Dental implants – is it time you take the plunge?

Have you got a missing tooth or teeth? Unsure how you want to replace it? Dental implants may provide just the solution you are looking for.

A dental implant is a titanium screw that can be placed into the jaw to replace the root of a tooth. It can then be used to support a crown, bridge or denture, replacing one or several missing teeth.

Here at West Wickham Dental Practice we have put together some of the benefits to choosing dental implants over other tooth replacement treatments:

1. Next best thing to healthy, natural teeth – Strong and stable, a dental implant restores a lost tooth so that it looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth. Other options can lead to bone deterioration, and may interfere with eating, smiling, speaking and other activities of everyday life.

2. Enjoy life without worrying about your teeth! – Teeth restored with dental implants are teeth that let you, not your teeth, lead your life.

3. Retain your natural face shape, and smile – A face without teeth can sag and appear sunken and sad. Dental implants allow you to maintain the natural shape of your face and smile.

4. Protect healthy bone – Dental implants are the only dental restoration option that preserves and stimulates natural bone.

5. Keep your teeth in your mouth – not in a cup – Dental implants allow you to keep your teeth where they belong – in your mouth. Brush, floss and care for teeth that have been replaced using implants exactly the way you would natural teeth.

6. More predictable than other repair and restoration methods – Dental implants have a track record of reliable, long-term successful outcomes and if cared for properly they should last for many years.

If you would like to find out if dental implants are the right treatment to replace your missing teeth call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book a consultation.

6 Ways To Make Your Teeth Sparkle This New Year

Recent surveys have shown that a bright, white smile can help to make someone appear younger and more attractive. Your smile is often the first thing a new person will notice when they meet you, so why not make 2017 the year you ensure that your teeth are in the best possible condition.

1. Hygienist appointments

The dental hygienist specialises in preventative dentistry, in particular the treatment of gum disease and other periodontal conditions. The hygienist will thoroughly scale and polish your teeth to give your smile a lift.

Advantages

• The hygienist will be able to polish your teeth to remove food and drink stains
• Regular scaling and polishing helps to keep your teeth and gums health by removing plaque and calculus that can build up and cause gum disease.
• Demonstrations on effective tooth brushing can help you to remove plaque without causing tooth wear and receding gums keeping your teeth bright in between appointments

2. White Fillings

White fillings can now be used in nearly any tooth in your mouth. A white or composite filling is made up of a mixture of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient.

Advantages

• Once in your mouth, no one will be able to notice white fillings as they blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
• White fillings are usually light cured, which is where a bright light is used to harden the composite mixture and set it. This means that you will be able to eat and drink as normal as soon as the anaesthetic wears off.
• White fillings can be bonded to your tooth and this means once applied the tooth will often be stronger than they were before.

3. Dental Implants

Dental implants can help to restore your smile, replacing gaps caused by missing teeth. Dental implants can be used to support either crowns, bridges or dentures depending on the number of teeth to be replaced.

Advantages

• Dental implants are the next best thing to healthy natural teeth. Restoring a lost tooth so it looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth.
• Teeth restored with dental implants are teeth that let you, not your teeth, lead your life
• A face without teeth can sag and appear sunken and sad. Dental implants allow you to maintain the natural shape of your face and smile.

4. Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening is an effective and affordable way to enhance the appearance of your smile. Teeth Whitening can help to give your teeth back their sparkle by removing stains caused by food, drink, smoking, ageing and medications.

Advantages

• Teeth Whitening is an excellent way to improve your appearance. Having a beautiful smile is now within the reach of anybody who wants it.
• A whiter smile tends to minimise the appearance of facial wrinkles, giving way to a more youthful and energetic appearance.
• Teeth Whitening can help to boost a person’s self-confidence

5. Teeth Straightening

Teeth straightening can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of your teeth and smile, no matter what your age is. There are a wide range of teeth straightening procedures available and your dentist will be able to advise on the best one to suit your needs.

Advantages

• Teeth straightening can help to improve your confidence and self-esteem, allowing you to achieve things you never thought were possible.
• Teeth straightening helps your gums to fit more securely around your teeth and in the long term this can help to reduce the risk of teeth loss.
• Teeth straightening and properly aligning the bite, reduces discomfort and wear caused to your mouth and jaw.

6. Smile Makeover

A smile makeover uses a number of different cosmetic dental treatment to completely change the appearance of your teeth and smile. A smile makeover takes into account your facial appearance, skin tine, hair colour, teeth, gums and lips to develop your ideal smile.

 Advantages

• Patients have confidence in their new smile which spills over into social and work related situations.
• It is possible for dramatic results to be achieved in relatively few appointments, so a smile makeover can be a great way to prepare for an important event.
• Teeth that have been straightened, repaired and replaced are easier to keep clean. By maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, you can help to keep your teeth looking their best for years to come.

What are you waiting for? Call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book your consultation and start your journey to a sparkling smile.

Dentures vs Dental Implants

There is no longer any need to go through life with missing teeth. There are now a number of different options available to replace a missing tooth, with implants and dentures being the most common options. In this article we compare both options to help you make an informed choice as to whether dentures or implants are the right treatment for you.

Dentures	Implants
Dentures are made by creating either an acrylic (plastic) or chrome (metal) base and onto these composite teeth are added in a shade to match your natural teeth. This means once in place no-one should be able to tell that they are not your own teeth.	Implants are made by inserting a titanium screw into your jaw, which is then used to support a crown, bridge or denture depending on how many teeth need to be replaced.
Dentures can be made to replace either a few teeth or all the teeth on your upper or lower jaw. Dentures have the added advantage of allowing further teeth to be added following future extractions	Implants can be used to replace a few or all teeth. Implants can either be placed for individual teeth or can be used to support dentures replacing all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw
Dentures help to improve your appearance, bite and how you speak	Implants help to improve your appearance, bite and how you speak
Dentures can be fitted immediately after a tooth is extracted so no one will know you are missing a tooth	The base of the implant will be inserted into your jaw. This will then need to be left 3-4 months to heal before a crown, bridge or denture can be placed on top
Dentures can be fitted no matter how healthy your jaw is or whether you have lost the teeth because of damage, wear and tear, decay or periodontal disease	Implants can only be placed if you have sufficient bone in your jaw and it is healthy enough. If not a bone graft will be required prior to treatment starting
Dentures do not support the jaw so you will notice bone loss over time if you wear dentures	Implants help to maintain the bone levels in your jaw and can even help to promote bone growth needed to stabilise and secure the implant
Dentures are suitable for most people	Implants are not suitable if you smoke and if you suffer with gum disease there is a higher risk of the implant failing
Dentures can take time to get used to and will require practice to allow you to speak and eat with confidence	Implants look and feel like your natural teeth so you will be able to speak and eat with complete confidence
Dentures may need to be remade or relined as the shape of your jaw changes overtime	If cared for properly an implant should last as long as your natural teeth
Dentures are less expensive than implants but will only last on average 7 – 8 years before they need to be replaced	Implants are more expensive but once in place they should last a lifetime

If you would like more help and advice on whether dentures or implants are the right treatment for you book an appointment online, or call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188

New Year, New You-Cosmetic Dental Treatment

The New Year resolution as defined by Wikipedia is, “… a tradition, …in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice… beginning from New Year’s Day.” Resolutions for overall fitness and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle is a norm for most of us and is great for improving general health and well-being, however, it is important not to forget the benefit of also improving your oral health too. Ranging from refining tooth brushing habits to completing unfinished dental treatments. A beautiful smile can make you feel healthy and rejuvenated. You don’t need to be in Tinseltown to enjoy a bright sparkling smile, straightforward dental treatment from teeth whitening, veneers, Six Month Smile orthodontic treatment or dental implants can be rewarding and motivating. Begin your journey towards a better and brighter smile with a Free Cosmetic Consultation, just ask!

Dental Implants

Dental Implants are a safe and well established treatment and are currently the closest treatment you can have to having your own teeth back again. Dental Implants supports the jaw bone by preventing further bone loss. Most, importantly it allows the teeth to be fixed to the jaw bone simulating natural teeth. Looking after your implants should be no more difficult than looking after your natural teeth. However, there may be some areas that are more difficult to reach and your dentist or hygienist will be able to advise on how best to clean these areas. The dentist may also advise that you attend for more regular hygienist appointments to ensure that the implants stay free of plaque and calculus build up. Provided they are looked after,dental implants should last for many years.

Teeth Whitening

If you are looking for a treatment that will give your teeth a dramatic lift that is fast with visible differences, why not consider teeth whitening, a safe and effective way to lighten and brighten the natural colour of your teeth. In 2012new regulation was brought in that state teeth whitening is a dental procedure and as such can only be undertaken by a dental professional. We can offer two main types of teeth whitening treatment;

In Surgery teeth whitening: This is a repetitive intensive treatment where the dentist will apply the whitening gel to your teeth either directly or using a custom made whitening tray that is activated using a special light. You walk in with a dingy, aged smile, and leave with the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted

At home teeth whitening: This treatment can be completed in the comfort of your own home at a time to suit you using bespoke whitening trays designed for your teeth. The dentist will show you how to apply the whitening gel to the trays and will explain how long you will need to wear the trays ensuring that you receive the results you are looking for.

Six Month Smiles Orthodontic Treatment

Not all of us are born with a perfectly straight set of teeth!  Apart from the aesthetic value, straight teeth help us to bite, chew and speak properly providing a significant boost in self-confidence, self-esteem and self-image; qualities that are valued at every age benefiting social as well as career success.

Misaligned teeth prevent effective cleaning of the tooth surfaces causing an increase in plaque formation, periodontal disease (bleeding gums) and halitosis (bad breath). If left untreated, the bone surrounding the teeth may get destroyed making chewing and swallowing difficult. Short Term Orthodontics such as Six Month Smiles™ or clear aligner braces can give you the smile that you want in a fraction of the time and possible costs, compared to conventional treatments. With 0% Interest Free financing available, this treatment can realise your dream smile effortlessly, safely and with long lasting results.

West Wickham Dental Practice can provide you with a range of cosmetic dental treatments to help improve your smile and confidence. Book a complimentary cosmetic consultation today to discuss your needs or call us if you have any questions on 02087761188.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Over the past few years there has been a large increase in the number of people turning to dental implants to help fill gaps caused by missing teeth. They are a safe, long lasting restoration which is currently as close as possible to your natural teeth.

Prior to any treatment you will need to an appointment with your dentist for a consultation. At this appointment the dentist will perform a full assessment of your teeth and gums and will take x-rays to assess the level of bone in your jaw. If there is not enough bone or it is not healthy enough it may not be possible to proceed with implants until you have had a bone graft.

With implants being a large investment you should ensure that you have a full and detailed treatment plan prior to the start of treatment. This should give complete details of the treatment to be undertaken and the expected costs. There is the potential for things to change as treatment progresses but if this happens you should be given all the possible options before making a decision on how you wish to proceed.

Still unsure about whether implants are right for you? We have looked at the benefits of opting for implants over other tooth replacement methods. These include:

• Helping to maintain bone levels in your jaw. Placing an implant helps to reduce the risk of bone resorption following an extraction and can even promote healthy bone growth to secure the implant in place.

• Dental implants are independent of your other teeth. Unlike a dental bridge, which is supported by fixing crowns to the teeth on either side of the gap, with implants there is no need to damage your existing teeth to fill the gap.

• Dental implants will last for as long as they are properly cared for and this can be a lifetime. Bridges and dentures will need to be replaced after 5-7 years so can be more expensive over their lifetime.

• Implants can be used to anchor and stabilise dentures. This means that you will no longer need to worry about your teeth moving when you talk and eat.

• Unlike dentures, implants look and feel like your natural teeth, this means that you will be able to speak with confidence and eat a wide a varied diet without fear.

• When you having missing teeth this can cause your cheeks to sag and create additional wrinkles. Implants help to fill out your cheeks and support your skin. They have the ability to make you look years younger.

• Cavities can’t occur in an implant-restored crown, or replacement teeth. You will have need to attend for regular appointments with the hygienist to ensure that there is not a build-up of plaque and calculus around the tooth which if left long term can cause the implant to fail.

Implants are one of the ways in which you can fill a gap caused by a tooth extraction. Here at West Wickham Dental Practice we are dedicated to making sure you can smile proud! and offer interest-free financing to make dental implants a feasible treatment option.  If you want to discuss if implants would be right for your call us today on 0208 776 1188

THE TRUTH ABOUT DENTURES

The time has come, another broken tooth has had to be removed and now you are faced with one too many gaps for comfort. The dentist has suggested that you consider dentures, as an option to fill the gaps and restore your smile to its former glory.

This week we look at the advantages and disadvantages of dentures to help you decide if they are the right option for you.

Advantages of Dentures

If you have been having problems with your teeth for a number of years, dentures can provide a fresh start. They provide a new set of teeth that are natural looking and custom made. Dentures can have a dramatic effect on your appearance giving you the confidence to smile without fear.

Dentures are very low maintenance although it will often require 4 or 5 visits to make the dentures initially, once they are made, they simply need cleaning in the same way that you would your natural teeth.

Dentures are made specifically to your mouth’s measurement. No two sets of dentures are the same and this means that you should receive the most comfortable and realistic fit possible.

By having a full set of teeth again you will be able to chew food comfortably. It may take some time to get used to your dentures but once they have settled in you should be able to eat a full and varied diet.

Dentures help to support your face and can help to make you look years younger. Toothless gums can result in your cheeks sinking inwards and downwards and cause facial wrinkles that make you appear older than you are. Dentures help to plum up your cheeks and give the skin on your face the support it needs.

Dentures can also help to enhance the appearance of your smile. Dentures can be made so your teeth are straighter than they naturally were and can also be whiter than your original smile. Helping to give you confidence in your appearance. You will be able to feel and smile proud!

Dentures can be a cost effective treatment solution, giving the best results at a fraction of the price of implants or bridges.

Disadvantages

Dentures are not always a quick fix solution. If you have extractions before your dentures are fitted, you will find that overtime your gums shrink and this may mean that your dentures need to be relined or remade. It can take some time to get used to your new smile but once you do you’ll be glad you took the plunge.

Some wearers find dentures uncomfortable and awkward to master. It is a good idea to discuss materials with your dentist you may find that a lighter metal frame to your dentures is easier to tolerate. It is also possible to look at implant retained dentures. This means that the dentures will be permanently attached to your jaw and reduces the risk of problems.

Speech can be difficult when you first start to wear a denture, but this should improve over time as you become more used to wearing your dentures.

Alongside dentures it is also possible to look at dental implants or bridges to help restore your smile and filling gaps caused by extractions.

To discuss the possible options to fill gaps caused by missing teeth book a consultation appointment today on 0208 776 1188 or online via https://westwickhamdental.co.uk/dentist-in-bromley-croydon-beckenham-west-wickham-book-appointments-online/

Dental Implants; What They Are and How They Work.

Over the past few years there has been a large increase in the number of people turning to dental implants to fill gaps caused when teeth are beyond repair and need to be extracted. A dental implant is used to support one of more false teeth; this could be a crown, a bridge or dentures.

Dental Implants are a safe and well established treatment and are currently the closest treatment you can have to having your own teeth back again. Provided they are looked after, dental implants should last for many years.

Treatment

Prior to any treatment you will need to attend for a consultation appointment. At this appointment the dentist will perform a full examination of your mouth and take x-rays to assess the level of bone present in your jaw. If you do not have enough bone or the bone is not healthy enough it may not be possible to proceed with implants without first having a bone graft.

Most implant surgery is completed under local anaesthetic; this means that you will be awake and aware of what is going on during treatment. If you are very nervous the dentist may prescribe a mild sedative to help keep you calm during your appointment. Placing an implant is often easier than taking the tooth out was initially. You are likely to experience some discomfort in the week following surgery as the bone starts to grow around the implanted screw, but will be advised what painkillers to take should you require them.

It will normally take 3-4 months from the placement of the screw into your jaw for the dentist to be able to start the restoration. This is in order to allow the bone to heal fully around the titanium screw securing it in place.

Once the site has healed fully the dentist will be able to form the crown, bridge or dentures to fit over the screw and fill any gaps.   It is not necessary to have one implant for every missing tooth, your dentist will be able to advise on the ideal placement of any implants to give the best retention for any restoration. Once in place any crowns, bridges or dentures will match closely the natural colour of your teeth so no-one will know that you have missing teeth.

Prior to any treatment you should ensure that you fully understand exactly what treatment has proposed and have a written estimate of the treatment costs. These may change as treatment progresses but you should be consulted and given all the options available for how to proceed.

Aftercare

Looking after your implants should be no more difficult than looking after your natural teeth. However there may be some areas that are more difficult to reach and your dentist or hygienist will be able to advise on how best to clean these areas. The dentist may also advise that you attend for more regular hygienist appointments to ensure that the implants stay free of plaque and calculus build up.

If you do not care for your implants properly there is a risk of developing gum disease, this can affect the stability of the implant and in the long term if left untreated can cause the implant to fail. This is why it is important to attend regularly for dental examinations so that any problem can be identified early and treated quickly.

At West Wickham Dental Practice we are able to offer high quality dental implants in Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington, Shirley and Croydon with Dr Anhaar Mohamedali, who has a special interest in dental implants and trained at The Cambridge Academy of Dental Implantology.

Call us on 0208 7761188 to book in for an implant consultation today and start your journey to the smile you desire.