Over the last few years Surrey dentists have noticed a surge in demand for dental implants. This is because dental implants are becoming more widely known as the most solid and realistic form of dental replacement and one that can last a lifetime without the need for constant repair and replacement, unlike some other dental substitutions. But just what is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is drilled directly into your jawbone to act as a base for an artificial tooth. This probably doesn’t sound all that appealing right now, but the process is carried out under anaesthetic and is painless. Once anchored onto the jawbone, the screw is then left for several weeks or months to fuse together with the existing tissue and bone. This is what gives the dental implant its incredible stability; it’s almost as if it becomes part of the body itself.

Once it is fully fused, the dentist can then attach a post to the screw, which is then used to hold in place an artificial tooth. This will have been chosen to closely match the colour and shape of the other teeth in the mouth. Because the dental implant is the only dental replacement to restore the whole of the tooth from root to crown it looks and feels the most realistic.

It is also possible to have series of smaller implants fitted to act as a base for a set of dentures. This has provided much relief to many denture wearers who are often concerned about loose dentures and the embarrassment of having them fall out at exactly the wrong moment. Ask your dentist for more information about the benefits and costs of dental implants. They could be just the answer you have been looking for to restore the appearance of your smile.

A knocked out tooth is probably more unpleasant than you can imagine. Just ask anyone who has experienced it. Losing a tooth to decay is equally as distressing but what is probably more painful is the emotional distress of feeling that your smile and teeth have been ruined and that you are no longer attractive. A missing tooth in the dental arc is pretty easy to spot, especially if in the front, so many patients are very keen to replace it as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways of doing this but perhaps one of the most effective, and certainly cost effective, is with a dental bridge. This involves constructing a ‘bridge’ across the missing tooth area using dental crowns and an artificial tooth called a pontic. The crowns are attached to the teeth on either side of the gap and then an artificial tooth is fused to them using dental bonding. This way, the appearance of the tooth is restored as well as a large part of its functionality.

Dental bridges can last up to twenty years in some cases if looked after especially well, although it is more likely that it will last between ten and fifteen years.

In some cases, if the adjacent teeth are in very good condition, the dentist may be reluctant to remove any healthy enamel to fit the dental crowns and maybe able to attach the pontic just using resin bonded strips. This is often called a Maryland bridge but is not suitable in all cases.

Once in place, the dental bridge will look very realistic and natural, as the pontic will have been specially made to look exactly like the existing teeth. Ask your Sunbury dentist for more information about dental bridges and if they could be suitable to replace your missing toot or teeth.

Braces. A word that used to strike fear into the hearts of every teenager across the country. And who could blame them? Nobody would particularly relish the prospect of a mouth full of metal brackets and wires, painful tightening appointments and the aesthetic nightmare that was traditional braces; in some cases for as long as three years. But the world of orthodontic straightening has undergone some significant changes in recent years.

Driven by the obvious need to provide patients with a better way of achieving the straight teeth they wanted, various companies set about to design and manufacture new methods of straightening teeth. New pioneering techniques were developed that finally solved the problems that wearing traditional braces could cause.

One of the most successful of these new devices is called the Six Month Smile brace. Addressing all the major concerns of brace wearers, Six Month Smile braces are designed to be discreet, using smaller brackets and tooth coloured wires, to limit the visual impact a brace can have. They are also made to be more comfortable, with little or no need for painful tightening. But perhaps most significantly is the speed of treatment they can offer. The average treatment time for conventional braces was between two and three years, with Six Month Smile the average treatment time is, well, six months, hence the name.

This is an incredible advantage and one that is striking a chord with patients all across the UK. If in the past, the desire to have straighter teeth was outweighed by the thought of a three year long treatment, there can be few who would argue with a six month treatment to achieve the smile they have always wanted. To find out more about these incredible new braces, make an appointment with your Sunbury dentist and ask about Six Month Smile braces

Nobody relishes the idea of having to wear braces. The thought of up to three years with a mouth full of unattractive metal is enough to put anyone off, let alone a teenager in the most emotionally difficult time of their lives. Thankfully, over the last ten years a number of companies have designed orthodontic straightening devices that have addressed some of the key drawbacks of traditional fixed-metal braces.

One such development, made by Align Technologies, has been the Invisalign brace. This is a revolutionary new invisible brace that is almost impossible to see, yet just as effective as a conventional metal brace. Invisalign braces are made from one-millimetre thick plastic and designed especially for the individual’s teeth. Each plastic retainer is worn for a period of about three weeks before being replaced by another with small adjustments. In this way, over the course of the average 18-month treatment, the teeth are gradually realigned to be in a more aesthetically pleasing position.

The other major advantage of the Invisalign system is that the braces are completely removable. This means they can be taken out for cleaning purposes, or even for sports or social occasions. This is a major advantage for teenagers and even young professionals keen to avoid the stigma so frequently attached to wearing braces.

As the average treatment time of Invisalign braces from a Weybridge dentist is just 18-months this also means it is shorter than with traditional braces. Just another reason why Invisalign is rapidly becoming very popular with both dentists and patients across the UK.

The Inman aligner is the one of latest in a long line of orthodontic teeth straightening devices that offers vastly improved treatment to the old fashioned fixed metal braces. To any teenager facing the concept of having braces, the old style ‘train-track’ metal braces could seem quite a formidable sacrifice to have to make. Treatment could last up to three years and the bulky wire and bracket system that affected the change was uncomfortable and required regular painful tightening. And the obvious disadvantage was that they didn’t exactly look all that great aesthetically.

This is where the Inman aligner has offered a genuine alternative. Not only is the aligner discreet, with the bulk of the straightening materials, notably the coiled spring that gives it its straightening power, located on the tongue side of the teeth but only a small and very discreet wire can be seen running along the front of the teeth. This gives the Inman aligner a huge advantage over traditional braces aesthetically.

The Inman aligner also straightens teeth much quicker than most other braces. Incredibly, in some cases, results can be seen in as little as six weeks, although the average time of treatment is about six months. This is a significant improvement, especially for patients in their teens when three years can seem like an eternity.

The Inman aligner is also completely removable, which is good for patients who play sport or who have regular social occasions they do not want to wear braces for. In fact, because of all these advantages many people are choosing to use the Inman aligner to straighten teeth before important social occasions like wedding or starting new jobs. To find out more about the Inman aligner, ask a Kingston-upon-Thames dentist at your next check up.

Do you have a missing tooth you are looking to replace? Then you may want to consider having a dental implant. These are small titanium screws that are placed directly into the jawbone to act as a base for an artificial tooth. Unlike other dental restorations, dental implants are the only dental substitute to restore the whole of the missing tooth from root to crown. This makes them the most stable and realistic alternative to a real tooth and explains why they are fast becoming the restoration of choice for many patients.

Although dental implants are more expensive than other tooth substitutes, they do not need to be replaced and once implanted they will last for the rest of your life. Because they are so stable, it also means that you will not have to worry abut eating certain foods and the risk this can pose to other less permanent solutions such as dental bridges and partial dentures.

The procedure involves drilling a whole into the jawbone and screwing in the implant. Once in, it will then be left for a period of time to fuse with bone and tissue until it is thoroughly set in the jaw. It can then be used to attach a post and finally a suitable dental crown chosen to match the size and colour of the existing teeth.

Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth and in the case of many missing teeth it is even possible to use several mini-implants to act as a solid base for a set of dentures. The dentures can be clipped on and off to the mini-implants removing the need to use sticky and messy denture adhesives. Molesey dentists can offer more information about the benefits of dental implants at your next appointment.

In the past, patients who needed braces were often left with very little option other than to opt for the traditional fixed metal braces. However, over the last decade a whole new generation of new braces has sprung up offering vastly improved treatment. One of the most impressive of this new generation of braces is the Damon treatment.

Damon braces like to see themselves as more than just an orthodontic product. They believe it is a whole new way of treatment that does away with the need for the removal of otherwise healthy teeth and palatal expanders to create room for the teeth. Damon braces aim to create full natural smiles using sensible amounts of force to move the teeth into position.

The main points of the Damon treatment are faster treatment, fewer appointments and more comfortable treatment and it seems to deliver on all three. Damon uses passive self-ligating braces, which eliminate the need for plastic or metal ties. This means there is no need for tightening during treatment. The light weight memory-shape wires move teeth faster and require fewer adjustments during the course of treatment. The Damon system not only aligns your teeth but also aims to improve your facial aesthetics including profile, without the need for extractions.

Damon braces from a Weybridge dentist are designed to be discreet, comfortable and easy to clean. The brackets are smaller meaning a larger area of the tooth can be cleaned and they have no metal or elastic ties which can act as a magnet for plaque and bacteria. To experience the comfort and discretion of the Damon treatment make an appointment with your dentist. Orthodontic straightening doesn’t have to be the gruelling process it was in the past thanks to Damon braces.

There are many people who are not entirely satisfied with their appearance. In some cases this can be the cause of serious emotional and self-esteem issues that can affect their everyday lives. There are a number of options for people who are unhappy with how they look. They could opt to have counselling in order to come to terms with their emotional problems. Some opt for cosmetic treatments such as surgery, which can be very traumatic and not always effective.

One other option that people can use to improve their appearance is cosmetic dentistry. Unlike cosmetic surgery, there is very little tissue manipulation which makes cosmetic surgery more risky. Improving the appearance of the teeth can be just as effective as improving the appearance of wrinkles or having a facelift. This is because studies have shown that the teeth are one of the most visually important aspects of the face. This is probably due to their importance to your smile but it does also mean that having beautiful and healthy looking teeth will take years off your appearance and make you appear far more attractive. This could be just the boost you are looking for if you have been unhappy with how you look.

Dentists in Surbiton offer a variety of different cosmetic procedures that can be used to improve the appearance of your smile. These include orthodontic tooth straightening to improve alignment, teeth whitening for that brighter smile and even porcelain veneers to completely overhaul the appearance of the teeth. These treatments are tired and tested and can produce stunning results that can improve not just your smile but your profile and in some cases even facial structure. If you are insecure about your teeth or face, ask a dentist about the range of cosmetic dentistry procedures available to make an improvement.

If you have seen any of the recent TV makeover shows you will almost certainly have noticed that dental treatment and improving the teeth are an integral part of the makeover process. This is because the teeth form such a large part of attractiveness and are often the first thing people notice when they first meet new people. There are many individual cosmetic dentistry procedures that can improve certain parts of the teeth but it also possible to have a number of treatments carried out at the same time with something called a smile makeover.

A smile makeover involves a complete overhaul of all the aspects of the teeth’s appearance. This means that your Weybridge dentist will aim to improve the colour, size, shape and alignment of the teeth to make them appear healthier and make you more attractive.

This could involve a whitening treatment to restore the appearance of stained or discoloured teeth. This can lighten tooth enamel by up to ten shades and make you look a lot younger and healthier. Alignment can be tackled with one of a number of orthodontic teeth straighteners or braces such as the Inman aligner.

In certain cases where the teeth are in need of more significant improvement, dentists can also use ceramic veneers to create a more pleasing appearance for the teeth. Veneers are very thin porcelain caps that fit over the top of the existing teeth. They can be specially designed to make the teeth look straighter and more even.

Having several treatments performed concurrently can be costly but is also capable of producing some stunning results for your teeth. Even teeth in very poor condition can be almost completely restored with a smile makeover from a Weybridge dentist.

Dental technology is advancing at an incredible rate. Nowhere is this more obvious than with the recently pioneered Cerec technology. Cerec is a revolutionary new system that allows dentists to design, create and install dental restorations such as veneers, crowns and inlays in a matter of minutes. These processes could often take up to two weeks in the past, which gives you some ideas of exactly how significant a development Cerec is proving to be.

The system works by utilising the amazing technology available with digital x-rays and three-dimensional imaging. In the past, a Surbiton dentist would need to take several dental moulds and a series of conventional x-rays to build up a picture of the patient’s teeth. Each dental mould and set of x-rays would often constitute a whole appointment, which could be very time consuming. Digital x-rays allow the dentist to produce an accurate 3D image on a computer almost immediately. This enables them to see exactly what is required and begin the design process straight away.

Using computers, the design for the new crown or veneer can be incredibly accurate, to microscopic levels in fact. This means that Cerec is also improving the quality of treatment as well as the speed. Once the new restoration is designed and the dentist satisfied, they can then instruct a computer-guided mill to sculpt the new crown from a single piece of specially chosen porcelain. This amazing process takes as little as six minutes per tooth.

The new crown or veneer can then be fitted using the traditional methods. These ‘chair-side restorations’, as they have come to be known, are revolutionising the world of dentistry and give a valuable insight into the possibilities of dentistry in the future. More convenient, better quality and more accurate treatment is the way forward and Cerec is definitely leading the way.