Author: Aura Dental
What if my child cannot get braces on the NHS?
By Amy Cuckoo
This is a popular question we get from our parents in clinic and the question
we would type into Google if our children were turned away from the NHS for orthodontics. But what options are available if this does happen?
Firstly, I would like to say that the NHS are fantastic and do an incredible job. This blog post is simply highlighting the difficulty parents are facing getting orthodontics on the NHS and what options are available to them if their child is refused them.
However, before I go to the solutions, let me give you some insight as to why some parents are finding it increasingly difficult to get NHS braces for their child and why they are turning to private practices like Aura Dental to help.
Why is it so difficult?
It is a common public misconception that private practices choose not to provide NHS services, I know I thought this before I worked in Dentistry, however, whilst this is correct for some practices, for others it is extremely difficult to “win” a contract bid.
NHS Orthodontic tenders are available to the most competitive bidder and unfortunately there are very few tenders available. In April 2019, only one practice in the Westminster borough, housing 226,000+ people, will be able to provide NHS orthodontics.
The City of Westminster undertook an assessment of the Westminster population in 2013 and at that time there were 18,975 children aged from 10-19. That’s 18,974 other parents competing with you and your child to get free orthodontic treatment on the NHS. ¹
But why would you not be able to get the braces?
If you have taken your child for an NHS assessment then it’s likely you would have heard about the IOTN rating system, this is the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and is used to assess your child’s eligibility for NHS treatment.
- Grade 1 = almost perfection
- Grade 2 = minor irregularities
- Grade 3 = greater irregularities which normally do not need treatment for health reasons.
- Grade 4 = severe degrees of irregularity
- Grade 5 = severe dental health problems
If you would like to know what is included in these scales, please the British Orthodontic Society page here.
NHS treatment is only available for grade 4 and grade 5 cases. Grade 3 cases are rare and usually judged on an individual basis.
Waiting times
We are always told that “Good things come to those who wait”, however, this is not the same for NHS Orthodontics.
With 18,000 children+ all trying to squeeze in the same funnel the waiting lists for treatment are around 1-2+ years, with the initial consultation having up to a 6 month wait.
Help me!
So, you’ve been waiting for all the baby teeth to fall out, you’ve been waiting for their assessment and been told that they don’t make the IOTN scale, or you’ve been told that they can have them but there is a 2-year waiting list and you don’t want to wait, what do you do now?!
Our first advise is to go to the assessment and see if your child is suitable, if you can get this on the NHS then you absolutely should!
However, if you want to be seen sooner or if they have been declined on the NHS, Dr Korosh Majidi at Aura Dental has a special interest in Orthodontics and extensive experience in children’s orthodontics. Dr Majidi will be happy to see you complimentary!
Seeing us at Aura Dental mean no fees for weekend or out of school appointments!
I hear your next question, “how much is this going to cost me though?”. The initial assessment is completely complimentary and with braces starting from £1999 for a single arch, £2800 for both arches and finance packages available, where there is a will there is a way!
References:
Getting what you want from braces in St John’s Wood
If you have bite issues, misalignment and even gaps you may be considering braces. If your career demands perfect appearance or you are style conscious, especially working in the city, the idea of using teeth straightening apparatus may have you stalling what could be a very quick fix. At Aura Dental we can assess your teeth and provide you with solutions to all of your teeth straightening concerns that will not compromise the way you look.
Dental options that may not mean braces
As your dentist we will work with you to find the best possible solution for your issues. This doesn’t have to just be about the treatment – you may have other concerns such as cost and time. During a thorough examination we will be able to advise you on a variety of options that you may not be aware of or believed couldn’t work for you.
Some cosmetic dental procedures can be used to address gaps and misalignment issues without the need for St John’s Wood braces. In addition, we have some brace styles that could realign your front teeth in as little as 4 to 16 weeks in the case of Inman aligners.
The height of discretion
Many of our braces styles are highly discreet. This is achieved through the use of tooth-coloured or clear apparatus that hide in plain sight. If discretion is key to your requirements, we will look at which option can achieve the results you desire in the shortest time, with the least compromise to your look.
We can offer you braces such as Invisalign that are fully removable, so if you do need to go to a special function or high priority meeting, you never have to be concerned about your braces.
Even overbites addressed with discreet braces in St John’s Wood
Some of our braces can even work with more complex problems such as mild or moderate overbite issues discreetly and in short time spans. With Six Month Smiles, brackets are made from clear material and the wires are tooth-coloured, making them far less visible than traditional braces.
Contact us for a full consultation so we can offer you the best solution that address all of your concerns.
Growing older shouldn’t leave you with ill-fitting dentures
Over the years we lose teeth for many reasons, accident and misadventure, gum disease or trauma and of course, ageing has an effect. However, many of our patients still believe that ill-fitting dentures that slip and cause problems are the only answer when teeth are lost. At Aural Dental in St John’s Wood, dental implants are the preferred solution, providing complete teeth restoration that doesn’t compromise your look or lifestyle.
No more slippage and no more shrunken cheeks
Dentures over the years have been given a bad reputation, which is often not based in reality. Modern dentures are made from high quality dental materials and designed using the latest in technology. They not only look like real teeth, they offer a good, solid restoration should you lose multiple or all of your teeth. However, jawbone shrinkage is a reality and will eventually cause your dentures to become ill-fitting and compromise how you look. This happens because of root loss when teeth fall out.
The tooth root works in a symbiotic relationship with your gums and jawbone. Both structures provide stimulation for natural, healthy growth. So once one is compromised the other is lost. When our gums and jawbone become infected, teeth are lost and equally, when teeth are lost the jawbone and gum recede. St John’s Wood dental implants prevent this, providing healthy development of gums and jawbone alike.
How do dental implants work?
Dental implants are small surgical grade metal screws that are placed in the jawbone. Once in situ your jawbone is stimulated into growing onto the surface of the implants. This bonding process creates a strong base for your dentures or a fixed bridge to then be fixed onto.
The benefits of St John’s Wood dental implants
Once your restorations are fixed in place they will not slip or fall out. Full bite force is fully restored and you will never have to compromise on what you eat or how you look, no matter your age. Cleaning of your new teeth couldn’t be simpler, all you need to do is brush and floss as normal, visiting your dentist every 6 months for check-ups to maintain good oral health.
Invisalign in St John’s Wood, creating perfect teeth invisibly
Did you avoid teeth straightening as a teenager but find you now wish you hadn’t? Or are you a teenager with mild to moderate bite or misalignment issues? You may have stalled your journey to straight teeth due to cosmetic concerns. If this is the case, Aura Dental has an innovative tooth straightening solution that will never compromise your smile. We offer a treatment that can straighten your teeth invisibly in as little as 9 months.
Invisalign in St John’s Wood offers many advantages over other teeth straightening options; they are discreet, effective, easy to maintain and fully removable. This provides you with flexibility and choice since they can be removed during eating and even for the odd special occasion.
So how do they work?
Treatment with Invisalign consists of a series of aligners that you progress through, inserting a new aligner every 7 to 10 days. These aligners are made of transparent, high quality plastic and are 3D printed to fit your teeth perfectly. Each aligner is individually manufactured, following a treatment plan developed by us and the Invisalign labs. With every aligner your teeth are guided through small, incremental steps towards a perfectly straight set of teeth.
Unique benefits of Invisalign invisible braces
Being virtually invisible alone is an incredible benefit, offering even the shyest of teenagers an effective alternative to traditional braces. However, they offer other benefits including ease of wear. Due to their bespoke design, the apparatus hug your teeth perfectly and won’t rub or irritate the lining of your mouth or gums.
Since Invisalign are also fully removable, they are easy to clean and maintain should any debris stick to them and, when removed, you can brush and floss your teeth as normal. This means you’re in control of your oral hygiene and it takes no additional effort to maintain optimum oral health.
Book a consultation today
Invisalign in St John’s Wood is the best way to transform your smile without compromising your day-to-day lifestyle choices. As your dentist we can provide a full, comprehensive examination of your teeth to see if Invisalign is suitable for you. Book an appointment today to start your journey to straight, perfect teeth.
What happens in a dental hygiene appointment?
By Maya Samuel
Visiting your dental hygienist is an integral part of maintaining good oral health. Your hygienist is a dental care professional whose area of expertise focuses on preventing oral disease such as gum disease and tooth decay.
Click here to see our infographic on the importance or healthy teeth!
So, what happens when you first arrive?
Your hygienist will begin by reviewing your medical history which is vital in ensuring safe care. This will include any medical conditions you may have or any prescribed medications you may be taking that could have an effect on the care you receive. They will also enquire about your social history which includes your smoking status and alcohol consumption that also have an influence on your oral health. Your hygienist will also ask about any past dental history, your current oral hygiene regime and any concerns you may have with your teeth.
Having a thorough look
Next, your hygienist will assess your head and neck region, your teeth and soft tissues within your mouth. They will assess the health of your gums and discuss their findings with you and finally, determine the treatment required.
What happens during the treatment?
Treatment may include scaling and root surface debridement (the removal of debris from the root surface) to remove plaque and calculus from the teeth. This is usually done by an ultra-sonic scaler which is a powered instrument producing vibrations and a water jet, as well as hand instruments where required. Your hygienist will then polish your teeth to remove stains and give your teeth a nice gleaming shine.
Sometimes a good clean can prevent the need to whitening your teeth!
Following treatment, your hygienist will then advise you of a tailored oral hygiene regime in order to maintain excellent plaque control at home. Information may include toothbrushing techniques, flossing technique and/or the use of interdental brushes. They may also share information related to smoking cessation, diet advice and the use of fluoride in preventing dental decay.
Based on your oral condition, your hygienist will then determine an appropriate schedule for you to receive on-going care and follow up on any issues raised. Any concerns that your hygienist cannot attend to will be referred accordingly and care for by the appropriate professional.
If you would like to arrange a dental hygiene appointment please give us a call on 0207 722 0040 or email [email protected]
St John’s Wood braces straightening teeth with discretion
Modern teeth straightening has come a long way in the last 20 years with a range of braces types being available that can address a variety of issues or target specific teeth whilst also being highly discreet. At Aura Dental we want you to make informed choices which engenders commitment to your teeth straightening process. No matter which option you choose, by fully engaging with the process you can ensure the best results that you are satisfied with. Although a short blog can only tell you so much, we have laid out a few of the options that are available to you so you can start to make an informed choice of how you would like to proceed.
Inman aligners
The Inman aligner is a removable teeth straightening treatment that realigns teeth in a very short time span. The appliance consists of two opposing spring-loaded aligner bars that apply gentle but continuous pressure to the teeth.
The Inman aligner targets the front four to six teeth, reducing straightening time dramatically. Regular visits to the dentist are required throughout the treatment to keep the treatment on track.
Removable invisible braces in St John’s Wood
Full discretion is attained with Invisalign removable aligners, which are virtually invisible. This treatment consists of a series of transparent aligners that are made of high-quality, smooth plastic. Patients wear them for 7-10 days before moving to the next set in the series, until their teeth have reached the final position.
Due to the precision of their manufacture, removable aligners are very comfortable to wear. They can be taken out to eat and clean teeth normally with brushing and flossing. However, patients are recommended to wear them at least 22 hours per day for maximum effectiveness.
Six Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles are more akin to traditional braces in St John’s Wood and are fixed using clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires, making them barely visible. They can address more complex issues such as overbites but in a vastly reduced treatment time, offering adjustment in as little as 4 months but often taking 6 to 9 months to achieve best results.
DIY Braces – Is this right for me?
By Amy Cuckoo
When we’re looking at decorating our home, normally a trip down to B&Q at the weekend is all we need to get the job done ourselves, no matter our skill set. Does this mean that we should all be opening our own painting and decorating businesses? With my ability, you would hope not!
In recent months, we’ve seen an eruption of DIY brace companies providing a “Do-It-Yourself” solution for teeth straightening. What does this mean and is it right for you?
What are DIY Braces?
“DIY Braces” or “Mail Order Braces” are a series of clear trays, known as aligners, that you use at home to straighten your teeth. There are various companies out there offering the service but they essentially all work in the same way:
Step 1: Order a kit and take your impression at home.
Step 2: A Qualified Dentist looks at your models and calculates your plan.
Step 3: Aligners are manufactured and shipped to you.
Step 4: Wear your aligners and straighten your teeth.
So, what do you need to bear in mind?
There is an art to taking dental impressions that can take nurses and dentists weeks to learn professionally and with the 3D technology we use at Aura Dental we can take your impressions without the need for putty material. As this is likely to be the first dental impression you have taken, this can open your treatment up to errors. If the initial impression is wrong, this could cause an impact to treatment and potentially risk your desired outcome altogether, leaving your teeth worse than when you started.
When assessing for braces in a dental practice, you are recommended to have a panoramic radiograph. This allows the dentist to check for suitability of tooth movement, bone availability, gum recession and other contributing factors when looking at orthodontic treatment. Without doing one is like putting a car through a MOT without ever looking under the bonnet. Not ideal right?
So, what do you need to bear in mind? These systems will be straightening your teeth absolutely but they are not looking at the overall bite of how you bite together. This in itself can cause issues down the line in regards to tooth enamel wearing away.
We only get one set of teeth so please, just speak to any dental professional before taking the decision of proceeding with DIY braces.
What is the official word?
The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) is a charity-led society formed to act as the national representative of all orthodontists and below is the grand finale of their official statement!
¹ “The British Orthodontic Society strongly advises the public not to undertake such treatments. If you are considering braces please seek the advice of your dentist first.”
You can access the full article below in the references but let me summarise the concerns the BOS has:
- No clinical examination has been carried out by a professional to ascertain whether orthodontic treatment is in the best interest of the patient.
- There are various orthodontic solutions available to patients and patients need to be aware of the solutions and risks associated with them.
- The potential for less than desirable outcomes due to the treatment being unsupervised by a professional.
All our consultations are complimentary at Aura Dental so why take the risk?
References
¹ British Orthodontic Society: https://www.bos.org.uk/News-and-Events/BOS-Statements/BOS-Statement-Do-it-yourself-braces
How dental implants in St John’s Wood can work for you
Unless you live a very sheltered life, you must have heard of dental implants. In fact, dental implants have significantly changed the idea of dentistry in the 21st century, since they can replace missing teeth effectively and provide patients with predictable and long-lasting results.
At Aura Dental, we firmly believe that dental implants in St John’s Wood can improve your oral health and overall quality of life. Over the years, we have helped many patients regain the functionality of their teeth with dental implants in St John’s Wood. To book a consultation appointment please call us today, and arrange an appointment for you right away.
Why are dental implants more versatile?
Dental implants replace the root of the missing tooth instead of simply sitting on the gums just like bridges and dentures. By doing so, they interact with the jawbone through a process known as ‘osseointegration’. Once they are fused with the jawbone, dental implants in St John’s Wood keep the bone structure and density strong and encourage the growth of fresh bone tissue.
Dental implants in St John’s Wood can replace a single, multiple or all of your missing teeth. Whereas single missing teeth are supported by implant-retained crowns, multiple missing teeth can be replaced with implant-retained bridges or dentures. This process is done in stages, but in some cases it can be completed in a single day (All-on-4 or immediate loading dental implants).
Who can have dental implants?
With the recent advances in implant technology, almost everyone can have dental implants. Your dentist will examine your teeth thoroughly, discuss your dental and medical history and explain your choices. Just like most dental procedures, a dental implant operation carries some risks. These can be easily minimised with the right dentist and we can assure you that all of our implant dentists are very experienced in dental implants and have performed many operations over the years. However, if you have a history of smoking or if you are diabetic, you should let us know, because your body may react differently to dental implants.
Questions? Our experienced and friendly implant dentists are eager to answer all your implant queries.
A modern solution to straightening teeth
Traditional braces aren’t appealing to many people. They can be uncomfortable and make wearers feel self-conscious or be too hard to maintain. Invisalign in St. John’s Wood is a modern alternative to traditional braces that could work for you instead.
How it works
If you need Invisalign in St. John’s Wood, Aura Dental is a competent and modern clinic that can provide this treatment. Invisalign is a transparent brace made of a smooth, clear material that’s moulded into tailored aligners to fit your teeth. The aligner is renewed every 7-10 days to enable the teeth to adjust into the desired position.
The benefits
One reason our patients prefer Invisalign in St. John’s Wood is that it’s subtle and not visible to others. Invisalign is lightweight and made of a soft material, which means that it’s comfortable to wear. It can easily be taken out to clean and provides a highly effective result for your teeth. They’re light and comfortable in your mouth. They need to be worn for 20-22 hours a day and are treatment usually takes around a year on average.
Follow-up appointments
While wearing Invisalign in St. John’s Wood, it’s important to visit your dentist every six weeks so that they can make sure they’re having an effect and see that there aren’t any issues with the teeth.
Whether Invisalign is right for you
At our clinic, our dental team will carry out a full assessment and talk with you about whether Invisalign will have the impact you need. Depending on the issues present, using a more traditional set of braces may be more suitable you.
The cost of Invisalign
If you have dental insurance, it may be worth checking if your policy covers the cost of Invisalign treatment, as some do. The cost of treatment, which can be managed with a payment plan, starts at £1,500 for Invisalign Lite, but will vary depending on what’s needed.
To find out more
Please get in touch if you have more questions about Invisalign in St. John’s Wood, where one of our dental team will be glad to answer your questions.
Looking after your braces in St John’s Wood
Bad breath, cavities and gum disease are some of the conditions that may affect your oral health if you fail to take good care of your teeth and gums. That’s why we are encouraged to establish a thorough oral care routine from an early age.
Brushing and flossing our teeth is as important (if not more) when we are undergoing treatment for teeth straightening with braces in St John’s Wood. If you are not sure how to take proper care of your braces (whether fixed or removable), our experienced dentists at Aura Dental can help by giving you tips and advice and showing you the proper brushing and flossing techniques. This will help you reduce the amount of plaque that builds on your teeth and braces.
Brushing and flossing
As we’ve already mentioned, brushing and flossing are really important, especially when you are wearing braces in St John’s Wood. If you are planning removable braces or aligners such as Invisalign, then we have good news. You can continue brushing and flossing your teeth as you normally would – there’s no need to change your daily routine. If your braces are fixed (i.e. clear braces, Damon braces), then you should invest in a good quality toothbrush with soft bristles and clean your teeth thoroughly around the brackets to ensure that all food remains are gone. Your dentist may also recommend an interdental brush that’s specifically made for braces.
Foods to avoid
If you are wearing removable braces or Invisalign, you are lucky – you don’t have to change your diet. You can keep eating your favourite foods as long as you remove your braces or aligners before each meal. Patients with fixed braces should be more careful because some foods spell trouble for braces. Hard, chewy and sticky foods can damage your brackets and jeopardise your treatment. Crunchy fruit and vegetables are also dangerous for your braces, but you can consume them safely if you cut them in small pieces. Last but not least, it’s really important to avoid chewing on ice cubes or eating corn on the cob or meat on the bone.