Category: Dentists

Maintaining a good dental hygiene routine at home is very important. Using an effective fluoride toothpaste twice a day and making sure you floss your teeth after meals and rinse your mouth with a good mouthwash will help you maintain good oral health and prevent dental complications in the future, later on in life when your teeth may become more prone to damage. At the same time it is important that you visit your dentist St John’s Wood on a regular basis to make sure that your dental hygiene routine is sufficient and that there is no excess plaque and tartar build-up around your teeth and gums which may cause other dental issues in the future. We are a family friendly dentist here at Aura dental and we want to instill the importance of visiting the dentist St Johns Wood into our young patients from an early age to help promote better oral health for life.

Regular check-ups and mouth cancer screening

For your convenience we are open 6 days a week here at Aura Dental and we recommend that you visit us for routine appointments at least once every 6 months and more often if you are prone to dental issues and problems with your teeth. Your dentist St Johns Wood will carry out a thorough examination of your teeth and gums and check for any signs or symptoms of disease. If necessary you will undergo X-rays for further examination and a treatment plan will be set up for you according to your dental needs. If the dentist is happy that your teeth are clean and healthy then you will be recommended to revisit in another six months. We also recommend that you visit the hygienist for a scale and polish on a regular basis to make sure that your teeth are cleaned professionally and that your gums are free of disease. A significant percentage of the adult population here in the UK suffer from a certain degree of gum disease. Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease and without treatment can progress to periodontal disease which affects the surrounding structures of the teeth and can eventually result in tooth loss. Your hygienist is trained to look out for symptoms of gum disease therefore it is important that you visit your dentist and hygienist in combination on a regular basis to prevent such issues.

Here at Aura Dental we carry out oral cancer screening which is a simple procedure at your dentist St Johns Wood and consists of a thorough examination of your mouth alongside a detailed analysis of your oral health history to assess any risk factors. Oral cancer kills approximately 2700 people in the UK every year, so we recommend that you carry out an oral cancer screen once every 12 months.

Speak to your dentist St John’s Wood today to book your appointment. Speak to our friendly and professional team here at Aura Dental today and find out about the different treatment options that we have available for you and let us help you smile happily and confidently for the rest of your life.

If you have healthy teeth and gums then you may wish to speak to your dentist St Johns Wood about improving the aesthetic appearance of your teeth. Here at Aura Dental we have an array of different treatments and procedures at your dentist St Johns Wood to help improve the aesthetics of your teeth and thanks to advances in dental technology cosmetic dentistry is now more convenient and accessible than ever before. Whether you are suffering from misaligned teeth, crooked teeth, wonky teeth, protruding teeth, gaps in your teeth or overcrowding of your teeth, we have a range of different orthodontic treatment options available for you according to your requirements and preferences. If you are suffering from tooth loss then we also specialise in dental implant surgery to help replace your missing teeth.

Orthodontics in St Johns Wood

Orthodontics is the field of dentistry which is involved in correcting misalignment issues of the teeth at your dentist St Johns Wood. This is carried out using different forms of dental braces. Conventionally orthodontic treatment is carried out using metal braces which are made up of brackets and wires which are attached to the front of your teeth and work together to apply constant pressure on the teeth and move them into better positions.

This is a highly effective method of straightening your teeth however it is highly visible in the mouth and therefore there is a reluctance amongst adults to undergo this form of orthodontic treatment. To address this reluctance there has been much research and development in invisible orthodontics which are designed to offer a more discreet treatment option for those who would like to correct the misalignment issues of their teeth. Speak to your dentist St Johns Wood to find out about the different types of invisible orthodontics here at Aura dental and together you can decide which is the most suitable for your personal requirements and preferences.

Lingual Braces Work in the same way as traditional orthodontic braces however these are attached to the back of your teeth and therefore they are almost invisible from the outside. Lingual braces still use brackets and wires to correct the positioning of your teeth however they are a desirable alternative due to the discretion they can offer. Lingual braces are ideal for those who require extensive treatment to correct the appearance of their smile

Inman aligners work differently to traditional orthodontic braces and lingual braces, instead of brackets and wires, each aligner is composed of two metal bows which sit around the front and back of your arch and are powered by two metal springs which squeeze the teeth into a better position. This is an effective and rapid method of improving the appearance of your smile, ideal for issues such as protruding front teeth, so speak to your dentist in St John’s wood to find out more.

Six Month Smiles works in a similar way to traditional orthodontic braces however the brackets and wires that are involved in this treatment procedure are either tooth coloured or transparent for a highly discrete treatment option. Six months Miles is also very effective at correcting misalignment issues of the teeth and as its name suggests can correct the aesthetic appearance of your smile in six months.

Speak to our friendly and professional team here at Aura dental today and find out which treatment option will be most suitable for you.

Waking up and having that morning cup of coffee can be like drinking an elixir. Reaching for a glass of red wine at the end of a busy day may make you feel like you deserve it, as the first gulp goes down gratefully. While you may be thankful for these little moments in life, where you can be in the moment and unwind, are you really present? Are you thinking about the effects of caffeine and alcohol on your teeth? You may only begin to notice when your teeth become discoloured – and drinks are not the only cause of teeth changing their appearance. At Aura Dental, our dentist St John’s Wood can help to improve the colour of your teeth. As a Private Dentistry Award Finalist 2020, we are professionals with the knowledge and expertise to provide excellent treatment that has pleasing results.

What else can cause staining on my teeth?

If you have experienced discolouration of your teeth, it could be for a number of reasons. It could be because you have had an illness or condition such as diabetes, for example. Smoking is another well-known cause of teeth looking stained, and accidents can also take their toll on the appearance of the colour of your teeth. Moreover, as you age, your teeth will become darker anyway. Oh, to be young again! While you can’t turn back the hands of time, you can come to Aura Dental and let us help you to get a Vita Shade B1, guaranteed!

How does teeth whitening work?

Here at Aura Dental, we use Enlighten which is a completely safe system. We use custom- made trays to put our whitening gels into and you wear them like a gum shield. With some whitening treatments, there is the risk that if the gels touch the gums, they can be burnt; however, with Enlighten, there is no need to protect the gums at all.

While your custom trays are made, you will be provided with a special tooth serum that you need to brush your teeth with twice a day. Once your trays are ready, you can collect them from your dentist St John’s Wood and simply fill them with the gel and wear them to bed each night for two weeks, whilst continuing with brushing your teeth with the special serum.

Once you have finished your home treatment, you will come to see us and have a final 40 minute treatment in the practice. We use this method to ensure that you get an even result and that the shade meets the grade!

Anything else I need to know?

After your treatment has been completed, it is recommended that you continue to use some of the home whitening gel every 2 to 3 months. This will ensure that you keep your great results and that you can celebrate with a glass of vino too! So, if you fancy having a great smile that shines, come and see your dentist St John’s Wood and get ready to be Enlightened!

If you have absent teeth, there are many reasons why you need to get them replaced; it’s not just about aesthetics, but also about oral health. At Aura Dental, we are a Private Dentistry Award Finalist 2020 who offers excellent treatment for filling in the gaps missing teeth create, to restore your smile to one that everyone wants to see! With a wide range of treatments available, many patients are still only familiar with dentures that they feel are synonymous with discomfort and instability. Thankfully, times have changed and by visiting a dentist St John’s Wood here at our practice, we can help you to have a completely natural looking smile that won’t let you down when it matters most. Whether you’re chatting to friends or chomping into a chewy steak, dental implants should stay firmly put and do the job they’re meant to do!

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are little metal screws made from titanium. They are secured to the jawbone and provide a post on which to attach your replacement teeth using an abutment. Titanium is an excellent metal because it fuses well with the body’s tissues. Your replacement teeth can be crowns, bridges or dentures, depending on how many you need to replace. Whether it’s a single tooth, or a full set, your dental implants stop your replacement teeth from loosening.

Why should I consider dental implants?

Here at Aura Dental, we want you to be happy with your treatment plan and we will always discuss treatment options with you for a personalised plan to be devised. In the case of dental implants, we believe that they are not only a reliable method of giving you your smile back, but they are also extremely easy to maintain. All you need to do is brush and floss regularly, just as you would do with your natural teeth. It couldn’t be easier! You should also come and see us for your usual dental check-ups with your dentist St John’s Wood and our friendly and professional team will ensure that your oral hygiene is on track with your new implants.

Another benefit of choosing dental implants is that the replacement teeth will be made to match your natural teeth in both size, shape and shade. As they aren’t enamel, they also won’t be prone to cavities!

Will I be able to get implants?

By booking in for an initial consultation with our dentist St John’s Wood, we will be able to examine your mouth and assess whether implants are the right treatment for you. Sometimes, patients don’t have enough bone density in their jawbone for the screws to be fitted; however, we may be able to give you a bone graft before fitting the implants. By visiting us, we will be able to put a treatment plan in place for you and sort out what needs to be done to complete your smile. So, if you are looking for a refreshed smile, come and see us at Aura Dental. We want to give you amazing service that gets the best results.

Having misaligned teeth as an adult, or indeed at any stage in life, is rarely fun.

It can lead to smiling less and problems with speech, eating and even maintaining good oral hygiene; crooked teeth are inevitably harder to brush!

If you are looking for a way to straighten your teeth as an adult, you may have considered aligners. While discrete, these can lack the versatility of a metal brace, leaving many patients torn between their options.

What if we told you that you can wear a metal brace without it being visually obvious?

At Aura Dental, our dentist St John’s Wood can offer our suitable patients lingual braces. Affixed to the back of the teeth, you get the strength of metal braces alongside the discretion of an invisible aligner. Great!

But, before you book a consultation with our dentist St John’s Wood, you probably have a few questions about lingual braces. Here, we answer our top FAQs. Enjoy!

What are lingual braces?

Like regular orthodontic braces, lingual braces are fixed orthodontic appliances that are composed of metal archwires and brackets.

When our dentist St John’s Wood fits them, instead of attaching them to the front of your teeth, they will fit them to the back and, instead of being made of metal, the brackets are made of gold! Very posh!

How do they work?

Since they are fixed, they can be used to treat a wide range of orthodontic issues.

Once they are fitted, you will need to see our team every 6-8 weeks to have them adjusted or tightened. If we feel you need a bit of additional help, we will attach rubber bands to the brace to get your teeth into the desired position quicker!

Can anyone wear them?

Yes, lingual braces can be worn by children, teenagers and adults. We will just need to check that your teeth are in good condition and you do not have untreated gum disease or cavities.

Do they take as long as regular braces?

The length of time that you need to wear your lingual braces will depend on the severity of the misalignment being treated. And, as these braces can be used to treat more severe or complex orthodontic issues, we cannot estimate how long your treatment will take without performing an assessment.

But, in short, you may need to wear your lingual braces for as long as you would traditional metal braces, which can be up to 36 months.

Are they uncomfortable?

There is a somewhat validated rumour that wearing fixed metal braces can cause discomfort after tightening or adjustments. But, even in 2021, we still haven’t found a way to move teeth without a bit of pressure; even invisible aligners can cause twinges! As lingual braces are fixed, many patients do report discomfort following a tightening. But this should only last for a few days and should be controllable with over-the-counter pain relievers. If it’s not or you have concerns about the level of discomfort, contact our team.

Getting your child to attend a dental checkup can feel like a challenge at the best of times.

If you are told that your child could benefit from braces, you may feel that they will be sulky with you for the rest of your life if you have one fitted. But, there are many advantages to your child wearing a brace in their younger years and, we promise, they will thank you for it later!

At Aura Dental, we are proud of the orthodontic options that we can provide for our younger patients. Our dentist St John’s Wood and the rest of our team have helped thousands of children get straighter smiles, and we can attest to the many advantages that this treatment can offer in the short and long term.

So what are some of the advantages of your child undertaking braces with our dentist St John’s Wood?

Better nutrition

Your child will eat most of what you give them. But, when they are out and about or at school, the position of their teeth may create issues for them. As a result, they may be passing up on healthier food options such as fruits and vegetables in lieu of chips and softer foods.

When our dentist St John’s Wood fits a brace and your child’s teeth start to straighten, they will find it easier to bite into and chew harder foods, thus improving their overall nutrition. Great!

Clearer speech

It is amazing how big a role our teeth play in our speech. If your child has an overbite, we are willing to bet that they have issues pronouncing the ‘th’ and ‘s’ sounds. If they have an underbite, they may struggle with pronouncing the letter ‘l’.

With a brace, we can correct these issues and thus, as their teeth realign, their speech will become clearer and their confidence will improve.

Improved oral health

Misaligned teeth are harder to brush; it is a fact of life.

If your child has complex misalignments, they may regularly need fillings or fluoride sealants to protect their teeth against decay. So, being fitted with a brace will make it easier for them to brush and clean their teeth, improving their dental health in the long run.

Better long term physical health

Following on from misaligned teeth being harder to brush, should your child not have their teeth straightened, they may develop a higher incidence of plaque in their mouth.

Excessive levels of plaque have been linked to serious health issues like heart disease, cancer and even strokes. So, by straightening your child’s teeth and making it easier for them to clean out plaque deposits, you will actually be ensuring better physical health for the rest of their life.

Improved confidence

And of course, what better way to set your child up for a happier life than by improving their self-esteem with a straight, healthier smile.

Children who have their teeth straightened using a brace earlier in life often report higher levels of confidence when they reach their teenage years and beyond. Remember, for those under the age of 18 years, orthodontic work is free in the UK so, it won’t cost you a penny!

At Aura Dental, we offer a wide range of treatments from general, children’s and cosmetic dentistry to orthodontics and dental implants. We also offer emergency treatments if you should ever find yourself in need of them. We like to think that if you’re looking for a warm and friendly dental practice that really cares about each individual patient, then you will have come to the right place! But don’t just take our word for it, we are finalists in the 2020 Private Dentistry Awards, an achievement that is thanks to our knowledgeable and experienced staff and the holistic approach that we take in our relaxed environment. We hope that all our patients feel a part of the decision making process when it comes to creating their treatment plan and we will always take the time to answer as many questions as they may have. Find out more about what we can do as a dentist St John’s Wood.

Teeth whitening: Enlighten

If you’re looking for a dentist St John’s Wood who offers teeth whitening, then look no further. We use a system called ‘Enlighten’ that guarantees to get your teeth to at least a Vita shade B1. It is a renowned system that gets results. We also offer the Enlighten’s Evolution professional teeth whitening system that can brighten teeth by up to 16 shades lighter. You will have trays made to fit your mouth and while you are waiting for them to arrive, we will provide you with some fancy toothpaste to use. It contains HAP (Hydroxyapatite) and this is what the enamel of your teeth is actually made up of for 97% of it. This will reduce the sensitivity in your teeth and strengthen them. When you then receive the trays you will wear them at home with your whitening gels. By wearing them every night for a couple of weeks, you will then be ready for a final session in our practice with our dentist St John’s Wood to give your colour a final boost and get a smile that shines!

Composite bonding

If you are looking for a solution to the size or shape of your teeth, as well as the colour of your teeth, then composite bonding could be for you! It is made of the same material as that which is used for white fillings and is normally applied to the fronts of teeth which are visible to other people. There is no damage caused to your teeth in having this treatment and it can be a quick and simple solution to minor issues; it can also be used for narrowing gaps between teeth, as well as disguising minor rotations of teeth.

What should I do now?

If you are interested in finding out more about how Aura Dental can help you, why not book in for an initial consultation? We can examine your mouth and discuss any concerns you may have. We will be able to explore the options available to you and you can quiz us about anything you are unsure of. Together, we will be able to determine a treatment plan that is bespoke for you, because it’s what you deserve – treat yourself and your teeth to an experience worth smiling about.

If you’re looking for a dentist, you may have had some recommendations from friends and family about where to go. Perhaps you’ve been doing a search online and checked out some options on a map, but letters A-Z won’t tell you much. The fact is that dental practices have varying levels of expertise and different treatments available. If you don’t want to have to move around to receive different treatments, you may be keen to find a dental practice that has all the dental treatments you could wish for under one roof! At Aura Dental, we are a highly experienced practice that offers dental care for the whole family. We are finalists from the 2020 Private Dentistry Awards and we offer general dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and a range of treatments for children. We also offer emergency care should you ever need it. Find out more about some of our popular treatments.

Dental implants

If you have a single tooth missing, several teeth missing, or even a whole set of teeth that need replacing, our dentist St John’s Wood can offer dental implants as a solution. Implants consist of screws which are attached to your jawbone and act as artificial roots for your replacement teeth, which are crowns, dentures or bridges. The screws are made from titanium metal which fuses well with the body’s tissues and ensures that they are firmly fixed in place. Your replacement teeth will be attached to an abutment and once fitted will look completely natural; nobody should know that they aren’t your real teeth. Whether you’re chomping on a steak well done, or crunching on an apple, your replacement teeth won’t let you down. They are easy to look after as well, all you need to do is brush and floss regularly and your replacement teeth won’t get cavities!

Invisalign

At Aura Dental, with our dentist St John’s Wood we have a wide variety of appliances for realigning your teeth, many of which are discreet and enable you to achieve results in as little as 6 months. One such option available to eligible patients is Invisialign. Invisalign is a system that uses clear plastic aligners that are made bespoke to fit your mouth. They sit over the teeth and along the gumline, making them comfortable to wear. They apply gentle pressure to the teeth to gradually move them into the correct position. The beauty of Invisalign is that the aligners can be removed for up to 2 hours a day, including when you are eating and drinking. The plastic is highly durable, so there is virtually no need to see us for them breaking, unlike with metal braces, so you should only need to see us for a check-up every 6 weeks. In between the check-ups, you will be provided with sets of aligners to wear and change around every fortnight. We don’t want to blow our own trumpet, but the results are fantastic and you can see what they will be before you even begin thanks to the iTero technology that takes a 3D scan of your teeth and can be used to generate an animation of what your teeth will look like after treatment before you even get started!

Come and see us!

If you are keen to find out how our dentist St John’s Wood can help you get a smile that you can be proud of, why not book in and pay us a visit? Our door is always open to our patients and we’re ready to help you with whatever dental needs you require treatment for. Whether it’s a quick scale and polish or something more complex, we have the expertise and the knowledge to treat you; you’ll be in safe, experienced hands.

Oral hygiene for many is often nothing more than a background afterthought. And this is the cause of dentistry in general;the best dentistry is preventative and our dentist in St.John’s Wood would prefer to keep you out of the chair!

For a lot of patients, good oral hygiene can be quite an awkward object as they believe their oral hygiene is fine and so, advice is an insult. Alternatively, they may know their oral hygiene could be better and would not like to be reminded. As medical professionals, we don’t judge our patients’ personal choices when it comes to how they wish to keep their own teeth. As long as the consequences are understood, it is important to maintain good hygiene for your health and bank balance.

A primary condition caused by oral hygiene issues is a cavity, but often, only a few of our patients know exactly how cavities are formed. Cavities are made by colonies of bacteria who attach themselves to the enamel of tooth; they digest sugar producing lactic acids much like the lactic acid that is produced in our muscles during exercise, but when it is produced at the surface of the tooth, lactic acid is particularly good at attacking the calcium compounds within the enamel. This weakens and softens the localised area and the bacterial colony exploits this getting deeper into the tooth. They do not do this in order to eat the tooth, only to provide a sheltered spot in which they can happily continue digesting the sugars from inside your mouth. It is this parasitic behaviour that results in the formation of a cavity, which will drill deeper and deeper into your tooth overtime eventually compromising structural integrity and resulting in the crumbling of the tooth.

This process accelerates over time as dentin components are weaker and more susceptible to damage by acids. The precursor to these colonies’ foothold inside your teeth is a biofilm that curved over the tooth surface. This film is called plaque and is a mix of many different bacterial species. By regularly removing plaque from your teeth and disrupting biofilm, you are preventing the next stage of the bacteria’s invasion.

Even with regular brushing of the teeth, it is tricky to remove plaque from certain spots. This includes between teeth, areas that have been damaged by cracks around bridgework, and where the dentie of the root has become exposed as gums recede.

During the early stages of a cavity,there are little to no symptoms. This is also the stage where it is easiest to treat. Catching cavities at this stage is one of the main reasons why the regular screening for cavities which occur during your six month regular checkup at our dentist in St.John’s Wood is so important.

As well as being able to see cavities at early stages by a simple examination of the enamel, our team is also able to ascertain the depth of the cavity; it is possible that quite a small hole extends deeply into the tooth.

If you are experiencing a cavity,you can get in contact with our dentist in St. John’s Wood. You can do this via the phone or email as well as the contact form on our website.

Cracking a tooth might sound like a rare or strange situation but it’s fairly common and easy to do, usually on hard foods. And our dentists in St.John’s Wood are happy to help.

In general, most people understand that a damaged tooth is something that needs to be treated and this is often the case if there is any form of discomfort. Deep cracks can be exposed, making them sensitive to changes in temperature. But a patient’s experience of cracking over a long period of time can become complacent, even though this type of cracking is painful but rarely beyond treating. We have to explore the reasons as to why cracking of the teeth can occur, so you can keep an eye out for it.

Night-time tooth grinding can be a common source of cracking teeth as well as having uneven chewing pressure when eating. Night-time guards are available to prevent grinding in the clinic; even the pressure long-term, however, you may require some form of orthodontic treatment. Misalignment can result in placing an excess amount of pressure on a protruding tooth in order to crack it during everyday wear and tear. Either way, cracked teeth need to be addressed as it was a sign of a form of structural weakness in the tooth. If the crack is from a cavity or has now formed a nook in the tooth, this can be exploited by bacteria to form a cavity in the near future.

Not all dental cracks are visible with the naked eye but if you have a sharp pain when biting down hard which fades as quickly as it came, this is one of the signs of a cracked tooth and a sign that the crack in the tooth is opening up under pressure exposing the nerve. This exposure closes again as soon as the pressure is reduced; if you notice this, you should attempt to book an appointment as soon as possible. Our dentist in St John’s Wood maintains a number of empty slots during our daily appointment schedule allowing us to provide same day emergency care.

A crack in a tooth which extends down below the gum line can act as a conduit for bacteria to gain access to the jawbone and beneath the tooth. This can cause dental abscesses and would have to be addressed with a root canal unless the crack is treated in time.

There are many treatment options available to us which depend heavily on how the cracks present in your case; the most minor form of surface cracking can be addressed with a polish in order to smooth out the tooth surface and a fluoride sealant to to help reinforce the enamel against further damage.

A full fracture of the tooth is a crack that penetrates from the surface enamel and goes all the way to the root but with the two pieces remaining in place, this crack can progressively spread over time if not treated. Our dentist in St Johns Wood will endeavour to hold the tooth together using filling material; if the crack continues to spread down the tooth, a crown may be required to hold the tooth together.

A split tooth is the most dramatic form of crack, dividing the two into two pieces with molars who have two individual roots. There may be the option to recover the tooth via crowning it but for the front teeth or canines it will usually result in the tooth having to be extracted.