Dental Blog - Kings Dental Clinic

Time to brighten up that smile

Have you got a list of great events lined up this summer that you’ve had to buy wonderful new clothes for? Do you expect to be in a lot of selfies as well as those official photographs that can spend decades on people’s mantlepieces? Your clothes will look wonderful but are your teeth up to scratch, or will you be having to smile with your mouth closed so that your discolourations are not recorded for posterity?

That would be a great shame when getting teeth whitening in Hammersmith with your friendly team at Kings Dental Clinic is so easy. Teeth whitening is great for removing surface stains from tea, coffee, red wine, various berries and other highly pigmented food, as well as tobacco. If you’ve been going to the hygienist hoping to come out with all your staining removed and that hasn’t been the case, then come in for whitening.

How does teeth whitening work?

The active ingredient in teeth whitening gel is hydrogen peroxide, which as you can see from the chemical formula is water with an extra oxygen molecule. It’s been in use for about 200 years as a safe way to bleach things like clothes and hair and also as disinfectant. When it goes on stained teeth it works its way into the pores and gently lifts out stains, which are molecules of whatever it was you ingested built up over the years.

We offer two kinds of whitening here in Kings Dental Clinic. If time is of the essence, you can have your whitening done in the dental chair in an appointment that takes about an hour. We protect your gums and lips with plastic barriers and brush the gel onto your teeth. It is activated by a lamp and you just relax until the bleaching has reached the shade you require.

You can also do teeth whitening at home using a milder gel, which you put into custom-made tooth trays and wear for a few hours each day. This way takes about two weeks, but the plus is you now have trays that you can use for top-up treatments.

Dental phobia explained

When you think about visiting the dentist, what is your immediate reaction? Do you feel like it’s a necessary chore? Or do you have a level of anxiety? If it’s the latter, you are not alone. There are many patients who feel concern over visiting the dentist. Of these, a number experience dental phobia, which can be debilitating and can spill over into other areas of life. At Kings Dental Clinic Hammersmith, dental phobia is something we help patients with regularly.

How can dental phobia affect your life?

People who suffer from dental phobia generally avoid the dentist. This avoidance behaviour can mean that they restrict their life experiences so that they do not do anything that has a chance of affecting their teeth. Some people experience a fear of anything going in or near their mouth due to associations with dental treatment.

Often, someone with dental phobia is eventually forced to go to the dentist due to a problem with their teeth. This happens quite frequently because they don’t have a long-term relationship with a dentist who is monitoring their oral health and stopping any problems getting to an advanced stage. When they eventually have to go, it is a very difficult experience for them that can be accompanied by any number of symptoms including sweating, panic attacks, shortness of breath, high blood pressure and so on.

How can we help?

At Kings Dental Clinic, we encourage you to act now if you have dental phobia. We can support you during a visit to the dentist. It is easier if you can face the issue without additional dental issues getting in the way. We do what we can to adapt the environment at our practice to make you more comfortable. We have an open dialogue with you, so we can understand your needs and give you the information you need to feel in control. You may also be able to take advantage of extra sedation methods for some procedures. Once you start having easier experiences at the dentist, you may find that you are able to get past your fear completely. Visiting the dentist can then become an empowering situation for you.

Make time for your teeth

Do you find that your lifestyle is so that busy that you can actually forget to look after your teeth? If that seems to be the case and you neglect brushing your teeth regularly, it is important to remind yourself of the impact that it will have on your oral health. Set an alarm, treat it as a ritual or do whatever it takes to dedicate a small amount of time to teeth that can be white, fresh and ready to smile.

Oral Health in Hammersmith At Kings Dental Clinic, we find that check-ups are useful for our patients. We are able to advise them on what the best hygiene routine might be for them, discussing the diets, tooth brushes and mouthwash. Once you know all about it, you can do it! Maintaining constantly good oral health is simply part of the morning and nightly routines, alongside the familiarities of taking a shower, eating breakfast and going to sleep.

Healthy means happy

In Hammersmith, oral health may be on your mind if you are starting to notice problems with your teeth. Poor oral health can lead to complications like gum disease and tooth decay. If it gets to the point where someone calls you out on bad breath or overly-stained teeth, that’s when you know something needs to be done. By coming to us as early as possible, our dentists can work to prevent further issues from arising, such as gingivitis.

Daily habits such as smoking can cause a fair bit of damage to your oral health, which is why our practice offers support to inform you of the risks and help you quit if you desire. In stopping smoking, your oral health would benefit greatly and give you the chance to have a long-lasting grin.

Our dentists at Kings Dental Clinic provide a range of treatments that work to both treat and prevent oral diseases in your mouth. Dental hygiene treatment involves a vigorous clean of the teeth, scaling and polishing to restore teeth ridden with plaque. While it may seem tedious, it’s so beneficial and the dentist will advise you on brushing techniques and how to get the most out of your floss!

Not just cosmetic

The dentistry profession talks about cosmetic orthodontics like getting your teeth straightened was simply a matter of looking better, but the truth is that straight teeth tend to stay stronger and healthier for longer.

Here at Kings Dental Clinic, the reason we talk about cosmetic orthodontics in Hammersmith is because people with mild to moderate misalignments will be able to eat and speak okay without being in great pain. But even if this is so, if you have crowded or crossing teeth, there are all sorts of nooks and crannies in which plaque can build up. And that’s the last thing you want because plaque is what ruins your teeth and gums. Plaque is the name for that sticky layer that builds up on your teeth. If you smeared some on a microscope you’d be able to see thousands of bacteria, feeding on the sugars in your mouth and giving off acid.

Your mouth on acid

It’s the acid that does the damage. It eats away at the protective coating of enamel on your teeth. If it makes a hole, the next thing that happens is that bacteria can in through the hole and start eating away at the dentin and pulp inside. This is what dental decay is. Fixing it requires filling, or if it doesn’t get fixed, infection can follow, which can lead to root canal therapy, or even extraction.

As well as decay, the acid from plaque is responsible for gum disease. This starts off with inflammation of the gums, but when it pulls away from the teeth to form pockets, the acid can start to attack the bone underneath, and this can loosen your teeth in their sockets and they may even have to be removed. Advanced gum disease is very hard to get rid of. Best not to get it in the first place.

Cosmetic braces

Braces that are designed to correct mild to moderate misalignments are generally smaller and more discreet. Some are even as good as invisible. They tend to use gentler forces and because the teeth don’t need to move all that much to straighten up, treatment can take from a matter of weeks to a few months.

Take control of your oral health with a full mouth rehabilitation in Hammersmith

Patients who have sustained extensive damage to their mouth due to an accident or other causes, can now take advantage of a full mouth rehabilitation. This holistic treatment involves the individual recreation of each tooth in the mouth where the enamel is worn, broken, extensively decayed or simply missing. Patients who opt for a full mouth rehabilitation either want to enhance their look or simply want to improve the quality of their life.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation in Hammersmith At Kings Dental Clinic in Hammersmith, a full mouth rehabilitation will help you restore your smile using durable materials. Our well-educated and highly experienced dentists will examine your teeth and gums thoroughly and create a unique treatment plan for your individual needs. Your customised treatment plan will allow you to restore health, beauty, and function to your mouth in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible.

What does the process involve?

The ultimate goal of a full mouth rehabilitation treatment is to properly align the jaw in a stable position through the rebuilding of damaged and missing teeth. The process starts with a thorough examination of the mouth, including the jawbone, and may include taking x-ryas of your teeth. During your consultation appointment, you will also discuss your individual dental problems as well as the treatment options available to restore the functionality of your bite.

Depending on your individual case, treatment may involve the use of veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures or dental implants. In many cases, removable orthotic splints are used at first to evaluate changes in your bite and assure that everything is carefully planned before proceeding to the final treatment. The length of treatment time depends on the individual needs and clinical requirements of each patient.

Overall, a full mouth reconstruction requires multiple dental visits and some amount of healing time between treatments. Our dentists will work closely with you to determine which procedure or combination of procedures is necessary to restore and rebuild your smile.

Get in touch

To learn more about a full mouth rehabilitation and how it can enhance your smile, give our surgery a call today and we will book a consultation appointment for you.

Prosthodontics: the science and art of replacing missing teeth

Even the loss of one tooth affects your other teeth, your jaw, and even your overall health eventually. Firstly, its corresponding tooth on the opposing jaw no longer has anything to bite against. Secondly, it can destabilise your other teeth, which can start to drift, tip into the gap and maybe even fall out.

At Kings Dental in Hammersmith, we have seen what can result from one lost tooth, and we always recommend getting a replacement for your missing tooth.

Prosthodontics in Hammersmith

Prosthodontics in Hammersmith Dentistry has long been concerned with replacing missing teeth. Prosthodontics is the name of the branch of dentistry that focuses on artificial replacements for missing teeth. There are several kinds to choose from these days, thanks to advances in dental research. You can choose between a fixed or removable replacement for the crown, or a replacement for both root and crown.

The fixed bridge

There are several kinds of bridges. The traditional bridges involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic (replacement tooth) in between. The most common type of bridge is made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics. We use cantilever bridges if you only have teeth on one side of the gap. Maryland bonded bridges (also called a resin-bonded bridge or a Maryland bridge) are made of plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal framework. Metal wings on each side of the bridge are bonded to your existing teeth. Bridges can last 5 — 15 years, depending on how well you take care of them.

Dentures

Dentures (or false teeth) are removable replacements for missing teeth. They tend to be made of either acrylic or porcelain for the crowns. They rely on suction to the gums for support for chewing. Complete dentures are used to replace all the teeth, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

Dental implants

Dental implants are inserted into the jaw. They are titanium posts or screws onto which we attach single or several teeth. They can replace dentures, or be used to stabilise dentures. They are not available on the NHS. When looked after, they can last a lifetime.

Getting root canals in Hammersmith – common questions and answers

Root canal treatment refers to the treatment of the interior of the tooth. It is necessary when the soft tissue (also known as the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: tooth decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, faulty crowns, or a crack and chips on the tooth enamel are the most common.

More importantly, tooth trauma caused by an accident can also lead to pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible damage. If pulp infection is left untreated, it can cause severe pain and tooth loss.

Root Canal Therapy in Hammersmith At Kings Dental Clinic, we performed root canals in Hammersmith and we appreciate that if you have never experienced this type of treatment before, you probably have questions. Our experienced dentists are here to guide you through the procedure.

What is a root canal treatment?

During a root canal treatment, the tooth pulp and tooth roots are thoroughly cleaned to remove bacteria and other micro-organisms that cause infection. The bacteria and infected tissue remains are removed from the pulp and roots using special needles and chemical substances. Your teeth are then sealed with a filling or a crown for extra protection. Root canal treatment is necessary when the tooth pulp has become infected or when the infection has spread to the roots or jawbone.

When is a root canal treatment not possible?

Root canal treatment is performed when severe tooth decay or trauma has damaged a tooth that is worth preserving. It may not be a suitable treatment option if the tooth is badly damaged. In this case, it may need to be removed.

Which factors affect the outcome of root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is usually performed in order to treat an infected tooth. The treatment is considered successful when the infection disappears and the function of the tooth is restored. Factors that may influence the successful outcome of root canal treatment include your overall health, the extent of the bacteria present in the pulp of the tooth and the structure of the roots canals. Sometimes, tooth roots are partially or completely solidified, making it challenging to clean the root canal.

A long-lasting solution to missing teeth

When you have a problem to fix, you really want a solution that is not going to have to be fixed itself later on. Finding permanent solutions is pretty much impossible. However, finding one that has you thinking ‘job done’ when it’s sorted, rather than ‘job done for a few years, and then I’ll have to do it again’, is what most of us are after.

Dental Implants in Hammersmith Whether it’s fixing the gaps in the roof, or the gaps in your teeth, a permanent solution is always going to be preferable to a temporary one. That’s why thatch went out of favour, and why dental implants are fast becoming the preferred way to replace missing teeth.

You see, dentures and bridges might be great for a few years, but they wear out and have to be replaced, usually somewhere between every 5–10 years. Unless you are in your early 80s, or want to live fast and die young, then dental implants could well end up being comparable in price to dentures and bridges.

The success rate of dental implants is very high at about 98%, and, as long as you take good care of them with twice-daily, diligent flossing and brushing to prevent plaque, they should last you for the rest of your life.

This is a good choice if you are fairly young and an accident, grinding, decay or infection have caused you to lose a tooth or two. You only need one implant to support up to three crowns in a row. You can expect it to still be going strong 30 or 40 years later, when you turn up at the pearly gates with your pearly whites in place.

As dental implants in Hammersmith from us at Kings Dental Clinic replace the root of the tooth, you also get to hang onto your magnificent jaw. You may not know that losing teeth leads to losing your jawbone, but, sadly, it’s true. Implants stimulate the jawbone cells to renew themselves. With neither tooth root nor implant, the jawbone thinks it’s no longer in use and dissolves itself. With implants, you get to eat whatever you fancy and stay younger-looking longer.

How stopping smoking will help your oral health

Even though the number of smokers in the UK has dropped to its lowest point, one in six Brits are still smokers. Cigarette sales have been collapsing in the UK for a long time now, but it’s still important to stress the damage that smoking does to your oral health.

There is a long history of studies that have shown that smoking has a detrimental effect on your teeth and gums as well as the rest of your body. Many studies have noted how smoking is a leading cause of gum disease, which, in turn, is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults, along with tooth decay.

Help with quitting smoking

There is a lot of help out there for people who want to give up smoking. It can be an extremely hard task, especially with the stresses of modern life. Here at Kings Dental Clinic, we try to help as much as we can when it comes to quitting smoking.

In regular check-ups, we advise and encourage smoking cessation in Hammersmith. Our support can come in the form of advice and suggestions on ways to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke, with the aim of quitting altogether.

We can suggest nicotine products that may help and give advice on the best ways to use them to reach your goals.

What effects does smoking have on my oral health?

Smoking has lots of effects on your oral health. Tobacco actually affects the gum tissue cells, making them more prone to infections from gum diseases. Gum diseases affect three out of every four adults over the age of 35 in the UK and 50% of gum disease is caused by smoking, so it’s a problem that needs attention.

Gum disease isn’t something that just happens in later life. More than half of the teenagers in the UK have some kind of gum disease.

Another huge issue that smoking brings is mouth cancer, which affects thousands of people every year.

Quitting smoking is better for so many aspects of your life and there is plenty of help out there, so why not start your journey today?

Strengthen and restore your teeth with dental crowns in Hammersmith

One’s smile is one of the first things we notice about a person’s appearance. People with a big, bright smile are naturally magnetic and personable. Unfortunately, if you have broken, cracked, or missing teeth, you might be unwilling to smile. Luckily, cosmetic dentistry can help you restore and transform your smile with dental crowns.

Dental Crowns in Hammersmith At Kings Dental Clinic, we use dental crowns to preserve and protect your teeth while restoring the appearance of your smile. Dental crowns are strong and durable and, in most cases, they look just like natural teeth. There are a number of materials that may be used for the creation of dental crowns: porcelain, ceramic, stainless steel, and resin. Your dentist will be the one to determine which type is best for your specific issue, though porcelain crowns are the most common since they combine maximum function and aesthetics.

What to expect

A dental crown installation will usually require two separate visits to the dentist. On your first visit, your dentist will examine the affected tooth and determine whether or not it can support a crown. If your tooth can support a crown, they will start filing it down to prepare it. If your tooth is significantly damaged, your dentist may need to add a filling as well. Crowns function like caps over the teeth, therefore it is really important that the tooth is prepared in the right shape. Once the preparation is completed, your dentist will take an impression and send it to the dental lab, where your permanent crown will be made. You will also be fitted in with a temporary crown until you receive your final crown.

When your permanent crown is ready, you will visit the dentist for the last part of the process. They will remove the temporary crown and position and secure the new one on your tooth with a special kind of adhesive. It will take some time for you to adjust to this new fixture, but eventually, you will get used to the permanent crown. Over time, your dental crown should look, function, and feel just like the rest of your teeth.