Your Dental Update Brace yourself: taking care of your orthodontic appliance Smile and the world smiles with you We want to hear from you! I have a missing tooth, is there something I can do about the gap? COMPANY Address info 01622 761067 www.freshdentalcare.co.uk 6 Tolherst Court, Turkey Mill, Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5SF implant + dental care
Your Dental Update WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! INSIDE THIS ISSUE Brace yourself: taking care of your orthodontic appliance Smile and the world smiles with you We want to hear from you! I have a missing tooth, is there something I can do about the gap? It is of vital importance to us as a dental practice that our patients provide us with feedback about our service so we can continue to improve. We would be grateful if you could spend just a few minutes of your time to let us know what you think! Feedback about this ezine click here Feedback about your last visit to the practice click here implant + dental care Published by Apex Ezines Contents may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. Information included is not dental or medical advice. For your specific information be sure to consult our practice. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please contact us directly. 2
www.freshdentalcare.co.uk Something to smile about? Book a FREE initial consultation with our Practice Treatment Coordinator, Julie or... a full clinical assessment and treatment planning with Dr Marcus Spry ( 105) Dr Marcus Spry BDS has a wealth of experience in dentistry; Marcus is particularly interested in dental implants,cosmetic dentistry, and facial aesthetics having extensively trained in these areas. 0% finance available subject to status For a fresh look at your dentistry call 01622 761067 6 Tolherst Court, Turkey Mill, Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5SF www.freshdentalcare.co.uk 3
Because all people are different, orthodontic braces are adapted to the individual patient s needs. This means there is a variable amount of time that they need to be worn for. It depends on how much your teeth need to be moved and how much work needs to be done. As an example, fixed braces take between 12 to 24 months and removable braces are generally for shorter periods of time. If you are unsure, seek advice from your dentist or orthodontist for more detailed information. However, it is essential that you fully commit to the treatment recommended, as it will significantly improve the long-term success rate of what you would like to achieve. Broken braces as well as not Brace yourself: taking care of your orthodontic appliance wearing them for the desired period of time will eventually delay the course of treatment. It is important that you make regular visits to the dentist every 6 to 8 weeks to keep your mouth in check. Even though you may not notice any changes immediately, your dentist or orthodontist will be able to assess this for you. No pain, no gain There will inevitably be times when the brace will not be comfortable, however, think of it this way, your mouth is undergoing big changes and your teeth will naturally try and resist this at first. Imagine that you have had your teeth misaligned for most of your life and then suddenly, you are applying changes to them over a shorter period. 4
They will be sensitive. At the beginning you may need painkillers to lessen the pain. Ask your dentist or orthodontist for specific advice on this. Another change you may notice is that your speech may be altered slightly, because you will not initially be used to wearing the brace. However, it will be a mind over matter situation, as you will adapt to the change. So be patient with yourself and in no time you ll be able to say she sells seashells on the seashore. Part of looking after your brace will mean avoiding things like biting your nails, chewing pens, etc. to maximise the chance of leaving your brace intact. Broken braces delay the length of time you have to wear them for. It is advisable to use a mouthguard for playing sports. If your brace is removable it is possible to take it out for a very short time and replace it when you have finished. Depending on whether you have a removable or fitted brace, there are specific foods to avoid. As always, chewy sweets such sticky toffees and very sugary foods should be avoided as they will stick to your brace. Chewing gum is also not advised, but try sugarfree mints instead. Hard foods should be avoided as the metalwork may be damaged from the impact of chewing. Cutting food into small pieces as well as keeping to a soft diet is the best thing to do. But I have a sweet tooth? It is really important that you keep your teeth really clean when you have braces. With the metalwork, plaque (a build-up of bacteria) can get trapped more easily. You will have a lot going on in your mouth and gum disease is definitely something you want to avoid, otherwise your gums will become sore and inflamed. Good hygiene and extra care will also prevent white spots from forming: these are small specks that form on tooth surface due to a process of decalcification, when you tooth enamel loses calcium. There are special products available that can be used to specifically clean between the metalwork in your mouth. If your brace, or any part of it, breaks you must see your dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible. Do not wait for your next check-up. Depending on how the brace has broken a thorough examination will be needed and corrections made straight away. Each brace is different, like each individual out there Commit to the treatment fully or you may not get the results you want Avoid biting nails, hard foods, chewing pens as they may break the metalwork Avoid chewing gum, sugary or sticky foods Keep your brace as clean as possible, especially around the gum line and around the brackets and wires Use a mouthguard when playing sports to protect your teeth Visit your dentist or orthodontist regularly and do not miss appointments If your brace is broken go immediately to the dentist or orthodontist 5
Smile and the world smiles with you Why is it that just looking at a smiling face can help us to relax and make us want to smile too? A famous poem called Smiling is infectious illustrates how when one person smiles, it can easily spread and light up a whole room. But what is smiling and why do we do it? Firstly, smiling makes us feel happy. We naturally relate a smiling face 6
with laughter and happiness. A smile is a means of symbolising that an emotion has been expressed and has been recognised. A research study publicised in the Scientific American about the face and expressing emotion was carried out by psychologists at the University of Cardiff in Wales. Michael Lewis, a co-author of the study, said, It would appear that the way we feel emotions isn t just restricted to our brain there are parts Why is it that just looking at a smiling face can help us to relax and make us want to smile too? of our bodies that help and reinforce the feelings we re having. It s like a feedback loop. This explains half of the reason why we relate a smile to being happy! Secondly, smiling makes us attractive. From an anthropological point of view, smiling can make us more physically and socially attractive, which is vital when looking for a potential mate. FaceResearch.org conducted research on how smiling increases how rewarding an attractive face is and their findings demonstrated that: Attraction is influenced by the extent to which an individual appears interested in engaging you in social interaction (i.e. the extent that they are smiling at you or smiling at someone else) and not only by their physical beauty. This explains why when someone shows interest in us, they usually smile. Finally smiling is worth money. Ok, perhaps not literally, but a smile is worth social currency according to researchers at Bangor University s psychology department. Danielle Shorey who lead the study with colleague Erin Heerey, found that Research suggests that those who smile,.have the power to do anything from luring shoppers to spending more than they intended to creating lucrative working relationships. So never underestimate a beautiful smile! Dental words you may hear in the practice Buffer This is solution that is able to neutralise an acidic or alkali environment. Your saliva can act as an excellent buffer to protect your teeth against acid erosion 7
www.freshdentalcare.co.uk Am I too old for a brace? At Fresh Dental Care we don t think so! Our oldest adult orthodontic patient was 70 years old. A beautiful straight white confident smile could be yours with clear aligners or conventional braces. Dr Marcus Spry BDS has a wealth of experience in dentistry; Marcus is particularly interested in dental implants,cosmetic dentistry, and facial aesthetics having extensively trained in these areas. Book a FREE initial consultation with our Practice Treatment Coordinator or a full clinical assessment & treatment planning with Dr Marcus Spry ( 105) 8 For a fresh look at your dentistry call 01622 761067 6 Tolherst Court, Turkey Mill, Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5SF www.freshdentalcare.co.uk
Ask the dentist Ask us about... adult braces! More information is available at: A Am I too old to straighten my teeth? No, we can start adult orthodontic treatment at any age; in fact our oldest patient to date was in her 70 s when we straightened her smile. What s the benefit of adult orthodontics? Straight, clean white teeth on a foundation of good oral health promotes self confidence and happiness. How long could I expect treatment to take? Depending on individual circumstances and the orthodontic system selected, treatment usually takes between 9 months and 2 years. An average treatment usually takes approximately 12 months. Do I have to have wires? No. Clear, near invisible braces are available, however, please remember that the best results are achieved with conventional wires and brackets. We use Invisalign, a clear aligner treatment and Damon, which is an American system using tooth coloured brackets and fine wires. Damon produces speedy, effective results. What happens at the end of my treatment? Orthodontic retention is advised for a period of at least two years from the end of active treatment. We usually provide passive clear retainers, custom made for each individual patient, which are worn at night. Do you treat children? Yes, however sometimes a specialist orthodontic http://damonbraces.com/ questions/index.php referral is necessary, which is easily arranged. How much does it cost? At Fresh Dental Care, adult orthodontic treatments are priced between 1100 and 4100. We use a variety of different systems according to individual need and situations, so a treatment plan is tailored for each patient. What is my next step? You would be very welcome to call us and book a free consultation with Julie, our treatment coordinator. Julie would explain your available options in more detail for you and answer any queries you may have. Alternatively, our dentist, Dr Marcus Spry BDS, is available for a full case assessment and planning to commence active treatment. A full case assessment with Marcus would be 105. Fresh Dental Care 6 Tolherst Court, Turkey Mill Ashford Road, Maidstone Kent ME14 5SF 01622 761067 http://www.invisalign.co.uk/en/what-isinvisalign/pages/what-is.aspx 9
Got a question? I have a missing tooth, is there something I can do about the gap? There are a variety of options available. It is best to be discussed with your dentist directly as they will develop a treatment plan to tailor your needs and to be most beneficial to you. Everyone s mouth is a different picture so it is best for you to be guided by the advice of a dental professional. But rest assured, there is no reason for you to have a gap in your mouth for the rest of your life. Dentistry has advanced over many decades and there are now many reliable solutions available to patients with missing teeth. 10
COMPANY 01622 Address 761067 info www.freshdentalcare.co.uk implant + dental care