Author: Aura Dental

Braces in North West London – can braces hurt?

Getting braces in North West London is possible at Aura Dental. We are highly skilled at fitting and maintaining braces of all descriptions. Usually more commonly found on young people and teens, braces are a great way of helping to straighten out wonky or misaligned teeth.

bracesIf you are soon to get braces, you may have some questions, such as ‘how long does it take?’ and ‘do braces hurt?’ We will aim to answer some of these questions in this article.

Generally speaking there will be no pain or discomfort during the application of the braces, but your teeth and gums may feel a little sore afterwards. This pain can last for up to a week, but it is usually minimal and fairly easy to cope with.

If you find that the pain is more than you expected, there are a few things you can try to ease it, take a look below:

  • During the first few days try to stick to a diet of soft foods. This might include things like mashed potatoes, soups, and scrambled eggs.
  • Pain relief such asibuprofen and aspirin can help, but please ensure you seek medical advice if you are unsure which will help best.
  • Your dentist may give you a special wax which you can use whenever your braces start to feel uncomfortable. Just squeeze the wax between your fingers and apply it to the brackets of the braces.
  • Try to avoid acidic drinks such as pure fruit juices – stick to water.
  • Salt water can help to ward off any infection or irritation caused by your new braces. Try mixing a little salt in warm water and swishing it around your mouth before spitting it out, around twice a day for the first week.

In North West London braces are extremely common and are nothing to be ashamed about or to fear. For more information on what to expect when getting braces, please contact Aura Dental today by either calling us, emailing us or dropping into the practice, where our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about getting dental braces.

Enhance your smile with cosmetic dentistry in St John’s Wood

cosmetic-dentistryAt Aura dental, we have done everything we can to ensure that cosmetic dentistry is an affordable but high quality option fro our patients. In this article we look at some of the most popular St John’s Wood cosmetic dentistry services that are provided by Aura Dental:

  1. Tooth Whitening– Tooth whitening is a quick and simple way of gently changing the shade of your teeth, making them shades brighter and whiter. A paste and laser combination allows the surface of the tooth to lighten, leaving you with whiter, less stained teeth. This is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments available, thanks to its non-invasive manner.
  1. Veneers– Here at Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, we often fit patients with veneers. Veneers can be fitted to one or several teeth at any one time, depending on the individual patient.They can be fitted to the front of the teeth to restore your smile to it’s former glory.
  1. Dental Implants– Dental implants are probably one of the best ways to replace missing teeth. They involve surgical placement whereby the implant is inserted directly into your jawbone. Dental implants can be used for either cosmetic or restorative solutions, however because they are more invasive, especially if chosen for cosmetic reasons, a thorough evaluation of the patient’s situation will need to be carried out.
  1. Get a Smile Makeover– A smile makeover combines restorative dentistry treatments with some aesthetic treatments. This procedure can help patients overcome a number of clinical and aesthetical issues.The smile makeover might involve teeth whitening, veneers, dental crowns, dental implants, Invisalign, or other treatments readily found within cosmetic dentistry. Many patients see a smile makeover as a kind of last resort when they want to completely overhaul their mouth’s appearance.

Before you decide to go ahead with any St John’s Wood cosmetic dentistry procedure you should ensure you have done research and feel at ease with your dentist. At Aura dental we aim to create the best environment possible for your dental treatments and are happy to explain the range of treatments we offer.

Let us fill you in…

Are you missing any teeth? There may be a gap in your knowledge to match the gap in your mouth! Did you know about dental implants? At Aura Dental in North West London, dental implants are one of the many high quality treatments that we are able to offer you.

Dental implants have been traced back to approximately 600AD, when the Ancient Mayans hammered pieces of shell into the jaws of women.Sounds painful!Thank goodness that the world of dental implant technology has vastly changed since then.

dental-implantsContemporary dental implants, used by today’s dentists, have been tried, tested and developed for decades now so we are fully confident about the fact they are safe, long lasting and completely effective.

The process

Tiny titanium screws are carefully fixed into your jawbone, forming a replacement root. The bone in your jaw will actually attach itself naturally in time, forming a strong, sturdy bond. Replacement teeth, crowns or bridges are then attached onto these titanium screws.

The benefits

Imagine no more gappy smile.No problems with chewing or biting your food.No problems speaking clearly.Wave goodbye to wobbly, slipping dentures. Replacement teeth won’t click, they won’t move and they certainly won’t fall out at inopportune times!

Aftercare

You should treat an implant like a normal tooth, brushing and flossing in the regular manner to keep the area clean.Though dental implants cannot get cavities (hurray!), the surrounding gums can still get problems if not cared for properly.

So why choose Aura Dental?

Maybe now you’re considering looking further into dental implants. North West London is home to many cosmetic dentists, but you must be sure you are picking the right one for you.

If you’re looking for dental implants in North West London, try Aura Dental. We are a family dental practice, using state of the art techniques, materials and technology, such as 3D imaging and x-rays. Our staff are extremely experienced (our principal dentist, David Tissera, has now treated over 500 adult dental patients) and continuously trained to ensure you get the highest quality experience possible. Come and book an appointment with us today.

Dentists in St John’s Wood

At Aura Dental dentists in St John’s Wood, a wide range of treatments is on offer to our patients, from surgical procedures to cosmetic dentistry. Our team of professionals provides consultation, treatment and aftercare services using the latest technology in the field.

Dentists-in-St-John's-WoodHistorical evidence for dentistry

You may be surprised to learn that as far back as the ancient Egyptians, both cosmetic and surgical dental practices were being used. Replacement teeth could have been made from worked bone or animal teeth and some may even have been from human donors.

A recent archaeological discovery sheds some light on the importance of dental treatments in the European Iron Age. The highly furnished grave of a young woman in her thirties was excavated in Northern France, which included the earliest known dental implant of its kind in Western Europe. Dating from 2,300 years ago, this Celtic woman is believed to have had an iron pin inserted into her jaw, which would have held a carved wooden or ivory tooth.

Hi-tech developments

At Aura Dental dentists in St John’s Wood, we use a range of ultra modern techniques to make sure our patients receive the most up-to-date care for their teeth. From 3D X-ray imaging to digital smile design and intra-oral cameras, technological innovations help your dentist to provide precise diagnosis and effective treatment.

3D Scanning

Traditional X-rays take one picture per exposure and can be time-consuming. 3D imaging shows much more precise and detailed information than simple flat X-ray images. A digital scanner mounted on a rotating arm is used to move around the patient and is quick, simple and painless. The 3-dimensional scans allow your dentist to examine your mouth from many different angles and at different degrees of magnification. They can be easily displayed on a computer screen and duplicated to be shared with other dental practitioners. This high quality, detailed visual information is invaluable in modern dentistry and provides you with the confidence and satisfaction you would expect from Aura Dental dentists. St John’s Wood practice would recommend you to call in for an initial consultation appointment, or book an appointment by email.

Do you ever feel self-conscious about your crooked or uneven teeth?

Many people feel that their smile could be improved by correcting misaligned or crooked teeth with braces. In North West London, Aura Dental offers a variety of treatments which can help to bring back your confidence. Our cosmetic dental surgeon has helped over 500 adult patients to rediscover their smile using contemporary orthodontic techniques. Among the benefits of having straighter teeth are better oral hygiene and enhanced visual appearance. You could be surprised what a difference having straighter teeth may have on your general wellbeing and self-confidence.

bracesWhat are my options?

Dentistry has been practised for over 9000 years, with archaeological finds from the Indus Valley and Ancient Egypt demonstrating human ingenuity in treating a variety of dental problems. Modern orthodontics provides a wider range of treatments to straighten teeth than you might think. These can be surgical or cosmetic and need not take a long time to start to take effect. Wires and brackets can be used to gently bring your teeth back into an aesthetically pleasing line. Invisible braces are a modern solution for adults (and children) who wish to have their teeth corrected without affecting their appearance too greatly during treatment. If you live or work in or near North West London, braces from Aura Dental may be the solution for you.

What is my next step to a better smile?

Getting your teeth corrected with braces in North West London is just one step away. Booking into the Aura Dental practice for an initial consultation is simple, by phone or email. At the initial consultation our team will explain the range of options available to suit your particular dental needs. A process of examination using X-rays and photography will help to decide the course of treatment. Every patient is treated as an individual and a personalised treatment plan will be prepared for you by our staff. All the way through the procedure, the Aura Dental team will be there to answer your questions and help you make the right decisions for your teeth. Contact Aura Dental at your earliest convenience to start your journey towards straighter, healthier teeth.

Vanity or health? Reasons for cosmetic dentistry

At Aura Dental, our St John’s Wood cosmetic dentistry team has garnered years of valuable experience with a broad range of patients. This means that we have learned a lot about why people have cosmetic dentistry in St John’s Wood.

cosmetic-dentistryNot surprisingly we have found that people have different motivations. The most obvious one is to make their smile, therefore their face, more attractive. After their treatment is complete, our patients don’t just appreciate the way they look but also,perhaps more importantly, the confidence it gives them. In extreme cases it can totally change people’s lives. Some people think it is vain to have teeth straightened or whitened. Indeed, there are cases where the motivation for cosmetic dentistry work is purely vanity as part of a quest for perfection, but cosmetic dentistry has another vital role to play.

This other vital role is keeping your mouth healthy. Sometimes what appear to be natural imperfections can damage your oral health. For example, when people have very crooked teeth it can be almost impossible to keep the gums and teeth properly clean. As a result, teeth begin to decay which leads to discomfort and pain as well as discoloration.

What treatments does cosmetic dentistry comprise?

Aura Dental in St John’s Wood provides abroad range of treatments. These include porcelain veneers, white fillings, teeth whitening, orthodontics, clear braces and dental implants. These treatments involve not just special equipment but specific skills and techniques from our St John’s Wood cosmetic dentistry team.

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on the beauty of a smile and covers treatments that enhance, align, and whiten or tone the teeth for a more attractive appearance

Every day, people whose smiles are letting them down come to Aura Dental for cosmetic dentistry. If you’re thinking about it, the first thing you need to do is go and speak to your dentist. They will give you an idea of what treatments you might need. The next step is for you to contact us to arrange a consultation at our practice in St. John’s Wood. Cosmetic dentistry team members will be happy to welcome you.

Why dentists are important at every stage of life

Dentists are a vital part of your healthcare team from cradle to grave. Aura Dental in St John’s Wood offers a full range of general dental services for patients of all ages, with a firm focus on preventative dentistry – aiming to stop problems before they start.

children-teethOur St John’s Wood clinic has a skilled team of dentists who can prevent and treat all manner of dental issues. There are also options available for people who suffer from dental phobia or anxiousness about treatment.

Fear of dentists is very common and is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. A good dentist will never judge or criticise you if anxiety about treatment has stopped you visiting a practice for many years.

Modern dentists are very knowledgeable and sympathetic to the needs of those with dental anxiety or phobia, and want only to help you find your perfect back to treatment to restore your oral health.

You should start bringing your child for check-ups as soon as their first teeth begin to appear. The dentists at our St John’s Wood clinic are highly experienced in working with children, and can help to minimise your child being anxious or phobic about treatment later in life, by ensuring that all of their early experiences with dentists are positive ones.

Our St John’s Wood practice offers a number of preventative treatments designed to strengthen and protect children’s teeth, including fissure sealant and fluoride varnish. It is also often possible to spot the signs of potential orthodontic issues at an early stage, making them easier to treat.

Regular dental check-ups are also vital throughout the teenage and adult years. It’s common to have orthodontic treatment as a teenager, and your St John’s Wood hygienist can help you to clean around them efficiently.

It’s important to monitor your oral health for signs of tooth decay and gum disease as an adult. Our St John’s Wood clinic also offers special care to groups who have specific needs, such as those with weakened immune systems or those who are pregnant. When tooth loss occurs, dentures or dental implants may be used to replace them.

Looking after dental implants for a long-term healthy and happy smile

Dental implants are an excellent long-term solution to tooth loss. At Aura Dental in North West London our skilled implantology team can use implants to replace anything from one to all of your natural teeth, providing a permanent functional and aesthetically pleasing solution to missing teeth.

dental-implants-north-londonImplants are artificial tooth roots made from titanium, which are placed directly in your jaw bone during minor oral surgery at our North West London dental practice. Because they integrate with your bone, dental implants will prevent the common issues caused by loose dentures (which happens when the jaw bone shrinks). These issues include: difficulty eating anything but soft foods, problems speaking with clarity, and reduced confidence.

Aura Dental in North West London offers two options for treatment with dental implants: a single implant and a crown to replace one missing tooth (starting at £2,300), and a series of dental implants combined with a dental bridge to replace several or all of your missing teeth (starting at £2,750).

Unlike a standard dental bridge, which only contains one or two false teeth, bridges secured to dental implants can support anything from two teeth to all the teeth in one jaw. This provides a much more stable solution than dentures.

Once your dental implants have been placed and restored with new teeth, you will need to take good care of them to ensure their longevity. The good news is that it isn’t difficult to look after your implants and new teeth. As with natural teeth, the key is to practice good dental hygiene.

The hygienist at our North West London practice will teach you how to clean your new teeth effectively. Because both crowns and bridges are designed to stay in your mouth at all times, you need to brush them at least twice a day as you would natural teeth, to avoid the risk of plaque building up. Untreated plaque can cause gum disease, which can have serious consequences for your dental implants.

As well as visiting the hygienist regularly, you need to see the dentist frequently, too, for check-ups and maintenance.

The many ways cosmetic dentistry can make over your smile

Cosmetic dentistry is continuing to rise in popularity with men and women across the UK. Aura Dental in St John’s Wood offers a wide range of cosmetic dental treatments, designed to create the smile you’ve always wanted, no matter what that may entail.

If you are going to invest in cosmetic dentistry, you will want assurances that any treatment will:

  • Be noticeable, but also look natural
  • Be provided by a skilled cosmetic dentist
  • Produce long-lasting results

cosmetic-dentistryAt Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, we understand what a personal investment it is to have cosmetic dental treatment, whether you require a procedure large or small. That’s why we embrace the latest technology both to aid with treatment planning and to show you the results of any procedure before you start, so that you know exactly what you can look forward to.

We have an extensive cosmetic dentistry menu at our St John’s Wood practice, and use intra-oral 3D scanning and digital smile design to create the smile of your dreams. During a smile makeover consultation your dentist will take scans, photographs, and 3D x-rays, and will also take the time to talk to you about your wants and needs from any prospective treatment.

The important thing to remember about cosmetic dentistry is that almost anything is possible. Even if you think your smile is the worst in the world (which, by the way, it isn’t) it is unlikely to be anything your dentist hasn’t seen before. What’s more, at our St John’s Wood practice we are all about personalisation and customisation, so whatever solutions your dentist suggests to your problems from our extensive cosmetic dentistry menu, you can rest assured that they will be fully tailored to suit your needs.

St John’s Wood cosmetic dentistry

Popular cosmetic treatments at our St John’s Wood clinic include:

Teeth Whitening – The most popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry, whitening is a safe and effective way to remove common stains from the teeth. It must be prescribed by a dentist.

Teeth Straightening – We use both discreet fixed braces and removable aligners to straighten adults’ teeth.

Replacing metal fillings – Tooth-coloured fillings are a safe, reliable alternative.

Teeth straightening without metal braces: a guide to adult orthodontics

Modern dentistry offers more than metal braces to straighten your teeth. At Aura Dental in North West London we are keen to extol the virtues of tooth straightening treatment for people of all ages, and we’re not just talking about how your smile looks. Straightening your teeth has numerous benefits for dental and general health, as well as for your body image and confidence.

Although metal braces are still popular with teenagers, who like the option of being able to customise them with their favourite colours and make them into a fashion statement, a fixed metal appliance is seldom used in cases of adult tooth straightening, because their obvious nature and often lengthy treatment times makes them incompatible with a busy, professional adult lifestyle.

teeth-straighteningThat is why, at our North West London dental practice, we offer a number of subtler options. Depending on your clinical needs, this may involve fixed braces or clear, removable aligners.

Among the options your North West London dentist may recommend are. . .

Six Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles are popular cosmetic braces that are known for their comfort as well as their subtlety. Comprising tooth-coloured nickel-titanium wires and clear ceramic brackets, these braces blend in well with the natural colour of your teeth for a high degree of discretion.

As the name hints at, Six Month Smiles work in an average of half a year. They do this by focussing on the front six teeth – those that show when you smile. It is these teeth most patients at our North West London dental clinic are primarily concerned about. What’s more, Six Month Smiles braces use lower forces than their traditional metal counterparts, for maximum comfort.

Inman Aligner

The Inman Aligner is the fastest-acting orthodontic appliance at our North West London dental clinic. This single aligner contains nickel-titanium coil springs and bows that create gentle opposing forces to guide your teeth into a new position. The Inman Aligner is specifically designed to treat protrusion and crowding of the front teeth, and can work in as little as six weeks.