Don’t skimp on your children’s teeth

Making good habits for life starts as soon as we are born. We absorb everything that is going on around us, taking in huge amounts of information and storing it in the subconscious mind, and we then copy what we have seen going on. These habits that we make before the age of 12 are very hard to change. That’s why it isn’t a good idea to smoke in front of the kids, or be scared of spiders or thunderstorms, and why it is a really good idea to start bringing them to the dentist as soon as you can.

Children's Teeth in Wimbledon Children start to lose their baby teeth when they are about seven, and behind them are the adult teeth, which are meant to last for the rest of their lives. It’s easy to think that baby teeth don’t matter because they are going to fall out anyway, but in fact they are very important for 2 reasons.

Baby teeth are practice teeth

You can see the baby teeth as great teeth to practice oral hygiene on. If you bring your kids into the dentist from the time of the arrival of the first tooth, we can teach them how to brush, and get them to used to coming to the dentist. At Wimbledon Dental Care, we know how to make children’s dentistry in Wimbledon fun, and your kids will enjoy learning how to take good care of their teeth.

Children’s teeth are more susceptible to decay

Childhood is a time of mastering skills and it takes a while to get really good at brushing your teeth. Unfortunately, that learning period coincides with a time when people consume more sugary drinks and snacks. This means children are more susceptible to decay. If you skip bringing them in for check-ups, the danger is that the decay will not only go unnoticed, but that it will eat through their baby teeth and into the adult teeth that are waiting to come through behind them.

Treatments to prevent decay

We have 2 ways to help prevent decay. Fluoride treatments help harden tooth enamel against decay, and fissure sealants paint a barrier between the teeth and decay-causing bacteria.

Find out what’s causing your sensitive teeth

If you are finding it harder and harder to eat or drink hot and cold foods and drinks, please don’t ignore this signal from your teeth that they need help.

It’s no fun if every time you are presented with foods and drinks, you wonder if it’s going to cause that shooting pain in your teeth. You can come to dread ice creams, good hot coffees, all the things that make life worth living. It doesn’t have to be like that. Come in and see us at Wimbledon Dental Care and let us help you find out what’s causing your sensitive teeth and see what we can do to help you.

Sensitive Teeth in Wimbledon There are several things that could be causing your sensitive teeth, so we will need to examine them to make sure. But in the meantime, let’s look at what could be the culprit:

Abrasion and erosion

Over the years, brushing your teeth, especially with too-hard brushes or gritty pastes, can wear away the hard enamel surface of your teeth (abrasion), bringing the dentin below and the nerves in it, nearer to the surface, and therefore nearer to heat and to cold. Erosion is caused by lots of sugar and acid in your diet, so if you are a fan of fizzy drinks, that could be the cause.

Gum recession

Our gums can recede as we get older or if we have gum disease. As they pull upwards, they can leave the root of the tooth exposed and roots don’t have enamel to protect them and are far more sensitive than crowns.

Tooth grinding

If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you will wear away the enamel on the chewing surfaces.

Cracked teeth

If one of your teeth has cracked, you may not be able to feel the crack, but it could well be the cause of sensitivity.

Teeth whitening

Having your teeth whitened can make them sensitive for a while after treatment.

As you can see, all these different ways that teeth can become sensitive are going to have different solutions. So please, come in and see us and get yourself a diagnosis and the right treatment.

Crowns and bridges

When your teeth are starting to get weak or one or two have even fallen out, you have to start asking yourself about having restorations, either to extend their life or to replace them altogether. Here at Wimbledon Dental Care, we offer crowns and bridges in Wimbledon: two different restorations for different stages of reparation for your teeth.

Crowns

Crowns are like bike helmets. They go on over your teeth to protect and strengthen them. We like to use them when we see that your teeth are getting weak maybe even in danger of splitting, but the root is strong and healthy. Often this is because there is now so much filling in the tooth that the sides of it will be too weak to cope with the forces created by chewing. With a good crown on your tooth, it can last for quite a while longer, at least 10 years and there are people out there who have had the same crowns in place for decades.

When you have a crown fitted, we make sure that it blends in with the rest of your teeth, in colour, shape and size. Once they are made, we grind your tooth down so that we can fit the crown over the top of it.

Bridges

Fixed bridgework also has crown, but they are designed to replace lost teeth rather than extend the life of weak teeth. If you have up to three teeth in a row that are missing, we can replace them with a bridge. How it works is that we attach the replacement teeth to the neighbouring healthy ones, which we reshape so that they can become buttresses to support the bridge and anchor the replacement teeth in the jawbone.

The replacement teeth are made of dental porcelain and made by skilled craftsmen-technicians. If you have a good photo of your smile, or a set of impressions, we can use them to make your replacement teeth from. Or our technicians can follow your current teeth to get an idea of how to make the new ones look. Bridges need to be replaced every 10 or so years.

Finding flaws in your teeth

Having a slight flaw in your smile, while it most likely goes unnoticed by others, can have a negative impact on your self-confidence. The key to a true grin is feeling comfortable and happy enough to let loose and laugh. If you experience discomfort because your teeth have decayed over time, you don’t have to just sit there and be unhappy. In Wimbledon, white fillings are here to restore your comfort and let you smile without a worry in the world.

White Fillings in Wimbledon At Wimbledon Dental Care, we provide white fillings to patients who both need their tooth restored and to those who need their old silver fillings replaced. White fillings are entirely invisible, so you don’t have to worry about them being seen when you laugh or smile. As tooth-coloured replacements, they appear natural like your other teeth. White fillings are also hard-wearing, so you can bite and chew food without a single concern.

Treatments available to you

If you experience a larger cavities, inlays and onlays are the preferred type of solution. As a smaller type of crown, these tooth-coloured replacements are made out of porcelain material. As custom-made tooth-replacements, they are individual to your teeth so they will fit snugly.

If you wanted to replace the silver amalgam filling that you might have had in the past that is entirely up to you. Although some fear that it contains contents of mercury, you can be rest assured that it is still a safe treatment for cavities. White fillings are appealing to those seeking an aesthetic smile, without having to worry about their treatment being visible. They can also be moulded more effectively to the surface of the tooth.

Although amalgam fillings have previously been effective treatment in dental care, white fillings are preferred because they don’t affect the remaining part of the tooth. In the techniques of amalgam fillings, they tend to remove the healthy teeth tissue alongside the decay. At Wimbledon Dental Care, we prefer to do what we can to maintain your healthy tissues. It means not having to be concerned about future complications, and living with a long-lasting, confident smile.

The important of dental hygiene in Wimbledon

A thorough dental hygiene routine is vital for your overall health and wellbeing, not just that of your teeth and gums.

Studies show a link between poor oral health and heart disease and high cholesterol levels, though the connection is not yet fully understood.

Dental Hygiene in Wimbledon There’s a psychological aspect too – having a smile you feel happy to show creates a feeling of warmth and wellbeing, through the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Smiling also eases relationship and when others see your genuine smile, they are more likely to view you as trustworthy and friendly.

There are certain groups that good dental hygiene is even more crucial for: pregnant women are more likely to develop gum disease because of hormone changes and may also experience small, harmless growths on their gums. Frequent morning sickness can also cause tooth enamel to erode.

Smokers need to pay particular attention to oral health as tobacco stains the teeth, can cause bad breath and makes it more likely that you will develop gum disease.

Those with uncontrolled diabetes are also more likely to develop gum disease.

Here at Wimbledon Dental Care, we recommend all our patients have regular hygiene appointments. You should have a scale and polish cleaning with our hygienist every six months, and if you are in one of the high-risk groups indicated above, you may need to come in more often.

We also check for the early signs of oral cancer at our dental check-ups. Detected early, oral cancer can be treated successfully in most cases.

We see our patients’ dental hygiene as a team effort. We do our part with check-ups and cleanings, and you need to play your part with diligent mouth maintenance. After all, you are with your teeth every day; we only see them every few months.

At your hygiene appointment we can advise you on the best oral care routine for you, including:

What brush to use
Brushing technique
Flossing and interdental brushes
How to care for implants, crowns, dentures and other restorations
Mouth wash
Nutrition for healthy teeth
Fresh breath tips
Children’s oral care.

Restore the appearance of your teeth with veneers in Wimbledon

Wanting to achieve a beautiful and flawless smile is about more than simple vanity. A beautiful smile can boost your confidence, increase your self-esteem and help with your social life. If you would like to improve the appearance of your teeth without resorting to invasive and expensive procedures, then dental veneers may be the right treatment for you.

Porcelain Veneers in Wimbledon At Wimbledon Dental Care, we use veneers to hide imperfections related to chipped, cracked, misshapen, permanently discoloured and slightly misaligned teeth. Veneers can also be used to improve the shape and size of your teeth. But what exactly are dental veneers and how do they work?

How do veneers function?

Veneers are very thin porcelain shells, which are used to recreate the natural look of teeth. At the same time, they provide strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel. Dental veneers are customised to fit your teeth perfectly and bond to your tooth’s natural enamel.

For the veneer to be attached and stabilised, a small portion of your natural tooth’s enamel should be removed. The removal of the tooth enamel will make room for the veneer to attach securely to the front of your tooth. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth that is used by the laboratory for the creation of the veneers.

Once they are ready, they will be attached to each designated tooth with the help of an adhesive.

Caring for you porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers can last for many years with proper maintenance. If you brush and floss your teeth regularly, your veneers will stay shiny for longer and the teeth and gums surrounding them will be healthy as well. Cavities cannot be developed on veneers, but the teeth beneath your veneers are prone to decay and the gums are always susceptible to gum disease. Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings are the best ways to keep your veneers healthy for longer.

If you are interested in dental veneers in Wimbledon and you would like to learn more about them, give us a call and we will book a consultation appointment for you.

How many doors does a smile open?

If you have a great smile, you already know what a powerful effect that lovely warm grin can have on other people. Beam at someone as they come into your business and you are half way to securing a loyal long-term customer. Flash it at someone across a crowded room and they’ll be trying to catch your eye all night. Doors that once seemed puzzlingly closed to you, seem to magically glide open when you have a lovey smile to use as a key.

Teeth Whitening in Wimbledon If you don’t have a great smile, you already know about the puzzlingly closed doors. You just don’t know that your smile is what opens them. Probably you are too busy smiling with your lips pressed firmly together, or not smiling, or holding your hand over your face if you do find yourself unable to suppress a grin.

Gosh, wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to smile a big fat smile and not have to worry about how it looks. Well, if your problem is the colour of your teeth, at Wimbledon Dental Care, we can probably fix it pretty easily with teeth whitening.

In Wimbledon, whitening is a very popular way to brighten up a smile. If your teeth are pearly white, you emit an aura of youth and health when you smile. Your smile tells people you are warm and friendly and worth investing time in. Combine the two and you’ve got the key to all those closed doors.

Teeth whitening at our dental clinic, is carried out using the Zoom! system of whitening. You can choose whether to use one of our take-home kits, or to have power whitening, which takes place at the clinic. Either way, we will talk you through both systems before you decide, and help you choose the right shade of white for your smile.

Power whitening takes around an hour, and the at-home system takes about two weeks. The gel is less concentrated for the at-home system, but the benefit is that you get a set of gel trays moulded to your teeth that you can use for top-up treatments.

Repair your dental flaws with cosmetic dentistry in Wimbledon

For most people, their smiles play an important role in their life, allowing them to make a good first impression, and spontaneously express their joyful feelings. Unfortunately, not everyone is born with a set of perfect teeth, and that is why cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever.

Regardless of the reason for wanting to transform your smile, our cosmetic dentists at Wimbledon Dental Care can help you look younger and healthier, and that begins with the state of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry in Wimbledon includes repairing chipped and cracked teeth, improving the alignment of the teeth discreetly and brightening your teeth by several shades. We are committed to using the most advanced techniques and materials for completely natural-looking results.

Dental veneers

Dental veneers are thin porcelain of composite shells that can be used to correct multiple dental problems, including chipped, cracked, stained, misshapen, asymmetrical and misaligned teeth. Veneers are attached directly to the surface of the teeth, providing a barrier that protects against bacteria, while offering a seamless result.

Six Month Smiles

An innovative and discreet teeth straightening treatment, Six Month Smiles consists of tooth-coloured brackets and wires that help move your front teeth into their correct position in an average of six months. Six Month Smiles braces are more comfortable than regular braces, since they do not move the crowns and the roots of the teeth at the same teeth – as a matter of fact the roots of the teeth remain in the same position and your bite is not altered. Six Month Smiles braces are ideal for patients who wish to straighten their teeth in anticipation of an important event.

Teeth whitening

At Wimbledon Dental Care, you can brighten your smile with Zoom! teeth whitening. Zoom Whitening is popular for its ability brighten your teeth by several shades. The complete procedure takes about one hour, but a preliminary evaluation and teeth cleaning are recommended prior to the treatment. Your dentist will cover your lips and gums before applying a bleaching solution on your teeth. This is activated by a special light, and together they penetrate the tooth enamel to break up stains and discoloration. Once you are done, your teeth will look brighter than ever.

Half a year to lovely straight teeth

If you would like to get your teeth straightened, but have so far not done so because you can’t face the idea of having something on your teeth for years on end, you will be delighted to know that this may well not be the case.

At Wimbledon Dental Care, we use Six Month Smiles in Wimbledon to straighten the smiles of many of our adult patients.

Six Month Smiles in Wimbledon This is a great system that takes the best of traditional braces treatments and applies them to the problems that most adults have with their teeth: the front six social teeth are mildly misaligned.

Yes, all that heavy-duty ironmongery that we tend to associate with wearing braces is really only needed for serious misalignments of the back teeth or to realign the bite.

If you have made it to adulthood without either, chances are that you don’t need to have ‘train track’ braces on your teeth for two or three years. Most people don’t, which is why Six Month Smiles braces were created.

Pulling power

They use the same pulling mechanics of traditional braces but they are working on teeth with fewer roots and milder misalignments, so the forces can be much gentler.

This means that the brackets can be smaller, and as a bonus, they are made of clear ceramic, which blends in with the teeth rather than dominating them. Also, the wires are thinner and made of tooth-coloured nickel titanium. The whole effect is more like smile jewellery than something a villain from James Bond would have.

Six Month Smiles take somewhere between four and nine months, with an average time of six months, to straighten your teeth. But, after they are in place, you will have to wear a retainer for about a year. This is because the teeth are not yet settled into place and needed to be kept still while the new bone around them hardens.

You can have a retainer bonded to the backs of your teeth, or you can wear one at night. If you’re not very disciplined with things like this, it’s best to opt for the fixed retainer.

Secret dental history

Generally speaking, us Brits are pretty private people. We don’t want other people knowing all about our woes, or our health problems. We’d rather keep that kind of thing to ourselves.

But, if you have amalgam fillings, there is no hiding how many cavities you have had treated by your dentist. The evidence is there in black and white for all to see every time you throw back your head for a hearty laugh. Rows of glistening black metal blobs denounce you as being a sugar fiend in your youth, or just very bad at brushing your teeth. It’s not a good look.

The downside of amalgam

Amalgam, although deemed safe by the General Dental Council, isn’t actually all that great as a filling material. It lies flat within the tooth, which means you lose some of your chewing ability created by the valleys and bumps that molars have. Also, amalgam cannot bond with your teeth, so there is a micro-gap all around the edge of the filling, into which bacteria can sneak and cause more decay. Finally, in order to make a decent amalgam filling work, the dentist has to remove healthy tooth material. This weakens the structure of your teeth and can cause it to crumble away over the years, especially if it’s one of those back molars that take all that chewing pressure day in, day out.

Beauty aside, these are three very good reasons, why at Wimbledon Dental Care, we offer white fillings to our patients.

The difference with white fillings

White fillings are made from a porcelain composite material, which has been improved over the years and is now very durable. It is best suited for small and medium-sized fillings. Larger fillings are better treated with inlays and onlays.

When we use white fillings, we only remove the decayed material, and we fill the cavity with layers of porcelain composite, each of which is bonded to the tooth and cured with a UV lamp before the next layer is added. Once done, we can then shape the filling to recreate the mounds and valleys of your original tooth and give you back full chewing power.

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