Dental Blog - Farnham Road Dental Practice

Three things you might not know about dental implants

Getting to know your dental treatment before you go ahead is an important way to prepare. When you are considering dental implants in Guildford with Farnham Road Dental Practice, we give you all the information you need to feel confident that they will work for you. There are lots of details when it comes to dental implants and we can discuss these with you.

Below are a few more interesting things you might like to know. If these lead to even more curiosity about dental implants then you can ask your dentist any questions that you have.

They have been around for a long time

Dental implants are gaining in popularity. They have also been the subject of a lot of research and technological advancements in the past 50 years. This makes them seem like a modern invention. However, the first evidence of dental implants dates back to around 600 AD and the Mayan people. They used pieces of shell to replace the mandibular teeth at the front of the mouth. Titanium has commonly been used since the 1950s because it is a bio-friendly material that promotes integration of dental implants into the jawbone.

You can have more than one tooth per implant

You can replace as many teeth as you like with dental implants. If you have multiple gaps then you will need more than one tooth to go in them. However, you may not need one implant per tooth. New, prosthetic teeth can be mounted on a denture or bridge and these are held in place by one or more implants.

They become like a part of your body

Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone. One of our dentists will carefully drill small holes in order to place them. The location of the holes will have been worked out carefully, in advance, after a thorough examination and mapping of your mouth. Once the implants are in place, your body will heal around them. This means that they are very secure and become a part of your jaw bone. The stabilisation process means that there is a harmonious relationship between the movement of the jaw and your new teeth. This is one of the qualities that makes dental implants feel so close to normal teeth.

Common questions about dental implants

At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we love talking to our patients about the treatments we have to offer. If you are curious about anything then come and ask us. We have worked with many patients and have experience adapting information to suit each individual.

We offer dental implants in Guildford as part of our range. Every treatment plan is a little different but there are some queries that we hear repeatedly. Below are a couple of the common questions that we hear. Whatever answers you need, we will do our best to provide them – just ask.

Who needs dental implants?

Dental implants are for people who either have missing teeth or will have in the near future. You can use them to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. If more than one tooth is being replaced then it may be possible to mount them on a single implant depending on their position and the conditions in the mouth.

Patients who want dental implants need to be in a reasonably good state of health. While the surgery required is minor, it still entails a local anaesthetic and a healing period afterwards. You need to be able to undergo both of these things without undue distress. There are a couple of medical conditions that can affect the success rates of implant surgery. Your dentist will ask you a series of questions during your first consultation to see if you are in any high-risk categories. This does not necessarily mean you will be unable to go ahead but you may need further preparation.

Does it hurt?

During the surgery, you will have a local anaesthetic applied in order to numb the area. Rarely, patients need or request a general anaesthetic. Either way, this means that you will not feel any discomfort during the process. You may feel some soreness afterwards and notice some swelling. There might also be a little bleeding. Your dentist will give you care advice for the days and weeks following. You should be able to alleviate any discomfort with normal painkillers.

Strenuous activity or physical work should be avoided for a couple of days afterwards. Gradual reintroduction of a normal activity load is advised to give your body a chance to heal after getting dental implants.

Brighten your smile today with teeth whitening

Are your happy with your smile? If you aren’t, you’re not alone. Almost half of the UK population isn’t pleased with the appearance of their smile due to a variety of teeth imperfections. One of the most common causes for complaint is stained and discoloured teeth. This isn’t something you need to put up with. Teeth whitening at Farnham Road Dental Practice in Guildford offers a safe and reliable way to restore the shine to your teeth.

What makes your teeth lose their natural gleam

Over the years your teeth can change colour simply due to the natural process of ageing. However there are certain lifestyle factors that make things worse. Smoking and certain medications are known to discolour teeth. Particular foods and drinks can also leave behind stains – tea, coffee and wine are common culprits behind stained teeth.

A simple solution

Teeth whitening is a temporary but effective way to remove certain stains and reduce discolouration of your teeth. At our friendly dental practice we use the Enlighten home tooth whitening system. Custom-made mouth trays are designed specifically to fit snugly over your teeth. A whitening gel is then applied into these trays. The gel contains a clinically safe amount of bleaching agent that will get to work on your teeth.Wearing your personal set of gel-filled trays for a few hours every day will bring you results within 2 weeks.

While over-the-counter teeth whitening systems are available, you risk damage to your teeth and increased sensitivity. It is always best to undergo teeth whitening treatment under the care of a dental professional. With the Enlighten system and the experience of our highly trained dentists, you can avoid these pitfalls.

Keeping up your new look

Although teeth whitening treatment is a temporary fix, you can prolong its effects by wearing your gel-filled trays for one or two nights every 3 or 4 months. Avoiding food and drinks that stain strongly, cutting back on smoking and good dental hygiene will also help.

If teeth whitening sounds like something you’d be interested in, get in touch with us at Farnham Road Dental Practice.

Teeth whitening in Guildford

Teeth whitening is becoming more and more popular in the UK. Many people are looking for affordable opportunities to improve the quality of their smile. There are more products available, new brands appearing and more dentists with the technology to offer different treatments and solutions.

Farnham Road Dental Practice in Guildford is proud to use the Enlighten teeth whitening system. Enlighten is a technological leader in professional teeth whitening in America is following suit in the UK.

Enlighten me

One of the major challenges for manufacturers of teeth whitening kits was to create effective products without using substances that could damage teeth and cause the patient pain.

In the 18th century, when barber shops also often performed the role of community dentist, teeth were whitened using acid. It worked, but unfortunately also corroded the tooth enamel and led to severe tooth decay in the future.

Since then, the science of teeth whitening has evolved greatly. At the leading edge of this is Enlighten at Farnham Road Dental Practice, who use an Enlighten Evolution teeth whitening, as it consistently performs well against the competition.

The key to the success of Enlighten Evolution is that it works safely and painlessly, yet it provides predicable results. It can whiten your teeth by up to ten shades. In fact, Enlighten Evolution is the only product to guarantee that any patient who can receive teeth whitening will achieve a whitening result to at least B1, which is the brightest shade possible.

How does it work?

Enlighten Evolution at Farnham Road Dental Practice in Guildford is a kit, which is partly home whitening and partly in-practice whitening. Under dental supervision, the final part of the whitening process is done at a much stronger strength, so that you see results faster. Finally, you can have the Evolution treatment in just one dental appointment. You will see the difference in your teeth in just one hour.

On average, your teeth will normally maintain their whiteness for around three years before you need a top-up treatment. Once you have had your teeth whitened, it is important that you continue to look after them properly if you want to maintain your pearly white results.

Make a lifetime of difference to your smile in only half a year

Are you one of the many adults in the UK who wish they had straighter teeth? You are? So, how would you feel if someone told you that in only half a year you could finally have those straighter teeth? And what if they also told you that the treatment wouldn’t break your bank balance, or hurt like mad or put so much metal in your mouth that no one could understand what you were saying?

six-month-smiles-in-guildford Well, at Farnham Road Dental Practice in Guildford, Six Month Smiles offers all of those things. It is of one of the world’s most popular braces treatments, having taken all the best elements of traditional braces and updated them with both the latest materials and techniques.

If you grew up without getting your teeth straightened, and are now regretting it, or maybe you did and they’ve gone out of alignment again, then Six Month Smiles in Guildford might well be the solution for you.

This discreet braces system is aimed especially at adults like you, whose front six teeth, known as the ‘social teeth’ because they are the ones most on view, need some straightening, but who have no other serious problems with their bite.

In Guildford, Six Month Smiles braces straighten the teeth using discreet fixed braces (which achieve results faster than removable aligners) that consist of clear ceramic brackets and tooth-coloured titanium-nickel wires. The brackets are fixed to the teeth at particular angles and, along with the wires, use standardised mechanics to move the teeth. However, because, with Six Month Smiles the aim is only to straighten the teeth, and not alter the bite, the forces needed are much gentler, and therefore less painful. Gentler forces also mean less chance of damage to the tooth roots.

Because there is no alteration to the bite, the whole process usually takes between four and nine months rather than two or more years. And a quicker treatment means fewer visit to the dentist and therefore a lower cost for you.

Once the teeth have been straightened, you will need to wear a removable retainer to anchor them into their new place in the jaw. If you find that you keep forgetting to put that retainer in, you can have a bonded retainer fitted. This is also invisible.

Make 2017 the year you get the straight teeth you always wanted

Here we are in January again, the month of the resolution. Most people’s resolutions are driven by a desire to make their lives flow more smoothly, and be healthier, both mentally and physically. And so they join the gym, or start looking for a new job, or take up a new hobby to make new friends.

However, if you are one of the many adults who wish they had straighter teeth, investing in Six Month Smiles in Guildford could address many of the needs mentioned above.

Feel happier

Having a great smile means that you smile more often. And when you smile, your body releases feel-good chemicals called serotonin and beta-endorphin. These chemicals fit into receptor cells throughout the body and, when they lock into place, they tell you to feel happy and connected. Of course, when you feel happy and connected, you tend to smile more, and so a positive feedback loop of smile, feel happy, smile, feel happy, begins to take place. You may find yourself smiling more than you ever thought possible.

Improve your social connections

Of course, people are going to notice and respond to all this smiling you are now doing. We are hard-wired to respond to genuine smile with feelings of warmth towards the smiler, and with wishes to connect and be of service to them. So, you may well find that somehow your days glide more smoothly as you smile at everyone from the bus driver to the bank clerk to your boss and that gorgeous person across the room. Difficult situations could become easier, work challenges resolve themselves more easily, new friends could start appearing in your life.

Feel healthier

Straighter teeth are easier to clean, which means that not only do you have a healthier mouth, but that, in the long-run, you will be helping yourself to avoid other health issues that can be made worse by poor oral health, such as heart disease.

In Guildford, Six Month Smiles is a discreet braces system that works on straightening the front six social teeth in between four and nine months. It uses gentle forces to move your teeth in a very short period of time, compared to traditional metal braces.

If you would like to make straighter teeth your investment for 2017, why not call us on 01483 562641 to find out more about Six Month Smiles in Guildford.

Mind the gap

People lose teeth all the time; through trauma, when teeth are knocked out, or due to decay, gum disease or the ageing process. Whatever the reason for losing your teeth, they will need to be replaced, both for aesthetic and functional reasons. The most common treatments for missing teeth are either a denture or a fixed bridge. However, dental implants in Guildford are now becoming a more popular treatment to replace missing teeth. This is because they provide a long-term solution, slow down bone loss and preserve nearby healthy tooth tissue.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants in Guildford are an artificial replacement for the root portion of your natural tooth. They are anchored into a pre-drilled socket in your jaw-bone to support a crown, bridge or denture. Dental implants are made from titanium, a material that is well tolerated by bone and integrates easily with bone tissue. During the placement of dental implants, the main objective is to achieve close contact between the outer surface of the implant and the surrounding bone tissue. This is so they can fuse together creating a stable support for the new teeth.

Am I suitable?

At Farnham Road Dental Practice in Guildford, dental implants can be placed in patients of any age, provided that they have a sufficient quantity and quality of bone tissue. Healthy individuals that have a good oral hygiene regime are generally suitable candidates for dental implants.

Sometimes, some patients may not be suitable for dental implants in Guildford. This may be the case for heavy smokers. Smoking slows down and hinders the healing process, putting the success of your dental implants at risk.

Another reason you may not be suitable for dental implants could be periodontal gum disease. All active gum diseases must be treated prior to any procedure, to ensure the longevity of dental implants. Periodontal gum disease is a major cause of bone loss, which could mean you do not have enough available bone to support any dental implant procedure.

However, even if your jawbone has low bone density, you may still be able to have implants after a bone graft or sinus lift.

Modern, innovative dentistry

Farnham Road Dental Practice is a modern dental practice with one simple aim. We will strive to provide our patients with the finest dentistry possible, using the latest in dental technology and techniques.

Farnham Road Dental Practice, is a fully private dental practice. We offer preventative, restorative and cosmetic dentistry to all our patients, including teeth whitening in Guildford. We only use the finest materials for your cosmetic dentistry and are proud to be a metal-free practice, as we only provide white fillings and use all ceramic restorations for crowns and bridges. We believe these are more aesthetically pleasing, as well as being are better for our patient’s oral health.

teeth-whitening-in-Guildford You can be assured that with Farnham Road Dental Practice you will only be treated with the respect and dignity everyone deserves. We provide honest and informed choices for our patients, as well as priding ourselves on getting to know every one of our patients on a more personal level. This ensures we keep our standards high for all your dental needs.

Teeth Whitening in Guildford

Maybe you’ve always wanted a beautiful white smile. Or your teeth have yellowed over time. Or you’re not happy with the staining that results from drinking coffee, tea, or sugary drinks. Whatever your reason for wanting teeth whitening in Guildford, you’re not alone.

For your teeth whitening in Guildford, we use the Enlighten tooth whitening system. With Enlighten you are guaranteed at least a B1 shade. Enlighten is the only tooth whitening system in the world that will brighten your teeth by up to 16 shades safely and easily.

Enlighten is also very convenient for patients to use as no dietary changes are required to gain maximum results.

After your treatment, you will notice results in just two to four weeks, meaning you can enjoy your new whiter teeth in under a month. With Enlighten you will experience minimal pain and sensitivity, as you will be supplied with anti-sensitivity serum throughout.

At Farnham Road Dental, we tailor-make whitening trays, per each patient needs and desired result. This makes for a completely bespoke experience for all our patients.

A step closer to a straighter smile

We all want to be able to smile with confidence, as it helps us to connect with people and go through life with surety and ease. This is possible if you go ahead and get the treatment you want for your teeth.

six-month-smiles If there is anything standing in your way, we think we can help you get past it at Farnham Road Dental Practice – this is because we work with adults and children to achieve straight smiles all the time and our level of experience means that we have encountered many concerns along the way that we have been able to address. We offer great brands like Six Month Smiles in Guildford at our clinic. It is innovative dental solutions like these that we have been able to use to meet more and more of our patients needs.

What will they look like?

It is perfectly natural to be concerned about the impression you might give off while wearing braces. It is possible that your concerns about this have previously outweighed any desire you might have to get your teeth straightened. With Six Month Smiles in Guildford, you get an unobtrusive braces solution. The brackets are clear and the wires are tooth coloured so they blend in with the look of your mouth making them less noticeable.

How long will I need them for?

Teeth straightening takes longer than many dental treatments. However, by changing the primary focus of their system of braces, Six Month Smiles have shortened the amount of time it takes to get from start to finish while still getting the result you want. For many people, the main concern is the teeth you can see when you smile and this is where the work is done with Six Month Smiles. In Guildford, at Farnham Road Dental Practice, we assess and measure you, order and fit the braces all within a short space of time so you can get going within a matter of weeks.

How much will they cost?

Six Month Smiles is comparable in cost to regular braces and, in some cases, can be less because the treatment time is shorter. The exact amount depends on what you want to achieve but your dentist will ensure you have the full cost breakdown before treatment starts so that you can make an informed choice.

Six Month Smiles straightening solution

When you visit your dental practice, it is important that you have a range of dental treatments to choose from. At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we think that there are so many variables in life to consider when getting a extensive treatment like teeth straightening that, the more you have to choose from, the more likely it is to be harmonious with your life.

Six-Month-Smiles-in-Guildford You do have options when it comes to straightening your teeth and one of these is Six Month Smiles. In Guildford, at Farnham Road Dental Practice, we offer this solution because it is swift and discreet. This system was developed so that patients who required a moderate level of treatment or even a slight adjustment could have the option to have tooth coloured braces. Six Month Smiles focus on the teeth that are visible when you smile meaning that they can get the results you want in a short amount of time.

How do I get Six Month Smiles in Guildford?

When you come to see us at Farnham Road Dental Practice, your dentist will make a thorough assessment of your mouth and listen to the details of what you want. Although they will make suggestions, it is important that you tell them if you are particularly self-conscious about any particular features such as a gap or crooked tooth. They will take impressions of your teeth, get your clear braces ordered and they will be sent back to our clinic in Guildford. Six Month Smiles are fitted using a tray that places the clear brackets precisely onto your teeth. Your dentist will then fit the wires and anything else required.

At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we will see you regularly to ensure that you are making the progress you want to. Most treatments with this method take between four and nine months to complete but the average is around six months. After that, as with all braces, you will need to wear either a fixed or removable retainer for around a year to allow the effects of the braces to stabilise. Sometimes it is only necessary to wear your retainer at night but your dentist will talk to you about this.