A Worcester Park Dentist Explains Orthodontics

A Worcester Park dentist looks at the work of an orthodontist, focusing on the re-alignment of occlusions (the coming together of the teeth), or jaw positions, that can affect the growth of teeth, tooth loss, over and under bite, and crooked and misaligned teeth. Such occlusions can lead to severe health issues such as gum disease, teeth grinding (bruxism), jaw stress, headaches, earache, sinus and eye strain and even neck and back pain. (If bruxism is the cause of the worn teeth, it would have to be addressed before any re-constructive work could be carried out). From a young age, the problem is tackled by the use of braces to align crooked teeth, which also looks good cosmetically once the treatment is complete. Varying designs of braces can be used depending on the individual and are attached to the teeth, pulling them slowly into alignment and refining the occlusion. Oral hygiene is important to the success of this procedure. But as we get older, our teeth will wear and in some cases, fall out, which will affect the ‘bite’ of the jaw and put stress on it, causing the problems already mentioned. Treatment comes in many forms depending on the level of the problem. With a missing tooth, the orthodontist can offer a dental implant whereby a false tooth is attached to a fixture screwed into the jaw. Alternatively, a bridge can be used, a false tooth being joined to two adjacent teeth. If the teeth are chipped or worn, crowns can be fitted, but if the teeth are in reasonable shape, a brace will be used to re-align the occlusion.


Fighting Oral Cancer In Molesey

Recently, there has been a rise in the number of reported cases of mouth cancer in Britain, a fact echoed by a Molesey dentist. Around 5000 people are diagnosed with the problem every year, mostly men over the age of 40, but with a greater public awareness of the disease, oral cancer is treatable. So what are the causes and the symptoms of the problem? Britain likes a drink and Britain likes a smoke. Throw in a bad diet and poor oral hygiene and you have a recipe for number of mouth problems, let alone cancer- a repetitive ulcer, lumps, bad breath, bleeding gums and loose teeth. But poor self management and excesses are not the only causes. Previous cancers around the upper body, exposure of the lips to sunlight, stress and a weak immune system all make the mouth vulnerable to the disease. We should be aware of our bodies and know when something is wrong. A dentist will be able to diagnose any problems you have through an examination of the throat and mouth and a biopsy- tissue and cell diagnosis in a laboratory. If positive, this will be followed up by X-rays, scans and further biopsies to determine the extent of the cancer. Treatment will come in various forms, pending the level of the problem. Physical surgery, radiotherapy, chemo or biological therapy would be applied until all the cancer cells are removed. The earlier the problem is diagnosed, the more likely the chances of beating cancer. But we can take preventative steps to avoid the problem in the first place. Tackling the causes- good diet, avoid smoking and heavy drinking, excess exposure to sunlight, changes of moods in your mouth and most important, regular appointments at the dentist.


Braces- A Surbiton Dentist Quick Guide

A dentist in Surbiton will tell you that having to wear braces will be one of the most traumatic periods of your life, especially if you attend school- you can’t hide them, they can look ungainly, cause problems when eating and single you out for ridicule amongst your peers for anything up to 3 years. They can also cause periodontal problems and gum disease which calls for vigilance in hygiene. But braces are an important procedure in teeth growth, rectifying the alignment between teeth and bite (eliminating possible problems in the future), straightening crooked teeth and once removed, giving back a cosmetically pleasing smile. X-rays, mouldings and impressions are made to evaluate the work required. Teeth can often be removed to make way for movement before the fitting of the braces and once in, it may take a while to get used to wearing them, initially causing irritation and allergic reactions in the mouth. Aesthetically, there are many styles to choose from, depending on what you are willing to spend. They start from the basic, rather unsightly silver fittings to gold, ceramic, sapphire, clear and invisible, depending on your sense of vanity. Then there are Inman aligners that are used for the front teeth only. If the braces are permanent, keeping the mouth clean is of the utmost importance and special brushes are on the market designed for this job.


Dental Emergencies- A Weybridge Dentist Explains

There is no indication of when a dental emergency will arise. It could happen anytime, anywhere, explains a dentist in Weybridge. We are not talking about leaving your dentures in the pub toilet. We are talking about serious emergencies that in certain cases could be life threatening. So what are the most likely emergencies to arise and how are they best dealt with? Firstly let’s look at toothache. It’s a problem that comes from nowhere and without warning. It can be caused by a number of things, but should be addressed by your dentist. But they might not be around at 2.30 in the morning, so it’s down to self preservation. Flossing, and rinsing with warm, salty water is the first line of defence followed by painkillers. Leading on from a toothache is an abscess. These are very serious. If not dealt with, they can be life threatening and can infect the whole body if allowed to develop. If you can’t get a dentist, get to a hospital, if only for peace of mind. Now we come to tooth damage. Whether it’s a chipped tooth or a tooth has been knocked out, the same rules apply. The tooth or chips should be saved if possible until you can get to a dentist for analysis. The mouth should be rinsed and a swab used to stop cold air invading the wound. Painkillers can help. Finally, a more common emergency is the loss of a crown or a filling. In the case of a crown, the exposure of the tooth to the air can cause intense pain. This can be treated with clove oil and the crown can be slipped back on using toothpaste or sugar free gum as in the case of a filling. Whatever the case, any emergency should not be underestimated. A dentist should always be sought immediately. But if the problem escalates, don’t take any chances, call an ambulance.


A Dentist’s Practise Of Periodontal Examinations In Shepperton

We all have to get the car MOT’d once a year right, so why not our mouths? A dentist at Shepperton feels that more often than not, we turn a blind eye to our own health problems and favour concentrating our efforts on more material pursuits. A periodontal examination is the only way to effectively gauge the state of our oral health and rectify any problems that may be diagnosed- just like the motor. So starting with the gums, dentists will check for any signs of gum disease, bleeding gums, swelling gums, receding gums, gum pockets, periodontitis and gingivitis. The colour of your gums, tongue and cheeks will indicate any precancerous conditions. They will also check for lesions in the mouth. Then they will check the teeth- build up of plaque and tartar, teeth colouration, worn teeth, missing teeth, any signs of grinding and root exposure before moving on to any restoration work- bridges, crowns, implants, dentures and fillings. Most importantly, they will measure the alignment of the occlusion. Once every detail is recorded and analysed, they can make a complete diagnosis of your oral hygiene and if there is any indication of a problem, they can advise you on treatments or refer you to a specialist. Impressions and x-rays may be taken to help in your diagnosis and in special cases, they may insist on a panoramic radiograph of the skull. This will highlight any sinus or jaw joint problems. If certain treatments are required, the dentist can then chart your progress to see if the treatments are affective and let’s not forget that prevention is better than cure and a dentist will advise you on the best course of oral hygiene to take.


What is TMJ and what can I do to cure it? A Kingston-upon-Thames dentist explains

TMJ is a disorder that not many of us have even heard of, yet so many of us are sufferers says Kingston-upon-Thames dentist. The degree of the disorder varies and so thankfully not too many of us are chronic sufferers, it is particular in women more than men for an unknown reason. The full name is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, which is ironically quite a mouth full, ironic because the joint involved is the one that adjoins the jaw (Mandible) to the skull. This dysfunction of the joint can cause many other problems from Tinnitus to tooth loss, and it is a disorder that is very difficult to pinpoint as not too much is known about the causes. Inflammations and misalignments of the teeth are the most common symptoms, and a lot of people suffer in silence as they attribute this to other uncontrollable causes. There have been a few cases where patients have reported the symptoms after having had wisdom teeth extracted, it is now believed that the impacted teeth kept the joint in place, and that when they are removed the joint becomes more flexible. This is one of the most common reasons for this awful disorder. It can be quite painful if you are a sufferer, and many are constantly on painkillers totally unaware of the problem. A splint and sometimes a brace will be used to treat the disorder in most cases, these will often stop the grinding of the teeth that is a major attributor to TMJ disorder in the first instance.


A Weybridge dentist explains the advantages of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers have been around for decades, in the good old days only movie stars and pop singers could afford them, but today the cost has been heavily reduced due to their new founded popularity. A Weybridge dentist says that they have noticed more and more people are choosing these types of a veneer to cover a multitude of dental sins; so to speak. The Porcelain that they are made from is a special type of clay that is quite hard wearing, it is easy to work with and the veneers are made by a dental technician to order. Digital pictures are taken of the tooth that needs covering and the teeth either side of it, this helps to colour code the veneer to allow for blending in, this will make the veneer appear more natural. They vary in thickness and how long they last, but the usual lifetime of a Porcelain veneer is around 5-15 years. They will eventually go yellow, but the good news is that they are replaceable. The procedure will involve you losing a fair amount of your natural tooth enamel, the amount will be equivalent to the thickness of the veneer, this is so it doesn`t project out and look false. The enamel never grows back and the veneer can only be replaced with another veneer, the procedure is different in that you won`t need to have any more enamel taken off. It may sound a painful procedure, but it is all quite painless as are all dental treatments these days.


Teeth Whitening explained by a Molesey dentist

Teeth whitening is the new ` Tan`, and it is now available from most High Street dental surgeries’ says a Molesey dentist. A technician rather than a dentist will tend to be the one who will do this simple procedure for you. The cost is quite varied as well as the competition is fierce. Expect to pay between £200 and £400, the procedure takes about an hour and there are literarily no after effects except a little tenderness that lasts for a few days at worst. The technician will place a rubber shield in your mouth, this protects the lips, mouth and gums from being burnt. A gel is the coated onto the teeth and a machine will produce an intense blue, bright light, this reacts with the gel and whitens the teeth. The light would burn your soft mouth tissue if it was exposed to it for a long time, the teeth need about 45 minutes of treatment and this is done in 3 stages. Teeth need to cool done in between the 15 minute sessions, when it is all done the technician will then go over after care procedures that will ensure the whitening lasts a long time, usually a year or more. You will be advised to keep away from any food or drink that will stain the teeth again; coffee, red wine etc are the obvious ones, although white is permissible.


A Weybridge dentist talks about how the Invisalign works

An Invisalign is a brace system that works, and works well. It is an improvement on traditional braces in the way it works and looks, says a Weybridge dentist. On your first visit the dentist will identify the problem that needs fixing, then using digital pictures that are fed into a computer system, they will plan out and design a series of braces that will be fitted every two weeks. The braces are unique in that they are self contained with all the `gubbings` secreted on the inside to hide them from the visible eye. It`s called the Invisalign because of the clear look of the brace, the most amazing thing is that it is also removable and can be taken out and replaced by the client. When cleaning your teeth or eating your food you simply pop them out and then back in again, in fact you can leave them off for a few hours every day. For the busy and fashion conscious executive, this is a handy tool to have when you are used to face to face meetings or business lunches and dinners. The series of braces are all made before the treatment even starts, using a 3D CGI film, which is also created by the system, you and your dentist can see the whole process before you even start, at the end of the film you`ll see the end result. The process is quite scientific as well and will agitate the blood system to produce more new bone cells, these will attach themselves behind the teeth as they move, and keep them in the new position that the braces will manipulate them into.


What is Cerec? A Surbiton dentist tells all

CEREC is a unique invention and procedure that allows a dentist to be a dental technician in their own surgery. It consists of two machines which are adjoined to a computer system, one is a digital camera and the other is a milling machine. Let’s say you have an appointment with your dentist because you have cracked or chipped tooth, the dentist recommends a crown to solve the problem. They will take digital pictures that are fed straight into the computer, this will produce a 3D image of the tooth and a 3D picture of the crown. The information is fed automatically to the milling machine and a blank, readymade ceramic block is clamped into position. The machine will now proceed to mill the crown to order, specifically for you and your problem tooth. While this is going on the dentist will prepare the rogue tooth to have the new crown fitted, to do this they will grind and file down the tooth so the chip or crack is illuminated and the crown will fit straight on. This can all be done in most cases in around 30 minutes to an hour. This unique and innovative system can solve many problems almost instantly, it allows the dentist, with very little training, to do all the work in-house and save you not just time, but money and less visits to the surgery. Veneers and more complicated treatments such as a bridge can also be solved using the CEREC system. This is advanced dental science at its best.


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Dr Patel's smile makeover photos have been selected to be featured on the cosmetic dentistry guide - an educational resource with information on
teeth whitening, dental implants, dental veneers, invisalign and much more.