The Causes of Acid Erosion and how Composite Bonding and Veneers can be used to Treat this in London

May 15th, 2012

Acid erosion stems from the excessive consumption of food and drinks with a low pH content (that is, below 5.0), and is particularly common in children and adolescents. Included in this category are fizzy drinks, such as cola, lemonade and sports drinks (perhaps suggesting why teenagers are the main victims!). More surprisingly, fruit juices are also often highly acidic: orange and apple juice are particularly high in citric acid, a leading culprit of acid erosion.

What are the results of acid erosion?

While naturally-occurring saliva tries to neutralise the low pH level of such acidic drinks as those listed above, if they are consumed too often this becomes difficult, and the enamel of the teeth begins to decay. This can damage the teeth in a number of ways. The teeth may begin to take on a yellow appearance, gaps between the teeth may widen and even the shape of the teeth can change. To treat such changes, composite bonding (fillings) or veneers are often recommended.

What is composite bonding used for?

Composite bonding can be used to fill small holes in the teeth created by acid erosion. They are a popular choice because the shade of the composite paste can be matched to the colour and translucence of your teeth, giving a natural appearance to the modified teeth. This is a massive advantage over metal fillings, which can look unsightly and artificial.

What are composite veneers used for?

Composite veneers are effective at masking the yellow colour of the teeth that acid erosion may cause. However, many dentists now recommend porcelain veneers over composite ones, due to their increased strength, durability and stain-resistance.

Thus, composite bonding and veneers are both effective at tackling the effects of acid erosion for patients in London, although there are alternatives to these methods, such as porcelain or ceramic veneers and fillings.

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Creating a Brand New Smile for Patients in the City of London in Just One Day Using All-on-4

May 12th, 2012

Dental implants are increasing in popularity because of their clear advantages over other tooth replacement methods, such as reduced bone loss, durability and stability, among many others. However, All-on-4 dental implants mark yet another revolutionary aspect in tooth replacement therapy, as they allow an entire set of new teeth to be implemented using just four implants for patients in the City of London.

How is All-on-4 different to traditional implants?

Traditional implants require between six and 10 implants to support an entire arch (that is, a whole set of teeth). Because of this, the procedure for fitting and inserting traditional implants must occur over a number of dental appointments. All-on-4, however, can be fitted in just one! Each patient must undergo a consultation session at Harley Street Dental Studio, in order to assess the suitability for the individual and determine whether any teeth must be removed prior to the fitting. In the next session—provided there are no complications in the consultation phase—the All-on-4 dental implants will be fitted. As such, the process is much faster than the insertion of traditional dental implants.

How does All-on-4 work?

Because the traditional method requires more implants, it may be a concern that All-on-4 provides less stability, but this is not the case. All-on-4 works because of the angles at which each implant is fitted: the two back implants are affixed at 45 degrees, while the two front implants are affixed at 90 degrees. This aids not only the strength and stability of the attached arch, but is also designed to ease the healing process, thereby making the whole procedure quicker still.

Although the All-on-4 treatment has numerous advantages over traditional dental implants, it still manages to maintain the natural-looking smile that is lauded with this type of tooth replacement procedure. It just means you can show it off to your friends even sooner!

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The Difference Between Traditional Veneers and MAC Veneers for Straightening and Brightening the Smiles of Patients in Central London

May 10th, 2012

MAC veneers are a type of porcelain veneer that are extremely popular with celebrities and civilians alike. Why? In a nutshell: MAC veneers are stronger, more durable and more natural-looking than standard veneers.

Traditional vs. MAC veneers: Colour

Veneers are a cosmetic choice; that is, although they do not necessarily improve the structural integrity of your teeth, they will give you a beautiful, natural-looking smile. However, MAC veneers manage to achieve this better than standard veneers because, while standard veneers use only four hues to attain a natural colour, MAC veneers use an extraordinary 16. MAC veneers are also coloured throughout, whereas standard veneers only have colour applied on the top two layers. This allows them a pearlier, more translucent appearance than that of standard veneers. Furthermore, they are completely stain-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about replacing your MAC veneers when the colour fades.

Traditional vs. MAC veneers: Construction

Traditional porcelain veneers are usually created using a layered ceramic technique, while MAC veneers use pressed ceramic. This difference in the construction processes of traditional and MAC veneers means that the latter should last up to twice as long as standard veneers, thus improving their durability. This makes them an excellent choice for masking slight imperfections of the teeth, such as minor gaps and unevenness. As well as this, MAC veneers are totally non-abrasive to your existing teeth, so the minor imperfections will not worsen as a result of them.

With all these benefits and improvements to traditional veneers, patient from Central London may expect to pay through the nose for MAC veneers. However, the prices between the two are usually comparable at Harley Street Dental Studio. The durability and stain-resistance of MAC veneers also means they are less likely to need replacing as soon as traditional veneers, meaning you get much more for your money.

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Stress and TMJ and how it can be Treated with Pure Power Mouth Guards

May 8th, 2012

If you thought simply saying the term ‘temporomandibular joint disorder’ caused stress to your jaw muscles, you probably don’t suffer from it. TMJ results from the pressure exerted on your jaw from sources as simple as excessive gum-chewing or teeth-grinding, as well as from more severe instances of trauma to the area. TMJ can cause symptoms such as toothache and pain in the jaw, face and neck for many patients in London. Luckily, however, there is an innovative treatment that minimises the symptoms of TMJ: Pure Power Mouth Guards.

What are Pure Power Mouth Guards?

Through gradually changing the jaw’s position, Pure Power Mouth Guards realign the muscles in order for the tension that causes TMJ to be assuaged. Using top-of-the-range technology, your Pure Power Mouth Guard is created from digital images of your mouth and jaw, so they work to your personal specification in order to give you optimum comfort, both during the realignment process, and afterwards.

Who can use Pure Power Mouth Guards?

There are a few limitations on those who are suitable to use Pure Power Mouth Guards- for instance, people who do not have back teeth, or who suffer from severe tooth decay, cannot usually use them, as they require the support of the teeth. Most other people can use them, although there are particular benefits for athletes, even besides the obvious protection expected from a mouth guard. Because they lessen the energy required to contract and relax the muscles in the neck, shoulders and back, as well as the face and jaw, Pure Power Mouth Guards allow both amateur and professional athletes an increased amount of stamina, flexibility and strength.

Even if you’re not particularly athletic, and don’t consider increased flexibility of the mouth to be of the utmost importance, it is important to remember the universal benefits of Pure Power Mouth Guards: stress-relief, confidence and – most importantly – comfort.

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Foods Patients in Central London should Avoid to Prevent Tooth Decay and Acid Erosion

May 6th, 2012

Smelly breath is the most obvious sign of a bad diet in terms of dental hygiene. However, there are a number of more long-term, serious problems that stem from eating food that is bad for your teeth, including tooth decay and gum disease for patients in Central London.

Good food, bad food

Foods that contain a high concentration of sugar (such as cakes, bread and ice cream), drinks with a high level of acidity (which is denoted by a low pH value) and sticky foods are the main culprits of these problems. On the other hand, eating fruit and vegetables, which are both high in fibre and water content, is good for your oral health.

How does food cause dental problems?

Sugary foods cause more plaque than other types, and sticky foods remain on the teeth for a prolonged amount of time. Both of these things result in a greater chance of tooth decay. Furthermore, consistent snacking throughout the day can damage the teeth, as the acid present in fizzy drinks and snacks clings to the teeth for longer, resulting in erosion of the teeth.

Avoiding diet-related dental problems

Rather than snacking between meals, consume any sweet or sugary food alongside your meals. Because saliva neutralises acidity in food, the risk of tooth decay or acid erosion is lessened because of the increased saliva production at mealtimes. This guideline extends to consuming sugary drinks between meals and drinking water or milk instead is not only preferable, but the calcium in them actually strengthens teeth.

If you’ve ever wondered why people finish a meal with cheese rather than cake, it could be something to do with the ability of yellow cheese to neutralise acids in food, thereby reducing the risk of acid erosion. So don’t just worry about your breath when you opt for ice cream over the cheeseboard.

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Patients in Central London Never Have Their Orthodontic Work Spotted While Wearing Incognito Braces

May 5th, 2012

Incognito braces – the invisible fixed brace

When people hear they need braces, they usually think of thick metal braces that buckle across the front of their teeth. However, fast becoming a popular solution to the aesthetic problem of braces is Incognito: a revolutionary technology that corrects gaps or uneven teeth while appearing virtually invisible when you smile.

What are Incognito braces?

Incognito braces are a type of lingual brace that is custom-made for the individual and affixed behind the teeth, so that they are comfortable, invisible and effective for every user. Indeed, the only potential discomfort occurs in the initial stages of wear, as you adjust to speaking whilst wearing Incognito braces. The materials used in these braces ensure that people with nickel allergies can still wear them, and there is no damaged caused to the surface of the teeth.

How are Incognito braces fitted?

Incognito braces are fitted in two appointments. In the first, you will have a consultation with a dental expert. If you are suitable for Incognito braces, a mould of your teeth will be made, which is then sent to a dental laboratory. Here, brackets for each individual tooth are created using CAD/CAM technology, and attached to a plastic applicator that ensures that the brackets remain aligned throughout application to the teeth. In the second appointment, the braces are cemented to the back of the teeth and an archwire is threaded through them. Like the brackets, the archwire has been designed especially for your teeth, and so will adjust your teeth to your ideal position. Check-ups are required in order to tighten the archwire, so that it continues to be effective.

Hartley Street Dental Studio can professionally fit Incognito braces at very competitive prices for patients in Central London. Although the overall treatment time is usually between 15 and 28 months, improvements to the teeth can be seen very quickly with Incognito braces, so you won’t have to wait too long for your perfect smile.

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Rejuvenating Your Appearance with Restylane at a London Dental Practice

May 3rd, 2012

If you thought Hartley Street Dental Studio was great at servicing teeth, you’d only be half right. We also offer a number of facial rejuvenation treatments, such as Restylane, which temporarily reverse the inevitable aging process. Restylane is a revolutionary dermal filler that is injected into areas of the face where the body’s natural collagen layer has thinned. This consequently fills out any skin that is sagging or wrinkled, resulting in smooth, fresh-looking skin and replenished contours. Restylane is a gel made from stabilised hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the skin as a structuring agent.

How is Restylane administered?

As with most treatments, the initial step is a medical consultation, after which your London doctor will be able to suggest the best kind of treatment for you. A typical Restylane treatment session will take between 15 and 30 minutes. A tiny needle penetrates the skin to a depth of a few millimetres, using anaesthesia if necessary, although the treatment is not generally considered painful. As with most injected dermal fillers, swelling and redness may occur for a few hours following the treatment. Then, as the hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin, any wrinkles are filled out for a fresh, firm new look. It is usually recommended that treatment is repeated every six to 12 months in order to retain a youthful visage.

Why Restylane?

Restylane treatment is safe, effective and ethical. Many of the product’s competitors are made from animal sources, so they need to undergo thorough testing before they can be used as dermal fillers on humans. Restylane’s use of only naturally-occurring substances that are not derived from animals means that it does not require such rigorous testing, making it a safer, more ethical treatment and providing more natural-looking results.

Restylane is paving the way for a clientele at Hartley Street Dental Studio that is more confident in its appearance—and when you’re confident, we’re content.

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Patients in the City of London can Find Many Tooth Replacement Benefits with Dental Implants

May 1st, 2012

The benefits of implants

Dental implants are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to older tooth replacement strategies, as they have overcome many of the problems posed by dentures and fixed bridges and offer a more permanent solution to the replacement of missing teeth.

How implants work

When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone may begin to disappear if there is nothing to replace it. The titanium root that is inserted into the gum fuses with the natural bone tissue of the surrounding teeth, thereby not only maintaining, but actively stimulating the production of bone tissue in the gum. While it may take up to six months for the implant procedure to be completed, the prevention of bone loss provides an exceptionally stable environment for the replacement crown, denture or bridge.

The difficulties of dentures

If you’ve ever had dentures, you’ll know how difficult it can be to eat crunchy or hard foods without your dentures either coming loose or causing irritation to your gums. Another common problem with both dentures and bridges is their unnatural appearance, with some even requiring metal clasps to secure them. And to add to this, they require special care and attention when it comes to cleaning them.

The implant solution

Implants can provide solutions to each of these problems for patients in London. For instance, the strengthened bone tissue within the gum means you can be confident that the affixed dentures will not come loose when eating hard foods, and that gum irritation will be considerably decreased, therefore increasing your confidence. They also remove the necessity of clasps by performing the stabilisation within the gum, resulting in a more natural-looking smile, with crowns that are indistinguishable from the surrounding teeth.

Once the crowns have been attached to the implants, they need no extra care beyond regular brushing, flossing and dental appointments. If you look after them well, they can last a lifetime, too. Most of all, though, they’ll give you a smile to be proud of.

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A Healthy Diet for the Teeth and Gums of London

April 28th, 2012

Everyone knows that if you want to have healthy teeth you should try and avoid too many sweets and sugary drinks. These are one of the main causes of tooth decay in both children and adults and lead to fillings, extractions and treatment from London dentists to fix a problem that was always easily preventable.

As well as sugary snacks, there are other foodstuffs you should try and avoid, if you want to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. As with every diet, you don’t need to cut these things out completely and a few sweets or chocolates never did anyone any harm – but everything should be in moderation. As long as you take good care of your family’s teeth, the odd glass of fizzy pop should not be able to cause any lasting damage.

Some of the other bad foods for teeth include starchy foods, like crisps and bread, which become lodged between the teeth and below the gum line far easier than other products. Dried fruit is surprisingly high in sugar, so try and eat fresh when you can, although bear in mind that citrus fruits are also very acidic, which can eat away at the enamel of your teeth.

It may feel like there are no foods that are OK with your dentist, but if you have any questions you can always check with your own practitioner. Generally speaking, there are some foodstuffs that are actually beneficial to your teeth. Foods that are high in fibre tend to be rougher, and can actually clean your teeth as you eat, dairy products are very low in sugar and help to stimulate the mouth’s natural defences and finally a refreshing cup of tea, both green and black, contain substances that can help your body to fight off the bacteria responsible for the worst cases of tooth decay and gum disease.

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Modern Brace choices for Patients from London

April 26th, 2012

Advancements in orthodontic care means there are modern braces solutions for people from all walks of life. Designed for comfort, discretion and a natural appearance, modern brace systems provide teeth straightening and bite treatment within the shortest possible time.

Where once braces choices were limited to traditional metal brackets and elastics, patients now have a range of brace systems available to choose from, for a healthier, straighter smile. However, modern invisible braces are not available from the NHS and can only be find at private dental practices. Private cosmetic dentists in London offer clear braces solutions to correct minor to severe orthodontic conditions.

Individuals with overcrowded teeth, skew or protruding teeth, and gaps between teeth, desiring to preserve self-image during treatment may benefit from a consultation with a private dentist for modern brace solutions. Modern braces are designed to be tooth-coloured or clear, or are positioned behind the front teeth so they are not noticeable to others.

Innovative mechanisms, such as Invisalign, the Inman Aligner, Damon, Simpli5 and Lingual braces systems, optimise orthodontic force to minimise treatment time. These systems are engineered to allow for ease of eating, speaking and maintaining oral hygiene.

Ranging from clear aligners, tooth-coloured porcelain to close-fitting invisible, flexible plastic teeth guards, modern brace systems correct tooth alignment and bite with greater comfort and peace of mind. Dentists can recommend the best type of brace most suited to a patient’s orthodontic needs.

The choice of modern braces system depends on oral health condition and orthodontic diagnosis. Patients are offered choices in modern braces solutions according to what they can afford, their needs, and personal preferences.

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