Category: health clinic

Dental

Clearing the Myths Around Dental Disease in Children

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Many parents may consider that they have a sound understanding of how to care for their children’s teeth, but the results from numerous studies over the years show that this is far from the case.

Conclusions drawn from a recent study carried out by Oral-B have provided an interesting glimpse into the public health crisis that childhood tooth decay has become.

First is the battle of the tooth brushing routine with 70 per cent of British parents admitting to finding supervising this obligatory oral health practice particularly stressful. Due to parental frustrations and wanting to avoid the tantrums which usually precede tooth brushing time, many children don’t end up brushing their teeth twice daily, or, if they do get to, only brush for 76 seconds out of the dentist-recommended two minutes. 

The government and dental authorities can help curb the public health crisis that childhood tooth decay has become by creating awareness campaigns, but it is what happens in the home ultimately where the solution really lies.

Parental influence is critical to stop poor dental health in children

Due to prevailing misconceptions about children’s oral health, parents may not know just how critically important it is to have their child’s first dental appointment at a proper dentist Richmond. The Oral Health Foundation advocates this takes place as early as six months old, which is when a child’s first milk tooth makes an appearance. For other babies this may happen around their first birthday.

These dental visits serve another purpose as well – they are incredible opportunities to help a child become familiar with the dental practitioner and the sights and sounds of a dental environment, all of which helps in building a lifelong appreciation of dental health.

Another misconception surrounds milk teeth. Milk teeth serve a shorter length of service compared to permanent teeth which replace them. As they are not intended to offer a life-long service, the enamel is made relatively weaker which is why they are so easily vulnerable to dietary sugars and acids. Despite their short lifespan, milk teeth still need to be cared for properly to avoid the negative consequences that follow cavities and tooth decay.

The adverse effects of the frequent and excessive consumption of sugars and acidic foods in children’s diets has been well-recorded. It is not just the fact that many of the foods children eat are much too high in sugar, it is more the frequency of consuming these meals where the real danger lies. These unwanted levels of sugars and acids tend to draw out the minerals in enamel that keep them strong, leading teeth to put up a weak defence against the invasion of plaque.

Children suffering pain from tooth decay may avoid eating (their nutrition and physical development may become a concern), exhibit anti-social behavioural symptoms like withdrawing from activities they enjoy or from talking in general, to manage the pain. They may miss out on schooling because of lack of concentration or focus in their lessons impacting … Read More..

Dental

Can You Identify the Real Goal of Straightening Teeth?

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Much of the focus on teeth straightening treatments, whether they be metal braces or the highly popular modern aligner-like braces, is on how these orthodontic appliances are used to create warm and engaging smiles. In fact, it is not uncommon for ‘Invisalign dentist in Welwyn’ to be a top search term used by patients interested in orthodontics.

The debate on the most profound benefit of teeth straightening – superficial cosmetic goals or obtaining optimal oral health – continues to heat up. We discuss both sides of the coin.

Yes, focusing on improving a smile’s appearance is a worthy goal considering how attractive smiles can influence the overall quality of life. It is especially so for the younger generation who value winning smiles as real currency – beautiful smiles are most likely to gain the wearer better job prospects or allow them to take advantage of the fact that society rewards those with pleasing smiles. There are plenty of documented studies that have delved into this phenomenon of attractive physical appearance and its effects. One study found one in five respondents who admitted to taking the view that their teeth had more of a negative impact on their confidence than other common appearance woes like their body, hair, or wrinkles.

Individuals rated attractive are generally perceived to have many highly sought after positive characteristics like friendliness, intelligence, leadership potential, kindness, and trustworthiness. These individuals are also treated more fairly regardless of whether they were in a court of law or out on the street committing traffic offences. Society does this perhaps unconsciously for it does not signify whether they deserve it or not. We tend to respond favourably towards people who we think are more attractive; hence, even the processes of law may appear to be discriminatory in a way.

On the flip side of the coin is the real difference aligned teeth make to dental health. With all the awareness created around brushing teeth, only a slight few can claim to not know that oral hygiene is fundamental to dental health.

While many of us incorporate brushing teeth and flossing into our daily routines as suggested by the NHS, how many actually question how effective these recommended dental duties are?

This question is most pertinent to those who have crooked teeth since this oral health issue directly impacts oral hygiene. They may think that simply brushing their teeth is enough; however, this is far from the case for it is most likely that food particles and bad bacteria continue to hide and thrive in those awkward spaces in between crooked teeth.

It is not surprising to find that teeth are highly vulnerable to the invasion of hard deposits of plaque and tartar that give rise to gum diseases. Neglecting dental hygiene is a significant contributor to all sorts of dental health issues (bad breath, discoloured teeth, tooth decay, and missing teeth) which can eventually compromise the smile. This is where experienced dental practitioners come in as they … Read More..

health articles

Should I get Botox? Information About the Treatment

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You may have heard about people getting botox Dublin, but you might not know what it actually is, how it works, and what the benefits are. It is good to read information like this so you can get an idea of what the experience will be like, and you can know what to expect when you go in.

What is it?

Botox is a drug that is injected into your face to help with various things. It blocks the signals from the nerves to the muscles, meaning that the muscles cannot contract. This allows for your wrinkles to soften and relax, which reduces the appearance of them. This procedure not only helps with wrinkles, but can help with a whole array of things; these have been mentioned below.

What can it help with?

Even though reducing the appearance of wrinkles is the common reason people get botox, there are other things that it can help with. Another reason that you may want to get this procedure is if you have severe underarm sweating. Having the injection for your underarms can reduce the sweating by 82-87%. It works by blocking the chemical in your body that activates sweat glands. This can really help to reduce your sweating, therefore increasing your comfort and confidence.

This procedure can also help with something called cervical dystonia, which is a neurological disorder that causes shoulder and neck spasms. Having these spasms can be painful and uncomfortable, and the injections can help with this. This is done by the botox preventing nerves from releasing something called acetylcholine. Due to this, your nerves will not send messages to the muscles telling them to spasm. This can really help with reducing your neck or shoulder spasms, and allows you to live a more comfortable life.

Uncontrollable blinking is another thing that can be helped by this procedure. Sometimes, you may experience blinking that you cannot control, and this can lower your self esteem and be uncomfortable. Similar to above, it works by blocking the signal from the nerve, which helps to reduce the spasms in your eye.

How does it work?

This procedure is very simple, but effective, and you won’t need anesthesia. It involves a small needle which will inject the botox into the chosen muscle. The muscle that it is injected into will vary depending on your needs, such as facial muscles for wrinkles, or a shoulder muscle for shoulder spasms. You will only experience minor discomfort during the treatment, and people generally start to see the full effects after 7-14 days. It is recommended to avoid alcohol at least 1 week before your procedure, and to stop taking anti-inflammatory medications 2 weeks before, which can help with reducing bruising. Your doctor will also recommend that you avoid rubbing the area for 24 hours to avoid moving the botox out of place.

The effects usually last from 3-6 months, the botox will eventually dissolve and cause your wrinkles to reappear. This is when you can … Read More..

Dental

Worried That a Root Canal Will Turn Your Tooth Black? 5 FAQs About Root Canals Answered

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Despite its success and long history among dental surgeries, it is one of the most unliked of all dental procedures; the root canal.

Used to treat teeth that have recently become infected or have had the pulp exposed through a trauma, a root canal is a fairly simple procedure by which your dentist near Sydney CBD removes the infected debris. So, why is it so universally despised?

There are a few theories! The first is that as it is associated with infections or other uncomfortable dental procedures, it has been unfortunately linked to discomfort. Another theory is that it as it is a form of general dentistry, it is rarely spoken about.

So, if you need a root canal performed and have some queries, read on for answers to 5 of the most commonly asked FAQs about the process.

How does it remove the infection?

OK, so the first thing to understand about a root canal is how it is performed.

Your dental team will numb the area and then drill directly down into the root(s) of your teeth with a thin drill. Using a set of dental files, this hole is widened to make room for the cleaning brushes. Then, very gently, the infected debris is removed from the root(s) of the teeth, while the area is intermittently sprayed with antiseptic liquid.

Once all the bacteria is removed, the hole is filled with a putty-like substance and is topped off with either a crown or filling.

Does it kill the tooth?

A root canal does not kill your tooth.

While your dental team is removing the infection, they may inadvertently remove some of the nerves that are within your tooth but this will not kill it.

Once the treatment is complete, you will be able to ‘feel’ your tooth when you bite into things and chew; aesthetically the tooth will remain the same and will not turn black!

Is the tooth weaker due to the root canal?

Yes, it is, hence why your dental team will fill it with heavy putty-like material and why they will top it off with either a large filling or crown.

If you have concerns that your tooth requires more support, your dental team may even choose to fit a veneer on to it.

Does it need any specialised aftercare?

Following a root canal, you are likely to feel a bit of soreness underneath where the procedure was performed. But this should be temporary and should be manageable with over the counter pain relief.

Aside from being a bit gentler while the site heals, no, a root canal does not require any specialised aftercare.

How long will it last?

Root canals have excellent longevity and, provided that you maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dental team every 6 months for a check-up, they can last for the rest of your life without any issue or recurrence of the initial infection. So, it’s definitely a worthwhile procedure to have completed!

DISCLAIMER OFFSITE

Any surgical … Read More..

Dental

How do dental implants work?

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If you are unhappy with the way your smile looks due to gaps in your teeth, then dental implants Hertfordshire could be a great treatment for you. This treatment is popular due to it usually being completed in only two surgical appointments. This means that it is a quick help for a gappy smile, with effective results.

Am I eligible?

Most people can undergo this treatment, but sometimes there is not enough bone structure in the problem area for the implant to fuse to. This is when you would not be eligible for the treatment, but it doesn’t end there. Having a bone graft is a good way to become eligible for this treatment, as it allows for there to eventually be enough bone to go through with it.

What’s the process?

When you decide to have this treatment done, you will firstly have a consultation meeting with your dentist to discuss the process and for them to examine the problem area/s. They will also take scans of your teeth to see how much bone structure you have left, as this is important for the foundation and structure of the implant.

During your first surgical appointment, your dentist will open up the gum in the selected area to expose the bone, which is where the implant post will be inserted. The post will be inserted pretty deep into the bone to make sure that it will be stable when the crown is attached. This will then be closed back up and left to heal for several months.

This healing process between your two appointments is vital in ensuring that your implant is durable and stable enough to last for years. During the months that the implant post is left to heal, it will fuse with your bone and almost become a part of your mouth. This is what makes artificial oral implants such a great long-term help for gappy teeth. With the right care, they can last for up to 20 years!

Once the area has fully healed, you will come back in for your second and final appointment, which is when the crown will be attached to the implant post. A crown is a piece of tooth-shaped porcelain, which can be adjusted to match the rest of your teeth as closely as possible. This is when you will really see the difference that your new teeth can really make! You can choose to either have a removable or permanent crown, it is up to you.

Aftercare

Sometimes after the process is completed, you will be asked to rinse your mouth with an antibacterial solution for 1 week afterwards to help prevent any infection from arising. A follow-up appointment will always be advised, so that your dentist can check up on your progress and make sure everything is going smoothly.

As for taking care of the implants, it is very simple. All you will need to do is brush and floss regularly like anyone else would with their natural teeth, … Read More..