Alternatives to metal braces to straighten adults’ teeth
Modern dentistry offers many alternatives to metal braces for adults who want to straighten their teeth. Aura Dental in North West London welcomes new patients for teeth straightening consultations, which may involve discreet fixed braces or clear, removable aligners.
At our North West London dental clinic we are always keen to explain that the advantages of treatment with braces or aligners are more than just aesthetic. Improving tooth alignment makes dental hygiene easier, reducing your risk of the two leading causes of tooth loss: gum disease and tooth decay. Bringing your bite into proper alignment can also help to treat recurring headaches or jaw pain, whilst also making it easier to bite and chew food.
Although many patients come to our North West London clinic seeking tooth straightening treatment to improve a cosmetic concern, they are often pleasantly surprised by the additional benefits they will enjoy.
North West London braces and aligners
Aura Dental in North West London offers several systems of braces and aligners for straightening teeth. When you come for a consultation with a cosmetic dentist, they will undertake a thorough clinical examination in order to determine the best treatment to suit your individual needs.
Options include:
Invisalign
A popular alternative to fixed braces at our North West London clinic, Invisalign treatment involves using a series of clear, removable aligners that progressively move your teeth into a better position. You need to change your aligner fortnightly, and wear them for 20-22 hours a day so that treatment progresses as planned.
A big advantage of using Invisalign is that you need not struggle with your dental hygiene during treatment, because you take the aligners out to clean and to brush your teeth, as well as to eat and drink.
Six Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles is a popular system of cosmetic braces, which can correct issues with the front six teeth in either jaw. They comprise clear and tooth-coloured parts, and work in an average of half a year.
Inman Aligner
This single-use aligner is good for correcting protrusion and crowding issues with the front teeth. Its unique design means it can work in weeks.
How our skilled cosmetic dentists can help you achieve your smile dreams
Cosmetic dentists have a wealth of ways to make over a smile. At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, our skilled dentists can improve your smile’s appearance, and with it your body image and confidence, with a wide selection of cosmetic dental procedures
The key thing to remember about cosmetic dentistry is that, by working with skilled and experienced dentists, almost anything is possible – and more often than you might think, your dream smile can be created in just a few appointments.
At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, our skilled cosmetic dentists have a great deal of experience, and are highly qualified. They will work with you to address issues large or small with your current smile, making your dreams come true.
The first step on your smile journey is to come into our St John’s Wood dental centre for a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists. As well as undertaking a thorough clinical examination, your dentist will take the time to find out a bit about you, what you wish to achieve from treatment, and what your current likes and dislikes about your smile are.
Your dentist will discuss all the relevant treatment options available from Aura Dental in St John’s Wood before drawing up a personalised treatment plan, including the order, length, and projected costs of any treatment.
Depending on your individual requirements, our St John’s Wood dentists may recommend:
Veneers
Porcelain veneers are similar to false fingernails for the teeth, with one big difference; whilst false nails are temporary, veneers can last for ten years or more with appropriate care.
Dentists can use veneers to cover a wide range of issues, from permanent tooth discolouration to minor spacing or alignment issues, in just a few short appointments.
Teeth whitening
The most frequently-heard request by cosmetic dentists, teeth whitening with a dental professional is a safe and effective way to remove stains from your teeth.
Discreet tooth straightening
Our St John’s Wood dental team has several subtle options available to straighten adults’ teeth. This may involve wearing a discreet brace, or a clear, removable aligner.
The advantages of dental implants as tooth replacements
Dental implants are a modern, long-term solution for patients with missing teeth. Aura Dental in North West London offers dental implant treatments to people who have lost anything from one to all of their natural teeth, providing unrivalled natural-like function as well as an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
There are two key points to remember about dental implants: the first is that they are a permanent solution to tooth loss, and the second is that they are the only way your dentist can replace the root parts of lost teeth.
Tooth roots are important to keeping your jaw bone strong, dense, and healthy, as well as to keeping your teeth in your mouth. Standard dentures and dental bridges only replace the crowns of missing teeth, which can cause problems associated with bone loss. It is bone loss that can lead standard dentures to become loose, affecting your ability to eat and speak, and damaging your self-confidence.
By choosing to have dental implants placed at Aura Dental in North West London, you can avoid these common denture woes. Implants are bionic tooth roots, made out of titanium –which is highly compatible with the human body and supportive of bone growth – and placed in direct contact with the bone during a small operation.
Most patients at our North West London dental practice only need local anaesthetic for the placement of dental implants, with many reporting it to be more pleasant than having a tooth taken out.
North West London dental implants
There are two options for dental implants patients at our North West London dental practice. The first is suitable for those who have lost one tooth, and involves the placement of a single implant and a crown.
The second option is an excellent alternative to dentures for patients with all or several of their natural teeth missing. It involves the placement of a series of dental implants and an implant-retained bridge.
Bridges supported by dental implants can contain many more teeth than a standard dental bridge. Whilst traditional bridges contain one or two teeth, implant-retained bridges can support a full arch of teeth.
How dentists help to tackle a wide range of health issues
Dentists don’t just play a vital role in looking after your oral health; they help to avoid a range of general health conditions too. At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood our skilled and experienced dentists use early detection techniques to spot signs of problems before you have noticed anything is amiss yourself, making treatment much simpler and easier.
The dentists at our St John’s Wood clinic are passionate about preventative dentistry. That means, in an ideal world, stopping any problems before they start, or at the very least treating them before they have the chance to become serious.
How dentists can help your general health and wellbeing
Gum disease and tooth decay are the two leading causes of tooth loss, but unfortunately they often don’t have any noticeable symptoms until they have become a serious problem. You may notice blood in the sink when you brush your teeth – an early indicator of gum health problems – whilst with tooth decay the first symptom is often pain, although some people detect a cavity themselves with their tongue.
Our St John’s Wood dentists will use x-rays to check inside your teeth and under any pre-existing restorations such as crowns, fillings, or onlays. Often a tooth can look healthy on the outside but have early signs of decay inside. They will also be able to spot early signs of gum disease.
Several medical studies have linked gum disease to a range of general health problems, which range from heart and lung disease to rheumatoid arthritis, strokes and diabetes to low birth weight in babies whose mother suffered from a serious form of the condition.
By helping to prevent tooth loss, your St John’s Wood dentists will also help to ensure that you can eat a healthy and balanced diet, maintaining good nutrition. Tooth loss can also damage your body image and confidence, leading to feelings of social isolation and loneliness, and other problems with your mental health.
Dentists are passionate about health, and will always provide you with fully customised treatment designed to suit your individual clinical situation and lifestyle.
The benefits of dental implants as tooth replacements
If you decide to use dental implants to replace your missing teeth, you choose so much more than just a beautiful smile. Aura Dental in North West London offers a range of implant-based treatments, which can replace anything from one to all of your natural teeth – permanently.
Dental implants have numerous benefits when compared to both traditional dental bridgework and standard dentures. Of course, their permanence is a key factor, but another important point to consider is that implants are the only way that your dentist can replace the roots of missing teeth.
Our tooth roots help to keep our jaw bone dense and healthy as well as holding our teeth in position. When several or all of the natural teeth are missing the jaw bone will begin to resorb (shrink), which as well as leading to traditional dentures becoming loose can cause a prematurely aged appearance to the face by changing its structure and causing the skin around the jowls to sag.
There are two options for dental implants treatment at Aura Dental in North West London. The first is for patients who have lost a single tooth – for example, through dental trauma. In this situation, a single implant is placed and a crown is attached. Prices for this option begin at £2,300.
The second option at our North West London clinic is ideal for patients with multiple missing teeth, or those who have lost all the teeth in one jaw. In this scenario your dentist will place a series of dental implants and attach a bridge, with prices beginning at £2,750, depending on how many implants you need.
Unlike traditional dental bridgework, implant-retained bridges don’t need any support from adjacent teeth. They can also support more teeth – whilst a standard bridge will contain one or two teeth, an implant-retained bridge can replace all the teeth in one jaw.
At our North West London dental practice most people only need local anaesthesia for the placement of dental implants. However, for nervous patients we offer both dental hypnosis and conscious sedation, both of which can help you beat your fears for good.
Tooth straightening without metal braces: your treatment options
In the 21st Century, there are many alternatives to metal braces when it comes to straightening your teeth. At Aura Dental in North West London, we offer treatment with both discreet fixed braces and clear, removable aligners, designed to give you the straighter teeth you’ve always wanted without the world having to know you are undergoing treatment.
There are many benefits to be gained from teeth straightening treatment, and not all of them are aesthetic. It is easier to keep better aligned teeth clean, because there are fewer gaps in which food particles can become trapped and dental plaque can build up.
As long as you pay regular visits to your North West London dentist and hygienist, straightening your teeth can significantly improve your oral hygiene, and can reduce your risk of the two most common causes of tooth loss – gum disease and dental decay.
North West London braces and aligners
When you come into Aura Dental in North West London for a teeth straightening consultation, your dentist will conduct a thorough clinical examination to determine the best course of treatment. This will depend upon the type and amount of correction that’s required, and may involve the use of aligners or braces.
Your North West London treatment options include:
Six Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles are cosmetic, tooth-coloured braces specifically designed to work on the “social six” teeth – the front teeth that are on show when you flash a smile. It is often these teeth that adults are interested in straightening at our North West London practice, and as the name suggests treatment with Six Month Smiles is completed in an average of just half a year.
Inman Aligner
This is a single use removable aligner that works rapidly to correct issues such as crowding or protrusion with the front teeth. Average treatment times with the Inman Aligner range from just six to 18 weeks, making it the fastest teeth straightening option at our North West London dental practice.
Invisible aligners
This option sees your dentist prescribe a series of clear, removable aligners that fit snugly over your teeth to guide them into a better position.
Our dentists can help you stay happy and healthy
Did you know that dentists don’t just play a vital role in protection your oral health, but also in looking after your general health and wellbeing, too? Aura Dental in St John’s Wood offers a full range of general dental services for all the family, from toddlers whose first teeth have just started to emerge to older people in need of tooth replacements.
Our St John’s Wood dentists also provide special, customised care for particular groups, including pregnant women, teenagers, those who have weakened immune systems and are more at risk of gum disease, and people who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Think about dentists and you probably envisage friendly clinicians checking out the health of your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth and gums are vital to maintaining good overall health. Gum disease has been linked by numerous studies to a range of general health conditions, including heart and lung disease and low birth weight or premature birth for babies whose mothers suffered from a severe form of the condition.
When you come to our St John’s Wood dental practice for a general check-up, your dentist will perform a thorough clinical examination and will address any oral health concerns. Dentists can spot the very early signs of conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay, often before you’ve noticed anything yourself. The dentists at our St John’s Wood practice will also use x-rays as needed to check inside the teeth and below any existing restorations such as fillings or crowns.
Dentists are also able to spot early warning signs of mouth cancer. We will screen for mouth cancer as part of your standard dental check-up at our St John’s Wood clinic. Oral cancers can occur anywhere in the mouth and still have a high ratio of deaths to number of cases diagnosed, so if your dentist spots anything untoward they will refer you immediately to a hospital consultant for further investigation.
We also offer emergency dental appointments at our St John’s Wood clinic. We will always try to get you in to see one of our dentists on the same day when possible.
Using cosmetic dentistry to improve your smile
Cosmetic dentistry offers a wealth of ways to improve the appearance of your smile. At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood we offer a wide range of cosmetic dental treatments both large and small, all designed to improve the way your smile looks – and with it boost your body confidence.
Nearly half the adult population of the UK – some 48% – are unhappy about some aspect of their current smile. The biggest complaint, at 64%, is about the colour of their teeth, but cosmetic dental concerns can include issues with tooth alignment and spacing, length of the teeth or gums, chipped, cracked, or worn teeth, or with visible restorations such as metal fillings.
Cosmetic dentistry can solve all of these issues and more. If you are unhappy with anything about your present smile, we invite you to join us at Aura Dental in St John’s Wood for a cosmetic dentistry consultation. We are confident that we will soon have you smiling again.
St John’s Wood cosmetic dentistry
When you come into our St John’s Wood clinic for a cosmetic dentistry consultation, the first thing your dentist will do is to get to know a little bit about you, including what it is you dislike about your current smile, and what your dream smile would look like. After a thorough clinical examination, your dentist will talk you through all of the suitable treatment options, and will answer any concerns or questions you may have.
The key thing to remember about cosmetic dentistry is that it is all about you. What the ideal smile means to one person will be completely different to what it means to the next. At our St John’s Wood dental clinic our cosmetic dentistry team will create the perfect smile for you.
You may require one treatment, or a combination of several from our extensive cosmetic dentistry menu. Whatever your requirements, your St John’s Wood cosmetic dentist will work closely with you and will involve you at all stages of your treatment, so that you know exactly what to expect and remain happy with your choices. You will also get a fully customised treatment plan.
A guide to dental implants as tooth replacements
Dental implants are an excellent long-term solution to tooth loss. Aura Dental in North West London offers implant treatment to replace one, some, or all of your natural teeth, providing an option that is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing.
The problem with traditional tooth replacements – be they dentures or a bridge – is that they only replace the crown parts of lost teeth. Missing tooth roots lead to shrinkage of the jaw bone, which can make dentures loose and can change the appearance of your face, giving you a prematurely aged look.
Whilst sometimes called replacement teeth, dental implants are more accurately replacement tooth roots. They are placed in direct contact with your jaw bone in a minor oral surgical procedure, which our North West London dental practice is fully equipped to carry out under local anaesthetic or conscious sedation, depending on your preference.
Our North West London clinic also offers the services of a fully-qualified hypnotist for nervous patients. Hypnosis can help you to get any treatment required, and can also provide you with self-management techniques to keep you in good dental health going forward.
There are two options for implant-retained replacement teeth at Aura Dental in North West London. The first is a single implant and crown, whilst the second is a series of dental implants with an implant-retained bridge attached.
Unlike a standard dental bridge, which requires support from your other teeth, implant-retained bridgework relies solely on dental implants for support. Bridges supported by dental implants can also contain more false teeth – in fact, at our North West London practice we can replace a full jaw of teeth with a bridge attached to precisely placed and angled dental implants.
As soon as your dental implants are in place, the process of osseointegration begins, during which your implants form a strong bond with your jaw bone. After this healing period is complete, your North West London implant dentist will attach your permanent new teeth.
New teeth attached to dental implants enable you to:
- Eat whatever you like
- Speak clearly and confidently
- Enjoy an active social life, with no worries about slipping dentures.
Why dentists play a vital role in looking after your general health
Dentists should be considered essential players in your overall healthcare routine. Aura Dental in St John’s Wood offers a full range of general dental treatments, with the focus firmly on preventative dentistry. The aim of preventative care is to avoid problems arising in the first place; and to treat them promptly and effectively if they do happen.
The importance of dentists to general health and wellbeing
The majority of people understand the importance of dentists when it comes to oral health. A strong oral care routine, after all, involves team work between your dentist, your hygienist, and yourself. Fewer people realise that dentists also play a vital role in the fight against other conditions, however.
Tooth loss – which can be caused by dental decay or gum disease, as well as through accidents and injuries – is bad news for your overall health because if can affect your ability to eat a nutritious diet. This can lead to all manner of preventable conditions. Gum disease has also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, among other conditions, so it is very important to prevent it or treat it promptly should it occur: dentists and hygienists both play an important role in the fight against gum disease.
General dental check-ups in St John’s Wood
We welcome new patients of all ages for general dental consultations at our St John’s Wood practice. Your whole family requires good oral healthcare, and our team of dentists at Aura Dental can provide special treatment for children, teenagers, adults, pregnant women, and older people, with all treatment tailored to the individual’s requirements.
When you come in for a general dental check-up at Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, one of our dentists will take your medical and dental history (please make us aware of any conditions or medications that may affect treatment choices) and will perform a thorough clinical examination, including taking x-rays as necessary to aid with diagnosis.
If you require further treatment, your dentist will create a customised treatment plan that will detail the order and predicted length of any procedures, along with estimated costs.
