Dentist London Blog » braces http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:03:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Braces and Oral Hygiene in London http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/braces-and-oral-hygiene-in-london/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/braces-and-oral-hygiene-in-london/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:09:47 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=3839 Yes, you have to have braces and it’s not going to be easy for the up to the next couple of years (if that’s how long the treatment lasts). Living in London can be hard enough at the best of times, without the idea of wearing braces thrown into the mix. If you’re one of the lucky ones that have been fitted with a removable aligner, then bully for you, because it simply means that you can take it out and brush your teeth as normal. But if you have had a fixed brace popped into your mouth, oral hygiene suddenly becomes an art-form that has to be mastered quickly. The perils that a fixed brace poses, is that of bad breath, gum disease and plaque and to avoid it, you have to be doubly vigilant. Your dentist will enlighten you on how to clean your teeth once the brace has been fitted, but when you get home, it’s down to you to care for your teeth. There are certain dyes that have been developed to highlight any growth of plaque around the teeth and this is a great aid for anyone that has a fixed brace, but the biggest struggle is to remove any food that might have got caught up in the wires and this can be the greatest danger to your teeth as bacteria will soon start to attack the teeth and gums. Flossing takes on a whole new meaning for those wearing braces- get it right and your teeth will be healthy by removing any residue of food left in the mouth. But one thing to bear in mind is this:- you come through this phase unscathed, you’ll be far stronger from the experience and look far more attractive than the people that have ridiculed you throughout this period.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/braces-and-oral-hygiene-in-london/feed/ 0 Dentists in London use braces to correct all manner of tooth alignment issues http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/dentists-in-london-use-braces-to-correct-all-manner-of-tooth-alignment-issues/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/dentists-in-london-use-braces-to-correct-all-manner-of-tooth-alignment-issues/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:19:28 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=3731 Sometimes the old ways are still the best and you might say that this is the way when it comes to teeth straightening methods. In recent years there have a number of new methods spring up which can boast of being discreet or removable or able to straighten out teeth with hitherto unknown speed. But the tried and tested method of metal braces are, in many ways the best option if you have multiple tooth alignment issues which need to be ironed out.

Braces work with a simple but highly effective modus operandi. Your dentist will affix metal brackets to the teeth in your mouth and then thread adjustable metal wires through them. Over a period of time, usually about eighteen months or two years, these wires will be tightened as they need to be so that your teeth are gently moved into a position that leaves them straightened out and perfectly aligned.

The advantages of having perfectly straightened out teeth are several. Not only will the look of your smile be better, you will also find that you are less prone to several dental ailments which can result from having crooked or misaligned teeth. Dentists have found a link between patients who suffer from bruxism where they are grinding their teeth during their sleep and misaligned teeth. If teeth are too bunched up together then there might be a greater chance of cavities forming in the tight gaps between them because they are more troublesome to clean.

It is likely that your London dentist will have fitted a great number of braces and they will be able to give you all the information you need to decide if braces are the right option for you.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/dentists-in-london-use-braces-to-correct-all-manner-of-tooth-alignment-issues/feed/ 0 Great Braces in Central London http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/great-braces-in-central-london/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/great-braces-in-central-london/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:15:46 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=3711 If you are one amongst the many thousand’s of central Londoners that has to have their teeth aligned for the future protection of the mouth, it can be a very stressful time. But if you were to take a look at what the market has to offer, you will be pleasantly surprised at what’s around theses days. It wasn’t so long ago that the options were very limited, but now, there are some cracking techniques to straighten your teeth. Braces and aligners fall into two categories- fixed and removable. Fixed braces are the most common as they are generally a cheaper option, but they do take a lot of extra vigilance when cleaning and tend to be in the mouth a lot longer than others options. However, designs such as the Damon and 6-months smile are very sympathetic to these problems and a whole hygiene program has built up around them- and they also sit very discreetly in the mouth. But for sheer audacity when it comes to having teeth alignment, removable aligners win hands down. Invisalign and Clearstep from the USA have won the hearts of the millions that have worn them. Not only do they work a lot faster than most fixed braces and are more hygienic because they can be taken out, these aligners are transparent- almost invisible in fact when fitted. They are more expensive, but the pros outweigh the cons with these treatments. And if you are really in a hurry, the removable Inman aligner can straighten out your front teeth in as little as 6 weeks….now that’s some going!

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/great-braces-in-central-london/feed/ 0 Cleaning your Teeth whilst wearing braces in Central London http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/cleaning-your-teeth-whilst-wearing-braces-in-central-london/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/cleaning-your-teeth-whilst-wearing-braces-in-central-london/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 06:00:29 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=3602 One of the problems behind wearing a fixed brace over a long period of time is maintaining the health of your mouth and keeping it free from bacteria. Anyone who has worn one in central London will tell you that you have to be extra vigilant when cleaning a fixed brace. It’s the perfect haven for food to get stuck and bacteria to grow and if it’s not removed, it can quickly turn into gum disease and decay. When you have one fitted, your dentist should advise you on how to keep your brace clean and also clean it on each check-up, but in the outside world, you’re on your own. There are specially designed floss and tiny brushes to get in and around the metalwork and teeth to back up the normal brushing techniques. Using toothpastes and mouth-washes that have ingredients designed for especially for plaque removal, will also prevent any build up of bacteria; there also a dye available that will highlight plaque around the teeth. Cleaning your brace at first will take a while at first and a lot of patience to get right, but once you’ve mastered it, it will ensure that your teeth are beautiful and healthy when the brace finally comes off.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/cleaning-your-teeth-whilst-wearing-braces-in-central-london/feed/ 0 What braces to choose in London http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/what-braces-to-choose-in-london/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/what-braces-to-choose-in-london/#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:04:30 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=3249 Braces- for some they can look ungainly, create problems when eating and can single you out for mockery for years, especially in the school play ground. They can also cause gum disease, so keeping an eye on oral hygiene is a must. Not the most inviting of reasons to have them then, you may think. But ask any dentist in London- braces are an essential procedure in teeth growth, rectifying the misalignment between teeth and bite, straightening teeth and once removed, you have a cosmetically pleasing smile. Each mouth is different and the level of work required can affect the choice of brace suitable for the treatment. X-rays, digital photographs and impressions are taken to determine the work required. Teeth can often be extracted to make room for movement before the fitting of the braces and once in, it may take some time to get used to them, initially causing problems and reactions in the mouth. Cosmetically, there are many systems to choose from, depending on what your level of straightening is required. They start from the basic, train track silver fittings to gold, ceramic, sapphire and Invisalign (clear and invisible), depending on your requirements for vanity. Also available are Inman aligners that straighten front teeth only. If the braces are permanent, oral hygiene is of the utmost importance and dedicated brushes are on the market for this job.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/what-braces-to-choose-in-london/feed/ 0 London dentist straightens teeth without wires using Invisalign http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/london-dentist-straightens-teeth-without-wires-using-invisalign/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/london-dentist-straightens-teeth-without-wires-using-invisalign/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:07:49 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=2995 One of the major drawbacks with wearing braces is the visual impact it can have on the teeth and the smile. The metal wires and brackets are quite unattractive despite their functional ability to produce great looking teeth. Wearing these ugly braces, especially in the difficult and image conscious teenage years can be very difficult and lead to a loss of self-esteem and in some cases even bullying. But there is now solution to this dilemma that straightens teeth without a significant aesthetic loss to the teeth.

Invisalign braces are clear plastic braces that are almost impossible to see when in the mouth. Made from plastic about one millimetre thick, they contain no wires or any other metal parts. They are specially designed for the individual’s teeth and capable of producing results in three quarters of the time of traditional fixed metal braces.

The system works by replacing the retainer every two to three weeks with a new one designed with slight adjustments. This gradually moves the teeth into the desired position through the course of the treatment. About twenty-five retainers are needed on average to achieve the best results.

The other major advantage of Invisalign braces is that they are completely removable. This means they can be taken out for teeth cleaning and for sports and other social activities. As long as they are worn for roughly twenty hours each day they will still produce the desired effect. The cleaning aspect of Invisalign is particularly important as conventional braces often leave marks when removed because the brackets have covered certain areas when the rest of the tooth has been exposed. With Invisalign you can clean all parts of the teeth right the way through treatment. Ask a London dentist for more information.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/london-dentist-straightens-teeth-without-wires-using-invisalign/feed/ 0 Cleaning your teeth with braces on, here are some great tips by a Central London dentist http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/cleaning-your-teeth-with-braces-on-here-are-some-great-tips-by-a-central-london-dentist/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/cleaning-your-teeth-with-braces-on-here-are-some-great-tips-by-a-central-london-dentist/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 07:37:09 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=2970 Cleaning your teeth is hard enough at the best of times, but when you`re wearing a brace it can be really awkward says a Central London dentist. The most important thing with braces is flossing; this will remove more food debris and therefore bacterium, than any other method of cleaning your teeth. You should also buy yourself a specially designed tooth cum brace brush known as a Proxabrush; ask your dentist about these particular brushes or at a major chemist shop. With flossing, if you choose non-waxed, thin thread floss then you will be able to get around the frames on the teeth. You will also find that using the thin floss you will be able to thread it through the wires and get into places that are hard even for the Proxabrush. Always give your mouth a good rinse out, using a good mouth wash, floss first then brush. Usually you will see your dentist every 6 months, but with braces you will need to halve that to 3 monthly appointments as they will need to remove the tartar build up more frequently. Braces needn`t always be a burden, it just needs a bit more better planning when it comes to the cleaning regime. Bacterium and acid builds up in the mouth and will cause you extra problems with braces, at night the saliva gland stops working, so throughout the day and night keep some water handy to swig, and swish around your mouth. There are now braces that do all the usual things a brace does, but they are removable when you need to clean your teeth or eat, they are called Inman Aligners and Invisalign Braces and are used mainly with adults, but the old style braces are still out there; and it just needs a little careful planning and common sense when keeping them clean and sterile.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/cleaning-your-teeth-with-braces-on-here-are-some-great-tips-by-a-central-london-dentist/feed/ 0 Comparing the Invisalign to conventional braces by a London dentist http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/comparing-the-invisalign-to-conventional-braces-by-a-london-dentist/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/comparing-the-invisalign-to-conventional-braces-by-a-london-dentist/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 04:30:37 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=2938 Even if you`ve never had one, you will have seen someone with a brace on their teeth. Usually that happens when we are still at school, but some of us didn`t get them and as adults we still have crooked or misaligned teeth, a London dentist has advised. The conventional brace is fixed, most prominently, to the teeth and are on show for the entire world to see. The Invisalign Brace is so called because it is an invisible brace that aligns the teeth, it is also a revolution in braces, so to speak, as it is also removable by the client whenever they require to `lose it` for a while. This doesn’t detract from the treatment; that can take from 3-8 months to complete. The brace is a whole new science in itself, using not just a computer program to work out the pressure points, but also causing the blood flow to be altered in the gums; this allows new bone tissue to grow behind the tooth as it moves. The computer will produce a whole program for the dentist and the client to follow the progress; this is in the form of a 3D film that shows the treatment and the end result. The treatment starts with digital photos and a mould of the teeth, which is all scanned into the program to produce the results. The orthodontist will then make all the braces in advance, these are replaced and fitted every two weeks, and the progress is then tracked using the 3D film to make sure each brace has done its job, and moved the misaligned teeth into their retrospective positions. Being made of a clear plastic and having all the gubbings on the inside of the brace, it is easy to wear for the client, and they can take the brace out for eating and cleaning the teeth in the normal way.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/comparing-the-invisalign-to-conventional-braces-by-a-london-dentist/feed/ 0 Inman Aligners and their advantages; by a City of London dentist http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/inman-aligners-and-their-advantages-by-a-city-of-london-dentist/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/inman-aligners-and-their-advantages-by-a-city-of-london-dentist/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:54:22 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=2915 Inman Aligners are a revolutionary step forward in braces, they are the latest method used by adults to straighten their teeth and they work very well says a City of London dentist. They have the advantage of being able to be taken out by the client when they are eating or cleaning their teeth. For the busy executive they are extremely handy, they can be slipped out for business meetings, lunches and dinners and then slipped back in when it is over. The removal won`t deter from the process. The braces are all made in advance as a series of braces. This is all done using the latest technology to produce calculations for the pressure points of the brace. The calculations are worked out via a computer program that gets information from scanned in photos, and a mould of the teeth. The program produces a 3D film that helps the dentist and the patient see the results, even before the treatment has started. The braces are changed every 2 weeks and they have all the pressure points built in, the only drawback is that the gubbings are situated on the inside of the teeth, so they are no good at straightening the back teeth, only the front ones. The treatment takes around 3 to 8 months to straighten teeth, and this involves nature as well. The brace is designed so that it interferes with the blood flow in the gums, this allows the blood platelets to deposit new bone growth behind the tooth that is being moved. This will prevent the tooth dropping back into its old position. All in all the Inman Aligner has been a God Send to many patients who have misaligned teeth, and will continue to do so for many decades yet.

]]> http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/inman-aligners-and-their-advantages-by-a-city-of-london-dentist/feed/ 0 Discover the possibility of braces at London dentist http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/discover-the-possibility-of-braces-at-london-dentist/ http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/discover-the-possibility-of-braces-at-london-dentist/#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:24:30 +0000 admin http://www.bakerstreetdental.com/blog/?p=2876 For people of a certain generation, the idea of braces conjure up a certain image. Ugly, uncomfortable metal ‘train-track’ braces full of wires and metal brackets. Thankfully, and fortunately, for today’s younger generation, braces have developed since then and there is now a wide variety of different kinds of braces on the market to suit each individual’s need.

Orthodontic straightening is now faster, more comfortable and more effective. Treatment can now be achieved in just a quarter of the time it used to take with some traditional braces, and the amount of discomfort has been greatly reduced. One brace that has taken traditional orthodontic methods and improved them is the Six Month Smile brace. With average treatment time being only six months and a lot less force required to manipulate teeth into position, Six Month braces are proving to be very popular with younger patients. They are even manufactured using clear plastic brackets and tooth coloured wires for maximum discretion.

Although they do come a long way behind Invisalign braces in terms of discretion. Invisalign braces are made from one millimetre thick clear plastic and are virtually invisible when in the mouth. Treatment times are slightly longer but many patients feel this is a worthwhile sacrifice to have braces that do not spoil their appearance.

Other braces available from London dentists include the Inman aligner and Damon braces, each having their own distinct area of advantage. Some braces are more suitable for some teeth than others but your dentist will be able to assess your suitability during an initial consultation. Whichever brace is most suitable for your teeth, you can look forward to a more comfortable treatment with less disruption to your life than would have been possible twenty years ago and you will also have a beautiful straight smile to show off at the end.

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