For anybody who has lost a tooth from either decay or head trauma, they will tell you that not only can it be a painful experience but that it can also be very embarrassing. Missing teeth are very difficult to disguise and are easily noticeable. This can often be the cause of a loss of self-esteem and self-confidence. It is also important to remember however, that missing teeth can be the source of ongoing dental complications.

When a tooth falls or is knocked out it leaves a space in the dental arc. This space encourages the remaining teeth to move about and lean. This can cause interruptions in the way the top and bottom teeth sit together, known commonly as the bite. This can lead to painful jaw conditions called TMJs and also to subconscious and irritated teeth grinding called bruxism. Both of these conditions can be painful and require long-term dental treatment.

Missing teeth can also cause the facial tissue to sag giving a sunken impression that makes the patient look much older. If not remedied, this tissue sagging may become permanent.

It is therefore very important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. Some of the options for replacing missing teeth are dental bridges and partial dentures. One of the most popular kinds of artificial teeth replacement is a dental implant. These come in the form of screws that are actually implanted into the jawbone and act as anchors for crowns. Because they are attached to the bone they are sturdier than other forms of dental substitutes and most closely resemble real teeth.

Dental implants take two or three visits to the dentist to fit, depending on the strength of the jaw. The initial implant will be fitted and then left for several weeks to fuse with the bone and gum tissue in a process called osseointergration. Once set, the dentist will then attach a post and crown to complete the implant. It is also possible to fit a series of mini-implants for patients who require dentures.

Dental implants are fast becoming the option of choice for both dentists and patients because of the level of realism that they provide. If you are suffering from a missing tooth or teeth, make an appointment with the dentist and ask about dental implants. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation.

Everybody wants to have beautiful straight teeth but the reality is that only a lucky few are naturally blessed with well-proportioned and perfectly aligned teeth. Once you are over the tidal wave of jealousy what can you do to straighten your own teeth artificially? Well, everybody knows about braces. Metal brackets and wires that look and feel uncomfortable and make you stand out from a mile off, playground bullying and messy eating. That is what many of us think when we think of braces, the dreaded ‘train tracks’. What you might not know is that thanks to technological advances in the last twenty years, there has been a revolution in teeth straightening that has seen an explosion of ultra-discreet and ultra-effective new devices that vastly improve on the old-fashioned fixed metal braces.

Starting with the most discreet we have Invisalign. Released in 1999 by Align technologies, Invisalign braces are one millimetre thick plastic retainers that fit over the teeth gradually moving them into position. A series of twenty retainers are worn for roughly three weeks each over the course of the treatment, which usually lasts about 18 months. The retainers are very discreet and also completely removable for eating and important social or professional occasions.

Incredibly fast teeth straightening is provided by the Inman Aligner and Six-Month Smile braces. The Inman works by pushing out teeth at the side of the dental arc using the power of a coiled spring. This creates room for the overcrowded front teeth to move into and straighten. Six-Month Smile braces focus only on teeth visible when smiling and this more direct approach produces incredibly fast results. Both of these treatments show visibly straighter teeth in as little as six months, an incredible 75 per cent faster than conventional braces. They are also both completely removable.

Modern fixed braces come in the form of Damon braces. Slightly reminiscent of the old metal braces but slicker, smaller and much more comfortable, Damon braces are some of the most powerful on the market. With a revolutionary new sliding mechanism there is no need for painful brace tightening.

Braintree dentists will be happy to run through the vast array of options now available for teeth straightening. Don’t be put off by bad memories of braces. You can now get the straight teeth you always wanted in half the time and with half the discomfort.

Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at advance dental clinic.

Sporting injuries and car accidents are some of the most common causes of head traumas that lead to dental injuries. Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be very painful and responsible for years of subsequent dental problems if not treated correctly. One option for fixing a damaged tooth is to use composite resin. This involves making a tooth-coloured resin and applying it to the damaged area. When sculpted into the desired shape a dentist will set the resin firm with the intense heat of a laser. Dental bonding is tough and durable but on certain occasions the damage may be too great to treat with bonding. For example, if the structural integrity of the tooth has been damaged then no amount of dental bonding will be able to save it. In this instance, the dentist will need to repair the tooth using a dental crown. A crown is a ceramic cap that fits over the top of a damaged tooth, protecting it from any further damage while simultaneously restoring its aesthetic appearance.

Dental crowns have a variety of uses in dentistry and are used for more than just repairing damaged teeth. Crowns are also often used to hold dental fillings in place as well as to cover repair work from procedures such as root canal surgery. A crown can be an invaluable defence against further damage to weakened teeth.

Dental crowns are commonly made from porcelain, a type of ceramic that resembles the translucent appearance of tooth enamel. Modern crowns are manufactured with the use of computer-aided technology. Dentists use the very latest in 3D and digital x-ray technology to project an exact image of the patient’s teeth. They can then use a computer to design and manufacture a dental crown from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. This new computer process has removed the need for extensive dental moulds and x-rays which increased the treatment time involved in a dental crown. Computer manufacture has also radically improved treatment time and accuracy.

A Dental crown is an effective way of keeping teeth that may have otherwise been lost. They can strengthen a weakened tooth and restore its original appearance. If you have a damaged tooth or a filling that is loose and causing you pain, make an appointment to see a Chelmsford dentist and ask about the benefits of dental crowns.

Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation.

It is becoming increasingly common for dentists to offer small-scale cosmetic facial treatments as part of a more comprehensive smile makeover procedure. Just as every great picture needs a suitable frame, so does every beautiful smile. Facial tissues that are sagging or showing the effects of time can now be treated with a range of dermal fillers such as collagen and Botox. These substances are injected into the facial tissue to firm and fill out skin and wrinkles making the skin look younger and healthier and enhancing the appearance of a beautiful smile.

Dermal fillers were first used in America about fifteen to twenty years ago and were initially the preserve of the rich and famous, but wider availability due to affordability and greater social acceptance has made a dermal treatment no more unusual than a haircut or nail treatment. Several initial safety concerns have also been addressed reducing the level of apprehension surrounding treatment. If applied by a trained professional, a dermal filler treatment carries little or no risk because most treatments have only temporary effects. This significantly reduces the possibility of any long-term damage.

Most dermal fillers include a substance called hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body, which also further reduces the risk to patients. Hyaluronic acid is the chemical that gives skin its plump and fresh appearance.

Treatments are usually performed with the aid of a local anaesthetic to make it more comfortable for the patient. For patients who don’t like needles there is the possibility of having anaesthetic gel or cream applied to the area half an hour before the procedure begins. The whole treatment should take little more than half an hour and will involve no surgical cutting of the skin.

Patients begin to see results after as little as two days and usually last for up to four months before requiring a top up. Affordable and safe, dermal fillers can help knock years off the appearance of your skin in a matter of minutes, with the minimum amount of discomfort. Make an appointment to see a dentist and ask about the benefits of dermal fillers. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation.

Dental bonding is one of the most straightforward and easily affordable of the cosmetic dentistry procedures and is used to repair damage caused by chipped, cracked or broken teeth. It is also being increasingly used to repair cosmetic problems such as unevenly spaced, badly worn or discoloured teeth. In the last twenty years it has also replaced silver amalgam as the filling material of choice to repair cavities.

Dental bonding, also known as cosmetic bonding, is made from a resin and can be coloured to closely match the colour of existing teeth. The resin can be made up on the spot by a dentist and does not require laboratory conditions necessary to manufacture crowns and veneers. This is the reason that dental bonding is so cheap when compared to other cosmetic dentistry treatments. It also means that treatment times are significantly shorter. In fact, unless there is a large area that requires bonding, most treatments can be carried out in only one visit to the dentist.

Unless being applied to a particularly sensitive area such as an exposed cavity, dental bonding is also completely pain-free. It is very rare that a patient will need any kind of anaesthetic before a dental bonding treatment.

Dental bonding is applied by the dentist to the require area and sculpted into the required shape. When satisfied the dentist will use the intense heat of a laser to set the bonding hard. When set the bonding is very durable and resistant to staining. For badly worn or discoloured teeth, dental bonding can completely transform their appearance in as little as a couple of hours and will cost far less than a set of veneers.

Due to its versatility and affordability, dental bonding is a popular choice with both patients and dentists. Basildon dentists are using dental bonding more and more to repair damaged teeth and improve the cosmetic appearance of others. Ask your dentist in Basildon about the possibilities of dental bonding and find out what it could do for you. Call 01245 268 494 to make an appointment with Dr Moore for a free consultation.

Even the straightest and most well proportioned teeth can look unhealthy if they are discoloured. Our teeth naturally lose their natural colour over time. Just as our hair loses its natural colour and turns grey, our teeth lose their white colour as the enamel is gradually stained.

Discolouration affects some people more than others because of natural factors but it can also be influenced by lifestyle choices that we make. For example, the use of any kind of tobacco product can adversely affect the colour of teeth. Coffee and red wine drinkers are also particularly susceptible to the premature discolouration.

Regular and correct brushing and flossing can help prevent discoloration but if the enamel itself has become discoloured no amount of cleaning will restore the whiteness of the teeth. It is then only teeth whitening procedures that can restore the natural whiteness of the teeth.

Teeth whitening is the most common and affordable of all the cosmetic dentistry procedures and will be offered by most dentists. Most initial whitening will take place in the surgery but follow up treatments may be carried out at home with specially prepared whitening trays. There are whitening treatments available on the internet which promise teeth whitening at home, but dentists always recommend consulting them before using any whitening equipment. This is because the whitening ingredient, usually hydrogen peroxide, can be damaging to soft tissue if applied incorrectly or in high concentrations. Dentists will offer higher strength concentrations in surgery and safer, more diluted treatments for home use.

Teeth whitening affects different people at different speeds with some patients having visibly whiter teeth after only one treatment. For other patients it may take several applications before any discernable difference can be seen. If you think you could benefit from teeth whitening, make an appointment to see a Maldon dentist and they will be able to offer advice about the latest treatments available to you.

New technologies in dentistry are bringing about a revolution that is slashing appointment and waiting times as well as vastly improving the standard and accuracy of treatment.

One such technology is CEREC, a state-of-the-art new system that uses the latest in digital x-rays and 3D imaging to create lifelike and perfectly sized crowns and veneers. CEREC stands for CEramic REConstruction and allows dentist to use the latest in computer-aided manufacture and design to create microscopically accurate dental replacements.

For patients with broken, worn or discoloured teeth it is often necessary to use porcelain veneers to repair or cosmetically enhance their teeth. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that fit over existing teeth to create a more healthy appearance. Previously dentists would need to take several dental moulds and x-rays to create an impression of the patient’s mouth. They would then use this to design and manufacture a veneer. This would take place in a laboratory and could take up to two weeks.

With CEREC a dentist can create an instant impression of the patient’s mouth using 3D imaging sensors. They can then use the computer to design a veneer in a matter of minutes. When satisfied with the projection, the dentist then instructs the computer to manufacture the veneer. Milled from a single piece of porcelain, a new veneer can be ready in as little as an incredible six minutes and can be fitted immediately. It is now possible to completely replace a row of patient’s teeth in one session.

CEREC represents the future of cosmetic dentistry. Not only has the time of treatment been reduced by as much as seventy five per cent but patients spend less time in the chair and are subjected to much less discomfort during treatment because there is no need for uncomfortable dental moulds. The standard of treatment has also increased as dramatically. The use of computers means that crowns and veneers can be manufactured to microscopic levels of accuracy. If you are suffering from a cracked or broken tooth, or if you want to restore the appearance of your badly worn or discoloured teeth, ask a Brentwood dentist about revolutionary CEREC technology and you could transform your smile in an afternoon.

A chemical peel is a treatment used to improve the condition of the skin. A chemical solution is applied to the skin causing it to blister and peel off to be replaced by new skin, which is smoother and less wrinkled.

Usually performed to the face, neck and hands chemical peels can be used to treat wrinkles caused by aging and sun damage, and in some cases damage caused by hereditary conditions. They are also used to repair skin damage from conditions such as acne and also scar tissue.

Peels work better on certain types of skin but usually work best on a patient with fair hair and skin although it can also work well for patients with darker skin depending on the skin complaint that needs treating. The procedure is performed in-surgery by a doctor or cosmetic dentist using the application of glycolic, salicylic or carbolic acids to small areas of the skin. The existing skin will be thoroughly cleansed of oil and dirt before the chemical peel is applied. It is important to consult your clinician before the peel as certain medication such as antibiotics can have an adverse affect on treatment.

During the treatment it is usual to experience a warm or hot sensation that lasts for about ten minutes. This is usually followed by a mild stinging sensation. This can be combated with cold compresses used during the procedure. After the treatment it is usual to experience a pain similar to sunburn which can be treated using pain relief medication. The peeling of the skin occurs after three to seven days following the treatment and may need to be repeated at intervals after the initial application, depending on how successfully the skin reacts. There are risks associated with chemical peels involving skin reactions to treatment so you will need to thoroughly consult a Brentwood dentist before being treated.

A successful chemical peel can completely rejuvenate wrinkled and old looking skin. Although it is not the most pleasant of procedures it is capable of producing stunning results making the patient look younger and healthier.

Having healthy skin involves a strict regime of eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and avoiding substances that are damaging. However, even the most dedicated of individuals cannot fight the effects of time and the fact remains that no amount of moisturising is going to prevent the appearance of wrinkles. The best you can hope for is to delay them for a few more years. But just as it is possible to dye grey hair or whiten discoloured teeth, it is now possible to effectively treat wrinkled and sagging tissue. Botox is a substance that is increasingly being used to firm aging skin and helping patients to regain youthful and healthy looking skin.

Botox is a bacterial toxin that is non-harmful to the human body. It acts upon facial tissue, relaxing it which reduces the visible appearance of wrinkles. The injections are straightforward and safe and require topping up only every four months after the body has broken down the Botox.

The Botox works by preventing signals being transmitted between nerve endings. This reduces the impressions made by muscle movement which manifest themselves as lines in the skin, or wrinkles. It is a painless procedure and patients begin to see results after a few days, with 90 per cent of women in clinical trials noticing a marked improvement after only 48 hours.

Initially the preserve of the rich and famous when it was first used in the US in the early 90s, Botox has now become more widely available and affordable. A greater level of social acceptance and confidence in the safety of the treatment has made a Botox injection no more unusual than a haircut or nail treatment.

Botox treatments are widely offered by cosmetic dentists to firm up the facial muscles and tissues around the mouth as part of a wider smile makeover procedure. Just as every great picture needs a beautiful frame, so does a beautiful smile. Botox is a non-surgical alternative to a facelift that can take years off the appearance of a patient without any cutting of the skin. Painless and safe, the procedure can usually be carried out in under an hour by an Epping dentist. Make an appointment to find out more about what Botox could do for you.