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Teething and the painful process it is

May 5, 2010 By

Teething can be a horrible time for both parents and children but it is unlikely to get to the stage where any invasive treatment like root canal are necessary though recently there have been reports of children aged as little as 3 having to get teeth extracted; it often causes children to become emotional and clingy and may also result in them having a raised temperature, sickness and diarrhoea and a general feeling of being unwell.

Teething generally starts around the age of six months, when children start to develop their first tooth; every child is different and this is only a general guide. Teeth continue to develop over the course of the next few months and by the age of two most children have a full set of milk teeth. When babies are teething, they may tend to dribble more and be more inclined to chew and bite on toys and other objects.

Teething affects all babies in a different way; some are fine, while others suffer enormously when their teeth start coming through. If you have a child that is suffering because they are teething you can give them over the counter pain relief, including sugar-free ibuprofen or paracetamol but you should always check the labels or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you’re not sure what medication your baby can have. Try to avoid giving them rusks as most contain sugar; instead given them something fairly hard and cold to chew on, like a teething ring or a breadstick. You can also rub sugar free teething gel into their gums; this will help to soothe the gums and reduce pain.

Filed Under: Child Health, Dental Care, Family Health Tagged With: ,

Dentists teach children and families good oral hygiene

April 16, 2010 By

How many times did your mom or dad say: “Stop squeezing the toothpaste tube!” or “Squeeze the tube from the bottom up!”? Kids seem to be fascinated with toothpaste as it squirts out the tube and may battle to keep the paste on the brush as it wiggles in hand nearer to their teeth.

Although children are told to brush their teeth morning and night, or after every meal, do they actually understand the basics to oral hygiene? Growingkids.co.uk offers valuable information for parents or guardians of children about the importance of developing good oral hygiene from childhood. The reasons provided include: tooth disease, halitosis (bad breath), plaque removal to prevent tartar buildup,and tooth decays caused by plaque that can later result in the need for root canal treatment or tooth extraction.

Good oral hygiene involves regular brushing of teeth with toothpaste and getting a new brush every two to three months, flossing weekly, rinsing the mouth with antiseptic mouth wash, chewing sugar free gum after meals if brushing is not possible, and visiting a dentist every six to twelve months for a checkup dental job and advice. Only a dentist can remove tartar caused by plaque buildup on the teeth, can identify inflammation that may result in tooth decay, and can teach you and your children about good oral hygiene.

Filed Under: Child Health, Dental Care, Family Health Tagged With: ,

Oral Hygiene Products on the market

April 16, 2010 By

There is a now a huge range of oral hygiene products on offer to consumers, with an enormous number of different toothpastes, dental flosses, toothbrushes and mouthwashes now available.

There are several different brands, which all produce a range of oral hygiene products that claim to cater for all consumers, with products designed for patients with sensitive teeth, products to tackle tartar and plaque build-up and special whitening toothpastes all on sale at chemists and supermarkets. Dentist recommend using toothpaste that contains fluoride as this helps to protect the teeth from decay by strengthening the enamel surfaces and prevent the need for costly dental work.

Electric toothbrushes have been proven to remove plaque more effectively than standard toothbrushes; the oscillation speed is much higher and the heads are often smaller and more flexible, meaning they can reach into the corners of the mouth.

Floss is often overlooked but it should form an integral part of an individual’s daily hygiene routine; floss can be used to remove bacteria from areas where a toothbrush can’t reach, such as between the teeth and along the gum line. Mouthwash can also remove additional traces of bacteria and ensures that the breath is fresh.

Using oral hygiene products can help to ensure patients enjoy good oral health and avoid developing conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease, which may cause the teeth to be lost by means of tooth extraction.

Filed Under: Dental Care, Dental Hygiene Tagged With: ,

Smile Makeovers for the Hollywood look

April 15, 2010 By

Most people would like to change certain things about their smile, whether it’s the colour of their teeth, gaps, crookedness, unattractive metal fillings or a host of other issues, few would say their smile is absolutely perfect.

Smiling can affect our social and romantic relationships and our confidence within our own selves.  It is no wonder then that so many people are opting to visit a dentist for smile makeovers.

What a smile makeover dental jobs entails depends entirely on what issues you have with your smile and what you would like to do to change it, from simple teeth whitening to the installation of veneers, up to date dentistry can give you the results you want.

Crookedness can be solved with braces or with veneers, speed versus the downsides of having your teeth reshaped makes the decision there.

Chips and breaks can be treated with composite bonding, veneers or crowns, root canals; the procedure will depend on the nature of the damage.

For gaps there are a wide range of braces and similar products to choose from, or again if you want fast results then veneers can give them straight away.

Gum contouring is a less known procedure which can quickly and painlessly deal with a gummy smile.

If you want your teeth brighter then cleaning and whitening may be the way forward.

Or if frown lines or your lips are the issue then Botox and other skin treatments may well help.

So whatever the results you want there are dentists out there who can help you to achieve your perfect smile.

Filed Under: Dental Care Tagged With: ,

Veneers and how long they should last

April 15, 2010 By

Veneers are a treatment offered by a number of dentists, which cover the teeth in a cosmetic shell (often porcelain or ceramic but there are many options) to improve their appearance.  This can be a solution to various problems such as staining, damage or even just provide a more even, attractive smile, but you will need to be checked over beforehand to make sure you don’t require treatment like a root canal.

Your teeth are prepared using a special drill (obviously this is done under anaesthetic), being reshaped so that they can accommodate the veneers.  A mould is taken of them and this is used to create the veneers so that they fit comfortably and naturally.  The actual process of making them might take between one and three weeks though, so your dentist might fit you with temporary veneers in the meantime.  When the veneers are complete the dentist will put them in place to check their fit, make any adjustments that might need to be made, then use a special acid to roughen the surface of your teeth and cement the veneers into place.

Once in veneers should last from 5-10 years (this varies with materials) if you just look after them properly like you would normal teeth to make sure the dental job is worth it.  Because they last so long you might want to consider the options available, different dentists offer different product ranges so talk it over with your dentist because when you choose the veneers you want to cover your damaged, discoloured or crooked teeth, you may have them for a long time.  Lots of different companies have products out there though so there is sure to be something that suits you.

Filed Under: Dental Care Tagged With: ,

Speaking with New Dentures

April 6, 2010 By

Speaking and eating with your new dentures can be quite difficult in the beginning. Several speech sounds, particularly the S’s and the Sh’s can be affected by the shape that your tongue makes against your teeth and your palate at the front of your mouth. If the position of your teeth is slightly changed, or the palates shape is changed it could take quite a while for your tongue to learn how to make the right shape again to make the sound come out of your mouth properly. Try to read aloud to help you practice is what a dentist may suggest.

Things can improve quite quickly, but you must give them the chance to. They can’t improve if you keep going back to your old set of teeth. Just like with eating, it’s not wise for you to expect to be able to eat very hard, sticky or chewy foods. You’ll need to get used to the feel inside your mouth, and how these new dentures will work for you.

Choose soft tasty foods to start off and never try eating too fast. Another great tip for you to remember is to avoid filling up your plate. You don’t want your hot food to get cold because you’re eating slower than usual. Cold food is just not as appetizing as hot food either. If you’re hungry and you still feel like eating, it’s better to go for a second helping then to put it all on your plate at one time.

Filed Under: Dental Care Tagged With: ,

Differences in Dental Costs

April 4, 2010 By

Dental costs amongst private dentists vary from practice to practice. In regards to NHS costs there is a standard price plan in place. You will find that NHS treatment is subsidised, however, you still have to pay. The costs of NHS dental treatments are split into three bands according to complexity of treatment. The first band is priced at £16.50, the second priced at £44 and the third priced at £198.  Preliminary work such as x-rays fall into the first band, simple treatments like filling fall into the second band and more intensive treatments such as crowns , root canal and dentures fall into the third band .

The private practices are usually far more expensive, for instance, the price of  a filling starts from around £120 rather than £44. On the other hand, private practice does offer a wide range of cosmetic treatments and dentists will agree that cosmetic dentistry can enhance appearance and really boost confidence, whereas the NHS  do not offer many cosmetic treatments.

Costs for private care specialities.

The prices of cosmetic treatments such as veneers in private care usually costs between £400 and £2000, teeth whitening roughly costs between £350 and £1000. Straightening treatments like invisalign are priced between £3000 and £6000. The price depends on the amount of work needed and teeth treated and which practice you go to.

Filed Under: Dental Care Tagged With: ,

How your teeth can look lovely with Lumineers

April 4, 2010 By

Lumineers are a form of veneer made up of very thin cerinate porcelain.  Despite being very thin they are high quality veneers.  Dentists will happily inform you Lumineers can be distinguished from other veneers as Lumineers require little change to your teeth. Usually there is no cutting or grinding of your teeth to prepare for the lumineers. In a few cases some preliminary work has been required. For instance, crowding teeth, malrotation, and misalignment demand a little work. However the majority of customers do not require any preliminary alterations to their teeth. Dentists want you to be comfortable during your treatment, therefore they will not recommend any preparation of the teeth unless absolutely necessary.

Fitting Lumineers

Lumineers are one of the most comfortable solutions to many teeth imperfections. They restore chipped, crooked and discoloured teeth. To begin the treatment the dentist will give you a thorough check up to make sure your teeth are ready for Lumineers. An impression of your teeth is taken with dental putty which is used to make your Lumineers. This will take a couple of weeks and in some cases, a temporary veneer will be fitted. After a few weeks, your Lumineers should be ready and you can commence the fitting process. On your next visit Lumineers are placed onto your teeth using special dental cement.  It is necessary to return within a few days to have your Lumineers modified to ensure that you have got the most comfortable and customised fit.

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Veener’s other half

April 4, 2010 By

Just like traditional veneers, Lumineers are designed to improve your smile by covering gaps, reshaping teeth, brightening the smile and generally make you feel better about your teeth.

The reason that some dentist choose to offer Lumineers is that they are made from a special patented porcelain called Cerinate which allows them to be much thinner than traditional veneers whilst maintaining strength.  Being so thin (comparable to the thickness of a contact lens) means less or even none of the original tooth needs to be removed for them to be put in place.

The reduction in impact to natural tooth structure isn’t the only benefit, Lumineers can also be installed straight over present bridgework and crowns without them having to be replaced.  The system has also been proven to last in excess of twenty years.

On the downside is the fact that since Lumineers are a specific, patented product, not all dentists can provide them because the company who produces them must certify that they can deal with their products.  The Cerinate porcelain is only made in the Cerinate Smile Design Studio, over in the United States, so this limits their availability.

However, there are dentists who are certified to provide Lumineers so don’t worry, if you want them then they are out there.

Filed Under: Dental Care Tagged With: ,

Zimmer Dental Announces Exclusive Distributorship of ERA Mini Dental Implant System

March 30, 2010 By

For many decades, Zimmer Dental has offered an industry-leading line of dental components, engineered to offer the best patient outcomes while still remaining an excellent value. Now, Zimmer Dental, a subsidiary of Zimmer Holdings Inc., is pleased to offer the ERA Mini Dental Implant System, produced by Sterngold Dental – a leader in the industry for denture stabilization procedures using dental implants. Zimmer will be the exclusive distributor for the ERA system, a system which can substantially increase the quality of life for patients with dentures.

The ERA Mini Dental Implant System is a versatile, multi-dimensional system consisting of prosthetic components, surgical instruments, an ERA Mini Dental Implant, and the popular ERA attachment, which offers angulation correction and vertical resilience. The system allows clinicians to enable the function of a patient’s denture at the same time as the osseointegration of traditional dental implants. The ERA Mini Dental Implant System also allows dentists to offer their patients affordable stabilization of their dentures in single visits over the long term.

By stabilizing unsecured dentures using the ERA Mini Dental Implant System, a clinician can greatly improve the quality of life for his or her patients. Patients will be able to chew and speak properly, which promotes self-confidence and increases their comfort on a daily basis. A properly fitting prosthesis can even encourage a patient to consume a greater variety of foods.

Harold Flynn, Jr., the President of Zimmer Dental, states that the exclusive distribution agreement that Zimmer reached with Sterngold Dental proves Zimmer’s commitment to providing a comprehensive line of products which offer excellence in versatility, value, and good patient outcomes. He admits that traditional implants are the core focus for his company, but recognizes that stabilizing implants are the best option for treating unsecured dentures and aims to bring this treatment option to patients who have not yet been offered this life-changing procedure.

Around the world, thousands of dentists and other healthcare providers trust Zimmer Dental to deliver meaningful solutions to their needs. The ERA Mini Dental Implant System will be a valuable addition to their offerings, giving clinicians everywhere an opportunity to provide their patients with the best in patient care and quality of life.

Filed Under: Dental Care, Dental Implants Tagged With: ,
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