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How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Health

April 28th, 2009

All of us want to keep our smile intact as we get older, and not end up dealing with dentures and plates – or worse, having mouths that look like checkerboards.
Luckily, there are simple, easy ways to keep your teeth intact into old age.  What’s more, they may not just save your smile – they could save your life.

Overly dramatic?  No, not really.  The number one cause of adult tooth loss is periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease – but, with gum disease, the dangers don’t actually stop with your mouth.  Bleeding and swollen gums left unattended can aid and abet a number of much more serious overall health problems, as medical researchers are just beginning to discover.

If you do have slightly swollen, sore and/or bleeding gums, you’ve probably already got gingivitis – a milder form of gum disease.  This results from an accumulation of plaque on your teeth and not getting a regular professional cleaning at your dentist’s office – the plaque causes your gums to be inflamed.

Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, where the bacteria from the gum disease literally attack the supporting bone structure of your tooth, and weaken it, until the potential for actually losing the tooth becomes very real.

And that’s actually not the worst part.   Not only has the bacteria declared war on your tooth, it’s also mounting an attack on the rest of your body.  The bacteria, through your gums, hitches a ride out of your mouth through your bloodstream and ends up causing a host of other health-related problems.

Multiple studies have linked periodontitis to heart disease, strokes, pneumonia, diabetes complications and even premature births.  The same bacteria that inflamed your gums can also end up inflaming the arteries of your heart – as well as other critical blood vessels in the body.

The American Academy of Periodontology has estimated that up to 30 percent of Americans are genetically susceptible to gum disease, even with good oral health care.  The rest of us need to guard our gums just as vigilantly, because gingivitis and even periodontitis can happen to anyone, if they’re not careful.

Our dentists understand the importance of good gum care.  While daily brushing and flossing is certainly critical to maintaining gum health, there is no substitute for getting a good professional cleaning at least every six months – it’s the only way to remove more advanced plaque build-up. “It’s much cheaper and easier to prevent gum disease in the early stages, then to deal with it when it becomes more severe and dangerous.

Make an appointment  for a professional cleaning and exam.  It’s an easy way to stay healthy – and keep smiling!

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Root Canal Treatment

April 28th, 2009

Root canal therapy is the process through which your dentist treats the inner aspect of the tooth.  Specifically the dentist treats the “pulp tissue,” which is known by most people as the “nerve.”  The nerve of the tooth is the inner aspect of the tooth that is the space inside the tooth.  The root canal is the area in which the nerve resides.

The purpose of a root canal is to make this area healthy and to fix it so that it will remain healthy.  In most cases the root canal is affected by a bacterial infection or another irritating substance that is leaking into the root canal.  In response to these irritants the body enacts its defense mechanism and causes inflammation.

In the process of the root canal, the bacteria, the broken down nerve tissue, and bacterial toxins are removed from the inner area of the tooth.  Once these irritants are removed, the space is cleaned and then filled and sealed.  This is done to minimize the possibility of bacteria recolonizing in the root canal.  The seal will contain and encapsulate any of the debris that was not removed so that it cannot cause irritation, but will eventually breakdown.

After the root canal is completed, the tooth is sealed and protected with a crown that covers the cusps of the tooth.  If this is not done the tooth may fracture and cause more problems.  If the tooth canal is not properly sealed, the root canal may leak and cause failure of the root canal.  This can cause tooth decay and lead to additional dental problems.  Many people believe that once a root canal is done the tooth cannot decay.  This is not necessarily true, as the tooth can still decay if it is not taken care of properly with an adequate fluoride source.  It is important that the patient continue to have regular dental check-ups and x-rays to ensure that the root canal is still working properly.

There have been several innovations over the past decade that has made root canals faster and less dreaded by patients.  There have been advances in advanced root canal fillings as well as automated mechanical instruments.  Dentists are also able to take scientific measurements of the dimensions of the root canal and may perform more successful operations.

There are rare occasions in which a root canal may fail.  These may fail if the root canal is not properly or completely cleaned and filled.  For example, a top molar is more difficult to and the fourth canal in the tooth is difficult to see.  If it is missed, the infection may reenter the canal and cause it to “flare up.”  These flare ups, however, can be retreated and fixed even if it has been years since the original root canal.

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Dental Veneers

April 28th, 2009

A Better Smile
Transform Your Teeth with Veneers and Tooth Whitening.

A Better Smile
Transform Your Teeth Quickly, Easily and Relatively Inexpensively

On TV or at the movies, it seems like everyone you see these days has sparkling white teeth.   And it isn’t just happening in Hollywood.  From over-the-counter whiteners to more intensive, office prescribed treatments, whiter teeth have never been more accessible to more people.

Many smile seekers begin the teeth whitening process in a dental office, with a treatment like Extreme Whitening.  In cases like these, molds are made of a patient’s teeth, which they fill with a gel and wear on the teeth overnight for a period of a few weeks.  At the conclusion, the dentist will perform a sealing procedure and offer advice on how the patient can maintain their dazzling new smile.

Another solution to the quest for the ultimate smile is ever quicker and simpler.  Porcelain veneers and crowns provide this transformation quickly and almost permanently (properly cared for, they should last at least fifteen years).
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain facings that are permanently bonded to the outer surfaces of teeth.  They can change the colour, shape and alignment of teeth, resulting in an entirely new smile.  Porcelain crowns are very similar, the principal difference being that crowns cover more tooth structure, and are used when a substantial amount of a tooth has been lost. The appearance of both porcelain crowns and veneers are nearly identical, as is the result – a more beautiful smile.
Porcelain veneers and crowns can be completed amazingly quickly – usually in only two or three dental visits. During the first visit the teeth are prepared and temporary veneers/crowns are placed.  But don’t be frightened by the word “temporary.”  Constructed to the patient’s specifications, these temporary veneers look so natural patients occasionally mistake them for the final product!
The final product, which is placed on your next visit, are veneers about 0.3mm to 0.5mm in thickness. They appear lifelike, transmitting light like natural teeth.  At the same time, they possess the strength, beauty, and durability only porcelain restorations can afford. After these new veneers are bonded in place, a follow up visit is made in a week, and voila!  The patient has a new, beautiful smile.
Possibly the best thing about porcelain veneers and crowns is that they do more than whiten teeth. They can also address a myriad of other dental dilemmas, including:
•    Crooked teeth
•    Crowded teeth
•    Chipped or worn teeth
•    Diastemas (spaces between the teeth)
•    Permanently stained or discolored teeth
In some cases, porcelain veneers and crowns can even be used as an alternative to braces and other orthodontic treatment.

Porcelain veneers can do wonders for your smile – for much less money that you’d imagine.

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Teeth Whitening in Chelsea Kensington

April 28th, 2009

In-Office Teeth Whitening Creates a Brighter Smile Over your Lunch Hour

How white is your smile? You may actually think that there is no cause for concern until you develop a photograph of friends, only to notice that your teeth are several shades darker or yellower than your neighbour. No time better than the present for that in-office teeth whitening that you have heard about.

Should I Choose at Home or In-Office Teeth Whitening?

Over the past decade, individuals within our society have moved toward a whiter and brighter smile. With advancement in in-office teeth whitening, a bright smile can be achieved in moments. There are certainly a plethora of teeth whitening options to utilize in the comfort of your own home. But, there are certainly advantages of visiting your dentist for an in-office teeth whitening session. The most important consideration of whether to whiten your teeth at home or by a professional is the potential damage that you can cause to your gums.
Over processing, too frequent use of chemicals or improper use of the whitening substances is common by individuals trying to whiten their teeth at home. But, an in-office teeth whitening session can leverage the skills and training of your dentist to achieve superior brightening results without the associated risks of trying the procedure at home.

Achieve Superior Smile Results with In-Office Teeth Whitening

Busy during your next lunch break? Your dental professional can typically perform an in-office teeth whitening in under an hour making it easy and convenient to have the cosmetic procedure performed. And, for even more convenience, some dental offices can perform the procedure with little to no notice. Ask your dentist the next time that you are in the dental chair for a routine cleaning whether they can fit you in for an in-office teeth whitening session on the fly. Who knows; you could walk out with cleaner teeth and a brighter, whiter smile in the same session.
A dental professional will typically use either bleaching products or a special laser light to whiten your teeth during an in-office teeth whitening session. Most patients see results within an hour and with only a single in-office teeth whitening treatment. For individuals who have more severe discoloration or staining, multiple in-office teeth whitening sessions may be required. Your dental professional will make a treatment recommendation for you upon a simple oral examination. Some dental professionals will also prepare teeth trays for you to utilize at home as a follow up maintenance system. This way you can continue to maintain your bright smile on an ongoing basis.
If you are embarrassed by your smile or simply want to enhance your current smile, teeth whitening is the most effective option to consider. Instead of trying the procedure at home, work with your trained dental professional and schedule an in-office teeth whitening session. Typically within an hour after the procedure, you will walk out with a whiter, brighter smile that everyone around you is sure to envy. To schedule your in-office teeth whitening session please call 0207 795 1536

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