Category: Dentists

Orthodontic treatment has advanced significantly over the last few decades and here at Aura Dental we are proud to present a range of different types of braces to help you address the misalignment issues of your teeth with our dentist in St John’s Wood. There are many different factors which can affect the alignment of your teeth and not only do these have a negative impact on the appearance of your smile, but they can also affect your dental health. It is important to undergo orthodontic treatment to improve the aesthetic issues of your smile, however, it also helps promote healthy teeth and gums for life. Speak to our dentist St John’s Wood and book a smile assessment so that we can identify the problems that are affecting your teeth and choose the right type of braces to help address your dental needs.

Different braces are designed for different dental requirements and personal preferences. Traditional orthodontic braces are used in teenagers and patients with complicated orthodontic issues. Traditional braces consist of metal wires and brackets which work together to pull your teeth into a neater formation over an extended period of time for excellent aesthetic results and healthier teeth for life. Traditional orthodontic braces are the most efficient at teeth straightening, therefore, research and design have led to the development of variations of traditional braces which are more appealing for prospective patients.

Many patients are reluctant to undergo traditional orthodontic treatment because these braces are highly visible in the mouth. If you would like to straighten your teeth without drawing further attention to your mouth, but you have a complicated orthodontic condition then you can speak to our dentist St John’s Wood and find out about lingual braces.

Lingual braces work in the same way as traditional metal brackets and wires, but these are attached to the back surface of your teeth, which means they are almost invisible in your mouth. This is a popular solution for those with extensive dental misalignment, but who are uncomfortable with the appearance of traditional braces being fixed to the front surface of their teeth. Clear braces are another variation on traditional orthodontic braces, where the components are designed to be almost invisible or to match with your natural dentition, to again help avoid drawing further attention to your mouth.

Six Month Smiles

Here, at Aura Dental, if you have mild or moderate misalignment issues of the teeth, or are only concerned with the alignment of your front teeth, then you may wish to speak to our dentist St John’s Wood and find out about Six Month Smiles. This treatment is very similar to clear braces in that the brackets are transparent and the wires are coloured to match your teeth, however, Six Month Smiles are designed to help you achieve results within 6 months. The reduced treatment time makes this a popular alternative to traditional orthodontics. Speak to us today and, after undergoing an assessment and examination of your teeth and gums, together we can decide which is the best treatment option for you and find out how orthodontic treatment will help you enjoy a happy healthy smile for life.

A smile makeover is designed to help address all the issues that may be affecting the aesthetics of your mouth and transform your smile completely. If you are unhappy with the look of your teeth, visit our website and find out what our dentist St John’s Wood can do for you. Here at Aura Dental, we provide the full range of cosmetic dental treatments, and our dentist St John’s Wood can put together a bespoke smile makeover for you. Either we can create a treatment plan using different techniques and procedures that address your issues individually, or we can address all your issues using certain invasive procedures depending on your dental requirements and what you would prefer.

The appearance of your teeth may be affected by your dental health, in which case, our dentist will first carry out restorative dental treatment and address the issues affecting your mouth. Poor oral health is a major cause of many aesthetic issues that can have a detrimental impact on the appearance of your teeth, and you will find that addressing these issues will help to improve the appearance of your mouth significantly. Here at Aura Dental, we can offer a full range of restorative dental treatments, and you will undergo a thorough examination of your teeth and gums so that our dentist St John’s Wood can put together a treatment plan that is suitable for you.

Teeth straightening

Once our dentist is certain that your teeth are clean and healthy and that your gums are free of disease, we can put together a cosmetic dental treatment plan for you. Misaligned teeth are a common issue that may affect the appearance of your smile. Here at Aura Dental, we have different teeth straightening treatment options, and these will depend on the extent of misalignment that you suffer from and your personal preferences. You may choose to have traditional orthodontic braces for extensive orthodontic issues, or if you are looking to address slightly crooked teeth, then you can undergo cosmetic orthodontic treatment.

Teeth staining

Other common issues that can affect the appearance of your teeth include stained teeth. Here at Aura Dental, we offer teeth whitening procedures that you can carry out either at home or at the dental practice under the guidance of our dentist. We also offer composite bonding to disguise the imperfections affecting the front surface of your teeth.

Transforming your smile completely

If you are looking for a more dramatic transformation, you can speak to us and find out about veneers. Finally, if you are affected by irreversible damage to your teeth, then you may need to undergo a tooth extraction, or you may wish to replace your teeth. In this case, we can carry out permanent tooth replacement for you using dental implants here at Aura Dental. Book an appointment with our dental team at Aura Dental today, and let us assess your teeth so that you can begin your journey to achieving a happy and healthy smile for life.

There are many different factors that can affect the way you feel about your smile. Missing teeth is one of the most distressing situations you can find yourself in concerning your dental health. If you have lost a tooth or are missing multiple teeth, then rest assured that dental technology has advanced significantly over the last few decades, and there are plenty of treatment options available for you to replace your missing teeth. You do not have to suffer in silence; speak to our dentist St John’s Wood at Aura Dental today and find out about replacing your missing teeth. Tooth replacement therapy is designed to meet your individual dental requirements and your personal preferences. Tooth replacement can be temporary and removable, or it can be fixed and permanent, depending on what you are looking for.

What are dental implants?

Whether you would like fixed or removable tooth replacement, you’ll need to speak to our dentist St John’s Wood here at Aura Dental to find out about dental implants for replacing your missing teeth. Dental implants are the gold standard in tooth replacement therapy. Dental implants provide a sturdy and permanent foundation for your choice of prosthetic for replacing your missing tooth or teeth.

Dental implants are designed to last you for the rest of your life. They are small titanium components that replace the root of the missing teeth. They can be directly inserted into the bone socket of the missing tooth and initiate a natural healing process known as osseointegration, in which osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) form around the implant, embedding the implant firmly in place. This process can take 3 or 4 months depending on your body’s ability to heal. Unfortunately, it is not suitable for everybody, and those with underlying medical conditions that affect the healing process of their bodies may have to speak to our dentist St John’s Wood and find out about alternative tooth replacement options.

Dental implants for replacing missing teeth

If our dentist decides that dental implants are suitable for you, you will need to undergo the process under careful supervision, and we will examine your teeth every few weeks to make sure that the process is coming along successfully. Once the healing process is complete and the implant has been embedded successfully into your jaw bone, you can choose to have a crown, bridge or set of dentures to replace your missing teeth and restore the appearance and function of your teeth so that you can smile happily and confidently once more.

Dental implants can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or all of your teeth, depending on your dental requirements. If you visit our dentist on a regular basis, maintain a good dental hygiene routine and refrain from factors that can have a negative impact on your oral health like smoking and other lifestyle choices, then your dental implants will help you enjoy a healthy smile for the rest of your life. Speak to us at Aura Dental today to find out more.

There has been a surge in demand for teeth-straightening treatments over the last few decades as more and more people are looking into cosmetic dental treatments and want to improve the appearance of their teeth. Here at Aura Dental, we provide a wide range of orthodontic and cosmetic dental treatments for straightening teeth. Depending on your dental requirements and personal preferences, we can help you choose the right treatment.

If you have complex orthodontic issues and your teeth are significantly crooked, overcrowded, overlapping or protruding, then you may wish to speak to our dentist St John’s Wood and find out about traditional orthodontic treatment procedures. If you have minor dental misalignment issues or have already undergone orthodontic treatment when you were younger and would like to improve your smile even further, then you can speak to our team and find out about aligners, which are removable braces for straightening teeth. By examining your teeth, our dentist St John’s Wood will be able to tell you which are the most suitable type of braces for you.

A healthy and happy smile with orthodontic treatment in St John’s Wood

Orthodontic treatments are designed to address the misalignment problems with your teeth and create a neatly aligned smile so that you can enjoy better dental health for life. This is because a crooked smile is more prone to decay and disease. If your teeth are crooked, then there is a greater chance of plaque and bacteria building up in those areas where your brush or floss thread may not be able to reach. By correcting your smile and straightening your teeth, there will be fewer hard-to-reach areas and therefore less growth of bacteria and formation of plaque, promoting a healthier and happier smile than before.

Orthodontic treatment is also designed to improve the appearance of your teeth, promoting self-confidence, a more youthful and healthier appearance and better overall well-being. A healthy and happy smile is very important for overall well-being in general.

Speak to our dentist St John’s Wood and book an appointment at Aura Dental to find out how we can help you improve the appearance of your teeth and enjoy better dental health. You will need to undergo a smile assessment to identify which factors are affecting your teeth. We can carry out a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums to make sure that it is safe to move your teeth and determine which type of braces will be most suitable to do so. Our dentist can recommend fixed dental braces or removable braces, which are both highly effective at straightening teeth and will help you achieve the smile that you are looking for.

Once you are happy with the alignment of your teeth, you can speak to our dentist here at Aura Dental and find out about other ways to enhance the appearance of your smile further and continue to enjoy good oral health for life. Book an appointment today and begin your journey to a healthy and confident smile very soon.

In medicine, cancer is one of the scariest diagnoses that you can receive.

Luckily, technologies and screening have advanced in recent years across all areas of medicine. So, nowadays it is easier for clinicians to spot the early warning signs of cancer at checkups.

Oral cancer screening is one of the reasons why it is so important to see our dentist St John’s Wood regularly. We can check your mouth, inner cheeks and tongue for any suspicious lumps or patches of skin and refer you to a specialist if necessary.

Here are some of the indicators that you may have oral cancer and need to see our dentist St John’s Wood for an emergency checkup.

Ulcers

Most people have had oral ulcers at one time or another, especially when they are ill or stressed.

But recurring ulcers in the same part of the mouth can highlight an issue that our dentist St John’s Wood will need to examine. If you have ulcers that keep occurring in the same place, are bleeding, have a yellow pigment or are larger than a 5 pence piece, then you need to see our team promptly.

Difficulty swallowing

Difficulty swallowing food can be an indicator that you have an issue such as gastrointestinal reflux disease or GERD. But it can also be an indicator of oral cancer as it can point to growths in your throat or at the back of your mouth.

If you have continuous issues with swallowing your food, then you need to see our team to have your mouth explored.

Lumps and bumps

Lumps and bumps in or around the mouth are typically benign.

However, if you notice that you have a lump or suspicious bump that has started to grow and cause discomfort, then you will need to see our team urgently.

While these things are rarely signs of oral cancer, they can be a clear symptom. So, even if your swelling is not causing discomfort, it needs to be examined before it begins to obstruct your airway.

Weight loss

Unexplained and unexpected weight loss should always be investigated by your doctor and, if necessary, a member of our team.

While it may not point to oral cancer directly, there is a link between having oral cancer and losing weight. This is because the body is diverting resources from the fat cells in your body to fight the tumour.

So, if you jumped on the scales and are shocked by your weight loss, you need to seek urgent medical care. Call our team if you have weight loss combined with any of the other symptoms on this list.

Healing issues in mouth

When you have a tooth extracted, it should heal within 2 weeks. However, if it takes longer than this without a diagnosed illness, it can be a sign that there needs to be an investigation. Oral cancer can cause delays in healing in the mouth and surrounding tissues. So, if there are delays with healing in your mouth or on your lips, then you need to see our team as soon as possible.

Children are naturally not fond of dental chairs or appointments so, many parents believe that it won’t do any harm to skip a couple of checkups. And there are plenty of myths out there that support this reasoning relating to childhood dental care.

Our team at Aura Dental believes that prevention is better than cure, and our dentist St John’s Wood is always eager to see younger patients to ensure that their teeth and gums are healthy.

Here, our dentist St John’s Wood debunks some of the most common myths that surround children’s dentistry so that you can be better equipped to help your kids get on the path to better oral health.

Myth 1 – Baby teeth aren’t important

This is one of the most common myths that, frankly, drives our dentist St John’s Wood, a bit mad!

Baby teeth are important for many reasons. They help your child to speak and eat correctly. They also allow your child to develop their tongue muscles, so they are less likely to develop a speech impediment. And finally, baby teeth are important because they act as place markers for adult teeth. If they are removed too early due to decay, this can cause the adult teeth to erupt in a crooked position. So, take care of your children’s baby teeth!

Myth 2 – Dummies or pacifiers can cause issues with alignment

Babies and toddlers suck their thumbs or pacifiers as a form of self-soothing behaviour. Prenatal scans have even found that babies suck their fingers and thumbs in the womb. In short, it is normal behaviour that calms them down when they are stressed.

Dental research has found that sucking on dummies, pacifiers or thumbs does not equate to misaligned teeth, provided that this behaviour does not continue past the age of 4; most children naturally stop this habit between the ages of 2 and 4. If your child continues to suck their thumb past this age, you should contact our team for advice.

Myth 3 – Children don’t need a fluoride toothpaste

Tooth decay can occur when the first of your child’s teeth erupt. So, it is best to invest in an age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste to prevent those newly erupting teeth from cavities.

For children under the age of 3, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and an electric toothbrush; this will prevent them from swallowing the toothpaste and help to get the best clean.

Myth 4 – Only sugar causes cavities

It is something of gospel truth in dentistry that sugar causes cavities.

But starchy, high-carbohydrate foods like crackers, bread and chips can also increase the chance of cavities developing. So, to keep your child’s teeth healthy, remind them to brush and floss them every day.

Myth 5 – Chewing gum can create cavities

Chewing sugar-free gum can be beneficial for your children’s teeth. It helps to increase saliva production, which reduces the likelihood of plaque and debris affixing to your child’s teeth, hence, reducing cavities. It can also help to remove debris simply by being sticky, so, provided that it is sugar-free, let them chew away!

Despite having a good dental hygiene routine and visiting the dentist on a regular basis some of us are still unhappy with the appearance of our smiles. Thanks to advances in dental technology there is now a range of cosmetic dental treatments available at our dentist St John’s Wood to help address the individual issues which affect your smile. Each smile is unique and therefore we are happy to be able to present you with many different treatment options for addressing your individual dental requirements and your personal preferences.

Cosmetic dentistry continues to grow in popularity and with much research and development being carried out in this field, cosmetic dental techniques have become more effective, more convenient and more discreet than ever before.

Here at Aura Dental you need to visit our dentist St John’s Wood for a smile assessment and an examination of your teeth and gums, to talk about the aesthetic issues which are affecting their appearance. Learn how these can be addressed to help you achieve a more beautiful smile and promote better dental health.

How do smile makeovers work?

If you have multiple factors which are affecting the appearance and health of your teeth then here at our practice our dentist St John’s Wood can put together an individually tailored treatment plan or smile makeover for you. Smile makeovers can either be made up of a group of cosmetic dental treatments and procedures which will help to correct the aesthetic issues which are affecting the appearance of your smile, or you may opt for a standalone procedure which transforms your smile completely. Our dentist St. John’s Wood will use the results from the smile assessment and the examination of your teeth and gums to decide which treatments are safe and suitable for you.

Before you undergo a smile makeover we will address any dental conditions that you may have using our range of restorative treatments and procedures. We may begin with a hygienist appointment to make sure that your teeth are free of plaque and tartar. Not only will this clean your teeth, but it will also help improve their appearance before any cosmetic treatments have even begun.

Teeth straightening

Most people suffer from a certain degree of misalignment with their teeth. We have a range of orthodontic treatment options to help correct the alignment of your teeth for a straight and symmetrical smile. Not only will this improve the appearance of your smile, but it will have a significant positive impact on your overall oral health. Depending on the extent of misalignment that you begin with it may take as little as 4 weeks or up to 18 months to help correct the alignment of your teeth. However, once you have done so, using the help of a retainer, you will be able to maintain a neatly aligned smile for life. Once this is complete you can talk about further cosmetic dental treatments to enhance the appearance of your smile. Speak to our dentist today and find out more.

At Aura Dental, we offer a range of treatments for the whole family. Whether you require general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry or restorative treatments, we have a wide range to suit all requirements – you shouldn’t need to go anywhere else. As such, we hope to get to know you well over the years, but our focus is on preventive treatments, so if there is a way that we can help you to look after your teeth and gums to prevent issues from occurring, then that is what we will happily do.

For our younger patients, we particularly focus on advising how to take care of the teeth and gums as good habits built in the younger years will pay dividends in the future years of adulthood. Our team is friendly, caring and professional. We understand that not everyone relishes the thought of visiting the dentist, and for some, it can cause genuine anxiety, and may even be a phobia. We will always take treatments at your own pace and aim to make your experience as relaxing as possible.

One of our treatments that can improve the appearance of your smile and reduce anxiety is Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

For patients who have mild to moderate alignment issues such as underbites or overbites, crossed teeth, gapped teeth or crowded teeth, we can offer a discreet treatment with Invisalign aligners. These are made of plastic and may be removed. They must be worn over the teeth and gently apply pressure to the teeth to move them into the desired position. Treatment can take around 6 to 18 months and consists of the aligners being changed on a weekly basis. You will only have to come and see your dentist St John’s Wood here at Aura Dental every 6 weeks for a checkup and receive the next batch of aligners.

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

Invisalign offers flexibility for the patient because the aligners may be removed for up to 2 hours a day. This means that you can remove them when you are eating and drinking, so you won’t need to worry about cleaning masticated food off them! Also, you can remove them when you are playing sports, attending a social event or just feeling like having a break – the choice is all yours!

The aligners can also be custom-made for your mouth using iTero technology, which is what we use to scan your mouth to get the measurements for your aligners to be made. The scan can also be used to generate a 3D animation of what your teeth will look like after treatment, which can be a really motivating experience at the start of your Invisalign journey (cue X-Factor music!). Joking aside, your smile will certainly be improved with Invisalign, and this can improve your self-esteem once you have completed your treatment.

What next?

If you would like to know more about what our dentist St John’s Wood can do for you here at Aura Dental, simply book in for an initial consultation, and we will explore the treatment options with you after examining your mouth thoroughly. Once you’ve been to see our dentist St John’s Wood, you won’t want to look anywhere else.

At Aura Dental, we are proud to offer excellent care to all of our patients. Our core values centre upon upholding our integrity and professionalism in all of our treatments, as well as empathising and understanding all of our patients’ needs, including those who have dental phobias or are nervous. We have an extensive range of treatments to cater for various issues in general dentistry, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency care. We understand, however, that preventive dentistry is really important and educating patients in how to care for their teeth and gums is also crucial in reducing the need for more treatment. For our younger patients, encouraging good habits from an early age can have major benefits for them as adults. However, for those who need our help, our dentist St John’s Wood is here to help. One treatment we offer for those with missing teeth is dental implants.

What are dental implants?

If you have one or more missing teeth, it is advisable to have them replaced because not doing so can lead to other teeth and the gums being overexposed to bacteria, which can cause further problems. Also, when you have missing teeth, it can cause issues with speech and the face can shrink as the structure has been lost that was provided by your teeth, causing you to look more aged. Thankfully, there is a way that this can be addressed with dental implants.

Implants are titanium screws that are attached to the jawbone. These screws fuse with the body’s tissues and become embedded into the jaw. Once they have healed, they shouldn’t be going anywhere. Depending on how many teeth you need to replace, you can then have crowns, bridges or dentures attached to them.

Why should I choose dental implants?

The results of having dental implants fitted are wonderful! Nobody should be able to tell that you don’t have a full set of natural teeth and they won’t give the game away when you are eating, drinking and socialising. You shouldn’t have to suffer the embarrassment of them loosening while you’re chatting and you won’t need to adapt your diet to avoid them breaking either. Our dentist St John’s Wood will tell you that this is the next best thing to having your natural teeth, both aesthetically and functionally. In fact, if your face had shrunk when you lost your natural teeth, dental implants should solve this issue too and you could even look more fresh-faced and youthful. If you did have issues with speech, this should also be rectified too.

What do I need to do next?

If you would like to find out more about dental implants or any of our other treatments, simply book in for an initial consultation with us. We will be able to discuss your concerns and goals for your teeth. We will examine your mouth thoroughly and we will then be able to advise you about the right treatment for you. With an extensive range, you can be sure that we will be able to help you – just come and see our dentist St John’s Wood to find out how!

Far more patients are aware of the importance of visiting a dentist St John’s Wood when they experience a dental issue, but few place the same importance on routine dental appointments. Dental practitioners find this a worrying trend indeed.

At Aura Dental, we know first-hand the adverse consequences that follow when patients suffer from pain and discomfort resulting from dental diseases. There is nothing so distracting as pain and discomfort to interfere with concentrating on tasks. Not seeking timely professional dental care from a dentist St John’s Wood and a patient may spend a longer period of time away from work and school. Even play and leisure activities can be disrupted, not to mention eating and sleeping. It is for all the above reasons and more that we encourage patients to take a more active approach in taking care of their oral health by making routine appointments with our capable and friendly dentist St John’s Wood to check on or clean their teeth and gums.

The critical importance of taking care of your teeth

To best understand why strong and healthy dentition is important, consider the various functions we rely on teeth to perform. The first obvious function is the grinding of food into easily digestible bits without which we would not be able to sustain our bodies.

The presence of natural teeth also influences how clearly we are able to speak and a strong dental arch gives shape and structure to the face. Then there is the irreplaceable aesthetic value of healthy teeth and gums on the confidence to smile a stunning smile.

What would happen if one cannot speak clearly or smile one’s best smile? When one’s confidence takes a knock, it is the quality of life that suffers. A drop in confidence leads to the increased likelihood of living life on the periphery – minimum social engagement.

There is another worrying concern about poor dental health – the greater possibility of complications with medical conditions. There are well-established links that show how poor oral health relates to problems with overall health and wellbeing.

Problems are first caused when the presence of bad bacteria in the mouth overwhelm the good ones, leading to chronic gum inflammation and tooth decay. These harmful microbes do not just wreak havoc in the mouth, but because the mouth stands as the entry point to the deeper and more vulnerable parts of the body, these destructive microorganisms can threaten vital life organs such as the heart and lungs. For example, advanced stages of gum disease have been found to contribute to cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, certain cancers and stroke.

Best ways to protect oral health

Taking care of natural teeth and gums is simple and easy but it does take consistency to keep one’s teeth for life. We encourage patients to implement a strict practise of brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. It is also important to make sure one is using correct brushing and flossing techniques like holding the toothbrush correctly and not using too much force when brushing.

In addition to best at-home oral hygiene practices is the absolute necessity of professional dental checkups – the only guaranteed way of knowing for sure if all is well with one’s dental health.

Dental appointments are not for only those times you experience a tooth or gum problem but also to gain peace of mind that there are no oral health problems that need attention. For a positive dental experience, choose a reputable dental practice. At Aura Dental we offer top-quality patient-centred dental care.