told that one incisor tooth required removal. However, we managed to create a great result without removing any teeth.
 


Apr 2014
25th
25th of April 2014

Straighten Your Smile Discreetly: The Power Of Lingual Braces

If you have ever thought about straightening your teeth but have dreaded the thought of metal braces, then we have the solution - lingual braces. Lingual braces are placed on the INSIDE of your teeth so that no one will know that you are wearing an orthodontic brace.

The days of the 'Ugly Betty' type brace have long gone - invisible lingual braces are the future. One of the most popular types of lingual brace is called the Social 6 brace. This aims to straighten the front 4 (upper or lower) teeth in a matter of weeks. So if you are after a cosmetic improvement to your smile and do not want to wait for months or years for results, the Social 6 brace could be for you. For example, have a look at our case below. A wonderful result in just a few weeks:
 


Apr 2014
1st
1st of April 2014

Your Perfect Wedding Smile Starts Here

Are you getting married this year? Have you set the date? Would you like straight, white teeth for the wedding day? If the answer is yes, we can help! Depending on your desires, we can help you achieve a beaming smile for your wedding day. For example:
 

Clean Teeth

A dental hygiene visit is between 30-60 minutes, instantly providing a fresher, cleaner mouth and with full stain removal!
 

Teeth Whitening

The usual time frame for teeth whitening is just 2 weeks. However, for more advanced cases a few extra weeks may be required. Our preferred technique is the take home kit using Philips Zoom gel. 
 

Cosmetic Bonding

Composite bonding can be achieved in one visit- a new smile instantly.
 

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain or composite veneers require a time frame of at least 4 weeks from start to finish. In those urgent cases, we can speed things up to 2 weeks. 
 

Cosmetic Teeth Straightening

For mild cases, teeth alignment can be achieved in as little as 6 weeks! In general, it is wise to allow 4-6 months for treatment.
 

Advanced Teeth Straightening

For more comprehensive cases, a period of 8-14 months may be required so plan well in advance! 
 

Dental Implants

Missing teeth can be replaced using dental implants in as little as 3 months. However, there are instances when we can provide a new tooth in a day!

Whatever your needs, we have the answer. Why wait, to achieve the smile of your dreams in time for your wedding contact us today.


Mar 2014
13th
13th of March 2014

The Invisible Transformation: Unveiling a Radiant Grin

Our case of the month for March is a wonderful teeth straightening case. Our client was extremely unhappy with her crooked and uneven smile but was conscious of wearing braces that were visible. After a full clinical analysis and careful treatment planning, we decided on using invisible braces. Take a look at our before and after photos- great end result.
 


Mar 2014
11th
11th of March 2014

Cosmetic Dentistry Guide

Cosmetic dentistry involves many subjects and some of the terms can be confusing. Here is our simple guide to cosmetic dentistry.
 

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is the most popular form of cosmetic dentistry. If you have yellow, discoloured teeth and would like them whiter this is for you. Our preferred method involves using take home whitening trays and 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. We use Philips Zoom and Enlighten systems. These techniques are proven, safe and easily maintained. will not work on dental restorations such as crowns, veneers, bridges, implants and metal fillings. Areas of gum recession and abrasion will also not whiten. It is therefore very important that a dentist undertakes a full clinical examination prior to tooth whitening.
 

Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic bonding is the most conservative method of restoring fractured, chipped, small, uneven teeth. The technique is non invasive as highly aesthetic tooth coloured composite material is carefully layered over the teeth. Once placed, it is then contoured and polished to a fine lustre. The bonding will require maintenance over time with polishing, repair and eventual replacement. However, as the underlying tooth is the same there is no biological damage and the process can simply be repeated. In our experience, cosmetic bonding is the first choice to repair damaged teeth.
 

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are an excellent method of repairing a tooth if there has been heavy damage, severe discolouration or large existing dental fillings. They are the most aesthetic method of providing a new tooth surface. With the latest technology, porcelain veneers are undetectable from natural teeth. They often require preparation of the underlying teeth and for this reason, the technique is not the most conservative. In certain circumstances, porcelain veneers can be placed with minimal or no preparation. This is usually when the teeth are in a good alignment, with no crowding and point contacts. Our porcelain veneer of choice, is E-max by Ivoclar. If you have a gummy smile and the gum (gingival) margins are uneven this presents a major cosmetic issue. One simple method is to create symmetry of the gum line by using a soft tissue laser. This technique is very precise, delicate and allows fantastic healing of the area. However, careful analysis must be undertaken prior to any contouring to avoid invasion of the biological width. What is this, you may ask. Well, ask your dentist. Any dentist with experience and knowledge of cosmetic dentistry should know. If your dentist cannot answer this, then they should not be undertaking the procedure!
 

Teeth Straightening

Cosmetic teeth straightening is becoming the technique of choice prior to any of the above techniques. Moving the teeth in the correct position not only creates a beautiful smile but allows for far better dentistry in the future. Due to the advances in modern technology, teeth be straightened fairly quickly and discreetly. There are techniques such as lingual braces (placed on the inside of the teeth), ceramic braces (tooth coloured braces) and clear aligners such as Invisalign (removable clear braces). These all mean that the traditional metal braces can be avoided. Each person is different and hence each treatment will be bespoke. It is vital that a full clinical examination and assessment is undertaken prior to any treatment. There is no such thing as one size fits all. If your dentist only offers one option, seek a second opinion. One important point to mention is that when teeth are straightened, they must be retained. Our preferred method of retention is by using a fixed wire retainer placed on the inside of the teeth. A removable retainer can also be used at night to doubly ensure the teeth stay nice and straight.
 

Dental Hygiene

For any cosmetic dental technique, the health of the gums must be excellent. Prior to any treatment, a visit or two to the will not only make the teeth look better and improve the gum health but ensure that the future treatment will b successful. The presence of dental plaque is the main cause of failure in dentistry. The lower the levels of plaque bacteria, the less risk of biologic damage and the higher the success rate. Visits to the dental hygienist should be at least twice a year or quarterly for those who require greater maintenance.

We hope you have found this guide to be useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: - Voted London's Best Practice Dentistry Awards 2013 Tel 0207 7311162 e info@progressivedentistry.co.uk


Dec 2013
12th
12th of December 2013

Cosmetic And Functional Correction Of Crooked Lower Teeth

Our case of the month for December involves the cosmetic and functional correction of very crooked lower teeth. Crooked lower teeth can cause all sorts of problems:

1. Poor oral hygiene 
2. Major build up of plaque and tartar 
3. Gum inflammation 
4. Uneven bite 
5. Poor aesthetics 

Our case is a very typical of very crowded lower teeth causing all of the above. Have a look:
 


Nov 2013
19th
19th of November 2013

Do You Have Lower Teeth Like This?

In the old days of cosmetic dentistry, the lower teeth were often forgotten and treatments were geared primarily to upper teeth. This included treatments such as porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges and dental implants. Often, this was a mistake. The lower teeth are VITAL to overall cosmetic dentistry, the main reason being occlusion or the 'bite'. In simple terms, if the dental occlusion is not adequate, then there are long term consequences. This could range from loss of function, increased tooth wear, increased likelihood of tooth fracture and jaw joint problems. In many cases now, we treat just the lower teeth due to phenomenon called 'late lower teeth crowding'. The lower front teeth are the smallest teeth in the mouth and lack of space is often an issue. As we age, the lack of space can become more apparent. A classic example is below:
 


Oct 2013
17th
17th of October 2013

Straight Teeth In Weeks - 8 To Be Exact- With Social 6 Lingual Braces

In the dark days of dentistry, teeth straightening used to be an arduous process involving many months or years of treatment. However, with the modern advances in cosmetic dentistry, mild crowding problems can often be corrected within a matter of weeks. One of our favoured techniques is the Social 6 lingual brace. As the name suggests, the brace is placed on the front 6 teeth but on the INSIDE of the teeth. Therefore this technique is the truly INVISIBLE brace as it is not detectable to the eye. Seeing is believing. Here is a recent case that was completed to treat mild crowding of the lower front teeth: