Dental Blog - Kings Dental Clinic

Using cosmetic dentistry for the perfect smile

Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of the profession that deals with the aesthetic appearance of your smile. Many people are unhappy with some aspect of how their smile looks. At King’s Dental Clinic we offer a wide range of cosmetic dental options to suit all needs and budgets.

cosmetic dentistry Some people know exactly what they would like to change about their smile, and what treatment they need to do it. Others just know they are unhappy with their smile but are unsure which treatment or combination of treatments is the best way to improve it.

We invite anyone interested in cosmetic dentistry to come in for a consultation at our Hammersmith or Southwark dental practices. Our skilled clinicians will carefully examine your teeth and gums and will also take your whole facial structure into consideration before recommending the best treatments to help you get the perfect smile.

You may benefit from one treatment or a combination of two or more from our comprehensive cosmetic dentistry menu.

Treatment options include:

Porcelain veneers

Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain placed over the front surfaces of the teeth to improve their appearance. A single veneer can cover a permanently stained or discoloured tooth, while a full set can create a smile makeover, covering gaps and mild alignment problems and giving teeth a more uniform appearance.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening uses special bleaching products to gently remove everyday stains from your teeth. It is safe when carried out by a dentist and can be done here at the practice or at home.

Gummy smile correction

Removing excess gum tissue to give your teeth a more uniform appearance, leaving you with more tooth than gum on show when you smile.

Discreet orthodontics

Correct the alignment of your teeth discreetly and quickly with a range of cosmetic orthodontic options.

Facial aesthetics and removing wrinkles

Feeling good about your appearance means more than just being confident about your smile. That’s why at King’s Dental Clinic in Hammersmith, we offer a range of facial aesthetics treatments to help combat the lines and wrinkles that appear as we get older. These treatments are quick, non-surgical and safe.

What causes premature ageing of the skin?

Many factors are involved in premature skin ageing. These include:

* Excessive exposure to the sun.

Spending a lot of time in the sun without using protection leads to wrinkles and thinner skin, and can also damage the vital skin proteins elastin and collagen. This is usually most noticeable on the face and hands, which are usually exposed to the sun more than the rest of the body.

* Not drinking enough water.

Good hydration is important for your skin. If you don’t drink enough water and become dehydrated, this can show on the skin of your face.

* Dietary factors.

Not eating a balanced diet and drinking too much alcohol or coffee (which have dehydrating effects) and affect the appearance of your skin.

* Smoking.

As well as being generally bad for you, smoking prevents oxygen from entering the skin cells, and is a common cause of lines around the mouth – known as “smoker’s lines” – thanks to repeat inhalation.

Treatment options

Facial aesthetics treatment helps to combat the signs of premature ageing safely and without the need for surgery. Our practitioners are experienced and fully qualified to deliver facial aesthetics treatments. Dental professionals also have the added advantage of expert knowledge of facial anatomy and structure, meaning they can deliver just the right amount of treatment for a natural-looking result.

At King’s Dental Clinic Hammersmith we offer:

Botulinum Toxin
Dermal Fillers
Thread Lift
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Mesotherapy
Whitebox treatment

The best treatment will depend on your individual wants, needs and circumstances. Your first step should be to book a facial aesthetics consultation with our experienced practitioner, who will establish your needs and draw up a customised treatment plan.

Replacing a single missing tooth with Dental Implants

There are many reasons patients lose a tooth. Accidents and injuries, tooth decay and gum disease can all lead to tooth loss. Particularly if the tooth is near the front of your mouth, this can have a serious impact on your self-confidence. A lost tooth can also affect your ability to bite and chew food, potentially restricting your diet.

At King’s Dental Clinic we would always recommend replacing a missing tooth. If you don’t, remaining teeth may become crooked as they move into any gaps, potentially becoming more difficult to clean and increasing the chances of further dental health problems developing. One of the most popular ways to replace a missing tooth is by using dental implants.

Dental implants are small titanium screws that your dentist places in your jaw bone during a minor surgical procedure. They integrate with the bone and act as replacements for the root part of a missing tooth.

Many patients at our Southwark and Hammersmith dental practices report that this is more tolerable than having a tooth extracted, and in most cases it can be carried out under local anaesthetic. We do also offer implant treatment under sedation for patients who are nervous or dental phobic. Our principal dentist has many years of experience using relaxation sedation to help nervous patients get treatment.

To replace one missing tooth with a dental implant, your dentist will usually attach a crown to the implant, replacing the visible part of your tooth. Once your implant has been placed, there is usually a healing period of a few months before your final, permanent crown is attached. This crown will be carefully matched to the colour of your natural teeth, ensuring a highly realistic result.

Your new, implant-secured tooth will look and act just like a natural tooth. With proper care your implant will last for many years – a lifetime in some cases.

Orthodontic treatments that are totally invisible

If you dream of straightening your teeth but are put off by the prospect of wearing traditional metal braces, you may be interested in invisible orthodontics. Wanting orthodontic treatment but not wanting to wear “train-track” braces is a common conundrum for adults, who fear the impact that metal braces may have on their professional and social life may outweigh the benefits of teeth straightening treatment.

orthodontic treatments At King’s Dental Clinic we are keen to point out that straighter teeth are healthier teeth. Crooked and crowded teeth don’t only make people embarrassed to smile in public; they are also more difficult to clean effectively, increasing the chances of further dental problems such as decay or gum disease because food particles and bacteria can become trapped between the teeth. This increases the risk of plaque build-up.

To help patients who want to straighten their teeth discreetly, we offer invisible orthodontics at our Hammersmith and Southwark dental practices. Invisible orthodontics comprises a range of devices that can correct many orthodontic problems without anybody knowing you are having treatment.

As well as straightening your teeth and aligning your jaws in a way that is invisible to the untrained eye, many of these discreet orthodontic devices also have quicker treatment times than standard braces – meaning you could be showing off your new smile sooner than you think!

Some of the devices we use are removable, meaning you can take them out to eat and drink, to brush your teeth and to clean. This means that your diet won’t be restricted during treatment, and you won’t have to worry about struggling to brush around your braces.

Others apply the traditional principles of orthodontics, using brackets and wires to move your teeth gently into their new position, with one major difference – the brackets and wires are tooth-coloured or clear, meaning that they blend in to your smile.

Nervous patients and dental phobia

Many patients are nervous about visiting the dentist. In fact, fear of the dentist is the main reason adults in the UK give for missing regular dental check-ups – above worries about cost or lack of time.

nervous patients and dental phobia At King’s Dental Clinic our principal dentist has more than 15 years of experience in treating nervous patients. Our Hammersmith and Southwark practices are Dental Phobic registered, and we have a number of options available for nervous and phobic patients. Our caring, compassionate, experienced team is happy to discuss treatment options with you to help you get the treatment you need and the smile you deserve.

There are many causes of fear of the dentist, from bad past experiences to a fear of not being in control, embarrassment about the condition of your teeth if you have not seen a dentist in years to fear of specific triggers including needles or the sound of the drill.

Fear of the dentist can range from mild anxiety to full-blown phobia. Any level of fear can prevent you from seeking treatment, ironically leading to an increased risk of painful dental conditions, complications and the need for more invasive procedures.

We will always take your fears seriously and will do everything we can to put your mind at ease. Our empathic team will take the time to try to establish the cause of your fear, so that we can work with you to overcome it. We will never be judgemental; if you haven’t seen a dentist for many years because of nervousness, all we want to do is to help you get your smile and your oral health back.

Our principal dentist is also fully qualified to perform relaxation sedation, and has carried out more than 6,000 procedures using this type of sedation.

We use happy air – a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen – to inhale through a small mask. This will make you feel very relaxed and, while you are not asleep and will be able to cooperate with your dentist, your nerves will subside and you will be comfortable during treatment. Unlike other types of sedation, relaxation sedation wears off quickly when you stop inhaling the gas, meaning you will be able to drive yourself home a short time after treatment.

What are fast orthodontics?

Straighter teeth are healthier teeth. A properly aligned bite and straighter teeth mean that there are not so many gaps for food particles to get trapped in. These trapped food particles can increase the build-up of plaque and bacteria on your teeth, leading to decay and gum disease. When teeth are gappy and crooked, these areas can be problematic to clean, even with a prudent dental hygiene regime. That’s why at King’s Dental Clinic we always recommend patients consider straightening their teeth.

orthodotics We also know that many adult patients who would like to straighten their teeth are put off by the long treatment times associated with traditional orthodontics, as well as with the thought of having to wear conventional metal braces for any length of time.

Orthodontics has evolved somewhat in recent years. Now, in many cases, it is possible to straighten your teeth both quickly and discreetly, with the help of fast orthodontics.

One of the most popular fast orthodontic options at our Southwark and Hammersmith dental practices is Six Month Smiles.

Six Month Smiles are a thoroughly modern type of brace that can be used to correct a wide range of mild to moderate cosmetic orthodontic problems. They are renowned for their quick treatment times – six months is the average, in some cases your treatment may be complete sooner. Six Month Smiles work so quickly because they only focus on the front six to eight teeth – those that are visible when you smile.

They work in a similar way to traditional braces, using wires and brackets to move your teeth gently into a more desirable position. However, they have another advantage over traditional braces: the brackets are clear and the wires are tooth-coloured, which means they blend in with your teeth and will not be immediately obvious.

To find out more about how Six Month Smiles can help you, please get in touch with us today.

Using invisible braces for straighter teeth

Many adults would like straighter teeth, but are put off by the thought of wearing conventional train-track style braces. Braces remain the best and most predictable way to straighten teeth, but at King’s Dental Clinic we understand that traditional braces may not be compatible with busy personal and professional lives. That’s why we offer a number of treatments using invisible braces.

invisible braces As if being invisible to the untrained eye wasn’t enough, these types of braces also often have much-reduced treatment times (depending on the type and amount of correction required in each individual case).

Among our most popular invisible brace options at our Hammersmith and Southwark dental practices are Six Month Smiles. These can correct a wide range of cosmetic orthodontic problems and, as the name suggests, they have an average treatment time of just six months. As well as meaning you will only have to wear your braces for a short period, this type of treatment can be better for your overall oral health because braces can be difficult to clean around, requiring regular visits to the hygienist.

Six Month Smiles use clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires, meaning they are very discreet and will not be immediately noticeable.

As well as Six Month Smiles, we offer a number of removable devices to straighten teeth, also known as clear aligners. These devices are made to fit your teeth precisely, and can be used to correct a wide range of orthodontic problems.

Removable aligners have minimal impact on your lifestyle, because you can take them out to eat and drink, to brush your teeth and to clean, helping you to maintain good dental hygiene for the duration of treatment.

Among the aligners we offer at King’s Dental Clinic is the Inman Aligner, which is a single device that can correct mild to moderate issues with alignment, crowding and rotation of the teeth quickly and safely. Other clear brace systems comprise a system of aligners that you change every two weeks or so as your teeth move.

Teeth Whitening for a brighter smile

If you are embarrassed about stained or discoloured teeth, now could be the perfect time to give them a brightness boost. Teeth whitening treatment, when carried out by a dentist, is a fast, safe and effective way to add some sparkle to your smile.

Depending on the option you choose, teeth whitening can take from two weeks to just one hour. It’s the perfect way to improve your smile before a special occasion – a job interview, business presentation or, as it’s Valentine’s month, a special date.

At King’s Dental’s Southwark and Hammersmith practices, our skilled cosmetic dentists offer two options for teeth whitening treatment: home whitening and in-practice power whitening. The best option for you will depend on your individual needs, preferences and budget – your cosmetic dentist will talk you through both options at your teeth whitening consultation.

Option 1: Power whitening

Power whitening takes place here at the dental practice. Your dentist will protect your lips and gums with a barrier and will place special whitening gel on your teeth. A lamp is used to activate the bleaching process – all you need to do is sit back and relax for an hour. When treatment is complete your teeth will look several shades brighter.

Option 2: Home whitening

Your dentist will create special light-weight plastic trays that will fit your teeth precisely. You need to put a small amount of whitening gel in the trays and wear them overnight at home for approximately two weeks. The result will be a brighter, whiter smile.

Remember that teeth whitening should only be carried out on the direction of a qualified dentist. Products available online or on the high street are unregulated and unreliable – unlike products offered by dentists, which are tried, tested and safe.

Replacing missing teeth with Dental Implants

Dental implants are an increasingly popular way for patients to replace missing teeth. As the population in general lives longer, more and more people are looking for a reliable, permanent way to replace their natural teeth. In many cases, dental implants are the perfect solution.

At King’s Dental Clinic in Hammersmith and Southwark, our skilled implant dentists have helped many patients of all ages to restore their smiles with dental implants.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a small titanium screw that your dentist will place directly in your jaw bone using a minor surgical procedure. Titanium is very compatible with the human body, and a huge advantage of implants is that they are osteoconductive – promoting bone growth and integrating directly with the bone. This means that they provide a firm support for new teeth in the form of crowns, dentures or bridges, acting as they do like bionic tooth roots.

Who can have dental implants?

The good news is that these days most people are suitable for implant treatment. Thanks to advances in technology and techniques, our implant dentists at King’s Dental Clinic are now able to treat even complex implant cases.

Patients who have suffered bone loss may need bone augmentation or a sinus lift before implants are placed. This helps to regenerate your jaw bone so that it is strong enough to support dental implants. Smoking can hinder the success of dental implant treatment, so we always recommend patients consult our smoking cessation service before starting treatment.

Removing stains from teeth

Our teeth are easily stained by the foods and drinks we consume (coffee, tea and red wine are common culprits), by cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking, and by some medicines and medicated mouthwashes. As we get older, our teeth also often lose their natural sheen.

removing stains from teeth At King’s Dental Clinic we have helped many happy patients to remove stains from their teeth. It’s an excellent, hassle-free way to boost the appearance of your smile before a special occasion.

Regular visits to the hygienist will help to keep stains at bay. A professional scale and polish helps to remove even stubborn plaque that can discolour the teeth. You should visit the hygienist twice a year for a professional tooth clean.

To give your smile an extra boost, you may be interested in teeth whitening treatment. This is an excellent way to remove even stubborn stains and give your teeth a brighter, whiter appearance. Depending on which option you choose, you could have a dazzling, stain-free smile in just one hour.

At King’s Dental Clinic we offer two options for teeth whitening treatment to remove stains: home whitening and power whitening here in the comfort of our practice.

Home teeth whitening

This option uses whitening gel and custom-made whitening trays to gently whiten your teeth over a period of about a fortnight. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth so that your trays can be made to fit precisely. You need to put a small amount of whitening gel in the trays and wear them overnight or for short periods during the day for approximately two weeks.

Power teeth whitening

Power whitening takes place here in the comfort of our dental practice. All you need to do is sit back and relax while your dentist shields your lips and gums and carefully applies whitening gel to your teeth. A special light is used to activate the gel. This option takes approximately one hour, after which your teeth will be brighter and stain free.