Are Dental Implants The Right Choice For You?

It’s true that in the last decade, dental implants in Richmond and indeed many other parts of the country have exploded in popularity. This is partly because of the awareness of the long-term benefits that they can bring, and also because of the multitude of clinics that now offer this service. After all, they’re considered to be the most natural looking form of teeth replacement that modern dentistry allows, but are they right for you? Let’s take a look.

Fear factor

The issue is that dental implants aren’t for everyone. Firstly (and unlike any other form of tooth replacement) they require a surgical procedure. Although the procedure itself is pain-free, for those who suffer from any kind of dental anxiety, it might be the catalyst that prevents them from having implants. That said, most dental clinics have a variety of sedation techniques to deal specifically with nervous or anxious patients. Therefore, if you do suffer with dental anxiety, it might be worth speaking to the implant clinic to see how they can help, before you dismiss it completely.

Bone grafting

For any long-term denture wearers or those who have suffered with missing teeth, there’s a strong chance that they will have incurred a loss of bone. This is a natural process that happens over a period of time when a tooth is lost. The issue is that for a dental implant to be successful, it has to be placed into sufficient or healthy bone. The good news is that it doesn’t mean that those with missing bone aren’t eligible. Instead they might have to go through a bone grafting procedure which builds up the bone around the area before an implant can be successfully attached. The downside is that it’s another surgical process that adds time, cost and inconvenience to the overall procedure, so potential patients will need to consider whether the above outweighs the chance to have great looking permanent teeth that should last for many years to come.

Smokers

If you smoke, then you’ll need to make some sacrifices in order to undergo treatment for a dental implant in Richmond. More often than not this means quitting. Smoking can cause problems to newly placed dental implants and this is why some dental surgeons won’t place implants into those who continue to smoke. The bottom line is that if you don’t think that you can quit (at least for the duration of the process and the recovery period, usually 6-9 months) then there are other non-surgical tooth replacement methods that are better suited.

Cost

Finally there’s no getting away from the fact that dental implants are initially more expensive, especially when you compare them to other forms of tooth replacement. However if you look at the long-term, a well-fitting dental implant that’s been looked after can last 2-5 times as long as any other form of tooth replacement and in some respects this can be a lifetime. Therefore when it comes to value for money, there really is nothing better.

If you lead a relatively healthy lifestyle and have no underlying oral or medical problems, then dental implants in Richmond can and have changed lives. If you are curious, then contact Sheen Dental on 020 8876 5277 and book yourself a free, no-obligation consultation. Here you can get all your questions and concerns answered, enabling you to make a truly informed dental decision. Alternatively, why not visit our website at www.sheendental.co.uk where you can find a wealth of information to help.

By sheendental.

Source: http://goo.gl/PcTuHi 

Nine things you should know about looking after your own oral health

The Dental Helpline takes more than 10,000 calls every year from those who have questions or concerns about their mouth and oral health.  The free-to-call helpline, run by the British Dental Health Foundation, has seen a steady upsurge in calls over the last two years and answers questions on a wealth of oral health related issues.

In a new three-part series, the charity has taken a look at some of the most frequently asked questions to the Dental Helpline, so that we can learn what it takes to keep our mouth healthy.

In the first part of the series the British Dental Health Foundation address some of the most common questions they get asked about what you can do to look after your own oral health.

There are many aspects to looking after our oral health and it can often be confusing what advice we should listen to and what to ignore. Looking after our mouth doesn't have to be difficult, expensive or time-consuming, in fact it can be very easy.

So to make things a little clearer here is some advice to help you keep your smile healthy:

1) How often should I visit the dentist? 

How often you need to visit the dentist depends on your own oral health. You may need to visit at different intervals depending on aspects such as if you have any existing oral health problems, your age and other health issues.

As a rule of thumb you should visit the dentist as often as they recommend so discuss this with your your dentist.

2) When is the best time to brush my teeth?

Did you know that there are times when you shouldn't brush your teeth? For example, you should not brush your tooth within an hour of eating or drinking anything acidic.

You should brush your teeth before you go to bed and at least one other time each day with a fluoride toothpaste.

3) What toothbrush should I be using?

Choosing the best toothbrush for you can be a potential minefield, everybody will have their own requirements. Adults should look to use a small to medium-sized brush head with soft to rounded nylon bristles and there are bushes which are specifically designed for children and the elderly.

Electric toothbrushes, those with the oscillating and rotating heads, can also be very effective and are helpful for people with mobility problems.

Your dentist will know exactly what you need and be able to help you make the right decision.

4) Which toothpaste is best for me? 

There are many types of toothpaste on the market, choosing the best one for you can sometimes be confusing.

The most important thing is that your toothpaste contains the correct amount of fluoride, 1350 parts per million for children over three and adults,1000 parts per million under three. But you may have other specific needs due to tooth sensitivity, gum health or your age. Your dentist will be able to advise what is best for you based on your individual requirements.

5) How does my diet affect my oral health?

What you eat and drink can have a huge impact upon your oral health.

Sugary and acidic food can cause damage including tooth decay and dental erosion if you don't look after your oral health properly. Try to keep sugary foods or drinks just to mealtimes, limiting the amount of time your mouth is at risk. Each time you have sugar it takes your teeth an hour to recover from the acid attack caused.

A diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh fruit and vegetables can help to prevent gum disease so make sure you keep an eye on what you are eating.

6) How often should I clean between my teeth?

Ideally you should clean between your teeth at least once a day, only brushing your teeth cleans just two thirds of the tooth surface so you need to do a little extra to make sure you are reaching all of the tooth. Cleaning in between your teeth removes plaque and bits of food from areas a toothbrush simply can't reach.

You can clean between your teeth with an ‘interdental' brush or dental floss. You can also use dental tape which is thicker than floss and many people find easier to use. Your dental team can show you proper interdental cleaning techniques and products to ensure you're doing it effectively.

7) Should I use mouthwash?

Mouthwash offers many benefits to your oral health if used properly; some contain anti-bacterial ingredients which help reduce plaque and prevent gum disease. Some mouthwashes contain fluoride which is important in the helping to prevent tooth decay.

Do not use mouthwash too close to brushing your teeth as it can wash away the fluoride from brushing.

If you find that you have to keep using mouthwash to hide bad breath you should see your dentist. Persistent bad breath can be a sign of unhealthy teeth and gums or of poor general health.

8) How bad is smoking for my oral health?

Most people are very aware that smoking is bad for their health. It can cause huge medical problems and, in some cases, fatal diseases.

However, many people don't realise the full extent to which smoking damages their mouth, gums and teeth.

Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and in more severe cases mouth cancer. Smokers lose more teeth than non smokers.

If you are a smoker it is likely that you will have to visit your dentist and hygienists more often to keep a close check on the health of your mouth.

9) Where can I find information about how to look after my oral health?

Your oral health does not stop the moment you step out of the dentist, be sure you understand what you can do every day to make sure you keep your oral health in tip top condition. Your dental team can offer guidance and support from many other services and can refer you if you need extra help.

You shouldn't be afraid to ever ask any question relating to your oral health, if you do need any further advice then you should contact the British Dental Health Foundation's Dental Helpline on 01788 539 780, or online at www.dentalhealth.org/dental-helpline, who will be able to offer free impartial advice.

Source: British Dental Health Foundation 

New Oral-B intelligent toothbrushing system tracks brushing in real time

The Oral-B GENIUS is the successor of Oral-B's Bluetooth® connected electric toothbrush that was introduced in 2014. It gives users real time feedback about their brushing habit. (Photograph: Oral-B)

by Dental Tribune International

BARCELONA, Spain: At this year’s Mobile World Congress, which was held in Barcelona from 22 to 25 February, Oral-B unveiled Oral-B GENIUS, the first of its kind and the company’s most intelligent brushing system to date. It uses innovative Position Detection Technology, which combines cutting-edge motion sensor technology in the brush and video recognition using a smartphone’s camera, to track areas being brushed and helps users more thoroughly clean areas that are commonly missed.

Over time, brushing incorrectly can result in oral health issues, such as tooth decay and even early tooth loss. With Oral-B GENIUS, users are able to actively monitor their brushing routine, as they receive instant feedback on the brushing of each zone of the mouth via Oral-B App 4.1, including guidance on pressure applied and brushing duration.

According to Oral-B’s P&G Motion Tracking Study, up to 80 per cent of people spend insufficient time brushing in at least one zone in their mouth and 60 per cent of people either do not brush their back molars at all or spent insufficient time brushing them. Paired with Oral-B App 4.1, the Position Detection Technology in Oral-B GENIUS tracks brush position and shows the user how to brush all zones in the mouth equally and evenly. 

The new Oral-B GENIUS comes with a stylish smart travel case, which charges both the brush and a USB device, such as a smartphone, with a single plug for any voltage; a holder to mount the smartphone to the bathroom mirror, for example; and SmartRing, a personalised multicolour 360° lighting system featuring 12 different coloured lights that allow users to customise their brushes via the Oral-B App. 

“Oral-B GENIUS sets a new standard in the industry, and will forever change how people approach brushing their teeth. It is the next big thing after the introduction of the electric brush overall as it helps eliminate the wrong behaviours in brushing,” said Stephen Squire, global marketing director at Procter & Gamble. “We made a commitment to digitally connected brushing two years ago and to date we have received almost a million downloads of the Oral-B App. We have built upon that solid foundation to reinforce our position as the world’s leader in oral care technology with the evolution of our intelligent brushing system—the Oral-B GENIUS.” 

The Oral-B GENIUS will be available from July 2016. Users will be able to download Oral-B App 4.1 from iTunes and Google Play also from July. 

For more information, visit http://goo.gl/gBvPrd

Dentists Honored for Treating Holocaust Survivors

Henry Schein and Alpha Omega recently honored 28 dentists in the Chicago area for providing treatment to Holocaust survivors.

Henry Schein joined the Chicago chapter of the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity (AO) in recognizing 28 area oral health professionals for their participation in a program that provides free dental care to Holocaust survivors in need.

Launched in 2014 in response to the White House’s call to help Holocaust survivors age with dignity and respect, the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program has treated more than 140 patients across North America. In Chicago, 19 survivors have been treated, and 22 more are currently receiving treatment.

The participating dentists were honored at a reception held at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel congratulated the honorees, AO, and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation in a letter read at the event by AO Chicago chapter Ambassador Dr. Laurie Gordon Shaw.

“The success of the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program relies heavily on the generosity of local practitioners, and Henry Schein stands proudly with the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity to honor and thank the Chicago-area oral health professionals for their dedication to this deserving group of people,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Henry Schein Inc.

“Holocaust survivors have lived through the unspeakable, and it is incumbent upon the private and public sectors to ensure that essential health services are never beyond their reach,” said Bergman.

The initiative provides care to people identified by the network of Jewish Family and Children’s Service agencies or other identified partner organizations, as well as people of any faith who were victims of Nazi persecution and meet the program’s other eligibility requirements.

In addition to financial need, patient participation is prioritized by 3 factors: the elimination of pain, the restoration of function, and lack of dental coverage. Participating clinicians determine each patient’s scope of care.

The program is designed to fill a critical need for many of the 120,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States, a quarter of whom live in poverty. Survivors often have special oral health needs, as many suffered from prolonged nutritional deprivation and had little to no dental care access as children during World War II.

“I feel so privileged to be able to provide these patients, who have endured so much during the Holocaust, with the dental care they so desperately need while also giving them an opportunity to share their experiences,” said Gordon Shaw. “I feel so proud to be a member of Alpha Omega and to participate in this program, because if we did not take care of these patients, who would?”

“These survivors would not otherwise receive this dental treatment due to financial limitations, but now can eat without pain and proudly smile with dignity,” said Dr. Avi Wurman, DDS, program co-chair and AO past international president.

In addition to their own offices, some participating dentists treated patients at the ARK, a not-for-profit, community-funded health and human services agency with facilities on Chicago’s North Side and in Northbrook, Ill. Dr. Oded Gargir of the ARK also treated patients as part of the program.

The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program is financially supported by the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and the Curt C. & Else Silberman Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Bedford Health Care Solutions, the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, the Wagner Family Foundation, and the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation.

The event’s honorees included Drs. Laurie Gordon Shaw, Brent Agran, Natalie Baker, Sanford Barr, Jeffrey Bressman, Janet Century, Barry Cherny, Scott Emalfarb, William Feingold, Bruce Hochstadter, Richard Isaacson, David Kanarek, Paul Landman, Carole Landman Feingold, Bianca Malin, Alan Moltz, Robert Pick, Sergio Rubinstein, Milt Salzer, Sheldon Seidman, Wendy Shorry, Chuch Tannenbaum, Terri Tiersky, Dan Uditsky, Michael Wasserman, Howard Weisbart, Alan Weisz, and Sam Weisz.

Source :

23 Feb 2016  Dentistry Today

The Truth About Root Canal Treatment

Posted in Root Canal

Does the thought that you may need root canal treatment send shivers up your spine? Do you have the idea that it's a painful and complicated procedure that is best avoided? If so, it's time to think again. While an infection or inflammation in your tooth's pulp tissue can indeed cause severe pain, you should remember that root canal treatment relieves this pain — it doesn't cause it!

What is a root canal? It's a series of tiny, branching, river-like chambers found deep inside the roots of your teeth, which contain the nerve, or pulp, tissue. It's also a shorthand name for the dental procedure in which inflamed pulp tissue is removed, and the affected tooth is cleaned, disinfected and sealed. This treatment can put an end to the pain-causing inflammation and infection, and help prevent the tooth from being lost.

So, is this routine procedure exceptionally painful? The answer is no — it's generally no more uncomfortable than having a dental filling. And just like a filling, it begins with an anesthetic to numb the area under treatment. At that point, for many people, the worst is already over. To restore the tooth's appearance and function after a root canal procedure, it's usually necessary for a crown or another type of restoration to be placed on it. Learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Tooth Pain? Don't Wait!”

What Is a Palatal Expander?

Posted in Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry

Orthodontists don’t just reposition crooked teeth, they can also treat aspects of facial growth and jaw development to create a more aesthetic and functional bite. The palatal expander is an appliance they can use to achieve this. It gently widens the upper jaw and palate (roof of the mouth) — collectively called the maxilla — to prevent, correct, or reduce the severity of problems associated with an upper jaw that’s too narrow.

The key to this device’s effectiveness is timing… Unlike braces, which can work at any age, the palatal expander capitalizes on anatomical facial changes related to growth. The palatal bone tissue has a growth plate down the center and allows for expansion as the child grows. This stops around puberty and thus is effective for only a limited time.

Problems that may be treatable with palatal expansion include:

Posterior Crossbite. Upper teeth normally close around the outside of the lower teeth. In individuals with a narrow palate, the back upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth.

Tooth Crowding. When there is insufficient space in the jaw, permanent, or adult, teeth cannot erupt into their proper positions. Palatal expansion makes room for crowded teeth to align better, which may eliminate the need for teeth to be removed, or reduce the number that have to come out.

Impacted Teeth. Tooth crowding can block teeth that haven’t come in yet from “erupting” into the mouth.

Breathing Problems. A high palate and narrow arch may cause breathing problems by restricting air passages.

Palatal expansion also can broaden the smile in an aesthetically pleasing way. And while it may not eliminate the need for your child to wear orthodontic braces, it can shorten the length of treatment.

How Does It Work?
To understand how the device works, it helps to understand some anatomy… The maxilla is formed from two bones that fuse together in the middle of the palate at the “midline suture.” These bones are not completely fused until a little after puberty.

The appliance is referred to as a palatal expander and it attaches to the inside of upper molars on each side of the mouth. It has two halves that are connected in the middle with a screw. Slightly turning the screw open each day causes tension at the midlines suture, prompting the bones to gradually move apart and new bone to form in the gap. Once the desired expansion has been achieved, the appliance remains in place to allow the new bone to stabilize. Palatal expanders are typically worn for 3 to 6 months, depending on the amount of expansion required.

Palatal expansion is not appropriate in every case. A skilled orthodontist can help you determine whether this treatment would be beneficial for your child.

You can learn more about this subject by reading our article on “Palatal Expanders.”

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Nervous About Implant Surgery

Dental implants have gained a popular reputation for their life-like appearance and longevity. Much of the latter is attributable to the titanium post imbedded in the jawbone. Because titanium has a natural affinity with bone, new cells will grow and adhere to the dental implant over time, making their connection strong and durable.

Of course, to achieve that requires implant surgery — a prospect that gives many people pause before choosing this replacement option. But implant surgery is a routine undertaking, causes very little discomfort and in trained hands has a very high success rate.

Here are 3 reasons why implant surgery is nothing to be nervous about.

The procedure is precisely planned. Implant surgery is a relatively minor procedure, mainly because all the placement details are often mapped out ahead of time. For complex situations your dentist can use x-ray or CT imaging to determine the exact location for each implant and create a surgical guide to use during the procedure to make incisions and create the small channel that will hold the implant.

Implant surgery can be performed with local anesthesia. Implantation is usually easier than tooth extraction — if you’re healthy enough for that procedure you should have no problem undergoing implant surgery. With a local anesthetic, your dentist will numb only the implant site and surrounding tissues while you remain conscious. If, however, you have any anxiety your dentist can also include a sedative or anti-anxiety medication before proceeding.

There’s minimal discomfort afterward. Thanks to the pre-planned surgical guide and advanced implantation techniques, there’s very little tissue disruption and incised tissues are normally stitched with self-absorbing sutures. While some cases may require stronger pain relievers, most of the time a mild non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen is sufficient for discomfort afterward.

The implant site heals fairly quickly and predictably with a 95-97% success rate. A few weeks after bone integration your dentist will attach the permanent like-like crown, and you’ll be ready for many years of full function and a confident smile.

If you would like more information on dental implants, read Dental Implant Surgery.