The techniques of teeth whitening have been extensively researched and it has been found that a typical course of treatment has only the same effect on teeth as drinking one glass of cola.

One side effect which was commonly experienced was post-treatment sensitivity. However, with the advent of newer techniques and materials this type of sensitivity rarely occurs. At our practice, we use the latest in Teeth Whitening methods and all our patients find this treatment effective and comfortable.

We now use state-of-the-art whitening systems, together with the most advanced laser systems to acheive the best results possible.

One common thought is to buy home kits from a pharmacy. Home Teeth Whitening kits are cheaper but because tooth whitening is a complicated procedure you should only have it done by a dentist, after thorough examination and assessment of your teeth.

Over the counter kits sold in the UK are not recommended as they usually contain only a small concentration of hydrogen peroxide (the main whitening component in the gels). The legal limit in the UK is 0.1% of hydrogen peroxide and effective bleaching products need to have 3.6%. So home products will not be able to whiten your teeth noticeably. Also, some contain mild acids and other abrasives. This can cause ulcers and damage to the gums if the product is not used properly.

Another common solution sought by many is to use whitening toothpastes. There are several on the market. Although they do not affect the natural colour of your teeth, they may be effective at removing surface staining and therefore improve the general appearance of your teeth. Whitening toothpastes can help the effect last, once your teeth have been professionally whitened.

Come and visit our practice and talk to our team about the available products and methods best suited to you. Remember, it is important to have a healthy mouth and not to simply mask underlying problems with whitening. Let us help you to stay healthy.

Andrew, Steph and Emma along with our technician Jim have decided to enter a team event to help others.

We are raising money for Action Medical Research, a great children’s charity dedicated to improving the health of babies and children in the UK.

For almost 60 years the charity has been behind numerous breakthroughs such as the UK polio vaccine, ultrasound scanning in pregnancy, and more recently the fetal heart rate monitor a new state-of-the-art device that could help save thousands of at-risk babies.

Our challenge is to …..

Cycle 50 miles (80 kms)

Hike to the summit of England’s highest mountain Helvellyn which is 3,116ft

Canoe a 2.5 mile (4km) course on Thirlmere lake.

The teams start the challenge at sunrise and attempt to finish by sunset!!

Anything you can donate to the charity means a great deal to us.

To sponser on line simply go to www.action.org.uk and click sponsor! Our fundraiser name is Team Windmill. You will be taken to our page where you can find out more information on the charity and also Team Windmill.

Many thanks in advance!!

Patients should be aware that making the wrong decision about their dental treatment can also prematurely age them.  The most common problem resulting from tooth loss and inappropriate treatment is a “caved in” appearance around the mouth resulting in ageing vertical lines.   Through stimulating bone development with dental implants, cosmetic dentistry can help to rebuild the structure of the jaw and reverse the ageing process by enhancing the support for the lips and mouth and give back a beautiful smile.

We all know that when you look good, you feel good. People spend millions on hair, cosmetic surgery, and beauty products. Aesthetic dentistry can now offer a new and exciting way to enhance your image and give you more self-confidence.

At our practice, we offer leading edge technology to help create beautiful smiles. We welcome you to discover the stunning difference that a “Smile-Lift” can make. Come and discover the possibilities of looking younger for yourself.

According to The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry:

96% of adults believe that despite having flawless, wrinkle-free skin, an unattractive smile with discoloured, crooked or missing teeth makes a man or a woman less appealing to the opposite sex.

74% believe it can damage a person’s chances of career success.

A perfect, natural smile can create a more dramatic effect than a face-lift, taking years off a person’s face as well as boosting self-confidence. A healthy, attractive smile is your most important facial feature and the one most likely to make a favourable impression.  It conveys an instant message of confidence and openness making you automatically a more attractive person.

The Smile Makeover can take just four days to complete using state of the art equipment and the latest computer imaging techniques.  Teeth size, shape and colour can be enhanced to instantly transform the face shape and take years off your appearance!

Following an initial consultation, your dentist will use computer imaging techniques to simulate the new smile for you giving you a chance to discuss the shape and appearance you want to achieve in total privacy and comfort.  The treatment begins by creating a ‘Trial Smile’ to give the client the opportunity to try their ‘new smile’ before the final perfect smile is created.

Constantly travelling the world seeking new techniques and state-of-the-art equipment, the team at our practice have managed to combine their artistic and creative talents with the most advanced scientific developments.

From the minute you set foot inside our practice, it will be clear that this is not just another ‘cosmetic dental practice’.   The striking contemporary décor with flat screen TVs and designer furniture reflect the creativity and style of a team of dentists who take every possible step to make their clientele feel at ease.   Feeling more like a pampering spa than a clinical surgery, our practice has an ambience that will make even the most dental phobic feel relaxed.

Come and join us, experience the cosmetic spa feel yourself and transform your smile.

The appearance of a person’s teeth and gums is very important,  48% of us judge people on their smile alone, 76% believe smiling has a psychological boost and can have a direct impact on the way we feel and behave.  It can cause us to shy away from being photographed. 76% of us don’t feel confident to smile in a photograph; it can affect our confidence at work to the point of not getting where we want with a career or give us the courage to embark upon a relationship – some of our clients have delayed getting married because they were too embarrassed by their teeth to have the photographs taken!

However, it’s not all bad news, you will be pleased to hear that with care and good advice healthy teeth and gums can be achieved, in the majority of cases, with minimal intervention.

Dental care has come a long way in recent years, in terms of skill, techniques and materials.  Also the Government has given our NHS colleagues a real wake up call making dentists look hard at their businesses, the result of which is that many are opting out of the NHS and offering private treatment instead.

Whatever your dentist has decided, good dental care will always focus on prevention of problems to teeth and gums, and invasive corrective measures should only be undertaken when absolutely necessary.

Here are a few tips on how to have fresh breath confidence and make the best of your smile without a trip to the dentist!

Clean your teeth thoroughly and carefully and use a small headed toothbrush.  The harder you brush does not automatically mean the cleaner the teeth!   In fact you could be damaging your gums and causing them to recede!   So clean all 3 surfaces of your teeth and gums carefully.

Daily cleaning between teeth with interdental brushes or floss will further enhance the cleanliness of your mouth and help eliminate stale odours and plaque.  Plaque if allowed to collect will form pockets around the base of your teeth which will push the gums away from the teeth and in severe cases can cause gum disease and the loss of teeth.

A good quality mouthwash such as Retard Ex can help eliminate any lingering odours and harmful bacteria.

If you suspect your breath is not as fresh as you would like, the problem is probably caused through poor dental hygiene.  If, having followed the above advice for a week you feel it has not improved we would recommend you book an appointment with our hygienist or hygiene therapist.   Sometimes there are areas around teeth that need professional care before the gum is healthy again. Our   hygienist will be able to help and advise you on ways to improve these areas and the onset of gum disease can be averted.

On your next visit ask your dentist to perform a comprehensive assessment with a micro-camera, so early decay or any other problems can be detected before more invasive treatment is required.  This is completely painless and allows you and your dentist to see if there is health or deterioration in any suspect areas which would not otherwise be visible.

If the appearance of metal fillings is really bothering you, then speak to your dentist and discuss having them replaced with metal free fillings.  Not only are these a healthier option but they are extremely strong and have a very natural appearance.

Help us to help you stay healthy.

Implants are used to replace a missing tooth, or to replace a tooth that needs extraction. If a gap is left from a missing tooth, not only can it be unsightly but also the teeth on either side can tip into it over time, causing problems with the bite and in some cases, gum disease. Whilst partial dentures can be used to replace missing teeth, implants are usually a much better option since dentures can hasten the loss of the remaining natural teeth. Also implants are fixed and are much stronger.

Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth?

It depends on the condition of your jawbone and whether there is enough bone to support the implants. You will need a thorough evaluation and some tests to see if you are suitable for this treatment. There are many techniques available and it is a matter of choosing the correct one for you.

Implants can be used on their own or to support other dental treatments such as bridges or dentures. They enable you to have chewing surfaces which are strong and robust. This especially applies to loose dentures. Implants can be used to stabilize them and help you to avoid embarrassing situations.

Implants are not taken out like dentures; they form part of your jaw structure. Therefore it is like replacing missing teeth.

If you have missing teeth or gaps in your mouth, perhaps implants may be able to improve your life and make eating and drinking more comfortable for you. Also, improve your smile at the same time.

When you loose teeth you can get several associated problems:

•         Neighboring teeth can twist and rotate.
•         The gap gets smaller and so difficult to restore in the future.
•         You can get gum disease due to the difficulty in cleaning ability because of other teeth moving out of their correct space.
•         The teeth opposite to the gap also move, this leads to bite problems.
•         Bite problems lead to fracturing or breaking of teeth.

There are many treatments you can consider.

Implants
Implant dentistry is the most advanced therapy available to replace teeth. In addition to looking and feeling like real teeth, dental implants allow you to:

• Improve your smile
• Eat the foods you enjoy
• Restore your confidence

Bridges
A bridge is fixed to the remaining natural teeth restoring aesthetics and function. There are two types of bridge-

Fixed – A bridge fitted over two or more prepared anchor teeth. A fixed bridge is a long-lasting option.

Adhesive – A sticky bridge which is bonded to natural teeth and requires minimal tooth preparation. Useful if one tooth is missing.

Having a fixed bridge can make a fantastic improvement to the quality of your life and the treatment can be completed in two weeks!

Dentures
There are two types of denture:

•  Acrylic (or plastic) dentures  
•  Cobalt Chromium (or metal based) dentures – only advised when some teeth are present.

The advantages of Cobalt Chromium dentures are: -

•  Better chewing (more stable; less movement of denture
•  Food more enjoyable (less coverage of the mouth)
•  tronger (metal is very hard, plastic can fracture)
•  Lighter and thinner (plastic is more bulky)
•  More healthy (less gum coverage)

If you want a fixed restorative option that leaves your teeth unaffected, then implant therapy will offer you a cost-effective solution for the long term. The treatment is comfortable to carry out and the results are long lasting.

At our practices, we strive to diagnose dental problems accurately. Therefore we carry out a very extensive evaluation process. Taking models of your mouth, X-rays, special gum measurements and the bite pattern analysis are some of the factors we assess during a complete mouth examination. A treatment plan is then made giving you options and good advice as to which treatment best suits your individual needs.

Gum disease is a common cause of tooth loss in adult patients. Tooth loss is associated with its own set of problems. At our practice, our prime concern is for our patients to have a healthy mouth with a good standard of oral hygiene.

Detection of Gum Disease
Gum problems are mostly painless, and patients are often not aware that gum disease is present.  The main causes of gum disease are plaque and tartar deposits around the teeth and gums.

As part of our oral health screening, we assess each patient for: -

• signs/severity of any gum disease
• levels of plaque/tartar present
• amount of gum inflammation

X-rays, special gum measurements and a dental assessment accurately show us how serious the problem is.

The Hygienist
After careful assessment by a dentist, the hygienist carries out all the treatment necessary to ensure a healthy mouth. The needs of each patient vary from one visit of thorough scaling and polishing of teeth, to multiple visits requiring deep cleaning under local anaesthetic. Hygienists are qualified to give local anaesthetic, and can also carry out other types of treatment such as fissure sealants on children. The hygienist works very closely with the dentist to ensure that your mouth is as healthy as possible.

Laser Gum Treatment
Using a state-of-the-art dental laser machine, we can recontour gums for a more attractive smile.  Lasers can also correct difficult gum problems in advanced cases without the need for surgery!

We at our practice have an unparalleled enthusiasm for our work. We are regularly consulted by the media for their professional and in depth opinions. Rest assured you are the right place if you want a smile makeover!

The value of a nice smile…

76% of people don’t feel confident to smile in a photograph.
48% of people make judgments about people by the look of their smile.
77% of people think it helps psychologically.
67% of people think it helps romantically.

Helping you to stay healthy.