Dental Blog - Orpington Dental Care

Dental hygiene care in Orpington

Dental hygiene involves the relationship between oral health care and overall body health. Good oral hygiene starts at home, but it has to be combined with regular visits to the dentist and the dental hygienist for check-ups and cleanings.

At Orpington Dental in Orpington, we offer a wider range of dental hygiene services such as check-ups, gum disease treatment as well as oral cancer screenings. However, the most important preventive measure against gum disease and tooth decay is regular cleanings. We believe that prevention is better than cure, therefore, we urge our patients to visit the practice regularly for cleanings in order to avoid oral complications and unnecessary (as well as expensive) treatment in the future.

Our services

At our practice, dental hygiene treatment is delivered by our experienced hygienists, who will remove any plaque and tartar residue from your teeth and gums. Plaque is a deposit made of food bacteria that tends to stick to the teeth. If left untreated it turns into tartar, a calcified form of plaque. Generally, dental plaque can be removed by brushing our teeth and flossing on daily basis, however, we are not always capable of reaching small corners and crevices in our mouth, where it tends to accumulate.

Our hygienist will use special equipment to scrape the plaque off your teeth and beneath your gum line and then will clean your teeth with special pastes. Once finished, your teeth will be polished. This is really important because polishing can help keep plaque away from your teeth for longer.

An important aspect of the hygienist’s role in our practice, is to show our patients how to look after of their teeth so they remain free from bacteria and plaque. They will offer advice on the best brushing technique as well as tips on flossing and using specialised brushes.

Get in touch

At our practice, we are also happy to recommend and provide preventive treatments such as fluoride treatments and gum disease treatments in order to keep your teeth and gums strong and disease-free. Contact us today to schedule a cleaning or consultation appointment with one of our dentists.

Missing teeth are more than just unsightly

Losing your teeth can cause issues with your appearance and can also create difficulties with everyday activities such as eating and speaking. If you are not happy with how you look, this knocks your confidence and enjoyment of social interactions. In the past, replacing teeth used to involve removeable appliances that restricted what foods you could eat. They were also often wobbly, inconvenient to clean or uncomfortable. Fortunately, at Orpington Dental Care in Orpington, dental implants are an established technique for replacing teeth. We are proud to have used this technology to restore quality of life for hundreds of patients.

A flexible option

Dental implants work in the same way as a natural tooth root and can be used as a secure base for one tooth, several teeth or a whole set. We are experienced in fitting dental implants in Orpington and will discuss your needs so that, whatever the problem, we can find the best solution. In some cases, it is better to remove some teeth if they are in poor condition but we would always try to preserve existing teeth if possible. To replace a full set, you will usually have four implants. The implants are rod-shaped metal screws which are inserted into the jaw during a minor operation. When the bones and blood vessels of the jaw have meshed around the metal implants and stabilised them, a full denture can be permanently fixed in place.

What are the benefits?

When you choose dental implants in Orpington, you are opting for a secure, permanent solution. Once they are fitted, your replacement teeth will feel just like natural ones so you can eat your favourite meals again without concern. Another major advantage is that implants stimulate the bones of the jaw in the same way as natural teeth when you bite and chew. This keeps the tissues healthy, as the jawbone does not shrink back as they do if you have gaps or use dentures. There is also the visible benefit of having a smile you can be proud of again.

Restore your smile and quality of life and talk to us about how having dental implants in Orpington could help you.

Do you love your smile?

A great smile is the first thing that people notice about a person, but if you have teeth that are crooked, spaced too widely or crowded then you may stand out for the wrong reasons. Feeling self-conscious about your smile can make you awkward in social situations and mean that you shy away from having your photograph taken. If you have considered braces, but dismissed the idea because you thought they would be unsightly, time-consuming, inconvenient or uncomfortable, then you may like to hear about a new range of braces. Orpington is home to Orpington Dental Care and we are proud to offer techniques that make having your teeth straightened much more pleasant.

Braces that fit in with your lifestyle

Most adults do not want to have to worry about whether people can see their braces while they have their teeth straightened. Luckily, you no longer have to as modern methods are faster, more comfortable and less obtrusive than ever before. We offer braces in Orpington that give you the smile you dream of without affecting your everyday life. The Invisalign system uses a series of almost invisible clear plastic trays that are custom-made to fit your mouth. They are changed every two weeks to gently guide your teeth into a new position and removeable so you can take them out for eating and cleaning. Another popular option for patients who have braces in Orpington is the Six Month Smiles system, which uses very discreet clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires. It works on the front six teeth, which are the ones most visible when you smile so, although it cannot correct serious misalignments, it works rapidly to improve your appearance.

What are the advantages straighter teeth?

Aside from the obvious benefits of a more attractive smile, straighter teeth are also healthier. This is because there are fewer gaps in which plaque can accumulate, so they are easier to clean and you avoid the risk of decay or gum problems. Having braces in Orpington can improve your dental health as well as enhancing your appearance.

Invest in your smile and oral health and talk to us today about having braces in Orpington.

Straighter teeth, less hassle

Straighter teeth are far less hassle than crowded, crooked or misaligned teeth. Straight teeth are much easier to keep clean. Misaligned teeth can have crannies and crevices in hard to get at places where plaque can build up and solidify into tartar. The bacteria in plaque and tartar give off acid. It eats away at your tooth enamel, creating holes through which decay can enter.

At Orpington Dental Care, we know exactly what happens to misaligned teeth. We treat the problems they create on a regular basis. That’s why we are such big fans of braces in Orpington, although you could argue that fitting them to create lots of mouths with straighter teeth in will do us out of a job!

But we are also firm believers in the ethos of teeth being for life and that we should be doing our utmost to help you hang on to yours for as long as you can, hopefully for your whole life.

Getting straighter teeth with braces in Orpington could help you save a whole load of money on remedial treatments in later life. Decay can lead to expensive root canal therapy. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, and if you want to replace lost teeth with something fully functional, then you are looking at dental implants. These generally cost over £1,000 for one single crown implant.

The great news for adults with wonky teeth is that you can straighten them with braces that don’t dominate your mouth or interfere with your speech. We offer two great systems.

Six Month Smiles is great for straightening your front six teeth in a matter of mere months. They are bracket and wire braces, but the brackets are smaller and made of clear ceramic and the wires are tooth-coloured. The forces are gentler so they don’t hurt either.

Invisalign uses 3D printed clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth like bite guards. You get a series of them, each one moving your teeth gradually forward. These are removable making eating and cleaning less hassle. These can be used for more complex cases.

To find out more about braces in Orpington, why not give us a call?

Brighten your smile with tooth whitening in Orpington

Tooth whitening has reached new levels of popularity in recent years, since it is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to improve the appearance of your smile. No matter how much good care we take of our teeth, they are likely to become stained or discoloured over time.

This is mainly due to the consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, soda drinks and highly-pigmented foods; however, teeth yellow as we age and sometimes it’s just a matter of genetics. Discolouration can also be caused by smoking or certain medications. Whatever the cause, tooth whitening at Orpington Dental in Orpington can restore your bright, beautiful smile and take years off your appearance.

Our services

At Orpington Dental, we two different types of professional tooth whitening. Power whitening involves bleaching your teeth with Zoom technology in the dental practice. The process is quick, simple and requires only one visit. Your Orpington dentist will place a protective barrier over your lips and gums and apply a custom-made bleaching gel on your teeth.

The gel is stimulated with the aid of a lamp positioned straight over your teeth, activating the bleaching progress. After one hour your teeth will look much brighter than before. Tooth whitening with Zoom light technology is popular for busy people and patients who wish to whiten their teeth before a big event.

We also offer home whitening with custom-made bleaching trays. Your dentist will create two custom trays based on impressions of your teeth. These trays are made to fit comfortably over your teeth and gums. Whitening trays have to be worn a few hours every days for two weeks approximately. When the treatment finishes, your teeth will be whiter by several shades. Home whitening is ideal for people who would like to gradually whiten their teeth in the comfort of their home.

Both treatments are safe and effective with guaranteed results. Unlike over-the-counter bleaching products, professional teeth whitening is much safer. Readily available whitening product often contain less bleaching agents and are not as effective as professional treatments. More alarmingly, they can also harm your teeth and gums with careless use.

Adapting your dental implant procedure to suit you

At Orpington Dental Care, we treat every patient as an individual and create treatment plans for you based on your needs. When you have dental implants in Orpington with us, you will soon discover that there are lots of decisions that get made along the way depending on the circumstances in your mouth and jawbone.

During your initial consultation, your dentist will do a detailed examination and ask you questions to determine how your dental implant procedure will go. They also check your suitability for dental implants in Orpington at this point. As long as you are in good health and have the required jawbone density, the chances are good that you will be able to proceed. Even if there are some issues that need to be addressed, this often simply means further steps in your treatment plan.

How many dental implants do you need?

You may not need as many dental implants in Orpington as you think. A single implant can support a number of teeth if they are mounted on a bridge or denture. A full arch can be supported by as few as four implants, in the right circumstances.

Dental implants can be used to replace single teeth as well. If you have healthy teeth remaining, they do not need to be taken out or filed down in order to have dental implants fitted. Your dentist will make a precise plan to avoid damage or stress to your existing teeth during fitting.

Does your mouth need preparation?

Some circumstances in your mouth can be adjusted to make the environment more suitable for dental implants. For example, if you do not have the necessary height or thickness in your jawbone to support the actions of your new teeth, your dentist can build the area up using a bone graft. This is where material is taken from elsewhere in your body and added to the jawbone. It fuses in place and creates a foundation for you dental implants.

How long will it take to heal?

Everyone is different when it comes to healing. An average time for healing after dental implants is 8-12 weeks. However, the extent of your procedure, your health and lifestyle factors, like smoking, can all affect your progress. Your dentist plans regular check-ups with you during this time.

Straight talk about braces in Orpington

According to the British Orthodontic Society, only 25% of adults have naturally straight teeth, this means that three-quarters of all adults would benefit from having their teeth straightened to some degree. For many of us, the appearance of our teeth is enough to make us self-conscious and find that even family photographs can be a source of embarrassment, something that we avoid wherever possible. The problem is that for many of us, the image of braces that we are familiar with is of the rather ugly and obtrusive train-track style worn by many teenagers.

Braces in Orpington Times have changed and technology has brought a number of exciting improvements to the world of braces. Orpington Dental Care offers a range of products for patients of all ages, and demand is continuing to increase as more people can see the benefits of having straighter teeth. One of the greatest improvements to the fixed-wire type of brace is that modern fixed braces are now considerably smaller and less obtrusive than they were. In addition there are now tooth-coloured brackets and wires, as well as removable clear aligners of different types suited to every orthodontic need.

Braces for grown-ups

In many cases, your orthodontic needs as an adult are quite different from those of your children. When children have braces, the dentist will usually work on all of the teeth to correct their alignment. For many adults, it is often only necessary to straighten your front teeth. There are two advantages when you only have your front teeth straightened: firstly the procedure is much quicker, in some cases it can take as little as six months. In fact one of the treatments is called Six Month Smiles. The second advantage is that these types of adult braces are very discreet and very few people will notice that you are wearing them.

If you had orthodontic treatment when you were younger, you may have experienced some relapse in the position of your teeth unless you have had a permanent retainer fitted. In this case we can use an Inman aligner to re-adjust your front teeth before fitting a permanent retainer. If you’re thinking about braces in Orpington come and find out what we can do for you here at Orpington Dental Care.

Closing the gap with dental implants in Orpington

Dental implants are the most modern form of tooth replacement, although they have been in use since the early 1960s. Before dental implants were invented, dentures and bridges were your only alternatives when it came to restoring the appearance of your teeth, neither of which are entirely satisfactory when it comes to restoring the function of your teeth. Dental implants can restore both the appearance and the function of your teeth which is why they are now widely regarded as the gold-standard of tooth replacement.

Dental Implants in Orpington Dental implants are widely regarded by dentists as the most reliable long-term method of restoring individual teeth as well as allowing them to fix bridges of up to three teeth without having to grind down the adjoining teeth to allow them to fit crowns to hold the bridge in place. This is beneficial to your long-term dental health as you are able to retain more of your own teeth in an undamaged state. Here at our practice in Orpington, dental implants are proving popular with many patients who have lost teeth, especially when we explain about the overall benefits of dental implants.

So what are the benefits of dental implants?

From the point of view of our patients, dental implants offer a number of beneficial effects. One of the most important of these is that they restore the function of your teeth, not just in your mouth, but in your jaw as well. Unlike bridges and dentures which sit on your gums, the titanium screw which is fixed into your jaw helps to maintain the structure of your jawbone. Without the natural stimulation on your jaw from the biting and chewing process, the bone begins to shrink. This is why people who have lost all their teeth develop a distinctive look over time as their lips and teeth are no-longer supported by the teeth and jaws.

The other benefit of dental implants is that once fully integrated the tooth or teeth will be secure and reliable, allowing you to eat, speak and even laugh with perfect confidence that your teeth will stay in your mouth. If you would like to find out more about the benefits of dental implants in Orpington, book your appointment today.

Invisalign: straighten your teeth without braces in Orpington

Teeth straightening is a big decision that affects not only your appearance, but your lifestyle as well. As an adult, you may have missed on metal braces when you were younger or you may have developed crooked or misaligned teeth after your childhood. Either way, you can now straighten your teeth without having to wear metal braces, with Invisalign. This innovative treatment provides an easy, quick, safe and effective way to straighten your teeth without putting your life on hold.

At Orpington Dental in Orpington, Invisalign is a great choice for patients who are searching for a more discreet teeth straightening option. However, Invisalign doesn’t make the best choice for correcting all types of misalignment. Our experienced dentists will examine your teeth and help you decide whether Invisalign is the right treatment for you.

Understanding Invisalign

Invisalign straightens your teeth using a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners, which are custom-made with the aid of 3D technology specifically for your teeth. As you replace each aligner with the next one in the series every two weeks, your teeth will move gradually towards their final position. Unlike regular braces that require frequent appointments for adjustments, Invisalign will not have a major impact on your schedule and lifestyle.

Benefits of Invisalign

Unlike traditional braces that use metal brackets and wires to straighten teeth, Invisalign aligners are made of smooth plastic and fit snugly over your teeth and gums. They are transparent therefore no one will notice that you are undergoing treatment. You can carry on with your normal activities and professional commitments without having to worry about what people will think of your teeth straightening.

Secondly, Invisalign clear braces are removable. Although you have to wear them at least 22 hours per day for effective treatment, you can take them out for eating as well as for brushing and flossing your teeth.

While it’s true that your properly aligned teeth will give you more reasons to keep smiling, teeth straightening is also important for your oral and overall health. Straight teeth are easier to keep clean and healthy. This way, you can avoid gum disease, jaw problems and sleep apnoea.

Explore your options

To find out if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, contact our practice and schedule an appointment with our friendly dental team.

Transform your smile

Are you sick of looking in the mirror and disliking the smile in the reflection? Have you had years of hiding your teeth? Well that time is up, we at Orpington Dental Care are here to help. Here in Orpington, braces are no longer a word that evokes fear of pain and an unsightly smile. We offer Invisalign braces to enhance not just your smile but your confidence.

What are Invisalign braces?

Invisalign is an innovative new technique designed to take away the discomfort of traditional braces. It is a system designed to realign teeth to give you the A-List celebrity smile you have been craving. Our braces are completely clear so no-one even needs to know you are wearing them. Imagine a life free of unappealing fixed braces. We have taken steps to provide Invisalign braces at an affordable price, so more adults can look forward to straighter teeth.

How do they work?

Our qualified dentists will take impressions of your teeth to create a custom-made series of aligners that snugly fit over your teeth. With Invisalign braces in Orpington, we will even be able to show you what your teeth will look like after your treatment is complete, thanks to 3D imaging technology.

Invisalign aligners gradually reposition your teeth over a period of between 6 to 18 months. Times vary depending on how diligently you wear your aligners and how much shifting your teeth need.

The aligners are removable so there is no need to worry about having them in for your big night out, they can be removed and replaced in seconds. As well all these benefits Invisalign braces in Orpington are also currently the most hygienic and comfortable braces available. To clean your teeth, simply take them off.

Invisalign offers you freedom you just do not get from other braces. Orpington Dental Care can even offer you treatment to fit your budget, meaning not only are Invisalign braces almost invisible but they are affordable too.

So, why wait, contact Orpington Dental Care today and speak to one our friendly team members for your initial consultation with our highly trained and experienced dentists.

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