Archives for January, 2012

What does root canal treatment involve when carried out by London dentists?

January 14th, 2012

Root canal is one of those dental procedures that a lot of people have heard of, but not many people understand. Thanks to sitcoms and films, root canal treatment has a bad reputation, as it is nearly always used to comic effect when a character has to have something really nasty done at the dentist. In truth, root canal treatment isn’t very painful, either during or before the procedure, and it can actually prevent discomfort.

If your dentist tells you that you need root canal, or endodontic therapy, it means that the pulp of a tooth has become damaged and infected. The pulp makes up the inner part of each tooth and can be damaged when the outer layers are weakened by plaque and tooth decay. If you try and avoid the dreaded root canal, this minor infection can soon become an abscess, which will be incredibly painful and can often cause the patient to lose the affected tooth or teeth completely.

Root canal is one of the many treatments offered by Harley Street Dental Studio. We understand that it is never good news hearing that you need such an extensive procedure, but all our dentists will be happy to answer any questions you may have, whether at the initial appointment or subsequent consultations.

Once it has been decided that root canal is the best way to treat your dental problem, the treatment itself is very routine and straightforward. During the first appointment the area is numbed with a local anaesthetic so you feel no pain and the dentist will drill a tiny hole into the outer layers of the tooth in order to access the infected pulp. X-Rays will often be taken to check the extent of the damage and the interior of the tooth will be cleaned out in order to remove the damaged tissue.

Patients undergoing root canal will then need to come back for a second visit when, again, the affected tooth is numbed and the dentist uses the same hole drilled before to insert a man-made filling. The hole will be sealed over using either a crown or a permanent external filling. Once the anaesthetic wears off you may feel some discomfort, but this is nothing compared to the pain you would feel if you ignore the signs of an infected tooth!

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The causes and treatment of worn teeth by London dentists

January 12th, 2012

Worn teeth occur when the shape and function of the teeth changes because of friction to the teeth, which causes loss of tooth enamel or loss of the tooth surface.

Causes of worn teeth

There are many affects that occur on a daily basis that can cause worn teeth. Causes include:

  • Teeth grinding or “Bruxism,” which usually occurs when people sleep, wearing the teeth down.
  • Tooth decay caused by improper dental care and poor oral hygiene, causing periodontal disease or gingivitis.
  • Improper bite, which can result from malocclusion, irregular jaw shape or overcrowded teeth.
  • Genetic/hereditary factors resulting in abnormal facial and jaw formation, resulting in friction on the teeth.
  • Injury to your jaw and teeth, which can cause teeth not only to break but also to become worn.
  • Diet containing certain acidic foods and substances, which can damage the enamel of teeth over time.
  • Excessive teeth whitening that is unmonitored by a dental care professional.

Allowing a dentist to evaluate the condition of your teeth and discuss your oral health will enable you to understand what may be the cause of your worn teeth and how best to treat the condition.

Treatment for worn teeth

Depending on what causes worn teeth, treatment options may vary depending on the appropriate treatment for your needs:

  • Dental mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding.
  • Teeth replacement – Teeth contouring or dental implants, bridges or crowns.
  • Veneers, such as porcelain veneers or lumineers, where teeth are etched and re-shaped.
  • Composite bonding to build up worn teeth.
  • Orthodontic treatments, such as braces – Invisalign, Inman Aligner, or Damon – to improve bite and prevent worn teeth.
  • Facial or jaw reconstruction to correct jaw and mouth form and function, so the teeth do not become worn when you bite.
  • Diet awareness with the help of a dietician, to prevent an imbalanced diet with excess substances that can cause tooth erosion.
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Causes and treatment of crowded teeth by dentists in London

January 10th, 2012

Overcrowded teeth occur during childhood when the gums and teeth are developing and can continue into adulthood if not treated. The teeth can form too close together and, in some cases, additional teeth grow through, which results in crooked or skewed smile and an abnormal bite when your upper and lower teeth come together.

Causes of Overcrowded Teeth

There can be a number of reasons for overcrowded teeth, such as:

  • Genetics/hereditary traits – The DNA of parents contributes to the formation and function of the jaw and teeth, which if incorrect can lead to crowding and other orthodontic problems.
  • Too small upper or lower jaw – When the teeth appear too large, as if there are too many to fit into the gums.
  • Cleft lip and palate – This occurs when a baby is born with a gap in its top lip or when the two plates of the palate forming the mouth do not join properly.
  • Excess tooth development –This occurs when an unusual amount of teeth grow.
  • Mouth tumours – These can affect the formation and function of the jaw, including tooth development.
  • Injury – Fracturing the jaw and re-healing can result in overcrowded teeth.

A medical practitioner can diagnoses the cause of overcrowded teeth and recommend appropriate treatment solutions.

Treatment for Overcrowded Teeth

A number of treatment options exist to correct the causes of overcrowded teeth. These include:

  • Facial or jaw reconstruction or plastic surgery to correct and re-model the facial form and function, such as cleft lip or reforming the jaw to correct bite.
  • Teeth removal and gum re-shaping combined with Orthodontic treatment.
  • Orthodontic treatment, such as braces – Invisalign, Damon, Inman Aligner – and other Orthodontic appliances.
  • Porcelain Veneers can be placed over the surface of teeth to give them a straight appearance, and may be used to treat overcrowded teeth when combined with other Orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontics is used for teeth overcrowding caused by a misaligned jaw position or jaw joint, over or underbite and malocclusion. If you have overcrowded teeth that appear skewed or crooked and are affecting your smile, you can have this orthodontic treatment to correct it.

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What happens during a dentist referral to dentists in London?

January 7th, 2012

The team at Harley Street Dental Studio employ the highest standards available in modern dentistry to deliver the most advanced treatments in a comfortable and relaxing environment. When you come to us for a dental referral we will ensure that you feel at ease and have the ultimate experience during your treatment, as well as before and after.

You can be sure that we will endeavour to build a relationship with each of our patients and referrals, and to keep our focus on you, our patient. A typical referral will begin with you arriving at one of our offices, and ideally feeling relaxed and comfortable in the environment we have created.

At your initial consultation, we will get to know you and determine what work would benefit you. We achieve this by having an informal chat with you, during which we will go over procedure options and answer any questions your may have. Because we will offer you our complete range of treatment options, we put you in charge of the treatment you receive, allowing you to make the decisions on your care.

If the situation warrants, we have a same-day emergency procedure scheme in place that we could employ during your consultation. If this is not necessary, we will go over the payment details and options, ensuring you are aware that we provide a range of flexible payment options.

We’ll also make sure you are aware of the services we provide outside of normal operating hours and give you information on how best to reach us. Lastly, we hope to have impressed you with our thorough consultation, our impeccable appearance and manners and our prompt handling of your appointment. We hope that you feel like you have been treated like royalty, because at Harley Street Dental Studio, that’s how we strive to be: above average.

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How important is the website when choosing a dentist in London?

January 5th, 2012

There are thousands of London dental clinics for patients to choose from, all of which offer a range of treatment options that seem designed to bewilder and confuse the layperson. Trying to choose the right dental clinic for your needs can be quite a daunting task; after all, it’s not exactly convenient to arrange consultations with each and every one in your area, as you could end up wasting a lot of time in the dentist’s chair before you find the right clinic for you!

Luckily, most dental clinics have their own website, which details what kind of treatments they have available, as well as practical details such as location and opening hours. Sometimes the cost of dental procedures may be included, but as this often depends on each patient’s needs it is difficult to generalise. Of course, you shouldn’t choose a dentist on the strength of their website alone, but if the clinic has spent time and effort creating a professional, informative and easy-to-use website, then the chances are high that the rest of their operation will be similarly well run.

Our own website at Harley Street Dental Studio has recently won an industry award, thanks to its easy navigation, understandable information and clever use of images. After all, once the price has been discussed, the most important thing prospective patients want to know is will the treatment work? The dental clinic therefore uses before and after pictures of previous patients to illustrate how effective different braces, whitening treatments or dental implants can be. Images can also be used to calm the nerves of prospective patients and by illustrating exactly what is involved in the fitting of braces or the application of a whitening treatment, you can put your mind at rest about how uncomfortable the procedure is likely to be.

Many clinics offer the same treatments these days, although most clinics will try and offer at least one unique selling point. Whether that is a particular dental procedure or late-night opening for busy city workers, the website is the best way to help you to make an informed choice about which clinic you will eventually choose for your treatment.

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Stick to your New Year’s resolutions with the help of London dentists

January 3rd, 2012

Now that January has arrived, it is time to start thinking of some New Year’s Resolutions – and to try your best to stick to them longer than a few weeks! Most people use January as a starting point for a new diet or a new exercise regime. However, a smile makeover is a much easier way to make yourself look and feel good and is much easier to stick to, as you will have regular appointments at Harley Street Dental Studio to keep you on the right path.

Smile makeovers range from simple whitening treatments, with options to suit everyone’s budget, to full replacements using dentures or dental implants if your natural teeth make you too embarrassed to smile. While these are more expensive, the results are worth the extra investment and the effects will last for years and years. You may choose a couple of our smile makeover treatments, combining braces to straighten your teeth with a whitening treatment once the aligners have done their work. Whatever you feel you need to improve your smile for a new you in the New Year, the staff at dentists in London will be able to offer you advice and information.

Whitening treatments are probably the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to have a smile makeover for 2012. Those available in dental clinics are much more effective and much safer than those you can buy on the High Street or on the Internet. Once you have had your initial consultation at Harley Street Dental, you and your dentist will choose the option that is right for you, depending on how badly stained your teeth are and how much you want to spend on your smile makeover. Treatments range from the Enlighten option, which can be carried out at home or in the clinic, to the patented Zoom! system using a solution that reacts to lasers and which can only be carried out in our London premises.

Whichever option you choose, you will notice a difference in your teeth and your confidence within a few weeks. These effects will also last long into 2012 – much longer than the rest of your New Year’s resolutions!

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