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What Are The Advantages Of Removable Braces For Patients In Liverpool?

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

Fixed braces aren’t exactly a thing of the past but, in many cases, orthodontic treatment can now be provided by removable braces. There are several types of removable brace treatment, ranging from Invisalign to ClearStep, but they all share many common attributes.

Basic advantages of removable braces

Firstly, the can be removed at mealtimes. Food can get trapped in and behind fixed braces, but this is not a problem with removable braces as they can be removed when eating. Certain foods are a problem for fixed braces: Hard foods such as crusty rolls can break them, chewing gum can get stuck in them and acidic foods (such as soft drinks) can stain orthodontic brackets. By being able to remove your brace at meal times, you avoid damaging it in this way – only your actual teeth will bear the burden of your diet. Speaking of which, being able to remove braces will also help you maintain basic oral hygiene: Fixed braces can make parts of your teeth difficult to reach and can make the 2 minute ritual that little bit more complicated. Again, all of this is sidestepped by a removable brace. Most removable braces are also more comfortable than fixed braces as fixed braces are noted causes of irritation and gum inflammation.

Advantages of Invisalign

Invisalign is but one brand of removable brace. This type of brace comes with one added advantage however: It is clear. You can wear braces discreetly!

Suitability: Are removable braces for everyone?

In a word: No. Complicated orthodontic procedures are best suited for fixed braces. There are, however, various types of removable braces, some of which are more accommodating than others. Simpli5 braces, for instance, work very quickly; some patients can complete treatment with them in between 3 and 5 months (whereas standard treatment can take up to 3 years). This speed, however, comes at the expense of the range of orthodontic issues they can treat. Simpli5 is best suited for minor corrections. Invisalign and ClearStep, in contrast, can treat a wider array of bite problems.

Tags: invisalign, Invisalign Liverpool, liverpool, Removable braces
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Patients In The Heart Of Liverpool Find Out All About Mini-Implants

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

Sometimes dental implants just aren’t a viable option, often because of bone density problems. Mini-implants are a relatively new innovation in dentistry, pioneered by one Dr. Victor Sendax; a Manhattan dentist. Mini implants allow people who previously would have been unsuitable for implants to have an almost instantaneous dental restoration.

What are implants and how are mini-implants different?

A dental implant is essentially a fake tooth which is anchored in to your jaw, often by a metal rod. Mini-implants are essentially small versions of these rods which can be used on jaws with a lower bone density.

Other uses

Mini-implants can be used for more than just replacing individual teeth. They can also be used to stabilise removable dentures: Six mini-implants with screw tops can be inserted into the jaw; your dentures can then be attached to and removed from these implants. This is a very effective way of preventing denture slippage. It also has the added benefit of overcoming a common problem with dentures: Accelerated bone loss. Dentures worn without stabilised implants compress the gingiva and reduce the blood supply to the bone, which causes accelerated bone loss. Wearing dentures with mini-implants, however, can stimulate the bone, as they are anchored in, and help prevent bone loss.

Standard procedure

The procedure is quite simple, relatively quick and not particularly invasive. The patient will be put under local anaesthetic and then a small hole (or holes) will be made in their gum which will house the implant(s). The head of the implant(s) will be positioned above the gum line so that they can anchor in crowns, bridges or dentures. Due to the size of the mini-implant, the gum is not even required to be cut. As a result the process can take as little as half an hour and can be completed in a single visit! The healing process after surgery is also relatively quick.

Talk to us!

Sound interesting? Then why not talk to us at Liverpool Dental Spa? We will happily talk you through everything that this procedure entails.

Tags: Dental implants, Dental implants Liverpool, liverpool, mini implants
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New Teeth In Just One Day For Lucky Patients In The City Of Liverpool

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

In today’s fast moving world, we need dentistry that can keep up our Speedy Gonzales pace. One of the off-putting things about more complex dental procedures, such as having a dental crown produced, is the amount of time spent waiting around between multiple appointments. It just seems like a waiting and a lot of hassle. Thankfully, thanks to CEREC, such waiting can be a thing of the past!

What is CEREC?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Essentially it is an on-site milling machine which will produce a false tooth from a block of ceramic material. Depending on the complexity of the tooth being produced, this process can take anywhere between 6 and 30 minutes. These ceramic blocks come in a plethora of tooth-like shades and colours, so there should be no problem matching it to your other teeth!

What does a procedure with CEREC involve?

Firstly, you will be prepped as though you were having a standard crown or veneers procedure. However, rather than taking an impression of your teeth with dental putty, as is normal, your dentist will instead produce a digital image of your teeth by utilising a special camera. This picture will then be converted into a full 3D model of your tooth on a specialised computer. This 3D image will be used as a guide for designing your new tooth! After a few tweaks, the design will then be sent to the milling machine I mentioned previously. Once it has been produced, your tooth can then be stained or otherwise altered to help it sit naturally amongst your other teeth. It will then be polished or glazed and then cemented into place!

The benefits of CEREC

Well, speed is the most obvious one: Not only does that mean ‘just one’ visit, but it also means ‘just one’ local anaesthetic. It also means ‘no temporary fittings’. Temporary fittings are common whilst patients are waiting for veneers or crown to return from a lab, but they do have a tendency to fall off! As you will be present during the production, you will also be able to influence your tooth’s design more than if it was being produced off-site.

Tags: CEREC treatment, CEREC treatment Liverpool, false teeth in a day, liverpool
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Fixed Braces Take On Modern Technology For Patients In Liverpool

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012

To the uninformed, fixed braces might seem like some antiquated throwback to American high school dramas: Something worn for kitsch, or because they are cheap. They might say things like ‘in a world where you can have clear removable aligners, why would you want fixed braces?’ For the record, these imagined people would be morons (or at least severely uninformed). Fixed braces are still with us because they are one of the most effective and versatile orthodontic treatments available. Removable aligners are also only suitable for certain problems, whereas fixed braces can tackle even the most complicated of bite problems. The removable aligner, therefore, is not the technological advancement of the fixed brace. Damon and In-Ovation R braces, however, are.

What are Damon braces?

Damon braces utilise a unique ‘sliding door’ mechanism which eliminates the need for elastic in your braces. This allows your teeth to move without friction, making both your experience with your braces much more comfortable and the brace itself easier to clean. The absence of elastic also means fewer adjustment appointments! Their special design also improves treatment time: Treatment can be cut by up to 25% with Damon braces. Damon braces are also more discreet as they utilise a ceramic-reinforced bracket system which can be coloured to fit in with your teeth’s natural appearance. They braces will not be invisible, but they won’t be too obvious either.

What are In-Ovation R braces?

Much like Damon braces, In-Ovation R braces are ‘self-litigating’. Both Damon and In-Ovation R braces offer similar advantages to each other, meaning they are both faster and more comfortable than conventional fixed braces.

The benefits of fixed braces

Aside from the advantages mentioned in the opening paragraph, one of the benefits of fixed braces is that they cannot be removed. This may seem a little odd, but allowing you to remove your braces opens up a vista of potential for human error: Removable aligners need to be worn for between 20 – 22 hours a day. Forgetting to put them back on can delay treatment and sometimes undo all of the orthodontic progress you’ve achieved. With fixed braces, you have no such problems.

Tags: Damon braces, Damon braces Liverpool, discreet fixed braces, liverpool
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Cover Those Imperfections With High Quality Veneers For Patients In Liverpool

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

Alas, everything from a major accident to drinking tea can negatively impact on your teeth and, unless you have been eating tofu in a bubble since birth, chances are some cosmetic blemishes will have reared their niggling little features on those otherwise pristine and pearly whites. Dental veneers are wafer thin shells of tooth-like material which can be affixed to your teeth, thus covering up anything undesired and providing the appearance of perfect teeth. Veneers can help cover gaps, hide stains, and seemingly repair damage teeth and, although not ideal, can even aid with marginally crooked teeth in a process nicknamed ‘instant orthodontics’. There are different types of veneer and the debate tends to be between ‘porcelain or composite’ veneers – which is better? At Liverpool Dental Spa we prefer ‘Lumineers’ – the veneer equivalent of dynamite in a game of rock-paper-scissors.

What are Lumineers?

Lumineers are a special type of Veneer made from very thin, but very strong, material.

The advantages of Lumineers

Standard veneers are often called ‘false nails for the teeth,’ in part on account of their thickness. In contrast, Lumineers are called ‘contact lenses for the teeth’ on account of how thin they are. Why exactly is this of any advantage? Standard Veneers require a portion of your front teeth to be removed in order to accommodate them, thus making the process irreversible. Lumineers, in contrast, require little to no teeth preparation, meaning the process can often be reversed. Composite veneers also tend to have a lifespan of two years at best, whilst Porcelain Veneers typically last for between five and ten years. Lumineers, in contrast, can last for up to twenty years. Lumineers cost more than other veneers, but their durability can make them more cost-effective in the long run. Lumineers are also very versatile and should be able to fit over any other dental work you have had done without any problem.

Do all dentists offer this treatment?

No, but we at Liverpool Dental Spa do. If this specialist treatment sounds right for you, then why not call us for a consultation?

Tags: liverpool, Liverpool Lumineers, Lumineers, Porcelain veneers
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Children’s Oral Health For Patients In Liverpool

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

Sweets and power ballads are both guilty pleasures which, when put together, can be read as a grave warning: In ‘The Greatest Love of All’, as made famous by Whitney Houston, we are told that “the children are our future” and are asked “teach them well and let them lead the way.” Conventional wisdom, of course, tells us that children love sweets and, if we don’t teach them of the bonbon’s destructive potential, this will not only mean the collapse of their teeth but of dentistry as we know it!

The importance of education

…pop-culture references aside, we at Liverpool Dental Spa believe prevention is better than cure. That is why we provide and encourage check up’s for children prior to their first teeth emerging. We aim to provide them with all the knowledge they need to take care of their teeth, including: How to brush properly, how to floss and how to maintain general hygiene. We also aim to help the child establish a good relationship the dentist, in a bid to prevent them developing dental phobia. We also offer guidance on diet and how it can affect the teeth.

Cleaning children’s teeth

Chances are, you may be cleaning your child’s teeth until they are roughly seven years old. During this period, attempt to turn these into regular habits: Brushing once after breakfast and once before bed, for two minutes. This is really the cornerstone of caring for your teeth! If you can, try and wait for an hour after eating before brushing their teeth: The acids produced in some foods can temporarily soften enamel, meaning that brushing hard after eating can wear your enamel away! Waiting for about an hour, after eating, helps to avoid this.

Preventative treatments

If parents are concerned about their child’s teeth during this learning period, we do offer fluoride applications and fissure sealant services which can protect teeth from decay and damage for many years. If you have any queries or concerns, don’t hesitate to ask us!

Tags: Children's dentistry, children's oral health, liverpool, Liverpool children's oral health
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Dental Spa Treatments For Liverpool Patients To Luxuriate In

Thursday, September 27th, 2012

The term “dental spa” is not new. It is thought its use came into fashion in Bath during the 18^th century when people travelled to that city to bathe in the spa waters.

Interestingly at that time a woman dentist – Ms Curris – offered beauty treatments to local women along with dental treatment.

Since then dentists have been offering other treatments besides extractions and fillings. As such, there are an increasing number of treatments available, some of which are listed below.

Cosmetic dentistry

This covers a number of treatments, all of which help improve the appearance of the teeth. They include veneers, tooth whitening, bridgework implants, tooth straightening gum re-shaping, tooth re-shaping and cosmetic bonding. The latter is a treatment for restoring the surface of teeth by applying an enamel-like material. It is generally used when teeth are worn or chipped or to fill small gaps in between teeth.

Minor medical procedures

While traditionally this sort of thing was carried out by plastic surgeons, dentists can now offer simple cosmetic treatments. The commonest is Botox and filler therapies, but there are other treatments now available such as laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, lip augmentation and skin rejuvenation.

Other minor medical procedures include treating a variety of skin complaints such as sun damaged skin, skin tag, mole, wart and verruca removal, and microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is something that was at one time carried out specifically by plastic surgeons, but cosmetic dentists are now able to offer this type of procedure as well.

The technique is basically a skin rejuvenation procedure that is designed to restore the youthful appearance of the face. Treatments could include removing fine lines and wrinkles, improving oily, dry, and patchy or acne prone skin, removing blackheads, whiteheads, superficial age spots and hyper pigmentation

Tags: Dental Spa Treatments, Dental Spa Treatments Liverpool, liverpool, skin rejuvenation
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Patients In Liverpool Can Treat Themselves To A Smile Makeover

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

The 21^st century is now one in which feeling confident about one’s appearance is massively important. This applies not to just women but men also.

Part of that beautification is having clean, white teeth, which is understandable as a person’s smile is the first thing noticed when meeting someone.

But what can be done about this?

The answer is a smile makeover. This is basically working to improve the appearance of the teeth in whatever way it takes. At the lower end of the scale, treatment may just involve whitening the teeth. But at the other end it may mean heavy restorative dental treatment.

What is the goal of a smile makeover?

The basic aim is to make a person feel confident about their smile. Consequently, when visiting the dentist, the latter is likely to ask initially what it is about the smile that isn’t liked.

Once this question is answered the dentist can offer viable solutions to the problem. For instance yellowing teeth is often a result of aging or a food / drink diet. Simple tooth whitening will restore the natural colour of the teeth by removing the staining.

Other treatments

Creating a great smile however may involve a lot more than just teeth whitening. Other treatments could involve realigning teeth, reducing the spacing between teeth, making them more even, replacing missing teeth by a dental implant, restoring unsightly chipped, cracked or broken teeth. In some cases the dentists may even offer to reshape the face by getting rid of wrinkles and lines around the mouth and so on.

Deciding on treatment

Before embarking on a smile makeover it is vital that the dentist examines the condition of the teeth and gums. This is vital as there may be problems that are not readily aware of. Once this is done, the dentist will be in a better position to offer advice and help.

Finally, one other thing that must be taken into account and that is the cost. Smile makeovers may be costly. It really depends on what treatment is needed. Insurance may cover this however.

Tags: improve teeth appearence, liverpool, smile makeover, smile makeover Liverpool
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Root Canal Treatment For Patients In The City Of Liverpool

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Root canal treatment is used when there is a danger of infection developing in the root of the tooth. There may already be some infection in which it is vital for this to be treated otherwise it could cause major complications for the patient.

The need for root canal therapy occurs usually because of the development of infected abscesses below the line of the tooth. The tooth itself may have to be removed initially, but the abscess itself is the main problem.

Saving the Tooth

In order to save the tooth from infection the dentist will drill into the pulp chamber removing infected pulp along with the root nerve. An inert filling is then inserted into gap. This seals the canal opening preventing any bacteria from infecting the area.

The normal material used in the procedure is a latex product developed from the sap of the percha tree. It is generally known as gutta-percha. This rubber-like material is used because of its non-elastic properties, making it easy to use. It is injected into the root canal along with dental cement and sealant.

Is the procedure painful?

Unfortunately as with most dental treatments, root canal therapy can be painful. However the dentist will apply a local anaesthetic. That said if the abscess is swollen it can affect the anaesthetic. In this case the abscess will have to be drained before any local anaesthetic is applied. It is generally the pressure of the abscess in the first place that will have caused the pain.

If it is found necessary to drain the abscess then the dentist will probably prescribe an antibiotic prior to booking an appointment for root canal treatment. Further, the latter can be a difficult surgical procedure to carry out. This may mean several visits before it is completed. The dentist will in all probability prescribe pain relief as part of the after care.

Alternatives to Root Canal Therapy

Currently, the only real viable alternative to root canal treatment is to have the tooth extracted. However the tooth itself may be healthy so it is a drastic step to treat a problem caused by an abscess.

Tags: liverpool, removing tooth infection, Root canal treatment, Root canal treatment Liverpool
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Perfect Clear Braces So That Patients In Liverpool Can Smile In Confidence

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

For most people having to wear a brace on their teeth for several months can be quite daunting. Traditionally, they were forced to wear something that was either uncomfortable or garish to look at or both.

However in recent years, technological research has developed a range of new braces which are not only much more comfortable to wear but are also aesthetically pleasing.

But even so, for many people it would be even better to have something that is invisible or at least almost invisible to look at. And that’s where Invisalign braces come into their own. They could even be called the perfect brace.

Invisalign braces use a series of clear, removable teeth aligners whereas traditional braces tend to have fixed parts which over time can cause some discomfort as well as embarrassment for the wearer.

Invisalign braces on the other hand are effectively clear and can be removed when necessary.

Advantages of Clear Braces

The main advantage to wearing such braces is cosmetic. The aligners are completely transparent and therefore unobtrusive.

Also, since the aligners can be removed, food can be eaten without any of the parts getting in the way. Moreover it makes cleaning teeth and gums much easier.

While not proved, it is also said that the actual process of fitting clear braces is a lot quicker than fitting traditional fixed metal braces. Further they are said to work faster at straightening the teeth.

Disadvantages of Clear Braces

While clear braces have advantages for the fashion conscious individual they are not perfect in every way. There are some disadvantages to wearing them. For example, fitting them does depend on the cooperation of the patient. Further, ensuring they remain in place when needed is out of control of the dentist.

Similarly, since they are removable they can perhaps be lost. What’s more, they are more expensive than traditional methods, so losing them can be costly in more ways than one.

Patients’ habits can also affect the wear of the device. For instance, if the individual grinds his or her teeth this can easily damage the aligners.

Finally, the aligners are known to cause minor allergic reactions in some patients, such as a sore throat, a cough or in more severe cases, nausea.

Tags: clear braces, Invisible braces, Invisible braces Liverpool, liverpool
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