Crowns

There are a few different reasons as to why you may need a crown, and it is a cap that is placed over the top of your tooth to protect it. You may need this if you have discoloured fillings and you want to improve the appearance, giving you a more appealing smile. They can also be used to protect your tooth after you have had a filling done. This gives you the freedom to use your tooth as normal with less pain due to your tooth being protected.

Tooth extractions

Sometimes, things can happen to your teeth that are beyond repair, such as a bad breakage or severe gum disease, and this is when your dentist Coorparoo will have to extract your tooth. This is a routine procedure, and they can usually perform it very efficiently. You may need an x-ray before the tooth is extracted, so that they can get a better look at the bone structure underneath the damaged tooth. Wisdom teeth removals are also very common, because they usually start coming through in your teen years or early adult life. Due to this, sometimes there isn’t enough space between your other teeth for it to fully grow in. This can cause a lot of pain and can put your other teeth at risk, so the wisdom teeth will be removed to protect them.

Chipped tooth

Accidents can happen, and you may knock your tooth and crack it during an accident, and if this occurs, there are some things that can be done to try and protect it. If you have a small chip, it might be able to get repaired with a filling, which will fill in any gaps in the tooth and harden to help maintain shape and strength. When a larger piece of the tooth has broken away, your dentist can cover it with a crown, which is a cap for your tooth that will cover and protect it. Veneers are also another option if you have had more severe damage to the tooth. They are a thin piece of tooth shaped material that is attached to the front of your tooth, which covers any damage and helps to restore your smile.

White fillings

If you have a damaged tooth due to a breakage or decay, then a filling could be a good option that can be provided for you to help with it. Your dentist will make sure to clean the area and remove any decay that might be in the tooth, and then use a tooth-coloured composite material to fill in the gaps. This helps with both the structure of your tooth, and the appearance of your smile. Fillings can usually be done in just one appointment, which is great if you are looking for a quick help for a damaged tooth.

Root canal

A root canal treatment is given if the pulp on the inside of someone’s tooth has become infected, which could be due to the tooth being injured, or from decay. If the infection goes untreated, it could spread to your other teeth. Local anaesthetic can be given to minimise discomfort during the procedure. The root canal system of the tooth will be accessed using a drill, and a thorough cleaning will be done, as well as removing any decay/infection from the tooth. After this, the tooth will be temporarily filled and you will have an appointment at a later date when all of the infection has cleared to permanently fill your tooth.

Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Teeth can fall out for all sorts of different reasons, ranging from generic accidents to tooth decay. Many people feel that if just one tooth has fallen out they can ignore it, especially if it is not visible when they smile, but in reality losing teeth can be incredibly traumatic, regardless of the amount of teeth that you have lost. Looking in the mirror and seeing a gap in your smile could leave you feeling insecure about your appearance and reluctant to smile in front of anyone else. Some people will refrain from speaking whenever possible, especially if they are missing all of their teeth or several in the front. Tooth loss can impact your overall general health and your ability to bite and chew confidently, and in some cases it may become difficult to pronounce words properly. However, there is a solution to restore your smile to its former glory, no matter whether it’s one tooth you need replacing or all of them. Getting dental implants Richmond will transform your smile into a full, even one, stimulating your jawbone even after tooth loss to ensure that your face maintains its bone structure as you age.

A secure, permanent way to replace your teeth

Unlike other tooth replacement options, this treatment permanently fixes your new teeth into your mouth, so they will not fall out or come loose, no matter how chewy a food you consume. Your new teeth will be attached to titanium screws that have previously been inserted into your jawbone. These screws are capable of supporting more than one tooth each, so you will not need to have one for every tooth that you are replacing. A full set of dentures can be fitted into your mouth using as little as four screws in some circumstances, but it can also require up to twelve depending on your individual circumstances. As well as being secure, your new teeth will be extremely durable. If you take proper care of them they could last upwards of ten years in some cases. Your practitioner will explain how to take care of your new teeth and which products will be ideal for you to use.

An appliance to suit everybody’s smile

In some cases this tooth replacement treatment will be sought out to replace an entire set of missing teeth or to upgrade from current appliances such as dentures. In these cases a full set of dentures or partial dentures will be attached to your implants, but these are not the only appliances that can be used to replace your missing teeth. Sometimes a single tooth can be missing, and whether it is at the front and visible when you smile or at the back making it impossible to chew, it can be equally annoying. A crown is often used to replace a single missing tooth, or multiple missing teeth that are in completely different areas of your mouth. If you are missing several teeth and they are either all in a row next to each other or on either side of a remaining tooth it is likely that your practitioner will opt to use a bridge to restore your smile.

Most people will do whatever it takes to look after their oral health and teeth, through regularly brushing and flossing to a high standard. It is widely recognised that as adults only have one set of natural teeth that need to last an entire adult lifespan, should someone lose one or more teeth they may begin to experience some discomfort when carrying out the everyday tasks that people use their mouths for, such as eating and drinking.

The area of the mouth where tooth loss has occurred may begin to feel sensitive or weaken, due to the fact a tooth is missing, this may lead to those who have lost a tooth or teeth becoming overprotective of an area of the mouth. Yet, there is no need for people who have experienced tooth loss to suffer when there is a permanent solution to missing teeth available on the modern dental market.

Now many dentists are pleased to be able to provide dental implants Leicester to their patients who have experienced tooth loss, giving them access to a permanent solution that has many advantages when compared to results provided by devices such as bridges or dentures.

The advantages of offering dental implants

Many people who lose one or more teeth may start to notice a slight deterioration in their oral health, they may also notice a feeling of weakening in the area of the loss; this may manifest itself as a feeling that the teeth around the area are loose. This is due to the lack of support that would naturally be in the area if the tooth loss had not occurred, implants can help to replace this support and encourage the growth of new bone material within the jawbone.

These implants are extremely hard wearing as they are made from materials that are known to be robust, with the correct care they should last the wearer a lifetime. Best of all, the implants will feel like the wearer’s natural teeth, when inserted correctly.

Designed to last

The base of the implant is a screw made from titanium, this is placed into the jawbone to form a solid foundation within the area of the mouth to attach a crown to, this will form the new tooth above the gum. The crown is created from a ceramic material and is shaped like a tooth, great care is taken to make sure that this new tooth blends into the area by shaping and colouring it to suit the wearer’s teeth. The aim is to create a new tooth that is indistinguishable from any natural teeth surrounding it.

Many wearers of dental implants have reported positive results following the implant procedure, they talk about noticeable impacts on their lives such as a strengthening of the bone and support to the other teeth in the surrounding area, through to being able to eat harder foods without experiencing sensitivity or discomfort.

Is it time for a change?

For those living with the discomfort caused by tooth loss, there is now a real long-term solution that has many advantages over dentures or bridges. Dental implants are suitable for most users, from those with single tooth loss to a complete absence of teeth.

The link between oral health and overall childhood development may seem tenuous at first but this could not be further from the truth. Oral health in children is not only necessary to feed a growing body, but in addition to this plays a critical role in the mental and emotional health of a child, too.

To understand this better, just consider what the potential devastating impact dental problems such as dental caries have on children. While societal influences (low income families vs wealthier income groups) do play a role in compounding the problem, many of the causes of poor oral health in children are in the control of parents. According to one British study that involved 1,000 parents with children aged 13 years and younger, a quarter of parents surveyed admitted to not being overly concerned about their children having cavities (those still with their baby teeth). The research also indicates that almost a third of parents only consider taking their children to their first dental check-up at a dentist Soho once all their milk teeth have sprouted, which is a bit late according to expert advice. The Oral Health Foundation UK urges parents to ensure that their baby has its first dental check-up by their first birthday or as soon as its first milk tooth makes its appearance, which could be as soon as six months. Thereafter, parents should observe the schedule for follow-up visits as recommended by the dental practitioner.

Common misconceptions parents have about oral health in childhood

There are a number of misconceptions parents have about their children’s oral health that contribute to poor dental health issues. The most common misconceptions are worth noting.

Baby teeth do not need to be cared for

The basis of this myth is the idea that milk teeth are temporary and so do not need to be looked after. Why bother when they will shortly be replaced by a permanent set of teeth? The enamel of milk teeth is weaker than that of adult teeth and so they are more vulnerable when exposed to high tooth-destroying levels of acids and sugars in the mouth. Consider for a moment the damaging effects of the frequent consumption of sugar-laden treats and fizzy beverages that cause cavities and the need for tooth extractions.

Children’s at-home oral hygiene doesn’t need supervision

Many parents don’t realise that their child needs supervision when performing their at-home oral hygiene practice. Unless they are supervising these obligations, they cannot be sure the child is using the recommended brushing and flossing techniques, such as brushing for a whole two minutes or are flossing in the most effective way.

Lack of information around fluoride care

Unless parents take their child to a dental practitioner for a check-up, they will not know there are effective fluoride treatments available to further protect milk teeth from destruction and the painful symptoms of tooth decay.

The effects of poor oral health in children can be far reaching in that the resultant pain and discomfort can impact mental and psychosocial health. Children’s schooling may be disrupted as they are in too much pain to concentrate and lag behind others in their class. They may also refuse to eat with the pain and develop antisocial behaviours like not wanting to talk or participate in activities.

Parents can avoid such undesirable situations by scheduling appointments for their child at a reputable dental clinic.

Being born with crooked or gappy teeth used to be a great problem, especially in those young teenage years. Metal braces were the only type of device to straighten teeth and they were not always deemed the best choice for many. Way back in the year 400 BC people like Aristotle were trying to find ways to straighten teeth. Their methods included using catgut and gold wire and finger pressure, all of which may seem crude to us today. In the 1800s a French dentist published a book on teeth straightening. Evolution has allowed us to study and develop new methods of correcting this problem.

Invisalign making teeth irregularities disappear

Science and the major technological advances that have been made now allow dentists to offer a system far superior to anything that has gone before. Using Invisalign Luton dentists are able to correct numerous dental irregularities. There is no need to suffer anymore with a crossbite, an overbite, gapped teeth, crowding, an underbite, an open bite or a deep bite.

How does this treatment work?

A lot of very clever technology and dental experience is used to provide the safest, most effective and efficient treatment possible. In the first instant a case assessment is made to determine the suitability of the treatment. This involves a series of pictures which allows the dental team to make an assessment of  the patient’s condition and how best to proceed. Because of the fact that everyone is different the duration of the treatment will vary from patient to patient. After this initial assessment and in consultation with the patient, the dental team will lay out the process.

This process starts with a series of X-rays, 3D  digital scans and impression mouldings of the patient’s teeth. Using very advanced technology, the dental team will design a digital path that they will follow. The Invisalign software allows the dentist to digitally show the patient exactly what the results of the treatment will look like. Using the results of the X-rays and scans a series of aligners are produced which are clear and designed to fit exactly, so as not to cause irritation to the inside of the cheeks. Each aligner is precisely calculated by the software using a series of algorithms, so nothing is left to chance and everything is precise and accurate. Each aligner is designed to fit to the adjusted teeth allowing for roughly two weeks between change over to the new aligner. The aligners are recommended to remain in place for between twenty and twenty-two hours per day, they can be removed to enjoy meals and to allow for brushing and flossing. Part of the process involves visiting a dentist every six weeks to allow for a progress assessment.

What happens at the end of treatment

Once the aligner treatment has been completed, there should be a noticeable difference. Part of the process will be regular visits to the dental team after treatment to allow them to monitor how the patient’s teeth are reacting. Oral hygiene is always of paramount importance and maintaining that new smile includes regular oral and dental care.

There is now a recognition that despite advances in modern dental treatment and the improved understanding of the need for good oral hygiene and health, there are still a lot of people choosing not to receive treatment for common issues that could be perfectly treatable. This is leading to some people living with poor oral health, meaning there is a heightened risk of further deterioration and damage to the teeth.

For those living with misaligned teeth, the risks that are present due to poor oral health can lead to the need for invasive dental procedures, which can be uncomfortable and create a sense of dread in anyone’s mind. For adults living in the UK with misaligned teeth, who may have steered away from treatment at an earlier age, there is now a modern alignment treatment suited to meet their needs.

Many contemporary dental practices are now offering these modern alignment treatments aimed at their adult patients. Simply known as Invisalign Hertfordshire, this service is designed to match patients with misaligned teeth with the best in modern aligners.

Slick and modern, designed to hide in full view

The aligners being offered by Invisalign have been created with the needs and wishes of potential patients in mind, by thinking about the issues that made these people refuse treatments of the past, thus the designers have created an aligner for the future. The first stage of the reinventing of the aligner was to find a way to make them more hidden in the mouth when worn, this led to a complete change in the traditional thinking about the positioning of the aligners and the materials they are made from.

The new aligners were created using two pieces of strong and durable clear plastic that could be moulded to slip over the patient’s teeth. This eliminated the use of wires and pieces of metal placed on the teeth to create the braces that many found so ugly and led to potential patients refusing treatment.

In the place of the old brace is now a slick and modern aligner that is suitable to meet the patient’s needs, while being practically invisible to the eyes of other people. This helps to create a sense of confidence in the mind of the wearer going through treatment, as at all times they have the knowledge they are receiving the right treatment for them, without the need to change any aspect of their life.

Anyone seeking tooth alignment treatment will need to undergo a consultation with a dental professional, such as a dentist or orthodontist, to check it is the right treatment for them to go ahead with. At this consultation, a cast or scans of the teeth can be taken for the aligners to be produced from, making them perfect to meet the needs of the individual.

The dental professional will create a series of aligners that will be used throughout treatment, the aligners are normally changed every two weeks for the next in the series, this should give the best results available. The normal length of treatment is twelve to eighteen months, but the dental professional involved in the case will advise about the length of treatment.

Your next step

Dental practices offering this treatment are always happy to hear from potential patients who want to find out more information about Invisalign and they are only a phone call or email away.