Ways a dentist can treat lost, broken, or damaged teeth

If you knock a tooth out, you need to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we offer same-day emergency appointments whenever possible, because we know that losing a tooth, breaking a tooth, or suffering from dental pain can be both frightening and uncomfortable.

broken-teethHarley Street Dental Clinic is open six days a week, and in addition operates an out-of-hours emergency line, designed to help you see a dentist and get you out of pain as soon as possible.

Often, when a tooth is knocked out it is possible for your dentist to put it back in the socket, then bind it to adjacent teeth temporarily for support until it heals back into position. You can sometimes even put the tooth back yourself – don’t force it, though, and never attempt to reinsert a child’s milk tooth, because this can damage the developing adult tooth beneath. Instead, bring your child to see the dentist at our Harley Street clinic as a matter of priority.

If you can put the tooth back in yourself, bite down on a clean paper towel or handkerchief and call our Harley Street practice for an emergency dentist appointment. Should it prove tricky to reimplant the tooth, place it in a clean container covered in milk or your own saliva and bring it to your appointment.

Sometimes, the dentist will not be able to put the tooth back – if it is badly damaged or lost, for example. In this case, Harley Street Dental Clinic offers a range of tooth replacement options, from standard bridgework and dentures to a more long-term solution with dental implants.

Broken teeth can be repaired in a number of ways. Even a slightly chipped or cracked tooth should prompt you to visit our Harley Street clinic, because the tiniest crack can allow bacteria to infect the centre of your tooth, leading to the need for root canal therapy.

Depending on your needs and preferences, your Harley Street dentist may use composite bonding techniques with white filling material to rebuild the tooth, may place a tooth-coloured onlay, inlay, or crown, or may place a veneer.

How a cosmetic dentist can give your smile a rapid brightness boost

A cosmetic dentist can brighten a dull or discoloured smile in a variety of ways. Harley Street Dental Clinic has an extensive cosmetic dentistry menu, and lightening or brightening a smile is one of the most frequently-heard requests.

cosmetic-dentistAn increasing number of men and women in the UK are seeking out the services of a cosmetic dentist as they begin to appreciate the true value of an attractive smile, and to realise that they, too, deserve one of which they can be proud.

Whatever your current dislikes about your smile, a Harley Street cosmetic dentist can help. If you are one of the 64% of the population who are currently dissatisfied with the colour of their teeth, there are a number of solutions available – many of them taking just a few short appointments to complete.

What’s behind the discolouration?

When you come into Harley Street Dental Clinic for a cosmetic consultation pertaining to the shade or colour of your teeth, the first thing your cosmetic dentist will do is to perform an in-depth clinical examination to ascertain what the root cause of the problem is. Tooth discolouration has a number of causes, and this will affect what is the best form of treatment.

One alarming statistic is that the most common cause of tooth discolouration in the UK is visible dental plaque. This lends a yellowish or brownish hue to your smile, but also has more serious implications, because plaque causes both gum disease and dental decay – which can lead to tooth loss.

If you are found to have a plaque problem, your cosmetic dentist will refer you to a Harley Street hygienist colleague for a professional tooth clean, as well as for tips on how to stop the problem recurring.

Common tooth stains such as those caused by tea or coffee can be treated effectively with teeth whitening. There are three options for teeth whitening at our Harley Street clinic, with treatment times ranging from a fortnight to an hour.

Your cosmetic dentist can address permanent discolouration with porcelain veneers, which are bonded over the front of the teeth to improve their appearance.

Why you need a cosmetic dentist for safe teeth whitening treatment

A cosmetic dentist is an essential port of call for anyone interested in teeth whitening treatment. Harley Street Dental Clinic offers three options for teeth whitening, and all of them begin in the same way – with a consultation with a cosmetic dentist.

teeth-whiteningMany people dream of having whiter teeth. In fact, a recent study discovered that 64% of the adult population of the UK were unhappy with the current colour of their teeth. Our teeth are stained for a variety of reasons, and you need to contact a cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening to check that it is the most suitable treatment to suit your needs.

Teeth whitening is the most frequent request made of a cosmetic dentist, and most people are suitable for treatment. At our Harley Street clinic we welcome new patients for cosmetic dentistry consultations. Your initial appointment will include a thorough oral health check, because as with any cosmetic procedure teeth whitening should only be carried out on a healthy mouth.

If you have an underlying dental health problem, your cosmetic dentist will either treat you themselves or, when appropriate, refer you to one of their colleagues at Harley Street Dental Clinic.

We have a unique collection of dental professionals and specialists at our Harley Street practice, so whatever treatment you require it can all be completed under one roof.

Visiting a cosmetic dentist is not just a recommendation for teeth whitening treatment; because the procedure is classed as dentistry by the General Dental Council, by law only a dentist can prescribe it. A hygienist or hygiene therapist may carry out the treatment on a dentist’s prescription, but other sources of whitening must be avoided.

Some beauty salons offer the procedure illegally. As well as being an unwise option this can often be unsafe; the GDC has carried out many successful prosecutions of those who carry out illegal dentistry, but more often than not it only comes to their attention when someone has suffered serious damage to their teeth and gums.

By visiting a Harley Street cosmetic dentist, you can be assured treatment will be both effective and safe.

Discreet orthodontics: straightening your teeth in secret

Modern orthodontics need not involve metal braces. In fact, some of the orthodontic treatments available from Harley Street Dental Clinic don’t involve a fixed brace at all. If you’ve always wanted to improve the alignment of your teeth, but have been scared off by the thought of metal braces, why not join us at our Harley Street clinic for an orthodontics consultation?

teeth-straighteningAt Harley Street Dental Clinic our orthodontics consultations cost £200, which will be taken off the price of any future orthodontic treatment plan. Thanks to the unique collection of highly skilled dental professionals in our practice, we can treat anything from simple to complex cases.

Orthodontics isn’t all about how your smile looks. Even if that’s the principal reason you’ve decided to straighten your teeth, our Harley Street team are always keen to point out that you will enjoy additional health benefits, too.

In the simplest of terms, straighter teeth are easier to keep clean, which can cut down your risk of both tooth decay and gum disease, and all the complications they can bring.

Harley Street orthodontics: your options

When you come into Harley Street Dental Clinic for your consultation, you will be seen by an experienced orthodontist, who will conduct a thorough examination to diagnose your condition, before talking through all the appropriate treatment options.

Orthodontic treatments at Harley Street include:

Ceramic braces

Braces remain the staple of orthodontics, but the modern varieties don’t have to be made from metal. Ceramic braces comprise clear and tooth-coloured parts, and can be used for a number of different purposes – quick aesthetic correction (so-called “cosmetic orthodontics”) as well as treating more serious and complex conditions.

Lingual braces

Lingual braces are attached to the rear surfaces of the teeth, thus pass unnoticed in day-to-day life. They can be used to treat complex cases, and because the Incognito lingual braces we use at Harley Street Dental Clinic are made from gold alloy, they are a great option for those allergic to nickel.

Invisalign

Invisalign treatment involves the use of a series of clear, removable aligners, for minimal lifestyle impact.

How your dentist and hygienist help look after your whole body

Your dentist and hygienist should both be vital members of your general health and wellbeing routine. Harley Street Dental Clinic offers a range of general dentistry services which help to protect not just your oral health, but can help to keep your whole body in healthy condition.

dental-hygienistGood dental hygiene is important to keeping your teeth and gums in good condition, of course, but when you think about it you can see why healthy teeth and gums help to protect your whole body. We need good, strong teeth to bite and chew food so that we can get all the nutrients we need to stay fit and strong. Failure to visit your dentist and hygienist on a regular basis is a major contributory factor to premature tooth loss.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we fully understand that the thought of visiting the dentist can be a terrifying prospect for some people, enough to bring on a panic attack. Dental phobia and anxiety are common conditions – if you suffer from it you may feel isolated, but in fact one in ten people is so nervous about visiting the dentist that they just don’t go at all.

The team at our Harley Street clinic fully empathises with the needs of phobic and nervous patients. We are committed to working with every patient as an individual to help them devise their own unique route back to good oral health. This may involve using in-chair entertainment, such as listening to your favourite radio show or watching a film, to take your mind off treatment, or carrying out any required procedures under conscious sedation.

Fighting gum disease involves team work between you, your dentist, and your hygienist. Gum disease is very common and is easy to treat if caught early. However, if left untreated it can lead to tooth loss. It has also been linked to a number of serious general health conditions, including heart and lung disease and diabetes, so preventing and/or treating it is essential.

The team at Harley Street Dental clinic includes periodontal specialists, who can treat even advanced cases of gum disease successfully.

How a cosmetic dentist can create the smile of your dreams

A good cosmetic dentist can make your dreams come true – at least in terms of your smile. Harley Street Dental Clinic offers a wide range of cosmetic dental treatments, provided by a unique collection of professionals who will work together to help you attain your smile dreams, whatever they may be.

cosmetic-dentistNearly 70% of adults report being unhappy when asked to smile in a photograph, whilst 34% of men and 13% of women confess to retouching every selfie they post. A cosmetic dentist can help you to feel a greater sense of pride in your smile’s appearance, and can ensure that every selfie you share after treatment is in the “no filter” category.

Come into Harley Street Dental Clinic for a consultation with a cosmetic dentist and they will spend some time getting to know a bit about you, and what your dream smile would look like. Depending on what your requirements are, your cosmetic dentist may carry out all treatment him or herself, or may refer you to one of their specialist colleagues at our Harley Street clinic.

Harley Street Dental Clinic uses advanced digital smile design, which means that your cosmetic dentist can show you the projected results of any proposed treatment before you agree to it. That way you are able to make a fully informed decision about any recommended procedures, safe in the knowledge of the beautiful results you can expect.

People come to our Harley Street clinic with all manner of smile complaints, often fearing that their smile is beyond help and may be the worst their dentist has ever seen. Rest assured – a cosmetic dentist can help with all manner of issues big and small, and whatever your concerns may be, the chances are your cosmetic dentist will have seen it before.

Commonly-requested procedures from a Harley Street cosmetic dentist include:

  • Teeth whitening – With a dentist, a safe and rapid way to brighten your smile
  • Teeth straightening – Our Harley Street practice offers a range of subtle tooth-straightening options
  • Porcelain veneers – Thin porcelain shells used to cover a wide range of tooth imperfections.

Why a dentist is a must for teeth whitening treatment

Did you know that teeth whitening is the most popular request heard by every cosmetic dentist in the world? Harley Street Dental Clinic offers a variety of options for those interested in teeth whitening, and your cosmetic dentist will help you to choose the best one to suit your needs.

teeth-whiteningIf you remember only one thing about teeth whitening, it’s that you must consult a dentist for your treatment. At our Harley Street clinic we are aware that there are a plethora of products on the market that that claim to whiten your teeth – we are also aware that they are unlikely to live up to their promises.

Most whitening products bought from high street shops are likely to be safe but ineffective. The most harm they are likely to do is to your wallet, because you will have wasted both your money and your time. However, products bought from dubious sources online or offered by unlicensed providers such as beauty therapists can in fact be dangerous.

Often, such products contain dangerously high levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can cause serious damage to your teeth, gums, and mouth. By law, only a dentist – or a hygienist, hygiene therapist, or clinical dental technician on the prescription of a dentist – can carry out whitening treatment.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we believe it’s best to think about it like this: you wouldn’t call a beautician to fit a dental bridge, nor a hairdresser to place a filling. And you certainly wouldn’t buy your own dental implants from the internet and try the DIY approach (we hope!). As with every other dental treatment, a dentist is vital when it comes to teeth whitening.

When you come to our Harley Street clinic for a whitening consultation, an experienced cosmetic dentist will carry out a clinical health check to make sure there are no underlying problems such as tooth decay present. If there are, your dentist will treat these prior to carrying out whitening.

There are three options for whitening at our Harley Street clinic:

  • Home whitening
  • Power whitening here in our Harley Street practice
  • Combination whitening

Discreet orthodontics for straightening adults’ teeth

Modern orthodontics has a lot more to offer than just fixed metal braces. Harley Street Dental Clinic offers a number of discreet orthodontic treatments designed to straighten adults’ teeth with the minimum of fuss and a high degree of subtlety.

modern-orthodonticsOur Harley Street clinic also offers private orthodontic treatment to children and teenagers – including those who do not qualify for NHS orthodontics but would still benefit from teeth straightening treatment, and those who want to avoid lengthy waiting lists during which time their condition can get worse.

There are three specialist orthodontists at Harley Street Dental Clinic: Dr Emma Lang, and Dr Sarah Neale. If you are nervous or phobic of dental treatment, Dr Neale is very experienced in treating nervous patients, practising virtually pain-free dentistry.

The perfect time for orthodontics

The ideal time to start orthodontic treatment varies from patient to patient. It is generally recommended that children have an initial orthodontic consultation between the ages of seven and nine, which means that the early warning signs of any potential problems can be spotted quickly and treated promptly, often making treatment simpler and less invasive.

An increasing number of adults are also turning to orthodontics later in life, and Harley Street Dental Clinic is always keen to emphasise the benefits of such treatment at any age. Because we know that the thought of wearing an obvious fixed metal appliance can be a barrier to treatment for many adults, we offer subtler treatments with both discreet fixed braces and clear, removable aligners.

When you come into our Harley Street clinic for an orthodontics consultation, your orthodontist will perform a thorough clinical examination to determine which treatment will best suit your individual needs.

Depending on your clinical situation, your Harley Street orthodontist may recommend:

Lingual braces

These metal braces can correct a wide range of issues without anybody noticing them, because they are affixed to the rear surfaces of your teeth.

Porcelain braces

Porcelain braces have clear and tooth-coloured components, meaning they will blend in with the natural colour of your teeth.

Invisalign

This system of clear, removable aligners fits comfortably over your teeth.

Why regular dentist visits are vital for your health and wellbeing

You should consider your dentist as much a part of your health and fitness team as a good balanced diet, regular exercise, and MOTs with your doctor. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we have a firm focus on preventative dentistry, which means stopping problems before they start, or treating them promptly if they do arise.

gum-diseaseHow often you need to attend general check-ups with your dentist will depend on a number of factors, including the current condition of your oral health and whether there are conditions such as gum disease that need managing. Whilst standard advice is to have a check-up every six months, you should attend our Harley Street clinic as often as your dentist advises.

If you are a new patient to Harley Street Dental Clinic, your dentist will carry out a ten-step assessment of your current oral situation. This will involve:

1) Taking your full dental and medical history. Your dentist needs to be aware of any conditions you have or medications you are taking, because it may affect treatment choices.

2) A thorough clinical examination.

3) Taking x-rays as necessary.

4) Discuss oral health concerns since you last saw a dentist.

5) Talk about how diet and lifestyle affects oral health.

6) Assess your current home care routine, recommending any improvements.

7) If any treatment is needed, this will be explained in full.

8) Provide a full treatment plan.

9) Take the time to answer your questions.

10) If no treatment is needed, tell you when you next should visit the dentist.

Harley Street Dental Clinic appreciates many of our patients have busy lives, so we are open from 8.30am-7pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am-6pm Saturday, enabling you to fit appointments around your lifestyle.

Conditions such as gum disease have been linked to everything from rheumatoid arthritis to heart disease, whilst tooth loss can limit your diet and make it hard to get good nutrition. Therefore, visiting your dentist regularly is a vital part of your general health routine.

To book a check-up at our Harley Street clinic, contact us on 020 3773 2780.

What a Harley Street emergency dentist can do for you

If you need an emergency dentist in London, contact Harley Street Dental Clinic immediately on 020 3773 2780. We are open from 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 8.30am to 6pm on Saturdays, and will always try to see emergency cases on the same day whenever possible.

emergency-dental-careWe are also aware that dental emergencies don’t keep to any kind of schedule, so we offer an emergency service lines should you require an emergency dentist out of regular opening hours.

Many things require the attention of an emergency dentist. Here, we look at some common dental emergencies alongside what your Harley Street clinician may do.

Unbearable toothache

Toothache must never be ignored – it’s an indicator of a more serious problem. If you have mild or intermittent toothache, book the next available appointment with a dentist at our Harley Street clinic and use over-the-counter pain relief in the short term.

If toothache is severe to the point of being unbearable, an emergency dentist is needed. Toothache may be caused by damage to a tooth, by decay, infection, or a broken/lost crown or filling.

In the case of decay, your Harley Street emergency dentist will remove the decayed area and fill the tooth. Fillings can often be replaced permanently in one appointment; crowns will require at least two, so a temporary crown may be fitted.

If your tooth is infected, you may require root canal treatment. Your dentist will get you out of pain at your emergency appointment, and may prescribe antibiotics. Root canal treatment will require at least two appointments to fully complete.

Broken teeth

Sometimes, a dentist can bond fragments of a broken tooth back together, so if you have them bring them with you. Alternatively, we offer composite bonding, white fillings, crowns, inlays and onlays at our Harley Street clinic.

Lost tooth

Your dentist may be able to reimplant your tooth. Try to do so yourself; if you can’t, put it in a clean container of milk and bring it to your appointment at Harley Street. Be careful to only touch the crown of the tooth, and clean it with saliva if necessary.