Author Archives: Wimbledon Dental Care

How to get straighter teeth in Wimbledon with Invisalign

Thanks to ongoing improvements in the dental industry there are a number of methods at our proverbial fingertips to help you straighten up your smile. One particular treatment we offer that’s popular with patients looking for that perfectly in-line smile is Invisalign. Here’s a brief outline of how this treatment can help you get straighter teeth in Wimbledon.

What is Invisalign?

If you’re not familiar with this procedure, then here’s a quick breakdown.

Invisalign involves the fitting of a temporary see-through brace over your teeth to correctly realign them using a small amount of gentle pressure. Throughout your treatment, we may also ask you to wear additional mouthguards as your teeth change position over time, to ensure the realignment goes off smoothly.

Brief summary of treatment

Having straighter teeth in Wimbledon couldn’t be any simpler, as this treatment is relatively non-invasive and pretty quick to perform.

A brief outline of the process is as follows, first we get you in for a consultation visit, then from there we would use lasers or LEDs to perform a series of scans of your teeth. With this data we then construct a 3D representation of your mouth using sophisticated software and we can then manipulate this image to show you how we can give you that lovely straight smile.

After this stage the information we gather will be sent off to a lab that will produce your brace that we will then fit and advise you to continue wearing until your treatment is complete, which is usually around 12 months.

At Wimbledon Dental Care our team will take you through the fitting process in a calm and professional manner that will get you on the road to a realigned smile in no time at all.

How to care for your brace

Once the procedure is complete and you’re sitting at home here’s some advice we can provide to help you keep your mouthguard clean.

First, use a recommended brace cleaning solution, then lightly brush this solution across the guard before leaving it to dry in a hard-bodied container to keep it sterile and safe. Generally, we recommend that you do this at least once every other day to help clear out any built-up bacteria and reduce any staining that might start to occur.

Last of all, you can remove your brace to clean your teeth or eat meals, but outside of that you should have it in place at least 22 hours a day to make sure you don’t interrupt the realignment process.

Further reading

Worth noting is that you may start to feel some discomfort after the treatment, our patients describe ‘pressure’ on their teeth. To counter this just use general painkillers whenever it starts to get a little too much.

These are just a couple of interesting facts about how our Invisalign braces can help you straighten out your teeth. If you’re interested in learning more or want to see how we can shape your smile, then have a chat with your dentist the next time you’re in our practice.

Are you worried about your children’s teeth?

Whether you are a first-time parent worrying about what to do with regard to taking your child to the dentist or just concerned about the condition of your child’s teeth, having a check-up on your children’s teeth in Wimbledon could not be any easier. At Wimbledon Dental Care we endeavour to provide quality treatment for your child as well as you. There are a variety of treatments that our practice offers, for both children and adults. It is advised that you make an appointment with us to see your dental practitioner, as they will be able to inform you of these treatments and answer the questions that you have been longing to ask.

When should you take your child for their first check-up

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to having that first appointment for your children’s teeth in Wimbledon. Normally it is suggested that you bring your child to our practice when they are twelve months old if they have not produced any teeth yet. However, if their baby teeth start coming through before their first birthday it is recommended that you book an appointment to have a check-up carried out when their first tooth arrives. Children develop at their own rate in life, and this is the same for their teeth. On average a child will have around 7 baby teeth by the time they are twelve months old, but if they do not this is no cause for concern.

After you have brought your child for their first dental appointment, your dental professional will advise you on how often they need to return for another check-up. This can vary between patients, but it is generally recommended that you have an appointment with us twice a year, so we are able to notify you of any changes that are taking place or underlying problems.

What are the benefits of taking your child to the dentist?

At Wimbledon Dental Care we know how important it is to look after your children’s teeth in Wimbledon. Regular check-ups will reduce the chances of tooth decay and poor oral hygiene, but that is not the only reason why you should be bringing your child to see us. When they are younger, we can ensure that their teeth are strong and healthy, but as they start getting older their baby teeth will naturally start to fall out to make way for their adult ones.

When adult teeth come through there is no guarantee that they will be straight and even, despite their baby teeth being so. Visiting us regularly means that one of our many dental professionals will be able to consistently assess the condition of your child’s teeth, and they will be able to inform you if there are any signs indicating that your child may have an over- or underbite and need treatment to address this. They will also be able to educate you about what options are available to your child if their teeth start becoming crooked and uneven. It is important that this is done when they are a child, as not only is it best to catch these things early and reduce the amount of dental work required in the future, but children are usually covered by the NHS for a majority of their treatments, so it could save you some money as well.

Natural tooth or filling?

Wouldn’t it be nice if, when you open your mouth for a good yawn or laugh, people are not given a chance to count how many fillings you have? Imagine if they just saw rows of white teeth with mounds and valleys.

White Fillings in Wimbledon It’s no good wishing you could turn back the clock and be a better tooth-brusher, but you can get rid of the grey look and replace it with white fillings. They look so real that no one will know they are not made of enamel.

Composite resin

White fillings are made from a material called composite resin. This is a mixture of plastic and glass. It has been improved upon over the years and the white fillings of today are much more robust than 20 or 30 years ago. In fact, in many ways white fillings outperform amalgam, and we’re not just talking about looks here.

Stronger teeth

When we put in a white filling here at Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we don’t need to remove as much healthy tooth material as we do with amalgam. This means that your tooth is stronger and likely to last longer.

No gaps

If you look at a close-up picture of an amalgam filling, you can often see a little ring around the edge of it. This is a gap. No matter how tightly we pack the cavity, there’s always a tiny gap with amalgam. And any gap is a space that decay-causing bacteria can get into. With white fillings, we can bond the filling material to your tooth, so there is no gap and no chance of decay forming under the filling.

Mounds and valleys

White fillings go in as a paste but are cured and hardened with a UV light. We build them up above the surface of the tooth and then shape them to recreate the chewing surfaces we have had to remove. Amalgam is too soft to do this with. Amalgam fillings are flat and not so effective at chewing.

Next time you need a filling, whether it’s a new filling or to replace one that is failing, do ask about white fillings. We think you’ll like the difference they can make to your mouth.

Clean your food processing areas

Any cook knows that if you leave food in a warm, moist environment, it’s going to go rotten. This is why professional kitchens clean the entire food processing area after every food prep session and have regular deep cleans to get to the more inaccessible areas. When kitchens don’t do that, it won’t be long before the environmental health inspectors are called and the restaurant or café gets shut down.

Dental Hygiene in Wimbledon Your mouth is your portable food processing area, and, as such, also needs to be regularly cleaned. You may not get food poisoning if you don’t clean your mouth and teeth, but any food trapped between your teeth will still rot, which can lead to infection. And you will develop other problems such as tooth decay and gum disease from a build-up of plaque.

What is plaque?

Plaque is the name for that sticky film you can feel appearing on your teeth as the day goes by. If you leave it there for more than 3 days, it hardens into a chalky substance called tartar or calculus. Plaque is made up of bacteria that feed on sugar and give off corrosive acids.

What do acids actually do?

Acids from plaque corrode your tooth enamel, making holes through which decay-causing bacteria can enter. These bacteria rot the soft yellow dentin below the enamel and also attack the pulp inside the dentin, which contains a blood supply and nerves. Once the pulp is under attack, you will experience toothache. The rot can lead to infection and you may even lose your tooth.

The acids also inflame and irritate your gums, which is why gums swell up and feel sore. They also pull away from your teeth, creating pockets. Plaque can now get under your gums and start to corrode your tooth roots, which have no enamel as well as your jawbone. This often leads to painful infection. Your teeth become loose and then fall out.

Dental hygiene

This is why at Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we recommend that you brush twice daily for 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and come to us for bi-annual check-ups and deep cleanings. Together we can keep your mouth as clean as your kitchen.

Taking veneers seriously

If you are investing in a great new smile, you want it to look completely suitable for your face. At Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we like to take time to make sure that everything is as you want it to be.

That’s why, when you come to us for veneers, you will find that we take longer to make sure your veneers are completely right before we fit them and before we send you on your way with your new smile.

One size does not fit all

You’ve probably already noticed that teeth, like fingerprints, are pretty much unique to each person. Your teeth are completely different from your friends’ teeth, in size, shape and colour. They also live in completely different sized and shaped jaws and faces.

So, when you come to us for veneers, we want to be absolutely sure your veneers are right for you, not someone else.

A lot of dental practices talk about fitting veneers in just 2 appointments: one to measure you up and prepare your teeth and the next to fit them. We prefer to take a bit longer. After all, you are going to be wearing your veneers for about the next 10 years, maybe longer, so they’d better look right.

First appointment

The first thing is to make sure that veneers are the right treatment for your issue, or would you be better off with something else, like whitening treatment, or crowns? If veneers are suitable, we will take impressions of your teeth. They go off to a laboratory where highly skilled technicians will make a model of what your teeth will look like with veneers on.

Second appointment

We check you against the model to make sure that the veneers are right, and that you are happy with how your new teeth will look. If you are, the technicians get the go ahead to make the veneers.

Third appointment

We fit the veneers, and adjust them until they look great on you. Before we send you out the door, we give your teeth and veneers one last polish so that your new smile is looking amazing.

This extra step is worth taking. Please call us to find out more.

Get your whites right

There’s nothing like a lovely white smile. Even if your teeth aren’t perfect in every other way, a ding or misalignment for example, if your teeth are white, they somehow don’t seem so obvious. So, if you want to do something about your teeth but don’t know where to start, here at Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we suggest you start with the colour of your teeth.

Teeth Whitening in Wimbledon The way we live can have quite an impact on our tooth colour. If you like drinking coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon and a glass or two of red wine with your dinner, then you can almost guarantee that your teeth will be stained. Of course, if you also smoke, your teeth will be stained. And if you have used the antibiotic Tetracycline, the colour of your teeth may also have been affected.

So, why not come into us at Wimbledon Dental Care and get all that horrible discolouration removed with our whitening system from Zoom?

Zoom will remove all your surface stains and it will also oxidise your teeth, making the colour of the enamel lighter. In our experience, Zoom is a great product. It is very safe to use and it won’t cause you any pain either.

You can either have your whitening done in the clinic, or you can do it yourself at home. We can use a stronger solution of whitening gel in the clinic than we can give you to take home.

What we find works best for most of our patients is to start with a power whitening session at the clinic. It will take about an hour to get you most of the way to whiter teeth, and then you finish off the treatment at home over the next 3 days.

Your teeth will never be so dull again, but if you carry on living as normal, the whiteness will fade over the next couple of years. We recommend getting a top-up treatment done at home twice a year, or that you come into us for a top-up after about 18 months.

Want to know more? Why not give us a call?

Gearing up for a lovelier smile

Round about now people start thinking about making over one of the rooms in their house. Maybe the bedroom could do with repapering. Maybe the kitchen is looking a bit tired. Or is the hallway.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Wimbledon The urge to makeover is upon us, but there are other things that can be made over and the results won’t go out of fashion anywhere near as quick as that teal sofa suite you are tempted to buy in the sales.

What if you put the money you’d set aside into your smile instead of a new sofa. After all, a smile is something you use plenty of times per day. In terms of cost per grin, getting your smile enhanced with cosmetic dentistry, can be great value. Here at Wimbledon Dental Care, we have a range of cosmetic dental treatments that can brighten up your smile for the coming year. Let’s take a look at a few of them now:

Teeth whitening

This is the world’s most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment, and it’s easy to see why. Teeth whitening can be done at home, or with an added power whitening session here in the clinic. All it takes is for you to come in and get impressions taken so that we can make you a pair of bespoke whitening gel trays. Bespoke trays make sure that there is maximum contact with the whitening gel. You wear the gel-filled trays for a short period every day, until you reach the shade of white you desire. If your teeth are badly stained, you may want to opt for a power whitening session here, followed immediately by a top-up treatment at home.

Veneers

If you also want veneers, you must get the whitening done first, so that we can match your veneers to your new, whiter smile. Veneers are made of dental porcelain, and are fitted over your teeth to hide imperfections such as chips, worn edges, cracks, gaps and bad stains. Veneers are fitted in just 2 sessions and can last for 10 years or more if you look after them well.

If you’re not sure what needs to be done to improve your smile, why not come in for a consultation?

What are your plans for 2019?

There’s something about New Year that wipes the slate clean and brings people clarity in their planning and goal setting. We can somehow cut through the daily detail and think big again about what irks us, what we’d like to change and how we see ourselves being in one years’ time.

Six Month Smiles in Wimbledon Have you thought about your plans for 2019? If you are thinking about investing in how you look and your health, you could join the gym, again, and stop going after mid-February. Or you could make an investment in your teeth, both looks-and health-wise that will only take 4-9 months to complete, and is guaranteed to work.

We are talking about Six Month Smiles discreet braces from us at Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon.

Never heard of Six Month Smiles?

Great. Read on and learn all about them.

Six Month Smiles are bracket and wire braces, but with a modern twist. Instead of the big metal things you remember from 1980s kids’ movies, these use clear ceramic brackets and very thin wires with a tooth-coloured coating.

Six Months Smiles were invented by dentists to deal with the most commonly requested alignment issues, that is, wonky front teeth. When we say front teeth, we don’t just mean the 2 at the very front, but the 6-8 teeth that are most on view when we talk and smile.

These teeth only have one root each, so they are much easier to shift than the pre-molars at the sides of your mouth, and the molars at the back, which have 3 roots each. This means we can use much gentler forces, and so the brackets and wires are smaller.

It also means it takes less time to move teeth, which is why 6 months is the average treatment time, although it can be as long as 9 months. Once your treatment is over, you will also have to wear a retainer. This can be bonded to the backs of your teeth, or be a mouth guard-style retainer that you wear at night. This holds your teeth in their new, correct positions while the newly made bone settles down around them.

Make it a white fillings Christmas for your mouth

Wondering what to treat you or your loved ones to for Christmas? In lives already stuffed full of stuff, maybe there is a better gift you can give, such as transforming their smile by replacing ugly amalgam fillings with white ones.

What are fillings made of?

Amalgam is a mixture of silver tin and mercury. Mercury makes the filling material pliable. Although the British Dental Association has declared amalgam fillings to be safe, there’s no getting away from the fact that they look pretty awful.

White fillings, on the other hand, are made of a mixture of plastic and glass. Once they are in place, you’d have to stare pretty hard to spot them.

White fillings are strong

White fillings do not require the removal of as much healthy tooth material when you have a new cavity filled. The actual white composite resin is also much stronger these days too. So, with white fillings, you get strong teeth.

Less chance of more decay

White filings also bond with the teeth. They are put in in layers. Each one is cured hard and bonded seamlessly to your tooth with a UV lamp before the next layer goes in. Amalgam fillings are only packed in tight. Bacteria can still get in around the edges and cause decay under the filling. Not so with white fillings.

Filled teeth with all the right curves

Natural back teeth have grooves and ridges on their surfaces. These are cutting edges designed to make it easier to turn food into a paste that we can swallow. We can recreate these chewing surfaces by sculpting white fillings once we have put them in. We can’t do this with amalgam, which lies flat within your tooth.

Replacing amalgam fillings

At Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we can replace amalgam fillings with white fillings. When we do this, we are very careful to make sure that all the amalgam is safely removed from your mouth.

Bit by bit or all at once

We can do one filling at a time, or you can have the whole lot done. Why not suggest this as an alternative Christmas present and give your loved one their beautiful smile back?

Roll back the years with brighter, whiter teeth

As we get older, after a few years of enjoying what life has to offer us, our teeth can look a little worse for wear. You may have enjoyed red wine, smoked a little too much, used coffee to wake up the next day or eaten food that stains your teeth. Sometimes, through no fault of your own, teeth staining occurs as a natural reaction to some medication. Either way, we can look in the mirror and discover your teeth are advertising your exciting lifestyle.

Whiter Teeth in Wimbledon This may leave you wishing there was a way to turn back time, which of course there is. Teeth whitening is a great solution for whiter teeth, helping you to roll back the years and have sparkly teeth for that special occasion or just because you want to treat yourself to a smile overhaul.

At Wimbledon Dental Care, getting whiter teeth in Wimbledon couldn’t be easier. We offer an in-clinic option or a take away home kit to use. It utilises the best in whitening technology, using Zoom! products to gently but effectively remove stains. Depending on the amount of staining, your teeth can be made 2-3 shades whiter.

How does the treatment work?

An impression of your teeth is taken, and a tray is created that fits your teeth perfectly. We carry out the power whitening treatment by filling the trays with whitening gel, placed over your teeth and activated by light. The whole process is painless and completed within an hour. You will then be sent home, with full instructions on how to complete your follow up treatments at home.

The follow up treatments are simple to do. You’ll add the solution to your custom-made trays and hold them in place for 30 minutes morning and night over 3 consecutive days. Once this is completed, you’ll need to return to us, so we can check your progress.

Over time, your teeth will start to re-stain and go back to the original colour, this will be increased if you continue to smoke or use other substances that stain heavily. However, this can be fixed with a quick top-up treatment.

If you’d like to know more, contact us for details today.

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