Dental Bridges
If you’re missing a tooth, then a dental bridge could be just what you need.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a way to replace missing teeth. It consists of a prosthetic tooth that attaches to your remaining teeth. It literally bridges the gap between your healthy teeth – hence the name ‘dental bridge’.
Do I really need to replace my missing teeth?
Our dental bridges are made by some of the best dental technicians in the UK.
Believe it or not, there’s lots of benefits to replacing a missing tooth. Here’s some of the main benefits:
- Restore your smile. Studies have found that people with a full set of teeth are rated as more attractive than people with missing teeth.
- Make it easier to chew. A bridge will help you spread forces evenly around your mouth when you eat.
- Make it easier to speak. It’s actually easier to talk with a full set of teeth than with missing teeth.
- Prevent your remaining teeth from drifting out of place. When a tooth is missing, the remaining teeth tend to slowly move into the gap. Prevent this from happening with a bridge.
- Help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Gaps left behind by missing tooth often tend to get packed with food, which can become a breeding ground for bacteria. A bridge removes gaps from your teeth and can therefore improve your dental health.
How long does dental bridge treatment take?
Don’t let missing teeth ruin your confidence and stop you from smiling.
It usually takes two visits to fit a dental bridge. These visits are usually one to two weeks apart.
At your first visit, the dentist will trim down the teeth adjacent to the gap to make room for crowns. The dentist will also take a mould of your teeth. A lab will later make your bridge from this mould.
At the second appointment, the dentist will cement the bridge into place and you’ll walk out of the clinic with a new smile!
How do I take care of a dental bridge?
You will need to clean your bridge every day, just like how you clean your regular teeth. Cleaning a dental bridge isn’t difficult. All that’s needed is a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss.
How long do bridges last?
Bridges typically last five to seven years. But with good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, bridges can last for over ten years.
What do bridges look like?
Modern bridges look just like your existing teeth. They’ll blend in with your smile and no-one will be able to tell that you have a false tooth.
Are there any other ways to replacing a missing tooth?
Yes, there are two other ways to replace a missing tooth: dentures and implants.
Dentures: You are probably already familiar with dentures, which are basically removable teeth. Perhaps your grandparents even wear a pair. Dentures are usually cheaper than bridges and implants. However, the downside to dentures is that they typically feel less comfortable than bridges and implants.
Implants: Dental Implants are prosthetic teeth that attach to your jawbone instead of your remaining teeth. They’re strong and feel very real. However, they require oral surgery and are therefore also the most expensive option. As you can probably guess, bridges are in the middle. They’re more affordable than implants and more comfortable than dentures.
Is anyone eligible for bridges?
Bridges aren’t suitable for everyone with missing teeth. Your options will vary depending on the number of teeth you have missing and their locations in the mouth. Bridges work best when you only have a few missing teeth and when all the missing teeth are on the same side of the mouth. Also, bridges require the two teeth adjacent to a gap to be in good health.
If you’re interested in our services, then contact us to find out more. Bower Dental Centre 01580 891349
Dental Crowns & Caps
Do you suffer from damaged or discoloured teeth? If the answer is yes, then there’s no need to put up with them, because we have a range of options to suit your particular needs. One of these options is crowns.
What is a dental crown?
A crown is basically a prosthetic tooth that fits on top of a real tooth. When cemented in place, the crown covers the tooth, thereby protecting it from decay.
Times when you might need a crown
There’s several reasons you might need a crown. A dentist might use a crown to:
- Prevent a weak tooth from breaking
- Restore a broken tooth
- Attach a bridge to your teeth
- Hide a discoloured tooth
- Hide a misshapen tooth
- Replace a large filling
- Cover a large cavity
What are the benefits of a crown?
Dental crowns are made to blend in with the rest of your smile. Crowns have several benefits:
- They look like real teeth – they have a natural colour and shape.
- They can help to eradicate tooth pain.
- They can prevent the need for a tooth extraction.
- They strengthen and protect the remaining tooth material.
- They are made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, and metal, which means they last a long time and are unlikely to break.
What’s the procedure for fitting a crown?
The procedure for fitting a crown involves at least two appointments. On the first visit, the dentist will prepare your tooth for the crown and then make an impression of the tooth. After this initial visit, you’ll wear a temporary crown for a few weeks while your permanent crown is made. When the permanent crown is ready, you’ll visit your dentist again and he or she will fit the permanent crown into place.
How long do crowns last?
The life expectancy of a crown is about five to ten years. Some crowns can last much longer than this, especially if you look after them well and visit a dentist often.
Taking care of a crown isn’t difficult – just look after it the same way you take care for your teeth. Brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit a dentist every six months.
Crowns are immune to plaque and decay, but decay can start at the gum line, where the crown meets the tooth. Therefore, it’s important to keep this particular area clean.
Are there alternative to crowns?
Crowns aren’t for everyone. If your teeth are still healthy and strong, then consider these alternatives:
- Fillings. White Fillings are a good option when your teeth only have small cavities. Fillings only require one dentist appointment and they are significantly cheaper than crowns.
- Onlays. An onlay is like a large filling that’s made to fit over your tooth. If you have a cavity that’s too big for a filling but you also don’t want a crown, then an onlay could provide the best of both worlds. The advantage of onlays is that only the decayed parts of your tooth will be removed. in contrasts, crowns require the removal of lot of healthy tooth.
- Veneers. If your teeth are healthy and you’re only concerned about their appearance, then veneers could be a good option. A Dental Veneer is a thin piece of enamel that fits over the front of a tooth. Veneers can make your teeth look brand new. Just ask a Hollywood celebrity: many of them use veneers to get their dazzling smiles.
If you’d like to know more about crowns, then don’t hesitate to make an appointment with one of our friendly dentists. We will be happy to discuss our options with you.
Facial Aesthetics
Here at Bower Dental, we don’t just look after your teeth; we also provide treatments for the face as well. One of these treatments is dermal fillers and the other is a consulatation for the provision of anti-wrinkle treatment (Botox).
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are an injectable gel that make your face look younger. They reduce wrinkles and give the face a smoother and fuller appearance.
What are dermal fillers made from?
Rejuvenate your skin with Dermal Fillers
The exact ingredients of dermal fillers vary from brand to brand. Many fillers contain collagen, which is a protein naturally found in the body. Collagen keeps our skin firm and youthful, and as we age, our skin makes less collagen, which makes our skin look saggy and wrinkled instead. That’s why dermal fillers contain collagen: it’s a way to return a youthful look to your face.
Other dermal fillers contain an ingredient called hyaluronic acid. Like collagen, hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in the body. It’s a natural lubricator and it makes your face look plump and healthy.
Are dermal fillers the same as Botox?
No, they are two different things. Botox is a neurotoxin. It works by paralysing some of the muscles in your face. This in turn helps to soften your wrinkles. Fillers, in contrast, simply add volume to your face. Both can be provided once a full consulaltion is done.
Patients often ask us whether dental fillers or Botox is better. However, it’s not fair to say that one treatment is better than the other. This is because they’re useful for different things. Everyone’s anatomly is different, which is why a consultation is vital to undertsand your particular issue.
What is the procedure like?
The procedure is relatively straightforward and will take thirty minutes to an hour. The procedure involves carefully injecting filler into the skin of your face. You will feel some mild discomfort since needles are involved, but sometimes practitioners will use a local anaesthetic. Anaesthetic injections are often used for lip treatments, whereas anaesthetic in the form of a cream is often used for facial line treatments.
Are there any risks to dermal fillers?
The procedure is very safe, but there are some short-term side effects. The most common side effects are bruising, redness, swelling and tenderness. These problems typically go away after 24 hours, but some people experience swelling for two to three weeks. Your practitioner will go over all the side effects and risks with you before the procedure.
How soon will I see results?
You will see the results immediately for fillers and approximately 2 weeks after Botox injections. However, as mentioned above, you will probably experience some swelling and mild bruising after the procedure.
How long do dermal fillers or botox last?
Most dermal fillers last 6 – 12 months and botox treatments last a 3-4 months, although they can last longer.
Who are dermal fillers suitable for?
Dermal fillers are suitable for anyone who wants to improve the volume of their face. Older patients often see great benefit from dermal fillers, because skin loses its natural collagen as it ages. However, many younger patients (below 65) opt for botox to reduce their aging lines.
Need more information? Contact us for an appointment and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs with you in more detail.
General Dentistry
What does general dentistry include?
General dentistry is an umbrella term that covers a range of dental procedures. Included in this are the initial patient consultation, and diagnostic procedures.
The types of treatments that your general dentist may offer include some of the following:
- Fillings: A variety of different materials can be used, including gold, amalgam, mercury, porcelain and composite resin (also known as white fillings).
- Crowns: These are artificial teeth (or caps) that are fitted over damaged or broken teeth. Dental Crowns purpose is to maintain their structure of the teeth and protect them from any further damage.
- Bridges: Dental Bridges are a structure which contains an artificial tooth or ‘pontic’ which is anchored to one or more crowns. These crowns are secured over the natural teeth which are situated on either side of a gap.
- Root canal treatment: This procedure is necessary when the nerve (or pulp) within a tooth becomes infected, often causing pain.
- Extractions: We offer extractions for teeth that can not be restored or if a patients opts for it.
- Dentures: These are essentially a set of false teeth. If you have several teeth missing, then dentures may be the solution. They are functional, removable false teeth, which have the give the appearance of natural teeth. We offer acrylic denture(pink plastic),flexi denture and cobalt chrome (metal)dentures.
- Dental cleaning: This can include a ‘scale & polish’ or advice on flossing and brushing.
Clear Braces
Thanks to advances in dentistry, the use of traditional metal braces can be avoided entirely. A series of clear aligners are used to achieve straight teeth with Invisible braces. An impression of your teeth is made, and then sent to the lab to create a custom made mould of your teeth. The aligners are made especially for you using digital technology. It takes a couple of weeks for the aligners to arrive back at the practice, at which point you will be able to try them on your teeth.
Unlike the metal orthodontic braces, the clear aligners are nearly completely invisible to the naked eye. After a period of time, you will return back to your dentist to receive the next pair of aligners. How many sets of aligners you’ll receive depends on the level of work needed on each individual patient.
The aligner can cause some mild pain and discomfort as it applies pressure to the teeth in order to move them into the required position. When the new tray is fitted, the pain usually subsides after a few hours. These are seen as a better option to traditional metal braces as there are no wires or brackets to break or poke into the inside of the mouth, and there are much more aesthetically pleasing.
Professional Teeth Whitening Services
When you flash a smile, the world smiles back. According to studies, smiling also makes you more approachable and even more likeable! So given the importance of a good smile, it’s unsurprising that more and more people are choosing to have their teeth whitened. After all, teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of your teeth, whether it’s for a wedding or just as a treat for yourself.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is exactly what the name implies: the process of making your teeth whiter. The term ‘teeth whitening’ is often used interchangeably with ‘teeth bleaching’.
Why would you need teeth whitening?
Before and after teeth whitening.
As we age, our teeth naturally become yellow. This is due to the wearing down of enamel, which is the outer layer of our teeth. When the enamel wears down, the yellow dentine underneath is more visible, hence the yellowing of our teeth as we get older.
Certain foods and drinks can also discolour your teeth. These include coffee, wine and tea. Smoking also discolours teeth.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure. This means it won’t improve the health of your teeth, but it will make them more attractive. Some people want white teeth to emulate their favourite celebrities, while other people are planning for a special event like a wedding. Any reason is fine; if you want whiter teeth, then go for it. No-one needs to suffer from yellow or stained teeth when there are safe and effective treatments available.
Who should carry out teeth whitening procedures?
Teeth whitening should only be carried out by a registered dental professional.
Only qualified dental health practitioners can offer teeth whitening treatments in the UK. Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening services at lower prices, but this practice is illegal in the UK .. This is for the safety of the public, since these ‘cowboy’ operators often use levels of bleach that are dangerous. Another option is DIY whitening kits, but we don’t recommend these. Often the ingredients are unsafe and they do more harm to your teeth than good.
The best place to receive teeth whitening treatment is always at a dentist, such as Unique Smiles. Our team is well-trained and experienced with teeth whitening. You’ll be in good hands and our team will ensure you’re comfortable, safe and well-informed.
What services does Bower Dental offer?
We offer Enlighten teeth whitening. Enlighten methods include pre treatment serum, desensitizing treatment, a take home kit that includes bespoke moulds that you wear overnight. The moulds are filled with whitening gel, which is the substance that actually whitens your teeth. And then a in chair treatment with stronger application of gel.
Enlighten is a new form of teeth whitening that has better results as compared to standard whitening. The process involves making your teeth more permeable to oxygen, which helps to break down stains.
How much does teeth whitening cost?
Here at Bower Dental , we offer teeth whitening from £565 for Enlighten teeth whitening.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are a conservative way of giving you a cosmetic improvement, whilst retaining the majority of the tooth structure. Veneers are thin porcelain facings, bonded to your own teeth and used for people who want to change their appearance such as wanting a straighter, whiter and brighter smile.
They can also be used to help correct gaps between teeth and other items. Your dentist can help you discuss you needs and options when you attend.
Cosmetic White Fillings
A filling is needed when a cavity is formed in the pit of your tooth. Decay has started to form as it begins to eat away at the structure of the tooth. The hard enamel is then slowly dissolved away from covering the tooth, it is the layer that protects the sensitive internal part of the tooth.
Often, a cavity will not be painful until it has continued down into the more sensitive layer of the tooth, if it does, you may require a more expensive restoration, such as a root canal or a crown. A cavity can work its way into your tooth’s inner layers and irreversibly damage it if left unfilled.
Composite fillings, also known as white fillings, are a glass or quartz filler in a resin medium mixture that produces a substance that is tooth-coloured. The advantage of a white filling is that the procedure requires a lot less of the tooth’s structure to be removed when it is being prepared, than if it were filled in by an amalgam filling (silver fillings).
Mouthgards and Night guards
The function of a nightguards is to prevent grinding during night time and giving comfort to TMJ pains.
We provide sports guard with various colours and themes that provide superior fit as they are custom fitted after taking a mould of your teeth.
The function of a mouthguard is to protect the teeth and soft tissue from injury during all ball, stick and combat sports.
Hygienist Services
Dental hygienists are mainly concerned with ‘preventive’ dental health and treating gum disease – showing you correct home care and helping you to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This includes professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque and tartar (usually called a ‘scale and polish’ or a prophylaxis)
We at Bower Dental Centre provide hygienist treatment from £58 for adults and £29 for under 18s.
