Dental Blog - Harley Street Dental Clinic

Have you heard of composite bonding?

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we understand how difficult it can be when you do not like the smile that you see in the mirror. Crooked, misshapen or generally uneven teeth can lead to all sorts of insecurities, sometimes even causing people to stop smiling in public altogether, but there is an answer. Our dentist offers composite bonding Harley Street, which is a way to change the appearance of your front teeth. It is capable of shaping your teeth so they appear evenly sized and straight, but it uses a special resin instead of porcelain to complete your look, that is matched to the colour of your own teeth as closely as it can be. The treatment itself can be carried out in one appointment, so it is easy enough to fit into a busy schedule and results are visible before you leave our practice. If you are not satisfied with the way your teeth look when you smile, then we recommend that you book a consultation appointment with one of our practitioners to see if this is a suitable treatment for you.

Your front teeth are important

When somebody smiles it is their front teeth that are on display for everyone to see. If you have uneven front teeth that are slightly off colour or just not shaped as you wish they were, composite bonding Harley Street could benefit you. When you attend your appointment your dental practitioner will choose a resin that is as close to the shade of your own teeth as possible and then apply it to the teeth that you wish to have treated. They will then carefully mould and shape the resin to cover any flaws that you may have. They will ensure that it is smooth and in the right position, and once they are satisfied with this the resin will be left to harden. It generally hardens quickly, but you will also be under a special lamp that helps it to harden. As this resin is not as hard as your normal teeth it will wear down over a period, but you can generally expect this treatment to last around five years which is still a rather long time.

Let your smile reap the benefits

The main thing that our patients love about composite bonding Harley Street is that their teeth remain undamaged after they have received treatment, so they stay resilient underneath and will be just as strong should someone choose to reverse this treatment. The fact that no preparation of the teeth is needed makes it an incredibly straightforward treatment too. Instead of having to go back and forth from our dental practice waiting for your mouth to heal between appointments, you can have your treatment conveniently carried out in one appointment. The resin that is used is matched to the shade of your own teeth as closely as possible too. This means that your final results will look completely natural and blend in nicely with your other teeth, and people may not even be able to spot that you have undergone treatment unless you tell them.

How can our clear braces help your smile?

Our team at Harley Street Dental Clinic are proud to offer our clear braces W1 treatment, which can really help to straighten your teeth both efficiently and discreetly. If you have a professional career and/or a busy social life, you may not want to affect your appearance whilst straightening your teeth, and this treatment can be perfect for that.

How do they work?

Our clear braces W1 work in a way that is similar to traditional fixed braces, but instead of being attached to the front of your teeth, they are on the back. This allows for a near-invisible look whilst you have your braces in, which can really help to maintain your self-confidence throughout the process.

The braces work by the use of brackets and wires, one bracket attached to each tooth, and wires connecting them, which gradually straightens your teeth over time. This method can be very helpful with problems such as overcrowding, bite problems, gaps and more.

At our practice, we use the Incognito Appliance System, and offer two different types for different levels of severity. Our first choice is the standard system, which covers more of your teeth, giving a more powerful straightening experience. The second is the Incognito Lite System, and this mainly focuses on your front teeth, which is great if you are getting the treatment for more aesthetic reasons.

What will happen?

When you decide you want to look further into getting clear braces W1 with us, we will have a consultation with you to discuss the full details of the treatment, what your options are, what you want the results to look like and more. Secondly, we will take x-rays, models and photographs of your teeth so that we can carefully plan out the process. This is when we will also determine whether you are having the standard Incognito Appliance System or the Lite Appliance System.

The second step of the process is attaching the braces to your teeth, and you can rest assured knowing that our dentists are highly-qualified in performing this treatment, so you will be in good hands. We will start out by doing a deep clean of your teeth to prime the area for the braces, and to make sure that there is minimal bacteria. Next, we will attach the brackets to your teeth and add the wires. We may also slide in some bands at the back of your teeth to anchor the braces.

Once this is done, you will only have to come back for dental appointments with us every month or 2, so that we can check your progress and tighten the braces if needed. The treatment time can massively vary depending on your needs, and we will make sure to lay this out in the consultation before beginning the treatment. It could take as little as 8 weeks if you have a very mild case, or can go up to around 18 months for more severe cases, it all depends on your individual case.

Once you have completed the treatment and are enjoying your new, straighter smile, we can provide you with a fixed or removable retainer which we highly recommend you use. A retainer will help to keep your teeth in their new place, as sometimes they can revert back to their original position.

Are you trying to find out more about different methods of teeth whitening?

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we are passionate about what we do and want everyone to have a bright, stain-free smile they can be proud of. Discolouration can happen to anyone and it is incredibly difficult to avoid as your teeth age, but we offer treatments that can both reduce the appearance of stains and brighten the shade of your teeth. If you have been feeling insecure because of stains or discolouration then we recommend that you book a consultation appointment to speak to one of our practitioners about teeth whitening Harley Street. They will discuss the different treatments that we have available to ensure that you get the one that suits your individual needs the most. If you are trying to find out how to arrange a consultation appointment you can make one through our website or by contacting our practice over the phone.

When is it time to whiten your teeth?

For a lot of people discolouration and stains are something that appear gradually over time, sometimes so gradually that people will not even notice they have stains until they are extremely visible. When you choose to get teeth whitening Harley Street is entirely up to you, but we recommend that if you notice stains or discolouration to seek treatment sooner rather than later to prevent your situation from worsening. All sorts of things can lead to discolouration such as eating certain foods like beetroot or curries, or drinking tea and coffee. Certain lifestyle habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol such as red wine can also cause stains to appear sooner than they normally would do. One of the main causes of discolouration is not taking care of your teeth properly, which means brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Mouthwash can also be used to help keep your teeth clear of stains.

Where do you want to get your teeth whitened?

The great thing about coming to our practice to get teeth whitening Harley Street is that you get to choose where you want to have your treatment carried out. Unfortunately that choice is limited to either at our practice or your home, but it still makes all the difference when you are getting a treatment that is well-suited to your lifestyle. Some people prefer to have their treatment completed in our practice by one of our professionals. If you choose this method you will notice an instant brightness when you leave our surgery, which is ideal if you have an important event coming up and want to look your best. Other people prefer to have more control over their treatment and do it from the comfort of their own home. If this is you, then you will be provided with a custom-made appliance to take home to wear at night whilst you sleep. The appliance will fit comfortably over your own teeth and you will also be given a gel to place into the appliance before you put it in your mouth. This gel is what activates and reduces the appearance of stains and discolouration over time. You can generally expect to see results within two weeks when you opt for this type of treatment.

Change your smile for the better with Invisalign

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we understand that having front teeth that are crooked or too spaced apart can leave you feeling reluctant to smile in front of others. That’s why we offer Invisalign Harley Street, a convenient and discreet way to even out your teeth in as little as twelve months. This treatment is able to close small gaps that are between your teeth, stop teeth from overlapping and pull teeth into straighter positions. At your consultation appointment you can expect to have a scan taken of your mouth to show the positions of your teeth. From this image a computer will generate a series of further images to predict how your teeth will need to move to reach their final straight position. These predictions form the basis of your treatment, as you will have a set of aligners created for each image, with each set gradually moving your teeth into their next position.

An appliance that fits around your life

Many adults want to avoid getting their teeth straightened because they are required to wear an unsightly fixed appliance for a prolonged period of time. This appliance is great for resolving severe misalignment issues, but not at all subtle and can be easily spotted and not so easily concealed. Invisalign Harley Street offers you an alternative when it comes to minor alignment issues or when you want to focus on evening out your main front teeth. Instead of having a permanently attached metallic-coloured appliance, you will be given a series of removable clear aligners that you will need to wear over the tops of your own teeth. The aligners themselves are made from a thin plastic, so they are exceptionally difficult to spot and should be comfortable to wear as well. You will need to take them out to brush your teeth and eat food, but you still need to make sure that you are wearing them for a minimum of twenty-two hours of the day if you wish your treatment to work as planned.

A short treatment for long-term results

Unlike traditional appliances, Invisalign Harley Street can even out your smile in as little as four months, depending on your unique situation. For some people treatment time can take up to twelve months, but this is still half of the time that a traditional appliance can take. This makes the treatment a good one for those of you who are getting photo ready for that big event that is coming up later in the year, whether it is a wedding, work event or something else entirely. If you have a certain date in mind that you wish to have your treatment completed by, it is important that you mention this to one of our practitioners so they are aware of it and can plan your treatment accordingly. Once your treatment has come to an end you will be provided with a custom-made retainer. It is vital that you wear this every night for as long as your dental practitioner has specified, if you wish your teeth to remain in their newly straightened positions.

Why choose dermal fillers?

If you are struggling with your self-confidence due to lines and wrinkles on your face, and are wondering what your options might be to improve this, we can help you. At our practice, we can provide you with dermal fillers W1, a facial aesthetics treatment which is only growing in popularity.

What is it?

The filler that we use here at Harley Street mainly consists of sterile hyaluronic acid gel, which works very well due to the fact that as someone ages, they lose their natural hyaluronic acid and the effect of this means that skin loses its fresh plumpness. This treatment can simply fill in those areas with the gel where it has been lost, and in turn it will smooth out your lines and wrinkles.

How does it work?

We will generally have a quick consultation with you before your actual filler appointment, just to lay out all of the details about the process and what is used. We can also have a chat with you to make sure that it is the right treatment for your needs. If all goes well and you decide you want to get dermal fillers W1 with us, we will book you in for your appointment.

When you come to our practice for your appointment, we will take good care of you right from the beginning and do everything we can to make you feel welcome and comfortable. We will start by administering local anaesthetic to the area, to minimise discomfort throughout the process. After this, we will inject the filler into the desired areas, which usually only takes a few short minutes. It’s as simple as that!

Depending on factors such as your skin type and the injection technique that we use with you, your results can last ranging from 6-12 months. And once this time is over, we can have follow-up treatments with you to maintain your smoother skin if you wish to do so.

Benefits of fillers

Increased confidence

Something that our patients have loved about getting dermal fillers W1 with us is that they regain a lot of confidence afterwards. It can be a great feeling to have more youthful, smooth skin and we enjoy helping you to attain this.

Immediate results

Another aspect of this treatment that our patients appreciate is that the results are immediate after the application. There isn’t any waiting time for the effects to show, so you can enjoy your refreshed skin right away.

Quick treatment

Something that makes our filler treatment stand out is the ease and speed of the process. The procedure itself only takes a few minutes, so you can be in and out in no time, which is always helpful when you have a busy schedule.

Long-lasting results

When you get facial fillers with us, you can enjoy the results for up to 12 months with the right skin conditions, meaning you won’t have to worry about a top up for a while afterwards. This can really come in handy if you don’t want to constantly have skin treatments, as you can get on with your life, and look fabulous whilst doing so.

Save your smile with dental implants

A lot of people believe that once their teeth have fallen out they will never be able to replace them again. Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic we know how self-conscious it can leave people feeling when they have gaps in their smile or no teeth at all to smile with. That’s why we offer dental implants Harley Street, which is a way to completely restore your teeth and keep you smiling for a long time. Unlike dentures they are permanently attached and cannot be removed, making them a lot more similar to your original teeth. They are secured into your mouth by using small titanium screws that have been implanted into your jaw, which means that your jawbone will stay stimulated even after tooth loss. It also means that they cannot come loose, even if you eat the chewiest food or accidentally knock them. If you have been trying to find out about how you can restore your missing teeth, then we advise that you book a consultation appointment with us at Harley Street Dental Clinic today, to find out all the ways we can help with your smile.

There is always a solution

Many people believe that getting dental implants Harley Street is only for those people who require dentures or are missing all of their teeth. Whilst this treatment can definitely be used to replace an entire mouthful of teeth, it can also be used to replace a few teeth or even just one tooth that is missing. One of the titanium screws that is inserted into your jawbone is capable of supporting more than one artificial tooth, so you will not necessarily need one screw for every tooth that you are replacing. When restoring a single tooth you will have a crown attached to the screw, and if you are having multiple teeth replaced you are likely to have a bridge attached instead. A whole set of teeth can be supported by between four and twelve screws, depending on your individual circumstances, but this is something that will be discussed at your consultation appointment. All of the appliances that are attached to the screws are made of porcelain and will feel, look and behave exactly like your original teeth.

Looking after your smile

Once you have had your dental implants Harley Street, it is important that you take care of them properly if you wish for them to last you as long as they potentially can. When you have your last appointment with our dental practitioner they will tell you how to clean your teeth properly and suggest which products would be most ideal for you personally. If you take care of your new teeth properly you may find that they can last longer than ten years in some circumstances. Not cleaning them properly will result in damage taking place where you will need to replace your crown, bridge or denture, or in some more severe cases you may need to have your screw replaced too. Plaque can still build up and harden on your artificial teeth as it did on your original ones, so having regular check-ups at our dental practice is a good idea, in order that we can ascertain everything in your mouth is exactly as it should be.

How can our dentist help with missing teeth?

If you are struggling with missing teeth, then don’t hesitate to contact us today for a consultation, as we have plenty of options for you to restore your smile. Whether you have lost one or multiple teeth, we will do the best we can to replace them so you can enjoy a fully functioning mouth again.

Bridges

We would recommend getting a bridge from our dentist W1 if you have a few missing teeth next to each other, as it can replace around 3 teeth. We do this by filing down the teeth next to your gap, and placing the bridge on top of it, using the filed down teeth as a base.

The bridge is usually made out of porcelain and will look similar to your other teeth, meaning that it will be hard for anyone else to tell that you have it. If the bridge is in more of a hidden area of your mouth, we could provide you with a full metal base. If you have several teeth that are missing, we can also attach a bridge with dental implants to create a firm replacement for them.

Dentures

Another treatment we have are dentures, which instead of being fixed like bridges, are attached to a supporting structure, meaning that they can be removable if you want them to be. There are a few different types of dentures that we offer, which cover a range of needs.

The first option we offer are complete or full dentures, which allows our dentist W1 to replace a whole set of top and/or bottom teeth. Secondly, we offer partial dentures, which we use to replace a big gap where there are a few teeth missing. You can decide to have these dentures removable if you wish, as this can sometimes make it easier to clean and maintain them.

We also offer immediate dentures, which we will use if you are ever in a situation where you have had to have your teeth extracted. This can give you peace of mind that your teeth can usually be replaced by us straight afterwards if you ever need them removed.

Dental implants

Another treatment we provide for our patients who have missing teeth are dental implants, which offer long-term and stable help. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that our highly-qualified dentist W1 will insert into your jaw which will fuse with your jawbone over time, meaning it is a very effective option for replacing missing teeth. Once the dental implant is inserted, we can attach the dental appliances mentioned above to it, such as bridges, dentures, and crowns. There are so many ways that we can use dental implants to help replace your teeth, as they can be used to create the base for a single tooth replacement, a few teeth, or to hold a full set of dentures.

Benefits

One of the main benefits that is most noticeable when you get one of these treatments is that you will have the ability to comfortably chew and eat normally, due to it being fixed to your mouth. So you shouldn’t have to worry about prosthetics coming out during meals. Another thing that our patients love when we replace their missing teeth is how their smile looks afterwards. You can forget the days of having gaps in your teeth, and can enjoy a natural-looking smile, whilst still maintaining stability.

Do you know what your dentist can help you with?

Many people come to our practice, Harley Street Dental Clinic, multiple times a year for their general check-up, but not many of our patients know what treatments they can really benefit from until they have a chat with one of our practitioners. They can help you straighten your teeth, get rid of stains and discolouration and even help you to disguise any imperfections you may have, such as chips or missing teeth. If you feel as if there is something that is holding your smile back from its full potential then speak to our dentist Harley Street today. They will be able to arrange a suitable time for you to come in for a consultation appointment and listen to the insecurities that you are facing when it comes to your teeth. From here they will be able to recommend which treatments will benefit you and create a personalised care plan tailored to your needs.

Design your smile the way you want it

There are so many different things that leave people feeling self-conscious about their smile. It might not be straight enough, you may dislike the gaps in your smile or you may want to try and cover up some unwanted chips or cracks that you have had for several years, but neglected to do anything about. Our dentist Harley Street has an array of treatments to help you transform your smile into the one that you dream of. There are straightening treatments that are suitable for both minor and major misalignment issues and more discreet options for adults who wish to straighten their front teeth as subtly as possible. Having straightening treatment can stop teeth from appearing crooked and close gaps as well, but sometimes gaps are too small for straightening treatment and you may benefit more from veneers instead. Veneers attach to the front surfaces of your teeth and can disguise any chips that you have, as well as hide small gaps that are between each tooth. They are made from porcelain so feel exactly like your normal teeth and give your smile an overall whiter and more even appearance too.

Keep your smile looking youthful and fresh

As teeth age it is extremely common for them to appear discoloured and stained. Decay is often present in older teeth, and this can sometimes cause them to fall out too. Both discolouration and missing teeth can cause someone to look older than they really are, but there is a way to combat these signs of premature ageing. Our dentist Harley Street offers teeth whitening to help lighten the shade of your teeth and eradicate the appearance of stains. You can choose to have this treatment carried out in our practice or your own home, making it a treatment you can mould to your lifestyle. For those people missing a tooth or all of their teeth, we offer dental implant treatment, a way to restore your teeth to look, feel and behave exactly like your original ones. Unlike dentures they are permanently fixed into your mouth and can last for longer than ten years if they are taken care of properly.

Dental hygiene Harley Street: creating a more comfortable experience

Visiting the dentist, no matter what your age, can sometimes be a little overwhelming and therefore pushing the appointments back or removing them entirely from your schedule can be a habit you fall into. Whilst at Harley Street we understand that the dental practice is not the same as going to a funfair, working with you to provide you with the most comfortable and rewarding experience possible is our aim.

So, how do we achieve this?

What the eye sees makes a huge difference to our emotional response and therefore rather than walking into a cold, clinical setting at the entrance, we have ensured that even just by stepping through the doors you are rewarded with a warm and homely environment. This combined with our friendly, approachable dental team, from receptionist through to dentist, helps to reinforce this positive experience even further. Positive reinforcement is of the utmost importance and therefore our dental team strives to create a beneficial experience for every visit, no matter how basic your dental visit may be.

Whilst the environment that you enter on a visual basis is greatly important, it is also of huge importance that our dental team gets to know you. Whilst we may not need to know your favourite colour or film, understanding your dreams in terms of your smile and how your day- to-day life impacts your overall oral health is something we will need to know. Therefore when you choose to join Harley Street Dental Clinic you are becoming part of the team. Your dental hygiene Harley Street requires your dedication as well as that of your dental team, so getting to know each other is of great importance to provide you with the best possible care.

Answering your questions

We have all had that feeling of walking into a place filled with relevant questions, but when asked directly about what they are, the mind has wandered and emptied. This feeling, although frustrating, does not need to hinder your appointment. It may be that we address your questions through our general chatting or it may be that you contact us outside of your appointment and leave it with us to get back to you. At all times it is important for you to understand and be knowledgeable to a certain degree on whatever treatments and procedures you may be undergoing. From your regular dental hygiene Harley Street appointment through to cosmetic procedures and preventive dentistry. No matter what it is you are visiting for, your dental team wants to ensure that you are aware of all aspects of the process and are comfortable and happy with your care.

Emergency appointments

Although we all hope that no one needs an emergency appointment, in reality this of course does not happen. Once again there is no need to feel uneasy about attending an emergency appointment. As soon as the damage or pain occurs contact our friendly team and you will be seen within hours. Looking after your oral health and keeping on top of your dental hygiene Harley Street is our aim and therefore we are here to support you throughout it all.

A guide to lip fillers by Harley Street Dental Clinic

You probably know a fair amount about cosmetic dental care and what our team at Harley Street Dental Clinic can offer you.

But did you know that we have team members who can also perform non-surgical facial aesthetics or, as you may know it, non-surgical cosmetic surgery?

Thanks to its simplicity and cost, one of our most popular options are dermal fillers.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we can provide you with facial aesthetics like lip fillers Harley Street. Our team is knowledgeable about how to perform these minimally invasive facial aesthetics and can guide you from the initial consultation to the aftercare with compassion and jargon-free language. Great!

But what exactly are dermal fillers and do they differ from our lip fillers Harley Street? Read on to find out!

What are dermal fillers?

Okay, first things first, dermal fillers are not permanent!

You may have read online that they are, but this is false and, when you come to our team for lip fillers Harley Street, we will advise you on how long yours are likely to last based on your age, lifestyle and other factors.

Dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring acid that begins to dwindle in production once most people hit around 30. Not only does hyaluronic acid plump the skin, but it also smoothens wrinkles and produces collagen, another protein that begins to drop in production after the age of 30.

How are they applied?

When our team applies dermal fillers to your lips, they will be applied via a thin syringe.

Don’t worry! This won’t hurt and if you have concerns about discomfort, we will apply a topical numbing agent before we inject them.

We will customise the amount and strength of the hyaluronic acid we inject based on what we feel will give you a natural final look. The entire process can take up to an hour to complete and we may apply 1 or 2 syringes of filler.

How long do they last?

Once applied, your newly filled lips will last between 6-9 months on average.

As we mentioned earlier, this longevity will vary based on your age at the time of application, how deeply set your wrinkles are and the final result you are looking to achieve.

Some aftercare instructions can prolong the longevity of your fillers, which we will discuss in the next section.

Aftercare and reapplication

When you have had your fillers applied to your lips, refrain from applying pressure to the area for up to 48 hours since this can cause the fillers to move out of position.

Do not smoke, sunbathe or use sunbeds for at least 48 hours after application as this can, once again, cause your fillers to move. Stay hydrated and try to eat a varied and healthy diet.

Should you want to have your dermal fillers reapplied to your lips or any other part of your face, our team will aim to space out these applications to once every 4 months on average.

For more information about dermal fillers, please contact our team at Harley Street Dental Clinic today!

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