![]() Tooth loss can occur due to a variety of reasons whether it be decay, gum disease or trauma and living with missing teeth can hugely effect your self-esteem and confidence and can lead to the inability to smile and live life to its full. Replacing missing teeth is actually more straight forward that you might think and it need not cost you the earth. There are now various options for replacing missing teeth and there is usually a solution to suit all needs and budgets. To find out more about the options for replacing missing teeth get in touch to arrange your no-obligation consultation.
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![]() A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape & appearance of a natural tooth. Why would I need a crown? Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken or have weakened by decay or a very large filling. A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, including: · you may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth. · you may have had a root filling which may need a crown to protect what is left of the tooth. · it may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place. What are the different types of crowns? Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are continually being introduced. Some of the most popular options are listed below: Porcelain bonded to precious metal– this is what most crowns are made from. A precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it. Porcelain– these are made entirely out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns but they can often look very natural and are most often used for front teeth All-ceramic– this modern technique offers a metal free alternative, which can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. Therefore it is suitable for use in all areas of the mouth. Gold Alloy– gold is one of the oldest filling materials, today it is used with other metal alloys to increase its strength, which makes it a very hardwearing restoration. These crowns are silver and gold in colour. What is involved? The dentist will prepare your tooth to the ideal shape for a crown by removing most of the outer surface, leaving a strong inner core. Once the tooth is shaped, impressions will be taken of your mouth. These impressions will then be sent to our laboratory where our technician will use them to construct the crown. Once we receive the completed crown from our laboratory we will arrange for the crown to be fitted. Once you and your dentist are happy with the fit and appearance of the new crown it will be fixed in place with special dental cement or adhesive. Does it hurt? No. A local anaesthetic is used while preparing the tooth which should feel no different to having a normal filling. How long does treatment take? You will need to have at least 2 visits, the first for preparation and impressions, shade taking and fitting of the temporary crown and the second for fitting of the new crown. There will be between 10—14 days between these 2 appointments. What will happen between visits? At the first appointment after the dentist has taken impressions, a temporary crown will be made and placed by your dentist so that you can use this tooth while you wait for the permanent crown to be made. Will the crown be noticeable? The crown will be made to match your other teeth as closely as possible. The shade of the neighbouring teeth will be recorded to make sure that the colour looks natural and matches surrounding teeth. What will it cost? The cost of a crown will depend upon the type of crown and material used as well as other factors. A full written estimate will be given by your dentist. What will happen if I don’t have a crown? Teeth that have been weakened by decay, injury or those that have been subject to large fillings are no-longer strong enough to cope with normal biting forces and will continue to breakdown and ultimately fracture if left untreated. Fractures will allow bacteria to enter the inner surfaces of the tooth causing an increased risk of decay and eventual tooth loss if left un-treated. For more information please call us on 01425 615080 or click here to send us a question. ![]() That moment when your child takes a knock to the face is a terrifying time but the best advice is to stay calm. If a baby tooth gets knocked out there is no real urgency to do anything except provide comfort and support to your child who will likely be very upset. Apply a cold compress to your child’s face to reduce any swelling and relieve pain. If there is any bleeding, have your child bite down on a clean cloth or a piece of gauze to apply pressure until the bleeding subsides. If your child appears to be in any pain you can give them the appropriate dose of child paracetamol or ibuprofen. Baby teeth are very small and can easily be ingested or inhaled if they come out. If you think your child has swallowed the tooth and is having breathing difficulties you should go straight to A & E, otherwise don’t worry about finding the tooth (unless you want it as a keepsake) as it will be of no use to the dentist. Baby teeth are not very deep rooted and your dentist is very unlikely to attempt to re-implant the tooth. A permanent tooth will be growing underneath and will eventually erupt to fill the space. If you are concerned or need any reassurance call your dentist. If an older child suffers a knock to the teeth and a permanent (adult) tooth is knocked out you should follow the same first aid advice above however you should try and find the tooth rinse it with milk, try to handle the tooth from the crown and avoid touching the root surfaces. DO NOT rinse the tooth with water or anything containing alcohol and don’t scrub the tooth to remove dirt. Once it has been rinsed try to put the tooth back in the socket and get the child to bite down on a clean cloth and make an emergency appointment with your dentist. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket you should store it in a small amount of milk or your child’s saliva until you can get to your dentist. If you find yourself in this situation and don’t know what to do, try to call your dental practice who should be able to give you advise over the phone. Living with crooked, misshapen or misaligned teeth can be really hard on your self esteem and confidence. The good news is that there are now quick, simple and affordable ways to get straight teeth! In this Guide.... We have put together this useful guide to help you find out what can be done to straighten teeth, what to expect from these treatments and how to find out which option is best for you. Why should I straighten my teeth? Having straight teeth isn’t all about the appearance, your health will benefit too! Straight teeth help us to effectively bite, chew and speak. Having straight teeth also allows us to effectively take care of our teeth and gums avoiding decay and gum disease. Oral health is scientifically linked to general health, gum disease is a marker and risk factor for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is also an increasing link between oral health and Alzheimer’s and dementia. Teeth that are well aligned tend to work better and teeth that work better tend to look better! An attractive smile is such a vital component of self-esteem and self confidence and those that have orthodontic treatment generally see the benefit of improved self-esteem and confidence as a result of treatment. Orthodontic treatment not only improves appearance, health and self-esteem, it is also common for patients to have more social, relationship and career success! I had braces as a child and my teeth have moved as the years have gone by...
One of the most common problems we see is that a patient had orthodontic treatment as a child but their teeth have relapsed. In this situation people often worry that there is little point going through orthodontic treatment again as the same thing will happen. This is not the case, any movement of the teeth has to be held in place using retention. As long as retention is used either through a fixed or removable retainer, the teeth will remain straight! How can teeth be straightened? We can straighten teeth by using:
Which option is best for me? In order to determine the best option for your own teeth you need to have an assessment with a dentist. Each treatment has its own suitability criteria and only a dentist can determine if you meet this criteria. Do your research on which dentist to see for this assessment, you want to know they are experienced in this field and that they can give you the best advice. Look for reviews and patient testimonials and look at the type of straightening treatments they can offer. BOOK A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PERFECT SMILE! CALL 01425 615080 or CLICK HERE TO START YOUR STRAIGHT TEETH JOURNEY TODAY. |
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