Dental X-rays
Dental X-rays (radiographs) are a very useful special test available to dentists. There are many reasons why a dentist may advise an x-ray is necessary. Periodically it is good practice to take x-rays of the back teeth even if they appear healthy as x-rays can show early stages of decay before they are visible. They also give some indication of bone levels, an indicator of gum health.
X-rays can give information on the roots of teeth and the bone around them so will at times be taken to aid diagnosing the cause of any reported pain. They are also essential when considering dental implants.
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Implants
Dental implants are titanium screws, which are the closest possible replacement to a natural tooth or teeth and are placed in the jaw bone. The implant(s) can then be used to replace a single tooth or multiple missing teeth or to support a denture.
Dental Impants:
- Provides a stable foundation for eating and smiling confidence
- Removes the need to compromise healthy teeth for a bridge
- Eliminate the problems associated with removable dentures
- Helps to preserve the jaw bone
- Long term success rates of over 95% as shown in clinical studies
For any more information, please visit: http://straumann.co.uk/patients
Whitening
Tooth whitening can be highly effective in lightening the colour of teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. It cannot make a colour change but it lightens the existing colour.
Clearstep
To put it simply, The Clearstep System is a way of achieving a beautiful smile invisibly.
The System is comprised of a number of different invisible methods that we use in conjunction with clear positioners. The clear positioners are excellent at straightening out overlapping, crooked or gappy teeth, but they can’t solve every problem on their own. The clear positioners continue to be the main method of treatment with The Clearstep System. They are wafer thin and made of a transparent medical grade plastic.
They are designed so that you wear each positioner for approximately two weeks. Little by little they gently move your teeth from their present to your desired position, as you work through the steps.
They are very comfortable and don’t impact on your speech, but importantly, are removable so you can take them out for an important business meeting or a hot date!
Clear positioners are designed for your teeth specifically. They are, however, not supposed to fit perfectly – if they did, they wouldn’t be able to move your teeth! This means that they will feel very tight for the first day or two, until your teeth begin to move. But don’t worry, after a few days the positioners will become looser and easier to take out and put back in, which means they’re working nicely!
We supply the clear positioners in stages. Each stage consists of 8 steps on coded models of your teeth. The positioners must be worn in sequence, with each positioner worn for approximately 2 weeks, or once they have become loose. Each positioner will provide gradual movement, bringing your teeth closer to that perfect smile!
The positioners are removed for eating, and must also be taken out when drinking hot and fizzy drinks. Make sure you keep your positioners nice and clean with luke warm water and a soft bristle toothbrush. Please don’t use toothpaste as this may scratch and subsequently stain the positioner. Try to clean your teeth before putting them back in too. We suggest you soak your positioners in Retainer Brite or something similar, which will ensure that any nasty odours are taken care of.
Other invisible orthodontic methods must be looked after and cleaned carefully. Removable braces should be cleaned with luke warm water with a soft bristle toothbrush as well as soaked in Retainer Brite or something similar.
Extra care must be taken with fixed orthodontics, as they cannot be removed for eating and cleaning. Very hard and sticky foods should be avoided, as should food and drinks with a high sugar or acid content. A fixed brace should be cleaned with an orthodontic and an inter-dental toothbrush.
