Category: Dentists

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.

Are you suffering from poor oral hygiene and in need of treatment? Then look no further than Aura Dental London in St Johns Wood where our expert dentists will be able to see to your needs and requirements in a professional and friendly manner.

What do we do?

At our dentist in St Johns Wood we offer expert treatment together with general dentistry which is often overlooked by a lot of people who get busy with their work and social lives and end up neglecting proper care for their teeth. If you think you are one of those people who need to get back into the routine of caring for your teeth then the best way to start is by making an appointment with your dentist in St Johns Wood and ask for an initial check up. This will enable the dentist in St Johns Wood to be able to provide you with accurate advice and guidance on the best way to maintain dental health and oral hygiene.

What treatments do we offer?

We find that one of the most common forms of treatment required within the UK as a whole is fillings. You may have had at least one filling in your lifetime as it is a very common occurrence. Fillings are needed when you get holes in your teeth and are made up of material that gets placed in the teeth to replace parts of the natural tooth that are now missing.

Dental decay

You may need fillings if you suffer from dental decay as this is one of the main causes of damaged teeth. This happens when people eat too much sugary and fatty foods and drink and do not take care of their diet. This causes bacteria to form in the teeth and the gums which ends up causing erosion and holes to form. Another cause of holes and damage to teeth is caused by poor technique in brushing teeth. This will eventually cause you to suffer tooth pain which can cause discomfort and cause you to struggle to go about your day-to-day life.

What are your options?

If you feel that you are suffering with a hole or pain and discomfort in your teeth and you may require fillings then visit your dentist where the experts will be able to have a thorough consultation and check up so that they can see what the issue is and quickly resolve it for you in a professional and friendly manner. Fillings can be performed on the day and is a quick and easy procedure. The filling will get drilled into the hole and filled with white substance and this will treat the broken tooth and relieve you of the pain. You will not suffer any pain when the dentist inserts the filling into your tooth but if you do feel any slight discomfort your dentist will be able to give you local anaesthetic and some painkillers after the procedure. It will be best to avoid eating and drinking hot foods and drinks for the first 24 hours so that the filling remains in place. After 24 hours you will be able to eat and drink as normal.

Sometimes, unexpected things can happen to your teeth that can be uncomfortable and/or painful. This is why we offer our emergency dentist St John’s Wood service to help our patients in those moments when they are concerned about their oral health.

Reasons for having an emergency dental appointment

There are a few different things that can happen that may cause you to call our emergency dentist St John’s Wood, and we will do all we can to help you at that moment. Our team is highly qualified to deal with the most severe dental cases, and you can have a peace of mind knowing you are in good hands.

Toothache

This is one of the more common reasons that people will come to us for an emergency appointment. Toothache can be unbearably painful, and can stop you from doing your normal day-to-day activities. The pain is usually targeted in one area, causing it to be extremely sensitive, painful and uncomfortable.

When you come to us for an emergency appointment about toothache, we will do what we can to relieve your pain through different types of medicine, depending on the severity of your case. We will then try to find out what the cause of the pain is, and do what we can in that moment to treat it. If further treatment is needed, then we will create a plan to help you with it in the future.

Loose Tooth

If you have knocked a tooth out, then this can be painful, and can put the area at risk of infection. This is why you should contact our emergency dentist St John’s Wood if your tooth gets knocked out or becomes loose. It is especially important to contact us if you have continuous bleeding after it happens. If you still have the whole tooth intact and it is clean, then we may be able to reattach it, but if not, we will discuss options with you for future treatments to replace it.

If your teeth have become loose without knocking them, this could mean that there are bigger problems at play, such as periodontal disease. It is important to not ignore these symptoms, as they will only get worse over time, the quicker you contact us, the easier it will be to treat the problem.

Cracked tooth

Another reason that you may need to contact us for an emergency appointment is if you have cracked your tooth. This can cause sharp pain when you bite down, and when you eat or drink. It can also cause that tooth and the surrounding teeth to weaken at a faster rate. Depending on the severity of your case, there are several things that we can do to help you if you have a cracked tooth.

If you have a minor crack in your tooth, we will most likely just lightly polish the area to smoothen out any rough areas. On the other hand, if your whole tooth is cracked, this may need a root canal to treat it, or sometimes we can just repair it with material used for fillings.

Are you finding it harder to chew and swallow food? Do you have oral ulcers that you cannot get rid of?

If so, you need to see our team.

As scary as it is to consider, the rates of oral cancer are rising in the UK and in fact globally, making it all the more important to see your dental team regularly for check-ups. If you are in a worrying place where you aren’t sure if you have oral cancer, don’t worry! With early detection and treatment, it has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers and so, you should really see a member of our team if you have concerns.

Because at Aura Dental, we know how important it is to screen for oral cancer and so, our dentist in St Johns Wood provides all of our patients with cancer screening as part of our biannual check-ups. If you have concerns about cancer between check-ups, however, please contact us right away so we can help.

But what are some of the signs of oral cancer to look out for at home? Our dentist in St Johns Wood answers that question below.

It’s hard to chew and swallow

If you are having issues biting into food, chewing it or swallowing, then you need to see our dentist in St Johns Wood for a check-up.

If you are suffering from a cold or flu, then these problems could be due to inflammation or may even signify a long-term undiagnosed allergy. However, if they persist for more than 2 weeks, come and see our team.

Weight loss

Unexpected weight loss is always worrying and should always be explored by a medical team.

As before, just because you have lost weight, it doesn’t immediately point to the big c, but may once again highlight an issue with food intolerance, allergies or even stress and mental health issues.

But if you have seen a doctor and all of these issues have been screened for, you may need to see our team for oral cancer screening.

Recurrent ulcers

From time to time, most people get oral ulcers; usually due to stress or illness.

But if you are noticing consistently occurring ulcers in your mouth, on your tongue or on your lips (they can look like a cold sore) then you need to see our team.

If one of the ulcers grows to the size of a 5 pence piece or larger, seek emergency medical assistance.

You can’t move your tongue and jaw correctly

As you may have guessed, if you struggle to stick out your tongue or are having issues with jaw movement, this could point to a hidden tumour underneath your tongue or in the jawline or joint. Of course, it could also indicate nerve issues, but nevertheless, if you notice that your tongue feels heavy, is not as mobile as it once was or is just feeling stiff, then you should contact our team for an oral cancer check. 

When your adult teeth come in at about the age of 7-11, it can be a time for relief; no more teething issues, or uncomfortable swellings to contend with.

Sadly, for 80-90% of the population of teenagers, there are another 4 teeth that need to erupt and will do so between the ages of 13-17. Known as wisdom teeth, these 4 teeth appear behind the second molars on both the upper and lower jaw. While this may sound straightforward, they rarely come without their own set of issues and can cause havoc with your already erupted adult teeth.

Luckily, we can help! Our team at Aura Dental knows how uncomfortable wisdom teeth can be and can assess yours as they begin to erupt. Our dentist in St John’s Wood will be able to identify any potential issues with these additional teeth following an examination, allowing you to decide if you want to have your wisdom teeth removed.

But what are some of the more tell-tale signs that our dentist in St John’s Wood needs to remove your wisdom teeth?

Eating issues

As wisdom teeth rarely erupt straight in the way that other teeth do, they can cause issues with eating. If you notice that your wisdom teeth are preventing you from removing food debris, or ache when pressure is applied, you need to see our dentist in St John’s Wood to discuss your options.

Gum inflammation

As you may or may not remember, when teeth erupt, the surrounding gum becomes sensitive to touch due to inflammation.This is part of the process for wisdom tooth eruption too, except over 40% of patients experience gum inflammation once the teeth have finished erupting, making brushing and eating harder. If your teeth have erupted and your gums still look red and are sore to the touch, contact our team at Aura Dental.

Sinus issues

Wisdom teeth that grow in the upper jaw can press against the sinuses once they have fully rooted and developed.

And as you know, blocked sinuses can lead to congestion, pressure and extremely painful headaches. If you have been having congestive issues since your upper set of wisdom teeth erupted, then our team can take an X-Ray to assess if the issues are related and then discuss a treatment plan with you to alleviate the pressure.

Stiff jaw

From the upper jaw to the lower jaw!

As the more mobile of the jaws, if you notice that there is stiffness in your jaw, such as pain when you are trying to bite into food or when you yawn, your wisdom teeth may be at fault once again. This is caused by the wisdom teeth pushing against your other teeth and leading to pressure in the jaw, or stiffness. If you have a hard time opening your mouth, talk to our team.

Pressure

Or you may just experience a sense of pressure in your jaw, which can feel like a persistent ache. If you do, contact Aura Dental today!

Following 2020, many dental patients are a bit apprehensive about stepping back into dental surgery. There have been many changes over the last year and understandably, fewer people are as concerned about their teeth as they have been previously.

With the ongoing pandemic, social distancing and other restrictions in place, many people are puzzled about the rules surrounding dental emergencies; are they still the same? Are you able to see an emergency dental team on the same day?

At Aura Dental, we are proud that our dentist in St John’s Wood can keep our doors open and we are currently seeing emergency dental cases every day. We will aim to see you on the same day that you contact us, allowing you to get back to your daily life pain and stress-free. Simple!

But have the criteria for what constitutes an emergency trip to see our dentist in St John’s Wood changed? Read on to find out!

Discomfort

A universal indicator of a dental emergency is discomfort; it may be intermittent, feel like a burning sensation or may even only occur when you are eating or drinking hot or cold foods and drinks. Either way, if your discomfort is keeping you from focusing or is impacting on your sleep, you need to see our emergency dentist in St John’s Wood as soon as possible.

Swelling

Another indicator that there is an issue is swelling. This could be located on your face, on your gum line or under your jaw.Even if the swelling doesn’t hurt, it still needs to be seen by our team urgently, before it presents an issue to your ability to eat or breathe. Even a painless swelling could point to an abscess or an impacted wisdom tooth, both of which require urgent medical attention from our team.

Loose fillings or crowns

An irritation that can occur with procedures such as fillings or crowns is that they can come loose or even fall out. Like the swelling, even if this doesn’t hurt, you need to book an emergency appointment to see our team to have them replaced. For example, an open or loose filling can allow bacteria to gain access to the pulp, causing further discomfort, decay and maybe even an abscess. If you actually have your lost filling or crown, bring it into our team who will be able to reattach it.

Detached braces

While rare, if you notice that one of your fitted brace brackets is loose or has come away from the tooth, you need to see our team! While we won’t be able to assess any damage in the way that your orthodontist would, we will be able to temporarily reattach it until your orthodontic appointment, where it will be fitted in place.

Cracks and chips

Like a lost filling, such minor damage can seem trivial but needs urgent attention from our team. Not doing so can again allow bacteria to get underneath your tooth’s enamel, and cause issues with decay and infection occurrence.

Whether you have recently had a serious accident which has damaged your teeth or you are recovering from a dental infection, you will probably be told that you need a root canal.

One of the least popular of all the restorative procedures, a root canal involves a member of our team drilling into the pulp of your tooth, removing the infected material and then refilling the cavity with packing material. However, as straightforward as this process seems (and is for our team) many patients who are told that they need a root canal performed would rather opt for an extraction which can have some serious long-term consequences.

At Aura Dental, our dentist in St John’s Wood will always take the time to explain every treatment option to you, ensuring that you are fully informed to make the choice you feel is suitable for you. As our team has helped thousands of patients restore their smiles using root-canals, we know this process inside and out and can assure you that its unpopularity is not justified at all!

So, what is the consensus from our dentist in St John’s Wood about root canals?

They aren’t painful

Firstly, many patients worry that root canals will be painful, but this is untrue; in fact, having a root canal is more likely to alleviate discomfort than to cause it.

Our dentist in St John’s Wood will always ensure that your mouth is numbed before the process begins and once it is complete and will advise you on suitable aftercare, as there may be an initial feeling of bruising. But compared to the sensation of an abscess, that is certainly going to be an improvement!

It can save a fortune!

Many patients worry that a root canal is a costly procedure which will likely fail.

Compared to dental extraction, it can save you money as there it does not cause the same long-term issues with aesthetics or functionality that extraction does. Many adults who have had extractions required more extensive processes to restore their mouths functional and aesthetic appeal, such as dental implants which are more costly and time-consuming.

It can preserve your smile

A root canal is topped with a white filling or crown, thus preserving the aesthetic appeal of your smile which could be lost with an extraction.It also preserves functionality and hygiene which once again may be impacted with an extracted tooth.

It doesn’t kill the tooth

It is a myth that a root canal kills the tooth; it simply involves removing infected material from the pulp.Your tooth will still retain the required sensation for correct functioning, such as biting and chewing while also visually looking no different from any other tooth in your mouth.

It won’t cause your tooth to change colour

And finally, a tooth that has had a root canal does not turn black.

It stays the same shade as the surrounding teeth but may become slightly darkened over time, but can be corrected with whitening procedures. Fantastic!

Do you frequently wake up with a stiff neck, a headache or the start of a migraine?

Does that new memory foam pillow not seem to be helping?

In the UK, many people suffer from headaches and, worryingly, there is a growing increase in the number of people who report having migraines. While your doctor can prescribe medications to alleviate these issues, this does not address or explore the potential root of the issue. Surprisingly, it is rarely in your head!

At Aura Dental, our team frequently sees patients who report suffering from chronic migraines and headaches, to which our dentist St John’s Wood can offer a simple solution. After an examination of your mouth, we can determine if your teeth or jaws are involved in your recurrent head pain and can begin designing a treatment plan to help you get a good night’s sleep and fewer headaches.

But which dental conditions can cause recurrent headaches? Our dentist St John’s Wood answers that question below.

Temporomandibular joint disorder

Also known as TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorder causes inflammation and discomfort around your jaw joint and subsequently, can impact on your ability to open and close your mouth correctly.

Our dentist St John’s Wood will be able to spot indicators of TMJ, the most common one being a click when you open your mouth and will be able to offer you a dental splint and a series of oral exercises to perform before bed and in the morning, which will alleviate any associated headaches.

Bruxism and grinding

Commonly linked to medications, bruxism or grinding of your teeth often occurs while you sleep and can present many associated issues

The key one which causes those irritating morning headaches is the overuse of the muscles in the jaw which in turn leads to pain in the neck. This can cause migraines and headaches when you awake, and also disrupted sleep. Our team can once again offer a dental splint or mouthguard to prevent bruxing and help you get a refreshing 40 winks!

Molar misalignment

With a large surface area, misaligned molars can cause headaches as and when they are rubbed against each other, causing persistent neck pain and migraines.

Often an aftereffect of eating, headaches associated with misaligned molars can be alleviated with orthodontic treatments designed to help your molars fit together properly.

Missing or rotting teeth

It should come as no surprise that a tooth which has succumbed to decay can cause headaches via nerve pain, but missing teeth can also cause your upper and lower jaw to be misaligned, thus putting pressure on the surrounding muscles.

Our team will explore restorative options with you if your rotten tooth needs to be extracted or if you already have a missing tooth, which will prevent further headaches. Brilliant!

Wisdom teeth

Partially erupted wisdom teeth can cause head pain, neck pain and migraines and so, our team will endeavour to remove the offending teeth, resolving the pressure issues thus helping the uncomfortable sensations to reduce.

When it comes to dental care, there is quite a lot for the average dental patient to learn.

And, while it can be tempting to simply look for information about cosmetic, restorative and orthodontic dentistry online, there is a lot of misinformation on the internet related to this area.

And of course, you run the risk of coming across articles disguised as advertisements, trying to sell you a dental product which is not as good as it appears to be!

Far from a popular area to research related to dentistry is one of the most important areas; general dental care and hygiene. As any dental team will tell you, before you can have any kind of cosmetic dental care performed, you need to have a solid basis to build it on.

At Aura Dental, our dentist in St Johns Wood takes general dentistry very seriously, and will always endeavour to keep your mouth healthy. Not only is good dental health important for that pearly white smile many people wish to obtain, but it is also key to having good physical health too.

So, in this article, our dentist in St John’s Wood answers some of the most commonly searched general dental questions of 2020. Enjoy!

Why does my tooth hurt so much?

Toothache can be caused by many factors but, if you have a toothache which worsens when drinking hot or cold liquids, then you may have a cavity.

Alternatively, you may have lost a filling or a crown, but regardless, any dental pain should be explored by our dentist in St Johns’ Wood.

Can I improve the appearance of my smile?

Yes, you can!

While basic hygiene is an important part of having a whiter smile, there are many options to make your teeth gleam that doesn’t require extensive cosmetic procedures.

A simple whitening procedure performed by our team at Aura Dental is likely to improve the appearance of your smile.

I have a gap between my two front teeth-are there ways to close it?

Yes, there are many ways.

A gap between the front teeth can be alleviated by either bonding the teeth or may require the placing of custom-fitted veneers. These options are more down the cosmetic line of treatments.

If you want to realign your teeth to close the gap, we may be able to offer you an adult aligner like Invisalign if you are suited.

How can I ensure my children have good teeth?

Firstly, aim to reduce all consumption of sugar-laden food and drinks.

Make the twice-daily brushing of teeth a game; create a song or purchase an interesting dental brush for your children to play with. You could even offer to get them small treats if they brush their teeth twice a day for a week, to create positive reinforcement.

Is it safe to have a filling while you are pregnant?

Yes, having a filling while pregnant is perfectly safe. If you are pregnant, talk to our team about prenatal dental care today!

In 2020, there have been many challenges to face in relation to everyday health due to COVID-19.

And, unsurprisingly, there has been a decrease in patients who are willing or able to visit their dental surgeries due to concerns over contracting coronavirus. Unfortunately, these difficult circumstances have led to a worsening of dental issues for many people and due to the lack of

dental surgeries that have been open, it has led to a rather startling trend.

There has been a surge in patients attempting to remove teeth and treat abscess at home, as opposed to seeking medical advice. While it can be advisable to treat a mild toothache at home with medication, anything more serious requires the input of a dental team.

And our dentist in St John’s Wood is here to help. At Aura Dental, we are proud of our emergency dental service and can offer patients who are experiencing dental pain, abscesses or any other uncomfortable conditions an appointment within 24 hours. This will leave you free of discomfort, and able to go about your day during these tough times.

But why should you avoid trying to perform dentistry at home? Our dentist in St John’s Wood answers that question below.

Bleeding

If you were to have an extraction in the dental chair, our dentist in St John’s Wood would be able to stem the bleeding.

However, the ‘tying a piece of string to a door and then slamming it’ idea for removing a rotten tooth may not only damage the tooth but can also lead to extensive bleeding. And as you will not be able to control this bleed, you should always see our team if you have a toothache.

Worsening of issue

Another advantage of visiting a dental professional is that they will undoubtedly be able to improve the issue. On the other hand, whichever issue you are trying to treat at home may be worsened, resulting in you visiting an emergency team anyway. Skip the discomfort, and come straight to us!

Infection

Dental infections can be serious and, as mentioned before, if you are trying to pull a tooth at home, you run the risk of introducing an infection.

If you are worried that you need an extraction, contact our team at Aura Dental for advice and an emergency appointment.

Lack of sterile equipment

Our team only uses sterilised equipment, which has had all of the bacteria removed chemically.

If you try to do any kind of complex dental care at home, your tools simply won’t cut it, regardless of how clean you may think they are.

As your safety is our priority, come to our team for any dental procedures in one of our clean, sterile treatment rooms.

Experience!

And finally, even if you are trained as a dental professional, you still should not try at-home dental care!

Lacking experience when trying to perform dental procedures is likely to cause a lot of secondary damage, so contact our team for an emergency appointment immediately.