Dental Blog - Farnham Road Dental Practice

Trust our dental implants in Guildford to bring your smile back

Show your smile you care

Losing a tooth, or teeth, can be incredibly difficult and present you with a wide array of challenges both socially and in regards to your oral or general health – which is why we strongly advise anyone who has lost either a single or several teeth to get in contact with us here at Farnham Road Dental Practice and speak with one of our professionals about dental implants in Guildford. Adult teeth do not grow back, and are intended to last a lifetime – granted, however, accidents do happen and losses can occur for a number of reasons such as neglect, injury or natural ageing.

Rather than having to live the rest of your life with visible gaps in your teeth, or choosing cheaper alternative solutions like dental bridges, getting implants from us here at Farnham Road Dental Practice is a permanent and hugely effective solution that can completely restore both the way your smile looks and the amount you use it.

Why choose dental implants?

Your teeth and smile play a far more important role than you may first imagine. From steering all social interactions to the very shape and structure of your face, your teeth are hugely significant to how you look, speak and feel.

This is why when you lose a tooth or teeth the implications that this can have are massive – especially if the gap is left untreated for a significant length of time – and why choosing dental implants in Guildford is the best option in the long term. One of the most drastic implications of having a missing space in your mouth for a long period of time is a loss in facial bone density – which contributes to the way your face is shaped.

This happens when the area around a missing tooth remains inactive for some time, and the bone tissue is eventually absorbed by your body, resulting in a loss of your facial bone structure which can often make you appear older than you are. Another common problem that anyone who has an untreated gap in their smile may be faced with over time is a loss in your speech ability, or difficulty eating tough foods – both of which can impact your social life and cause embarrassment.

What makes implants special?

While the dental implants in Guildford which we offer here at Farnham Road Dental Practice are certainly not the only available solution for lost teeth – as options such as crowns, dentures and dental bridges have existed for years – they are however the only permanent solution for lost teeth you are likely to find.

The reason that dental implants are set apart from other options as a permanent solution is that they are surgically embedded inside a patient’s jawbone through a complex dental surgery procedure which is carried out here at Farnham Road Dental Practice. This surgery involves exposing the patient’s gums and jaw bone and making a small hole into their jawbone, into which a titanium-alloy tooth socket is placed.

This socket will then naturally merge itself together with the patient’s jawbone, resulting in it being permanently fixed in position. When this has happened the socket can then be utilised as a fixing point for a new denture to be attached – similarly to how a natural tooth is fixed.

Let our dental implants in Guildford help your smile glow

Happy to help

At Farnham Road Dental Practice we love seeing our patients happy, and employ a wide variety of techniques, procedures and specialisms within our practice to do so. One of the most rewarding treatments which we offer is dental implants in Guildford – which are a permanent and life-enhancing solution for lost teeth that not only fills in any visible gaps on a cosmetic basis but also restores your ability to eat, speak and smile with confidence.

Although we’ve helped a great many patients find their true smiles through dental implants treatment at Farnham Road Dental Practice over the years there still remains people out there who are missing teeth (and thus could be benefiting from dental implants) but avoid seeking our help due to a lack of understanding of the process or how it can help.

What actually are dental implants in Guildford?

One of the most common questions our practitioners get asked by new patients who are interested in dental implants is what they are, or how they differ from more commonly recognised solutions for lost teeth like crowns, dentures or bridges. The best way to highlight why dental implants in Guildford are different from more commonplace treatments is to first examine how these treatments function – which can then help to highlight the fundamental differences of dental implants.

Although crowns and bridges are the most popular option for lost teeth, they are only partly effective in their function, and can lead to oral problems developing over the years as they are not premement. This is because they work by sitting on a pateitsn gumline, and fill in any gaps in their mouth by using the patient’s surrounding natural teeth for support.

As these solutions sit on your gum line and are not embedded into your jaw they are prone to shifting as time goes on and the surrounding teeth move out of place – which can impact the overall effectiveness of the treatment. While being cheaper than dental implants, these options may seem appealing in the immediate sense, but can very often lead to the need for further dental or orthodontic treatments becoming necessary down the line.

Dental implants, in contrast, are a permanent solution as they generate all their support from a metal socket which is surgically fused into a patient’s jawbone – within the gap where they are missing a tooth or teeth. This means that the new tooth is just as durable and long lasting as a natural tooth would be, as well as being visually identical.

Who can benefit from dental implants?

Another common misconception about dental implant treatment which we are happy to dispel is that it is only an option for younger patients who have healthy teeth. This is entirely untrue, as there is no age-limit to dental implants, and they can be used to fill any space in your mouth – whether you have only recently lost a tooth, or have had a missing space for several years. If you would like to discover if dental implants could help restore the balance and functionality to your smile then please reach out to us here at Farnham Road Dental Practice today and book a consultation to discuss your options with an expert.

Repairing and replacing teeth with dental implants

When it comes to replacing teeth with dental implants Guildford, it can be one of the most effective methods of returning a natural looking and feeling tooth. Read on to find out how!

Stabilising first

The start of the treatment at our practice is a need to stabilise, which we will determine with an assessment. If your implant is going to be restoring a tooth long-lost to extraction or trauma, a new socket will have to be formed in your jaw. If you have lost teeth due to gum disease or trauma, our first priority is to stabilise your remaining teeth and return your gums back to health, not only to reduce any further losses, but any form of implantation is heavily dependent on the health of your gums. This could involve a course of antibiotics or a prescription for anti-inflammatory steroids, as well as prescription strength high fluoride toothpaste recommended by our practitioner.

Reconstruction

During reconstruction, our priority is to return function back to your teeth. There is always some thought given to aesthetics at this stage of treatment, but stable and strong teeth are the goal. After all necessary fillings are carried out, as well as any crowning or other reconstructions, replacement can be considered to close the gaps.

Replacing teeth

Teeth can be replaced by using partial dentures, either removable or fixed in place. Wired bridges require healthy adjacent teeth to be attached to. In the best case scenario, they can reduce the lifespan of a natural tooth that they are wired to; this can be particularly problematic if there is widespread damage or decay.

Multi-teeth replacement

Lost multiple teeth adjacent to one another are commonly resolved with a bridge. What stops the migration of other teeth and returns the function is something fitted in this space. A limitation of such partial dentures is the way that they spread the load, normally transmitted into the jawbone out over the gum. When well fitting, this can work as the surface area is matched, but with the loss and stress to the jawbone it begins to recede. Calcium is recycled and mass reduces; this produces a gaunt appearance, but also shrinks and narrows the gum. Any prosthetic made to fit the original gum which will now be loose, as it moves and rubs, this can easily break and damage the soft and delicate skin of gum allowing infections to set in and chronic mouth ulcers, which make dentures extremely unpleasant to wear.

Dental implants Guildford can be used as anchors for a bridge, at either end. Allowing them to be used independently of surrounding healthy teeth and not placing additional stress on other teeth, to be used at the ends of the dental arches.

In the event of mass extractions where an entire dental arch of teeth is removed by our dentist, a full denture may be deemed as appropriate. Dental implants Guildford, create immobilised dentures, which are incapable of rubbing or moving during everyday use, making them a relatively convenient implementation of the standard full denture. It does mean that cleaning has to be done by brushing rather than overnight rinsing, so many patients can continue their normal habits and this helps with making their denture feel an integral part of them. If you think dental implants might be advantageous for you, please come and talk to us at Farnham Road Dental Practice, where we will be glad to offer our help and advice.

Fix that wobble with denture stabilisation using dental implants

Wobbling dentures are very irritating and uncomfortable for many users, but you don’t have to put up with them anymore. With dental implants Guildford dentures can be permanently anchored in place. Let’s find out more about how they could help you.

Friction and sores

Friction seems like a bad thing and it’s actually the lack of friction that stops any movement of dentures. It’s only with friction and movement that heat loving bacteria and soreness become a problem on the gums.

Temporary solutions

A wide range of adhesives both in the form of glues or double sided strips are designed to maximise the comfort between a denture and the gum tissue. They stop movement and therefore any rubbing from occurring, so these can provide some temporary relief. They should not be considered an appropriate long-term solution; if you require adhesives, booking an appointment with our clinic to have your dentures resized should also be a priority.

Implant stabilisation

Implant stabilisation involves using a set of oral implants spread out across the surface of the oral prosthetic to hold a set of teeth in place. In the best situations, an entire dental arch can be supported on four implants, but this requires excellent patient health and a textbook procedure, which is really how medicine goes in practice.

Dental implants Guildford for denture stabilisation can be only finalised and a care plan provided after an extensive examination. A set of X-rays is required to ensure the quality of the jawbone and the likelihood of the procedure going well. All implantations have a risk of failure, although this can be mitigated with thorough exploration of the patient’s dental history. Quality equipment and specific implant training beyond the standard dental degree is also needed.

Dental care plans

There are significant dental costs with dental implants Guildford and the sporadic nature of dental bills can make it challenging to appropriately budget for in standard household expenditure. If you do not already have healthcare insurance covering dental aspects, you should consider a Total Care plan. It is a method of converting any dental costs into a monthly low payment in our clinic, giving you access to a wide range of general and emergency dental services as well. This allows us to streamline cash flow and you to avoid high one off billing.

It can also streamline many of the limitations of healthcare insurance, helping you to receive dental care abroad, whilst allowing us to connect with our local community. This is important as a local community provider, making healthcare as inclusive as possible is what we aim to do.

If you have any further questions about how we could help you with restoratives at Farnham Road Dental Practice please feel free to get in contact. We are currently accepting new patients and are operating as normal within government guidelines and intend to continue doing so.

We are trying to minimise unnecessary travel to our clinic, please be sure to call or contact us by email before planning to join the surgery.

Our teeth whitening FAQs

Our clinic based teeth whitening Guildford has created quite a stir recently, in the best possible way of course! So we have put together this FAQ article to answer some of the most common questions in our clinic. Like how it works and the role of home kits. We hope you find it useful!

How does dental whitening work?

Most dental whitening is carried out using chemical methods; free radical oxygen from sources like hydrogen peroxide are used to chemically change the compounds in the tooth. This alters the way light interacts with the compounds, making them look brighter or whiter. It is much the same way that peroxides affect keratin in the hair, creating that bombshell blonde look.

This is true both for in-clinic whitening and at-home kits, the difference is how concentration of peroxides in the whitening gel is regulated. In the clinic, 30% concentration is acceptable under professional guidance, whereas at-home kits are often less than 5%. This significantly increases the time required to alter the enamel shade. What would take weeks at home can be completed with 40 minutes in the chair!

Are there long-term consequences?

The most common side effect of dental whitening is increased sensitivity. This usually occurs within the first 48 hours after treatment and is caused by the dehydration of the tooth.

When performed by trained professionals, lightening procedures are very safe.

Prior to teeth whitening Guildford, we always perform a full check up before carrying out any cosmetic procedures and addressing underlying health concerns. Providing a cosmetic lick of paint, so to speak, to active decay would be irresponsible and significantly reduce the effectiveness of any lightening procedure, whilst also sacrificing long-term tooth heath. It is this general oversight and putting our patients first that makes clinic procedures so much safer and reliable with repeatable, predictable results.

What about over-the-counter or online home kits?

Over-the-counter home kits are readily available as well as online; they come with pre-made trays usually small, medium and large as well as brief information. They can be an effective method, but are prone to unintentional or over-enthusiastic misuse.

There’s also an issue with kits produced overseas that may not comply with UK legislation, particularly in terms of the concentration of bleaching agents. These can easily cause blistering to the gums and lips; this is exacerbated by using an off-the-shelf bleaching tray even if the gel is less concentrated and focused on the enamel surfaces.

Do I have to change my diet or avoid coffee?

There are ideas about eating a ‘white’ diet and avoiding coffee, red wine, turmeric and a wide range of other foods impacting on the colour of your teeth. But there is no evidence supporting that this is effective. Your teeth can become particularly susceptible to receiving new staining during and immediately after teeth whitening Guildford so smoking and red wine should be avoided.

Are there home remedies for dental whitening?

Every so often a TikTok star or tweet will advocate bicarbonate of soda, activated charcoal or even coconut oil on teeth as a lighting product. Please do not engage in these options; they are not substantiated and in some cases could even be harmful.

Bring back the shine with Enlighten teeth whitening

We offer teeth whitening Guildford to add lustre to your smile, guaranteeing a B1 shade to your teeth. What exactly does that mean? Let’s find out more.

As dental whitening transforms from a Hollywood procedure into something you can find on every high street, it is one of the most desired services in our clinic. The Enlighten System is the only commonly available lightening system which can produce predictable, repeatable changes in tooth shade, allowing you to precisely control exactly how bright your new enamel will be!

Treatment time scales

Treatment time scales vary; most whitening procedures are completed within 40 minutes although that can be significantly shorter if it is a top-up session after already engaging in teeth whitening Guildford. There is also additional time required to produce a customised bleaching tray during your first session.

There is no anaesthetic used and you will not require an escort, so many patients fit their lightening treatments during lunch breaks or as part of busy schedules. Solely at-home treatment is available, but the required treatment time to gain the same effect as combined therapy is much longer.

Standardising lightening procedures

In order to better describe the future shade, guides provide international standards that give our dentist the standardisation required to predictably categorise and then alter tooth shade.

On top of the 16 shades, there are 4 categories of tones used in the Vita shade guide, lettered A though to D and they represent a whole range of tints.

The usefulness of a guide means shades can be mixed as well as describing both the colour tone and shade, and can also be matched to the already widely established numerical letter system, allowing different shades and tones to be allotted to different teeth.

Standards and expectations when it comes to enamel shade have created a new category of lighter and and lower tones, which have been added to the scale B! B already represents the lightest natural tone, so B1 one is considered the lightest shade and tone that is also seen as natural. BL refers to a blank tone and is more commonly associated with the phosphorescent Hollywood smile.

What shade should I go for?

We can provide some advice on what shades may suit you. The truth is that it is very much up to you. It might be helpful to bring in a photo of a tooth shade that you would like us to imitate that can clear up any ambiguity before treatment starts. Your lightening is likely to involve a combined approach, using at-home bleaching and clinic sessions. Complying with the full instructions during at-home treatment is important to reach the full potential and your desired results.

If you are interested in teeth whitening Guildford or you have any other further queries, please feel free to get in contact with the clinic. We are operating as normal within government guidelines and if you’re not a member of the surgery, but would like to join to gain access to cosmetic services, please feel free to fill out the application form on our website, alternatively you can call or email us directly.

An insight into orthodontics

When you hear the word orthodontics, you may automatically think of traditional metal braces and children. But did you know that there are also orthodontic treatment options for adults who would like to improve the look of their teeth and smile?

If you have been considering dental treatment for some time, but are unsure of the most suitable treatment for your dental concerns, you might want to visit Farnham Road Dental Practice where our experienced team of dental professionals can help you on your journey to achieving a better smile.

An introduction to our dental practice

At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we understand how important dental health is. Which is why we offer a range of treatments within areas of dentistry including general dental treatments, preventive oral care and restorations for missing teeth. In addition to this, we also offer our patients dental services within cosmetic dentistry and this includes orthodontic treatment.

How orthodontic treatment can help you achieve a better smile

Orthodontics is the term used to refer to the area of dentistry that uses appliances to straighten an individual’s teeth. These appliances are more commonly known as braces and due to advancements in dental technology, there are now more treatment options for our adult patients that can help them achieve straighter teeth. At our practice, we offer a dental solution known as Six Months Smiles Guildford, an alternative to traditional metal braces made to be more efficient and discreet for our patients who would like to straighten their teeth.

An alternative to traditional metal braces

Six Month Smiles Guildford is a revolutionary step in orthodontic treatment, as we are able to correct a wide range of aesthetic dental issues such as crooked or crowded teeth, gaps in between teeth and misaligned bites using this system.

Similar to traditional metal braces, they are made of metal parts that are fixed onto a patient’s teeth and are held together by a metal wire, however, unlike traditional metal braces, both the metal wires and brackets are made to be tooth coloured. This makes them practically invisible and for the duration of your treatment, no one will know you are having your teeth straightened unless you tell them.

It is important to note that Six Month Smiles Guildford is suitable for more minor corrections, and prior to starting treatment, your teeth will be assessed to ensure that this form of orthodontic treatment is suitable for you.

If it is found that it is not the most suitable orthodontic treatment for your dental concerns, and you are still looking for a discreet way to straighten your teeth, you may want to consider Invisalign,

Invisalign at Farnham Road Dental Practice

A popular choice with our adult patients, Invisalign is a revolutionary teeth-straightening system that, unlike traditional metal braces, uses clear removable aligners to slowly move your teeth into their desired position. Invisalign is able to correct both minor and complex dental issues and throughout the duration of your treatment you will be able to maintain a good oral care regime as well as eat any type of food you wish, due to the fact that you can take them out.

Is it time for you to invest in your smile?

For many of us, when we look at our teeth, we may immediately notice things we are unhappy with and would like to change. Some people may want to make minor corrections whilst others would like a total makeover. Whatever your goal may be, you can be sure that if you visit our dental practice in Guildford, our experienced dentist will be able to provide you with advice on the right course of treatment for you to achieve a stunning smile.

So, if you are looking to invest in your smile and are in search of a dentist based in Guildford, you may want to consider visiting our dental practice Farnham Road Dental Practice.

About us at Farnham Road Dental Practice

Providing high-quality dental treatments within restorative, preventive and cosmetic dentistry to our patients for almost 90 years, Farnham Road Dental Practice was established to provide our new and existing patients with great service in dental healthcare. We want to ensure that your dental needs are being met and that we provide a safe, calm and relaxing setting that makes every experience with us a positive one.

We have created our practice in a way that when you visit us, you will find it to be a modern, comfortable and friendly environment to ensure that you have a positive experience with us.

If you are looking to improve your smile, you will be happy to know that our practice offers various dental treatments within cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry at Farnham Road Dental Practice

Cosmetic dentistry focuses simply on improving the appearance of teeth, gums and the overall smile. If improving the appearance of your teeth is your main goal and you have noticed your teeth are not as white as they once were, you may want to consider teeth whitening.

A quick and effective way to enhance your smile, teeth whitening can help you achieve the smile you want almost instantly, so it is a brilliant dental treatment for those who would like to improve their smiles for a special event, such as a wedding or birthday, or a public speaking event or photoshoot. A popular cosmetic procedure, at Farnham Road Dental Practice, we offer to patients the Enlighten Home Tooth-Whitening System.

With this system, you will be given custom-made tooth-whitening trays and a whitening gel, which you are required to wear for either a few hours a day or overnight. You can expect to see results within two weeks.

However, if you are more concerned about how straight your teeth are, you may want to consider Six Month Smile Guildford.

An effective teeth-straightening system

Many of us have issues with our smiles and would like to improve how our teeth look, whether it is to make our teeth straighter, close any noticeable gaps or correct teeth that are either crooked or crowded. This is where Six Month Smile Guildford can help. An effective and discreet teeth straightening system, Six Month Smile Guildford uses tooth-coloured brackets and wires to straighten your teeth.

Teeth whitening Guildford: Farnham Road Dental Practice will brighten up your day!

If you have got discoloured teeth, it could be for a variety of reasons. Whether you have been drinking a lot of coffee – or red wine – smoking, taking certain medications or having difficulty keeping up with your oral hygiene routine, stained teeth can affect your self-esteem. At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we don’t want you to feel down about the appearance of your teeth, especially when we have teeth whitening Guildford to pick you up! We have a home whitening system called Enlighten that we have been using with our patients for over 10 years and the results are fabulous! What’s more, treatment only takes 2 weeks before you will have sparkling teeth again. What’s not to love about that?!

Enlighten

Teeth whitening is a popular treatment amongst patients and Enlighten is our company of choice because they guarantee that patients’ teeth will be 2 shades lighter after the 2 weeks of treatment. When it comes to results not being achieved, we can never say never, but we haven’t had an issue with this promise in the 10 years that we’ve been using Enlighten. Teeth whitening Guildford at our practice is where it’s at for lighter and brighter teeth that you can be proud of.

How does it work?

The first stage of the Enlighten journey is to get custom-made trays for your teeth. We will be able to take impressions of your teeth from which the trays will be manufactured to fit your mouth bespoke. Then, once we have your trays, we will provide you with these and some teeth whitening gel, along with some desensitising gel to ward off sensitivity issues. You will be required to put the whitening gel in the trays and wear them for a few hours a day or overnight for 2 to 3 weeks as directed by your dentist, by which time you should see the results of choosing teeth whitening Guildford! After this, all you will need to do is wear the trays with the whitening gel for a few nights every 3 to 4 months.

What next?

If you would like to find out more about how we can get your teeth lightened and brightened up, book in for a consultation with us, where we will be happy to discuss your individual needs with you. We can advise on the best course of treatment to suit your requirements by tailoring a treatment plan that you can be a part of creating. We want you to be happy with any treatment that you decide to go ahead with and so taking the time during this consultation to ask all the questions you want to is what we will be encouraging you to do, so that you are fully informed and ready to go!

Now shine!

So, you know where to go to get a great teeth whitening treatment that has guaranteed results and you know how fast you can get results. What are you waiting for? Our friendly and professional team is ready to put a smile on your face that you can be proud of and we want you to feel fantastic. Simply call us for a consultation and get ready to shine!

Farnham Road Dental Practice brings you dental implants Guildford!

Are you missing your teeth? Do you wish that you could replace them with a third set of natural ones? Whether you’ve lost a single tooth or multiple teeth, it won’t be possible to grow a third set of teeth, which is why dental implants Guildford could be the way forward for you. At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we are a friendly and experienced team that can offer you one of the latest treatments for replacing missing teeth, with results being effective and aesthetically pleasing.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are screws that are attached to the jawbone to which replacement teeth of crowns, dentures or bridges may be fitted. The screws are made of titanium, which is a metal that fuses well with the body’s tissues. This means that once fused, they won’t be going anywhere and can act like artificial roots for your replacement teeth. The result is that you can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or even a full set of them and nobody should realise that you don’t have your natural teeth. Replacement teeth will be made to match the teeth you already have, as well as each other, so no one will tell the difference.

The benefits of implants

Implants are a convenient way of replacing missing teeth, because they can be relied upon not to loosen when you are eating and talking. This means that you won’t have to change your diet, unlike with some other forms of replacement teeth treatments. You can order steak to be as chargrilled as you like or chew a toffee or three for a treat, just remember to brush and floss afterwards! The beauty of implants is that they are easy to maintain by simply following this oral hygiene regime, as well as coming to see us for a regular dental check-up as normal.

You may also find that implants improve your speech. Sometimes when patients have missing teeth, they find that their speech becomes less clear. Once you fill in the gaps, however, you could find that this improves. Also, you may have experienced a shrunken face since losing your teeth. With dental implants Guildford, you could find that they add the structure back to your face, giving you a more youthful glow – it’s definitely a winning reason for us!

What to do now

If you are interested in finding out more about dental implants Guildford and whether or not they would be the right treatment for you, why not book in for an initial consultation with us at our dental practice? We will be able to examine your mouth and discuss your concerns about your smile. We will then be able to devise a treatment programme to suit your needs and you can ask as many questions as you like about the options presented. Together, we can come up with a plan that works for you. Our friendly team and relaxed environment is ideal for anyone who is a nervous patient and we look forward to meeting you. We want you to have many reasons to smile after coming to see us.