Author: Aura Dental
Why it pays to visit your dentist regularly
Visiting your dentist regularly is as much a part of staying healthy as going to the gym or eating a healthy diet. At Aura Dental in North London we welcome new patients of all ages for the highest quality private dental care.
A recent survey, conducted by the Oral Health Foundation as part of National Smile Month 2016, showed that in general UK residents are good about visiting the dentist for regular check-ups. In fact, the UK was ranked second most likely to go for timely check-ups, with 72% of adults saying that they attend regularly, second only to the Netherlands at 79%.
How often to visit the dentist
The general advice is to visit your dentist for a check-up every six months. Of course, every patient’s needs are different, and some people need to visit more frequently, particularly if there is a condition such as gum disease that needs monitoring. You should always follow your dentist’s advice, and should also book regular appointments with the hygienist for a professional tooth clean.
At our North London dental practice, we understand that many of our patients have very busy lifestyles, which is why we make it as easy as possible for you to see a dentist at the most convenient time for you.
Our North London clinic is open until 6pm Monday-Friday, and also offers Saturday appointments between 9am and 1pm on alternate Saturdays (please contact us for details and availability). To ensure that you never forget an appointment again, we send out email and SMS reminders prior to your visit.
Your North London dental check-up
If you are a first-time patient at Aura Dental North London, a member of our reception team will be in touch prior to your first appointment to get to know a bit about you. You will also be asked to complete a medical history form.
At your consultation, your dentist will perform a thorough clinical examination, including an oral cancer check as standard. X-rays, scans, and photographs will be taken as necessary to aid with diagnosis, and any treatment requirements will be detailed in your personal treatment plan.
Dental Implants in North London: Why you should replace your missing teeth
Dental implants are rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth. At Aura Dental in North London we think this is a good thing, and can replace one, some, or even all of your natural teeth with the help of implants.
Why you should replace missing teeth
Whatever way you choose to do it, every dentist will agree that missing teeth should be replaced – preferably sooner rather than later. As well as the obvious aesthetic issues that are raised when teeth are missing near the front of the mouth, particularly in the smile line, having missing teeth for any length of time can impact negatively on your dental and general health.
Additional strain is instantly put on your remaining teeth, which may also shift position into the gaps left behind, becoming crooked, more difficult to clean, even loose in the process. Depending on how many of your natural teeth are missing, your ability to eat a wide range of foods, and your ability to speak could even be affected. When the root parts of the teeth are missing, the jaw bone starts to shrink back, too, which can ultimately alter your whole facial structure (and make placing dental implants in the future more complex).
If you have lost one or more teeth, we invite you to join us at Aura Dental in North London for a consultation as soon as possible. Whether you choose to go down the root of dental implants or you opt for a traditional bridge or denture, it is always best to replace missing teeth.
Advantages of dental implants
At our North London clinic, we believe that dental implants have several advantages. These include the fact that they are the only way for a dentist to replace your tooth roots, helping preserve bone structure and anchoring your new teeth firmly in place.
With implants you can eat whatever you choose, smile and speak with confidence. They are in effect a second chance at a healthy jaw of teeth.
We offer one implant with a crown, or multiple implants with a bridge at our North London practice.
The many ways that cosmetic dentistry can create your dream smile
Cosmetic dentistry is increasingly popular with men and women in the UK. At Aura Dental in North London we have an extensive cosmetic menu, offering a wide range of treatments that will be tailored to suit your individual wants and needs – no matter how large, or small, they may be.
According to the Oral Health Foundation, a quarter of British adults are unhappy with their smile. Three quarters of those surveyed believe that improving their smile would improve their confidence, whilst 70% dislike their current smile to the extent that they hate smiling in photographs – not ideal in the Instagram and selfie age in which we live.
Thanks to advances in techniques and materials, coupled with an increase in demand, cosmetic dentistry can help no matter what you dislike about your current smile. We welcome both men and women at our North London dental practice for a consultation with a cosmetic dentist.
The key thing to remember when considering cosmetic dentistry is that it is an investment not just in your current happiness and wellbeing, but in your future. The treatments on offer from the cosmetic dentistry menu at Aura Dental North London are designed to be three things:
- Beautiful
- Natural
- Long-lasting.
One thing cosmetic dentistry doesn’t offer is a one-size-suits-all solution. Whilst many patients are inspired by their favourite celebrities to seek treatment, it’s worth remembering that what works for them might not be the same thing that works for you.
At our North London dental practice we believe smiles should be as unique and individual as the person who is wearing them. So, if your favourite star has achieved a beautifully bright, white smile with the help of veneers, it may be better to use, for example, Six Month Smiles and a course of teeth whitening in your case.
Your dentist will find out what you want to achieve and will perform an in-depth clinical examination, before talking you through all the appropriate ways to reach your smile goal. Only when you are entirely happy will a treatment plan be created.
Why visiting the dentist is so important for children and teenagers
At Aura Dental in North London we believe children should visit the dentist from an early age. Regular visits to a dental practice help to maximise the chances of your child maintaining good oral health habits for life, as well as enabling us to spot any problems early so that they can be treated promptly and, in most cases, with minimal intervention.
Teenagers also require special dental care to ensure that they maintain good health and habits as they mature. The teenage years are often when orthodontic treatment is carried out, which sometimes clashes with a time at which young people start to feel increasingly self-conscious and anxious about their appearance. At our North London dental practice we offer a number of discreet orthodontic treatments that are invisible or nigh-invisible to the untrained eye. In some cases these will be the best option for teenagers.
When your child should start to visit the dentist
At Aura Dental in North London we recommend bringing your children in to see the dentist as soon as their first teeth start to appear, which is on average at the age of 12 months. Of course, some babies are born with teeth, and your dentist will be happy to advise you on how to care for a very young baby’s teeth.
By bringing your child to our North London dental practice from an early age, you will help them to see the dentist as a friendly face, which can help to prevent dental fear and phobia in later life. It also means that we can carry out a range of preventative treatments to stop common problems before they start. If we do find any treatment is required, the earlier it is carried out the better, as it is likely to be less stressful for both you and your child.
At our North London dental clinic your child’s dentist will offer fissure sealants and fluoride varnish, which are preventative treatments designed to strengthen and protect the teeth. We can also spot any potential orthodontic problems (such as issues with the bite) early, which makes treatment easier.
Dental implants: a guide
Dental implants are a great option for patients with one, some, or even all of their natural teeth missing. At Aura Dental in North London we offer a number of implant treatments, all designed to give you back not just your confidence to smile, but also the complete functionality of a jaw full of healthy teeth.
Why replacing missing teeth is important
Any dentist will tell you that it is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. At Aura Dental in North London, we believe that dental implants are often the best way to do this.
Teeth can be lost for many reasons, including gum disease, tooth decay, accident, and injury. Whatever the reason for your tooth loss, it is always advisable to replace them. If you fail to do so, remaining teeth can become crooked, tilted, and more difficult to keep clean as they shift into any gaps.
Your ability to bite and chew food may be affected, which can make it difficult to get good nutrition and can impact upon your general health. Add to that the fact your speech, your jaw bone density, and of course your confidence to smile can all be affected and you’ll see why replacing missing teeth is so important.
Dental implants in North London
Dental implants have numerous advantages over standard bridgework or dentures. They are the only permanent way your dentist can replace missing teeth, as well as being the most realistic-looking and acting option available.
We place dental implants under either local anaesthetic or sedation at our North London dental practice. Fear and phobia of the dentist is a common cause of tooth loss as people put off seeking routine treatment because they are scared.
At Aura Dental North London we empathise with nervous patients and will work with you to restore health and happiness to your smile. If you’ve lost teeth through fear of the dentist, dental implants placed under sedation can provide a second chance at healthy teeth.
Dental implants act as replacement tooth roots on to which new teeth are attached. At our North London clinic we offer implants with a crown or a bridge.
The importance of visiting the dentist for pregnant women, and for children
Granted the dentist may not be the first person you’d think of consulting during pregnancy. However, at Aura Dental in North London, we are keen to stress the importance of regular dental health checks during pregnancy – as well as for baby when they arrive.
Pregnancy is a very exciting time, but it does sometimes throw up some health issues, including dental health concerns. The levels of the hormone progesterone can be up to ten times higher than normal during pregnancy, which affects the body’s response to toxins, including plaque. Pregnancy gingivitis (gum disease) is a common complaint, and by visiting your dentist as soon as you notice anything unusual, you can effectively treat and manage the condition, so that you can get back to enjoying being pregnant.
Symptoms include gums that bleed when you brush your teeth, or which may be red and swollen.
We have also seen pregnant women at our North London clinic who have developed pregnancy granuloma – red nodules that commonly appear on the upper gums. These are not dangerous but can be uncomfortable, and your dentist can help you manage them.
If you experience bad morning sickness, enamel erosion and dry mouth are common side-effects. Eroded enamel can lead to increased tooth sensitivity. Again, by coming in to visit a dentist at our North London dental practice as soon as you start to experience such symptoms, we will be able to help you manage the condition.
Remember that every pregnancy is different, so even if you experienced no problems in the past, you should still be on the look-out for warning signs.
North London children’s dentistry
Once baby arrives, it is a good idea to bring them into the dental practice from an early age. Dental check-ups from a young age have been shown to help prevent fear of the dentist in later life, and can also help to prevent problems before they start.
The team at our North London practice are experienced in working with children. Your child’s dentist may recommend using preventative treatments such as fluoride varnish and fissure sealants, and can also spot orthodontic problems early.
With dental implants, we can permanently replace your missing teeth
By using dental implants, a dentist can replace one, some, or even all of your natural teeth with a permanent, aesthetically pleasing, and functional solution. Contact North London clinic Aura Dental if you have a tooth or teeth that are missing or failing to learn more about how implant treatment can help you, restoring so much more than just your beautiful smile.
The advantages of dental implants
At our North London clinic, we are always keen to stress the importance of replacing any missing teeth you may have. Any dentist will tell you the same, and it’s about more than just aesthetic concerns (although having a gappy smile can negatively impact on your self-esteem).
When teeth are lost, your remaining teeth will likely move into any gaps, often becoming crooked and misaligned in the process, thus more difficult to clean. This can affect your ability to eat a full, healthy diet, as well as increasing your risk of further tooth loss because dental hygiene becomes more complicated with crooked teeth.
Dental implants have numerous advantages over traditional dentures and bridges. Implants are the only permanent way to replace missing teeth, and the only way a dentist can replace lost tooth roots. When the roots of the teeth are missing, you may experience bone resorbtion, which can make the placement of dental implants more complex, and can cause the skin around the jaws and jowls to sag.
New teeth secured to dental implants don’t just look natural, they act natural too. This means that you will face none of the dietary restrictions experienced by many traditional denture wearers, and will be able to speak, smile, and laugh with new-found confidence. For this reason, they are the tooth replacement solution of choice at Aura DentalNorth London.
North Londondental implants
At our North London clinic, your dentist can replace one missing tooth with a single implant and crown, or multiple/all missing teeth by using a series of dental implants and an implant-retained bridge.
Most people require only local anaesthetic for the placement of implants, and post-operative discomfort is easily managed with painkillers.
How discreet braces and clear aligners can straighten your smile
Braces, in the modern day and age, don’t have to mean a mouth full of metal, and straighter teeth don’t always require braces. At Aura Dental in North London, we understand the need for discreet teeth straightening treatments, which is why we are pleased to offer a number of subtler solutions.
Adults as well as children and teenagers can benefit from orthodontic intervention – in fact, it’s never too late to straighten your teeth. At our North Londondental practice we have successfully treated many adult patients just like you, who came to us worried about having to wear obvious metal appliance and walked away happy with discreet tooth straightening treatment.
Although many of these appliances are referred to as “cosmetic braces” it should also be remembered that there are health benefits from teeth straightening. Because it is easier to keep straighter teeth clean, with fewer gaps in which plaque can build up, straighter teeth are generally healthier teeth, with your risk of tooth decay and gum disease significantly reduced.
North Londonbraces and aligners
When you come in for a consultation at our North London clinic, your dentist will examine you and help you to choose the best option from our braces and aligners.
These fixed appliances comprise clear and tooth-coloured components, and work in an average time of six months. They can correct issues with the top or bottom front teeth, as well as levelling and rounding out the arches.
Invisalign
A series of aligners that gradually move your teeth, Invisalign is both clear and removable, meaning that it has hardly any impact on your lifestyle, and makes it easy to maintain dental hygiene during treatment.
Six Month Smiles
These cosmetic braces work very quickly and are designed for mild to moderate correction of the front teeth. They comprise clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires.
Dental implants: the best way to restore functionality and aesthetic appeal to your mouth
Dental implants have been designed to permanently replace natural teeth. At Aura DentalNorth London we see patients who have lost teeth for all manner of reasons, from accidents to gum disease, even just as part of the natural ageing process as the population in general lives longer. Our skilled implantology team have successfully used implants to restore not just the aesthetic beauty of their smile, but also full functionality to their jaw, enabling them to once again eat whatever they want.
Dental implants in North London
There are two options for patients interested in treatment with dental implants at our North London clinic: a single implant with a crown attached, or multiple implants with a bridge attached. Option one is ideal for patients with one missing tooth, whilst option two suits those who have lost several or all of their natural teeth.
Dental implants are the only way your dentist can replace lost tooth roots. They are small titanium posts or screws put directly into your jaw bone in a small operation. Most patients at our North Londondental practice require only a local anaesthetic for the implant placement procedure, because a great deal of detailed planning is undertaken beforehand so that your dentist can put your implants in exactly the right place to support your new teeth, whilst also avoiding nerves and other vital structures.
After a healing period, your new teeth are attached to abutments on top of your implants. Not only will they look like natural teeth, they will also function like them too, which means that you can eat, speak, smile, and laugh with confidence – and with no need to worry about your teeth falling out at an awkward moment.
We welcome new patients for consultations about dental implants at our North London clinic. Whatever the reason you have lost a tooth or teeth, we can help.
Braces without the metal: a modern approach to orthodontics
Braces no longer need to mean a mouth full of metal for months on end. At North London clinic Aura Dental we encourage patients to have orthodontic treatment whatever their age, and offer a number of subtle methods to straighten your teeth without the whole world having to know you are undergoing treatment.
North London braces and aligners
Modern orthodontics affords a dentist or orthodontist a number of ways to improve the alignment of your teeth, and fix issues with your bite. This may involve using fixed appliances – braces – or removable appliances – aligners. When you come to Aura Dental in North London for an orthodontic consultation, we will conduct a thorough clinical examination, then will explain the pros and cons of all relevant treatments.
Braces are the traditional method by which orthodontists straighten teeth. In the 21st Century, they can be made from clear and tooth-coloured components, meaning that they will blend in with your teeth’s natural colouring and won’t be instantly noticeable.
At our North London clinic we use Six Month Smiles cosmetic braces, which have an average treatment time of just half a year and focus on the front six to eight teeth – those on display when you smile.
We also use clear aligners – Invisalign and the Inman Aligner – as an alternative way to straighten your teeth. Unlike braces, which are fixed in place, both these aligners are removable at home, so you can take them out to eat and clean.
The Inman Aligner is a single device used to correct adult relapse and protrusion issues with the front teeth. It works incredibly quickly – sometimes in just a matter of weeks – and acts as a retainer after treatment.
Invisalign treatment involves using a series of aligners that you change every fortnight. It can correct a wider range of orthodontic problems.