Our teeth are more prone to developing stains and discolouration as we get older. Effective dental care such as brushing and flossing will clean superficial stains but if they have penetrated into the tooth enamel and dentin then it may not be possible to treat without a whitening treatment.
There are many whitening treatments on the market which have different levels of success with different patients. Zoom teeth whitening is one of the most state of the art and effective ways to whiten teeth, with results capable of being up to ten shades whiter depending on your teeth.
Whitening teeth will make your teeth look healthier and will help to make you appear younger. It can also help to restore your self-esteem and make you more confident about smiling. Zoom teeth whitening works by applying a special formula to the teeth, which is then activated on the special Zoom Advanced Heat Lamp. This increases the speed of the effects of the whitening procedure meaning you will spend less time in the dentist’s chair.
You should always avoid over-the-counter treatments when it comes to teeth whitening. This is because it is possible for the formula to cause some damage to the soft tissue of the tongue and gums if applied incorrectly. A Swindon dentist will be able to use all the necessary protective equipment to keep your teeth and gums safe and will also be able to achieve better results. There are many different treatment lengths available depending on the level of discolouration and the type of teeth enamel you have.
Nearly three quarters of all people asked in a recent survey were afraid to smile in photos because of the appearance of their teeth. There are many dental issues that make people embarrassed by their teeth. It could be due to an obvious feature such as a missing tooth or discoloured teeth, but more often than not it is the alignment of the teeth that causes the problem.
Crooked or unevenly spaced teeth can really ruin the appearance of otherwise perfectly healthy teeth but there are several orthodontic straightening devices that could easily remedy this problem. One of the most recent innovations is Invisalign invisible braces. Developed by Align technologies in the US, Invisalign braces aim to straighten teeth with the minimum visual impact. The braces were designed in response to one of the most common complaints about fixed metal braces; namely that they spoiled the appearance of the teeth for up to three years before the results could be seen.
This was often a significant problem, especially for teenagers and young adults going through a very sensitive time of their life. Invisalign works by utilising a series of clear plastic retainers. Each retainer is worn for a period of about two to three weeks before another one replaces it. Each new retainer makes a subtle adjustment aimed to gradually move the teeth into position. In all, about twenty-five retainers will be needed to complete the treatment. This makes an average treatment time of about 18 months, roughly six-months shorter than the average treatment time for traditional braces.
The low visible impact of Invisalign, combined with the fact that the braces are removable is making them a very popular choice at Swindon dentists.
Teeth can be lost in a number of circumstances. In some cases it may be a road accident or even a sporting accident. It may just be due to a lack of oral hygiene and tooth decay or gum disease has caused the destruction of the tooth. However you have lost the tooth, a smile with missing teeth is never really a healthy or attractive look and will add years to your appearance. There are also many health reasons why it is important to replace missing teeth with a dental substitution.
There are a number of options to replace missing teeth. Dental implants involve using small screws anchored into the jawbone, which are very solid but also quite costly. Partial dentures are another option but van often feel very bulky and may limit what it is possible to eat. One of the most common restorations is a dental bridge. Dental bridges are secured on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a couple of dental crowns, or if the teeth are in very good condition, with resin bonded strips. A Bath dentist will be able to advise which is the most suitable type of dental bridge at an initial appointment.
Dental bridges replace all the part of the tooth visible above the gum to restore the appearance of a full dental arc and also to replace the lost support for the facial structure. They also prevent the other teeth leaning into the vacant space, which can cause misalignment and nasty jaw conditions. A dental bridge can last up to twenty years if it is properly maintained and cleaned like your other teeth. Your dentist will give you tips on how best to care for any dental restoration work you may have.
One in three of us will develop cancer at some point in out lives so it is important that we are all aware of the signs and symptoms to enable early treatment. When it comes to cancer, the best hope you really have of overcoming the disease is catching it as early as possible. This is especially true of oral cancer, which has an eighty per cent survival rate when caught and treated in its early stages. If the disease is not detected early enough it may well be fatal.
Oral cancer includes any cancer of the lips, tongue, cheek lining and throat. It manifests itself as small red, white or blotchy patches, which are sore but don’t disappear naturally after a couple of weeks. There are a number of other symptoms, which include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, pain in the neck, face and shoulders and a sudden weight loss.
One of the best ways to beat oral cancer is to have your mouth regularly examined by a Bristol dentist. Dental check up appointments are advised every six months as routine but if you are in one of the high risk groups it may be advisable to pay more regular visits. The high risk factors include being male and over fifty, with smokers and drinkers (especially both in tandem) being very susceptible.
If you think you are at a high risk of oral cancer or are experiencing any unusual activity in your mouth then make an appointment to see a Bristol dentist as soon as possible. It might just be the best decision you ever make.
When playing a physical sport or a sport that involves fast moving balls, it is important to afford your body the maximum protection. This involves covering or padding any areas that could be vulnerable. One of the most vulnerable areas of your body when playing sport is your teeth. Over half the cases of knocked out teeth seen by dentists occur as the result of a sporting injury of some description.
It may be possible in some case to replace the tooth immediately but if not you will be looking at costly and painful dental treatment to restore the appearance of your teeth. This may involve a dental implant, dental bridge or partial denture. These will need regular dental care and even replacing at various points in your life. But there is a way to give your teeth an extra degree of protection when playing sport that could prevent lost teeth.
A mouth guard from a Weston-super-Mare dentist will cover the teeth and spread the load of any impact, thus protecting the individual teeth and preventing damage. Although mouth guards are available form most sport shops, these are generally quite ill-fitting and offer only minimal protection. A mouth guard from a dentist will be specifically designed to fit your teeth. This means it will be snug fit and offer more protection to your teeth. The fitting process is very simple and quick and when compared to the cost of dental restoration treatment, is really very cheap.
Dentists can also make mouth guards for children but it is important to have these changed regularly as developing teeth change very quickly.
You may have heard about the dental restoration treatment called a dental implant. This comes in the form of a small titanium screw that is placed directly into the jawbone to act as a base for an artificial crown. Dental implants are one of the most popular teeth substitutes because they replace the whole tooth and not just the crown. However, you may not be aware that it is possible to have a series of mini-implants to act as a secure base for a set of dentures.
Mini-implants are positioned in the same way as normal implants. They are screwed directly into the jawbone, providing it is healthy enough, at intervals along the arc of the gum. In total it is usual to have about five implants for each arc to secure the dentures. Once the implants have been positioned they will need to be left for several weeks to allow them to fuse with the bone. This process is called osseointegration and is the secret to the solidity of implant technology.
Once firmly in place, your Bath dentist will then either manufacture a new set of dentures designed with small clips which attach to the implants, or alternatively can fit your existing dentures with clips. The advantage of mini-implants is that they firmly secure the dentures without having to rely on suction or messy denture adhesive strips. This can alleviate the anxiety common to many denture wearers that they are going to fall out. It also means that some foods that can be difficult to eat with normal dentures can be enjoyed without the worry. The dentures simply clip on and off to the mini-implants as and when you want to put them in or take them out.
As we age our teeth become more susceptible to staining and discolouration. Tooth whitening is a process that aims to reverse the process of discolouration and combat staining without the need for costly veneers or other restorations.
The tooth is made up of two distinct layers. At the top is the protective layer of tooth enamel. Underneath this is a layer of a very hard substance called dentin. When we eat certain foods and drink certain liquids these two layers can become stained. Foods particularly bad for staining teeth are red wine, coffee and tea. Smoking cigarettes is also very bad for the teeth leaving yellow stains.
It is possible to remove some stains of the surface of the enamel using ordinary cleaning techniques or by visiting a dental hygienist. However, if the discolouration penetrates to the dentin then it is very hard if not impossible to remove. This is when a tooth whitening procedure may be very useful to restore teeth to their original colour.
The process works by applying a bleaching agent, usually hydrogen peroxide, to the surface of the tooth. This is accomplished by using special trays that keep the active gel in contact with the tooth. The peroxide penetrates the tooth and targets stained areas, returning them to their white colour.
One of the most popular whitening treatments available from Bath dentists is called Enlighten. Enlighten has an excellent safety record, especially when applied by a dentist with all the necessary safety equipment. Using an enlighten product for a couple of hours each day especially prepared trays from your dentist could lighten the colour of your teeth by up to ten shades. Teeth whitening is a very effective and affordable cosmetic dentistry treatment that can produce stunning results. Ask your dentist for more information.
From an early age we are always taught that if we look after our teeth then they will look after us. Our parents teach us the importance of brushing and flossing and that if we do that correctly we can avoid much unnecessary dental treatment in the future. It seems like such a simple deal to make; clean your teeth and they will stay healthy. Yet it seems by the increase in cases of tooth decay and the fact that 90 per cent of adults in this country will suffer gum disease at some point in their life, that we are perhaps forgetting the valuable childhood lessons.
Effective oral hygiene takes place mostly at home but should also include a six-monthly visit to a Weston-super-Mare dentist for a check up. They can make sure that your teeth are in good condition and outline any action you need to take to clean them more effectively.
A good oral hygiene routine includes brushing twice a day for three minutes. This should ideally be done with a soft-bristled brush angled at forty-five degrees to the gums. If possible, you should brush your teeth after every meal for the best chance of removing plaque and bacteria but this may not always be feasible. Flossing should be performed carefully once a day. This will help to remove bacteria from the tiny spaces between the teeth and also stimulate the gums around the base of the teeth. Your dentist may also advise you to use a tongue scraper or other dental implement such as an inter-dental brush.
Looking after your teeth well should only take you a couple of extra minutes a day. By following the few simple rules laid out for you by a dentist you will hopefully have to see a lot less of them in the future, only stopping in once every six-months for a quick check and a chat.
There are a number of companies that manufacture dental veneers. One of the biggest and most popular is Cerinate. Their most recent addition to the market is Lumineer veneers. Lumineers are a special type of incredibly thin veneer that can be used to reshape your smile and enhance the colour of stained teeth. They are also perfect for unevenly spaced and worn down teeth.
What is it that makes Lumineers different from any other dental veneer available? Well, firstly they are made of very thin yet tough porcelain that is about the same width as a contact lens. This means that little preparation work is needed before application. In fact there is very seldom a need to remove any of the teeth’s natural enamel, which can happen with some other laboratory-manufactured veneers. This also means that the whole process is completely reversible should you at any point need to remove the veneers without damaging the teeth.
Lumineers are so thin they can be placed directly over the top of existing dental restorations such as porcelain crowns and other veneers. This comes in very handy when the veneers themselves begin to develop stains after about fifteen years. Whereas some other veneers would need to be ground down or forcibly removed before the application of fresh veneers, Lumineers can simply be placed over the top.
Not all dentists offer Lumineer veneers because they have to be registered as an official representative of Lumineers. However, dentists in Chepstow offer Lumineers to restore the appearance of your teeth to give you the bright, even and healthy smile you have always wanted.
Everybody dreams of having the perfect Hollywood smile but for some people this is far from a reality. There are many problems that can affect the appearance of teeth, which can cause embarrassment and low self-esteem. For example, teeth that suffer from discolouration can add years to the appeared age of the patient and also look very unhealthy. Teeth that are suffering from worn enamel can also look unhealthy and unattractive.
The modern world is a very image conscious place and having great teeth and a beautiful smile really could give you an advantage both in your personal and professional life. There is one simple and very effective cosmetic dentistry procedure that could transform the appearance of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are ceramic caps that are fitted over the top of the existing teeth. They are cemented in place using tooth coloured dental bonding for a solid and resilient fit.
Porcelain veneers are very thin, some only as wide as a contact lens, which means that minimal or no enamel removal is needed before treatment. The veneers will cover any discolouration or staining and will also create the appearance of even and well-proportioned teeth.
The procedure of fitting porcelain enamels can take as little as one appointment with a Bath dentist once the initial preparation and manufacture work has taken place. The latest technology is even allowing the possibility of veneers designed, manufactured and fitted in the same day. Either way, porcelain veneers give you the chance to have the healthy and beautiful looking teeth you have always wanted. Porcelain veneers vary in price depending upon the extent of treatment needed and each individual patient. Although they may be more expensive than other cosmetic dentistry treatments, they are also the most spectacular.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
