Archive for May, 2008
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. My upper teeth care slightly crooked at the front. I had braces as a child but have been told that the orthodondist used old fashioned techniques that often go wrong. The two teeth immediately on either side of my two front teeth are slightly twisted round and sit a bit behind them. I have attempted braces about a year ago but as an adult can\’t really deal with having them, not being able to speak etc. However, I really want straight teeth (especially having already gone through so much pain, extractions etc to get them!). Do you think the invisalign braces would work for me? Thanks in advance.
A. It sounds like invisalign would work. You do need to get the opinion of a proper orthodontist. General dentists are able to do this technique but if you seek the opinion of an orthodontist that uses this technique all the time you will get the best result and they will be able to let you know what the limitations are and if the end result isn’t quite what you had in mind there will be other techniques that can be used. If you are not suitable for invisalign and don’t want to have fixed braces there is always the option of having veneers to correct the alignment of your teeth.
I hope this helps
Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
33 High Street, Wendover,
Buckinghamshire HP22 6DU
Tel: 01296 624163
Tags: braces, orthodontist
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Invisible braces, Q. Orthodontics | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. Hi, I have been told by my current dentist that the bones are shrinking, and thats why my teeth are very loose and I have lost a tooth as a result. I am only 37 years old and I am very upset and very worried about the rest of my toothes. I also have couple of loose tooth at present.
A. Its sounds like you are suffering with periodontal disease. This is primarily caused by plaque build up under the gums. This plaque contains bacteria some of which can cause the bone that supports your teeth to decrease in strength and amount. The bone is the foundations / support for your teeth. Periodontal disease affects a large amount of the population to some degree and there are certain factors which increase its effect , these are smoking, diabetes and a possible genetic factor (have mum and dad lost a lot of teeth ?). I would advise you to have a full consultation and x-rays to assess your bone loss and then look at possible treatments which include seeing a periodontist , a dental hygienist or looking at dental implants to replace missing teeth.
I hope this helps you.
Dr Riten Patel BDS
Mulberry Dental Surrey
www.mulberrydental.co.uk
18 Ashley Rd
Walton on Thames
Surrey KT12 1HS
01932 223479
Tags: dental implants, periodontal disease
Posted in Dr Patel's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Implants, Q. General dentistry, Q. gums | 1 Comment »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. I had veneers 2 yrs ago but so far 3 out of 4 have become loose. my underlying teeth are very small about the size of a baby tooth. is this the problem or is it something that happened during preparation. also i am unhappy with the colour, am i going to cause my underlying teeth problems if i have these drilled off and new ones replaced?
A. If you are unhappy with the colour of your existing veneers than the only solution is to have them replaced. When a veneer is replaced the dentist carefully cuts away the existing veneer. Some underlying tooth may be removed in the process. Following this new veneers would be made or perhaps crowns might be a more permanent solution. Only by having a proper examination and assessment is it possible to accurately plan your future treatment. When choosing a dentist to replace them have a look at their previous work on their web site to help you judge their cosmetic skill.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: crowns, Q. Dental Veneers
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. Dental crowns | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. I went to visit a dentist today complaining of a throbbing tooth ache, my dentist said that he thinks its an abscess he then said that I needed root canal on my molar and did not quote me a price, he is now charging me £630 – isn’t that really expensive?
A. Prices vary according to the experience and location of the dentist. This fee is within the normal range for a private molar root treatment.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: dental abscess, root canal
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. General dentistry | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. my teeth are very weak cause i use to be a drug user . i been clean now for a number of years but is it to late for me to have that perfect smile
A. Provided you are to have healthy gums and your teeth are not too broken down then it is highly likely that you can have the smile that you want. There are other factors that need to be considered but the best option is to have a consultation with a dentist and to find out what options are available to you.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: healthy gums
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry, Q. Smile Makeovers, Q. gums | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. hi im thinking of having teeth whitening done . but not sure if there is any cons of it i was thinking of going for this new thing i heard “zoom” which is a 1 hr session and you can get upto 8 shades . can i get some help thank you
A. There are a number of whitening systems available on the market – zoom being one of them. The main problem with bleaching is sensitivity issues afterwards. This is usually transient and is rare to last more than a month at the worst. The other issue is the inability to bleach existing restorations. Be prepared to replace any visible restorations if the surrounding teeth become whiter. Finally your mouth need to have healthy gums and no decay present prior to bleaching.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: gums, teeth decay, zoom
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. General dentistry, Q. Teeth Whitening, Q. gums | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. I have recently used whitening toothpaste and my teeth have a line across and look grey in colour have i lost my enamel and what can i do to replace it.
A. It is unlikely that you have lost the enamel of your teeth in such a short time. The likely hood is that one half of your tooth has whitened more than another. My advice would be to see your local dentist and have them assessed. Professional bleaching may well whiten your teeth further and even out this gradation of colour.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: Q. Teeth Whitening
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Teeth Whitening | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. Approximately how much will it cost to have my tooth whitening hertfordhshire” target=”_self”>teeth whitened and what is the proceedure?
A. The cost of bleaching varies depending on the experience of the dentist, the location of their surgery and the type of bleaching that they do.
Bleaching is usually carried out either with in-surgery bleaching ( sometimes with a light and sometimes without depending on the product used) and home bleaching in customized trays. Often a combination of both of these methods is used. To get an idea of the cost in your area simply ring your local surgeries – do ask what method they use and recommend.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: Q. Teeth Whitening
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Teeth Whitening | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. I lost my two front teeth when I was 8yrs old and since then I have had crowns, plates and now a even wider denture.I always seem to get the dentist that is aggresive in their manner or they have left me in a living hell with infection after infection.My denture has 5 teeth at the front and 1 molar far left. For nearly two years my dentist still says it\’s fine and I\’ve had to be seen at my hospital .Am I a candicate for another bridge as I just can\’t deal with this anymore.I suffer from fibromyalgia and I don\’t think the medication I have been on for the best part of 20yrs has helped my own teeth at all!
A. It sounds as though you have 5 missing teeth at the front of your mouth. This length of span is usually too long for a bridge to cope with. The 2 solutions for your problem may be:
1. A new well fitting denture
2. Implants to replace the denture
Obviously I have not seen you and a proper examination would be required to decide which treatment option is best for you.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: crows, denture, Q. Missing teeth
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Implants, Q. Missing teeth | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. I have 6 porcelain (front teeth) crowns lasted since 1978, im looking to replace them and wonder what the process involves, how they get them off for a start! can i be sedated and what will the actual treatment involve. as far as i can remember they are on gold posts.i think they look dated and would like them whiter. thank you so much for your time and look forward to your reply
A. The process has of having 6 front crowns made from the patients point of you has not changed to any great extent since your last set were made. Having said that the anaesthetics are better and the materials the crowns are made from are vastly superior to your existing crowns.
It is unlikely that you need sedation as local anaesthetic should make the procedure pain free. The crowns are usually easily removed by cutting a line down the middle and releasing the seal of the underlying cement.. After this the underling shapes would be adjusted where necessary and impressions taken of the new shape. Temporary crowns are placed and the final ones are ready to be fitted about 2 to 3 weeks later.
There is another way of giving you new crowns. In my practice we use the Cerec method – this involves scanning the shape of the underlying tooth with an infrared camera and designing the restorations on a computer . The crowns are then milled and glazed to give you new crowns the same day. The process is quite amazing!
Hope this puts your mind at rest.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: cerec, Q. Dental crowns, sedation
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry, Q. Dental crowns | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. Can you tell me why is it that the dentists and dental implants in say Hungary are “SO MUCH” cheaper than the ones in the UK
A. Implant costs vary depending on the type and make of implant used firstly. The cost to the dentist who uses a Uk laboratory to make the suprastructure is much higher and the overheads of a Uk dentist is considerably higher than in Hungary. If you are considering having your implants place abroad have you considered what happens if things go wrong. What is your legal position if you have problems. There are other issues but hopefully you will make your decision not just based on price – it really is not comparable to buying a car after all!
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: cosmetic dentists, Q. Dental Implants
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Finance, Q. Dental Implants | No Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Q. I have recently found out I require all of my teeth to be taken out, due to gum disease. Would I be able to get implants in my full mouth after treatment has settled.
A. Implants are a definite possibility. How simple the treatment all depends on how much bone is available to place the implants. Following severe gum disease we often find that it is necessary, especially in the upper jaw, to bone graft an area to increase the amount of bone. This is an advanced procedure but their are many experienced dentists who place implants regularly who would be able to do this for you. You also need to decide whether you want fixed bridge work or a removable denture attached to your implants. Obviously this is jumping the gun but you need to be aware of the options.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: gum disease, Q. Dental Bridges, Q. Dental Implants
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Implants, Q. gums | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. I am concerned about my left front tooth. A few years ago i had a filling in it, and then i moved dentists and since then the filling has come out. The hole is small in the front of my tooth but i am scared of dentists because last time i went they had to pull out a tooth, i am also concerned about losing my tooth. The hole has not appeared to have got amazingly bigger as you can only see it if you look close enough. If a front tooth did fall out what could i have done to replace it? Please advise me on what to do as I am losing a lot of sleep at night worrying about it.
A. It is important that you get your tooth fixed as soon as possible. Unfortunately holes in teeth only get bigger – even though it may not appear obvious to you, Also if you leave it it may well become painful and much more difficult to treat. Nowadays treatment has become so much better due to good and effective anaesthetics.
If you did loose your tooth the 3 options you have to replace it would be:
• A denture
• A bridge – stick on or by capping the adjacent teeth
• An implant – this is fast becoming the treatment of choice due to their longevity and lack of damage to the adjacent teeth.
Hopefully the above will not be necessary if you get along to your local friendly dentist!
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: dental bridge, implant, Q. Dentures
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Bridges, Q. Dental Implants, Q. Dentures | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. Hi, I have 2 daughters age 9 and 10 who both have moderate white fluorosis stains on their front teeth. Other children are now picking up on this and calling them cruel names as this makes the rest of their teeth appear a yellow colour. Furthermore, they are both unfortunate enough to have overlapping teeth and an overbite. They have both been referred to the orthodontist but they may not fit NHS criteria but we would fund treatment ourselves if this is the case. However, the fluorosis is the main source of worry as our own dentist just advises 18 and have their teeth bleached?? I have read about microabrasion – would a private cosmetic dentist consider doing this now- particularly as they may be undergoing orthodontic treatment in the future. Any advice you could offer would be very gratefully received.
A. Microabrasion is definately an option. I have done it many times on children. It is painless and undestructive to the teeth. Fluorosis can be in the surface enamel only but occasionally can penetrate deeper into the tooth. This means that if micrabraision technique is used, a tooth which is towards the back of the mouth should be treated first to see wether the discolouration gets any worse. A private cosmetic dentist will do this. If it works than great if it doesn’t then your kids can have white filling material placed over the teeth that are affected until they are old enough to have something permanent placed on them. I would advise that the white fillings are not placed until after orthodontic treatment has been completed.
Whitening generally doesn’t work on fluorosis, this is because of the nature of the discolouration. In fluorosis the discolouration is due to the alignment of enamel crystals and this is usually unaffected by bleach. Therefore, when they are old enough, if microbraision hasn’t worked they can have very thin laminate veneers placed on their teeth. Although this does involve shaving approximately 1/2 mm from the facing of the tooth, it is the least destructive way of improving the colouration of the teeth. In some cases veneers can be placed without shaving any of the tooth away.
I hope this helps
Kind Regards
Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
33 High Street, Wendover,
Buckinghamshire HP22 6DU
Tel: 01296 624163
Tags: Microabrasion, porcelain veneers
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. Orthodontics | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. Is there any procedure that can improve the large gap in my front teeth(approx 3-4 mm), othetwise very healthy teeth.
A. The 2 ways of solving your problem are using a brace to move your teeth together or closing the gap with bonding or porcelain veneers.
The problem with closing such a large gap with bonding/veneers is that the teeth end up looking too wide. A good solution would be to use a brace to partially close the gap to 2 mm and place bonding/veneers on the 4 front teeth to maintain a proper proportion of the size of the front teeth.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: braces, Q. Cosmetic Bonding, Q. Dental Veneers
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Bonding, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. Invisible braces | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. I have very badly eroded front teeth could i get implants to replace these without having to pull out my old teeth?
A. Implants are titanium roots placed into bone that actually become fixed to that bone. Unfortunately you would have to have your teeth removed in the areas where you needed implants. However it may well be the situations that you need comprehensive crown and bridge work on your existing teeth rather than implants. Certainly if you have good bone support around your teeth and no decay on the roots of your teeth this is likely to be the best option for you.
Hope this helps.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: Q. Dental Bridges, Q. Dental crowns, Q. Dental Implants
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Bridges, Q. Dental Implants, Q. Dental crowns | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. i watched something on telly where a women had some sort of molding put round her teeth and she had to go back after 2 weeks to get the real thing, witch was a full moulding that went over all her teeth and looked really good, what are they called? and do you do this?
A. I think what you saw was initially a temporary bridge placed , with the final bridge placed a couple of weeks later. This is certainly something I do on a regular basis with happy patients at the end of treatment! Many patients are amazed how quickly there mouths can be transformed. The porcelain restorations that we place nowadays are very life like and natural. We can also achieve the Hollywood white look if that is what our patients prefer. This is discussed at the consultation visit.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: porcelain bridge, Q. Dental Bridges
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Bridges | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. I have been told by a dentist that i have gum disease which is hereditary runs in my family all my teeth are at the front with one or two at back i have some gum recession i have some teeth that are wobbly i have been told i could have implants fitted can they be fitted straight away or do i have to wait some time till my gums heal up and if thats the case do they put a temporary tooth on implant thanks for your time
A. Gum disease has 3 elements to it – the bacteria in your mouth, your immunity to the bacteria and how well you clean your teeth. It sounds like gum disease has had a severe effect on your mouth and that you are unfortunately about to loose your teeth.
Implants are a great way to replace missing teeth provided you have enough bone for them to go into. Even if you don’t there are techniques to increase the bone in an area to allow for an implant to be placed. Sometimes teeth can be removed and implants placed immediately with the new tooth on top. Sometimes the immediate implant needs to be left for several weeks before the new tooth can be placed. Sometimes the old tooth needs to be removed and the area allowed to heal before the implant can be placed, and this in turn has to be left for several weeks before the new tooth can be placed.
You will be pleased to know that in all of the cases above it is usual to give you some type of temporary denture or temporary bridge whilst the healing is taking place.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: gum disease, missing teeth
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Missing teeth, Q. gums | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. I am thinking of going abroad to get a implant and other work as it is a lot cheaper but a bit worried incase they dont do a proper job could you recommend anywhere i can check to make sure i get a good qualified dentist?
A. In my view you are right to be concerned about having an implant placed in another country. I would be concerned if something went wrong. How would I get recompense and how would the problem be solved. The cheaper cost is definitely attractive but when it comes to your health I would not take any short cuts. Unfortunately I cannot recommend a dentist in another country from a legal point of view.
Sorry I cannot be of more help.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: Q. Dental Implants
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry, Q. Dental Implants | No Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
Q. I grind my teeth and several of my front teeth are wearing. I wanted to first get my teeth whitened before I did anything else, the dentist told me that due to having antibiotics as a child this wasn’t possible and I therefore would need 10 veneers on top and 10 on the bottom. The thought of having so many veneers scares me and its also extremely expensive, can teeth affected by antibiotics be whitened?
A. Teeth can be whitened when affected by antibiotics. The whitening process can take many months of home bleaching and the end result may not be as white as you want to achieve.
Porcelain veneers offer a more predictable outcome but do require some tooth removal to prevent them from being too thick and to allow them to block out the underlying colour.
Dr Julian Caplan BDS
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: teeth grinding, veneers
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. General dentistry | No Comments »
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