Why Should You Have Your Crooked Teeth Straightened?

Many adults within the UK have crooked or wonky teeth.  A large proportion of these people wish to have straighter teeth so that they look more aesthetically pleasing in photos.  If you have crooked teeth, chances are you have felt self-conscious about your smile at some point, and you may even resort to covering your mouth with your hand when you talk or laugh.  However, crooked or misaligned teeth don’t just look unsightly – they can also cause long term health issues if they are left as they are.

So, what causes crooked teeth?

It may be that your adult teeth simply grew out of alignment when they first came through after losing your milk teeth.  As most children lose their milk teeth one at a time, the adult teeth come through at different times, meaning that they may not have the support from another adult tooth to encourage them to grow into a straighter position.

Alternatively, adults who have lost teeth later in life may find that their remaining teeth will attempt to change position so as to try to fill any gaps.  This can lead to a mouthful of wonky teeth which can lead the sufferer to experience tooth pain or increased sensitivity. 

Why should you address your misaligned teeth?

Although you may wish to have your teeth straightened for cosmetic reasons, there are also some good health reasons to straighten your teeth.  Crooked teeth can actually fail to support the muscles in the jaw area, which can lead to pain and even injury.  Teeth which cross over can cause difficulties in cleaning, as the toothbrush may not be able to reach all areas of the tooth.  This can then lead to tooth decay and a build of up plaque, which in the long term can cause pain and perhaps gingivitis.  

How can you get your teeth straightened?

Thereare a number of different solutions which your dentist may be able to suggestto you to help to rectify the issue.  Six Month Smiles® is a recognised method of efficient and effective teeth straightening, and has been widely used around the world.  The treatment is very discreet, meaning that most people will not notice that you are undergoing any treatment, as the clear aligners are designed to fit neatly over your teeth.  The aligners will be replaced every couple of weeks as your teeth gradually start to move into a more desirable position, with most people achieving their preferred result within just six months.  

If you would like to find out more about Six Month Smiles, then please visit the St Piran Dental website for further information.

What Having Straighter Teeth Really Means

It is said that on average, adults smile around eleven times per day.  That is eleven occasions to show off your teeth, which is great if you feel confident about your smile, but unwelcome if you are embarrassed by your crooked or gapped teeth.

To find out how confident you are in your own smile here are a few questions to ask yourself:

-          Do you feel self-conscious when you speak, laugh or smile? 

-          Do you sometimes cover your mouth to avoid people seeing your teeth?

-          Do you have a big event coming up such as a wedding or anniversary and would like to smile confidently in your photographs?

-          Does your work involve meeting lots of people or speaking at events?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions then you may be considering teeth straightening treatment to improve your smile.

One of the most popular treatments currently is Six Month Smiles.  It is appealing to patients as the very brand name suggests that results can be achieved in a relatively short space of time.  Using proven orthodontic techniques, Six Month Smiles gently straightens the teeth using clear brackets and tooth coloured wires, which are barely visible to others.  This is really important as adults who are already self-conscious about their smile will not want further attention to be drawn to their teeth.

What makes Six Month Smiles such an innovative treatment?

• Delivers results in an average time of 6 months
• Uses low forces on the teeth to increase comfort and safety
• Uses tooth coloured wires and clear brackets to minimise visibility
• Is typically less expensive than other teeth straightening treatments on the market

If you are looking for an effective and affordable way to improve your smile please contact St Piran Dental today on 01872 573993 or visit our website for more information on Six Month Smiles treatment.

Improve Your Smile this July with Cosmetic Dental Treatments

There has never been a better time to improve your smile.  The summer holidays are just around the corner and it’s less than six months until the Christmas party season starts.

 

Cosmetic dentistry is a huge buzz word at the moment but in essence it just means any treatment carried out that improves the appearance of your smile.  As dentists we are here not only to ensure our patients maintain good dental health through correct brushing, flossing and regular check-ups but also to help those people who have lost confidence in their smile due to wonky teeth, discolouration or gaps between teeth.

July is a great month to address any concerns you have with your smile – for two very good reasons.  Firstly, it is International Smile Day on 6^th July and secondly St Piran Dental Practice are offering free consultations this month!

Book in for your consultation this July and our Treatment Co-ordinator Mandy will talk to you about the treatments that are available to improve your smile and confidence.  You’re under no obligation to purchase any treatment after your consultation but it will give you a good idea about your options.

Some of the treatments you may be recommended will include:

•            Six Month Smiles – teeth straightening treatment that uses clear braces to straighten the teeth in an average time of just six months
•            Dental Implants – to replace missing teeth without you having to wear dentures
•            Teeth whitening – to lighten the teeth and remove stains to give them a cleaner, whiter appearance

If you are worried about having a consultation, let us put your mind at ease.  Consultations will take place in our TCO room, which has been specifically designed for friendly, relaxed consultations without any sight of the dentist’s chair.  We know that by delivering a calming environment you’ll feel more comfortable asking questions about the treatments, which will give you all the information you need to make a decision about the future of your smile.

To find out more about our smile consultation sessions please visit our website. 

Easing the Nerves at Your Dental Visit

Regular dental check-ups are vital when it comes to maintaining your oral health.  Your dentist will be able to advise you on how to take better care of your teeth, and can also treat problems such as gum disease or tooth decay.  For some, check-ups may be difficult – due to a phobia of the dentist.  Sometimes this can develop from a young age, which could make a patient feel uneasy when it comes to their dental visit.

Dental Phobia – What Is It?

Dental phobia is the name given to patients who feel nervous and anxious when visiting the dentist. Some cases may be worse than others, but it is often that many patients will miss their appointment or will avoid their check-up altogether.  Visiting your dentist regularly is important, so you can keep your teeth healthy, and prevent other oral problems from occurring.

Some people may be afraid of the dentist for many reasons, including:

·         They may be scared of what will happen during the treatment

·         They may have a fear of the dentist him/herself

·         Bad experiences as a child

·         Sounds or smells which trigger worry and anxiety

Sleep Dentistry and Sedation

Many dentists understand the importance of putting patients at ease whilst in their care, and they have developed and adopted a number of techniques to help relax patients. “Sleep dentistry” also known as sedation, is a popular choice for anxious patients.  Once administered, you will be unaware of your check up, so this should take away some of the nervous feelings you may experience whilst in the dentist’s chair.

This a comfortable, non-invasive method of carrying out a dental check-up, and you will be in the best care possible.  Once the treatment has taken place, the sedation will begin to slowly wear off, and patients often state they have little or no memory of what was involved.  This safe method is used on many who suffer from anxiety or dental phobia.  A dental practice will be able to look after you, and carry out a regular visit without you having to worry.

It is important not to miss dental check-ups, and visiting your dentist can have many benefits such as

:

·         Improving your oral hygiene

·         Removing any tartar which has formed on your teeth

·         Ensuring you have no holes in your teeth

·         Providing the correct treatment to maintain the condition of your teeth

·         Giving you advice on how to look after your mouth, teeth and gums

How a Dentist Can Help

Speaking to a dental practice about sleep dentistry will help to give you an idea of what to expect.  They will be able to put your mind at rest, and will spend time talking to you about your needs, and how they can ensure your check-up runs as smooth as possible.

St Piran Dental are able to provide dental sedation for patients who suffer from dental phobia or have any other dental related fears. For more information, you can give them a call on 01872 573 993.

Why you are in safe hands with Sedation Dentists

Do you get nervous before a trip to the dentist?

Do you experience anxiety during your dental appointments?

Have you ever cancelled or postponed a dentist appointment because you are afraid?

Rest assured that if you are scared of visiting the dentist you are not the only one.  Statistics suggest that one in four of us has dental phobia.  This could manifest itself in feelings of anxiety before or during a dental appointment, or at its worst it could even prevent the individual from visiting their dentist altogether.  

The most worrying repercussion of dental phobia is of course a decline in oral health, which is why some dentists, such as St Piran Dental Practice, are leading the way in dental sedation techniques to put nervous patients at ease, and enable them to maintain good dental health.

Consider that a fear of the dentist can be triggered by the dread of many individual elements that might be involved including:

• Needles
• Pain
• Anaesthetics
• Drills
• Embarrassment

As with any phobia, the individual will go to great lengths to avoid these stimuli, which unfortunately means cancelling appointments and avoiding oral health checks.

So what are dentists doing to support their nervous patients?

There are many ways in which those with a dental phobia can help overcome their fears, ranging from hypnotherapy to distraction techniques.  However when the patient requires dental treatment, sedation dentistry may be the best solution.  

Dental sedation not only eliminates the fear and anxiety that patients may feel prior to their appointment – but it also enables the dentist to carry out treatment effectively, without worrying about putting their patient under any undue stress.  This can also mean more complex treatments can be completed in less appointments than would be required if the patient was not under sedation.

There are different methods of sedation available depending on your particular requirements, including inhalation sedation, Intravenous (IV) sedation or oral sedation. Your dentist will explain these in more depth and choose the best option for your needs.

For those of you who have experienced feelings of anxiety when visiting a dentist, it can be very reassuring to know that your dental team specialise in alleviating these concerns, and have tried and tested methods of overcoming your fears to carry out vital dental treatments.  

Are there any other uses for sedation dentistry?

It isn’t only nervous patients who will benefit from being sedated when undergoing dental treatments but also those who have particularly sensitive teeth.  These patients can relax knowing their treatments will be carried out without any pain or discomfort during their appointment.

If you’d like to find out more about dental sedation or how some dentists, like St Piran Dental Practice, put nervous patients at ease please visit their website.