How your dentist can boost your smile – and your health

Looking for a new dentist may seem daunting, but at Harley Street Dental Clinic we believe we can offer optimum quality private dentistry for all the family. Whether you are in need of a dental check-up, are interested in cosmetic dentistry or dental implants, if you want to find a family practice or are in urgent need of an emergency dentist, you will find everything you need under one roof.

hsdcOur modern Harley Street practice is located at the heart of London and our team comprises many leading specialists in their field. This includes endodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, prosthodontists, children’s and cosmetic dentists, all of whom have one goal in mind: to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted and the excellent oral health you deserve.

We are a multi-lingual practice, welcoming international patients and those visiting London for a short time. Among our practice’s many features is a prayer room, which all faiths are welcome to make use of.

When you come to register at Harley Street Dental Clinic, you will be asked to complete a medical history form and will be assessed so that you can be matched with the dentist who most suits your needs. Good dental health is important to good overall health, with conditions such as heart disease linked to gum disease, so restoring and maintaining your oral health will always be our first priority.

Strong, healthy teeth are also important to maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet, so if you have failing or missing teeth, we can help with a range of treatments, from standard dentures to dental implants. A beautiful smile also has a positive impact on self-esteem, so if you are unhappy with any aspect of your smile’s appearance, a Harley Street cosmetic dentist can offer numerous ways to boost it.

How a cosmetic dentist can give you a Hollywood smile

A cosmetic dentist has many ways to boost your smile. Harley Street Dental Clinic’s skilled cosmetic dental team offer an unrivalled range of treatments large and small, all designed to create the perfect Hollywood smile you’ve always dreamt of.

cosmetic dentistMany people are unhappy with some aspect of their smile. Whether you would like straighter teeth, whiter teeth, have teeth that are chipped, cracked or discoloured, our team of specialists at our Harley Street practice are able to help. Your first step should be to book a consultation with a cosmetic dentist.

When you come into our Harley Street clinic for an initial appointment with a cosmetic dentist, they will take the time to get to know a bit about you – what you like and dislike about your current smile, and what your ideal smile would look like. They will then carefully examine your teeth, gums and surrounding structures, before running through all the appropriate treatment options to achieve your smile goals and drawing up a detailed treatment plan.

Depending on what your individual requirements are, you may receive all your treatment from your cosmetic dentist, or may be referred to one of their specialist colleagues for treatments including periodontics (gum work), prosthodontics (creating restorations such as bridges or dentures for patients who have missing or failing teeth) or orthodontics. Our Harley Street clinic is staffed by a team comprising leading specialists in many areas of dentistry, so whatever your requirements we will be able to provide treatment in the comfort of our state-of-the-art central London practice.

No matter whether you come to see us for a simple course of teeth whitening treatment or you require a full-mouth restoration involving dental implants, cosmetic dentures or bridges, you can rest assured that you will be provided with the highest standards of treatment and care at every appointment.

Drinking to Whiter Teeth: Staying Away from Beverages that Stain Around the Clock

Having discoloured teeth is a product of both natural and unnatural causes. Two examples of things people simply cannot avoid are food and drinks. Today, we here at Harley Street Dental Clinic will list the optional drinks of our day-to-day that cause our teeth to go yellow—though we will not blame you for arguing whether these beverages are truly optional.

Morning

hsdcWaking up brings about a lot of possibilities. Coffee is a large contributor to productivity and good mornings. But, it is also high in chromogens, or compounds with strong pigments. Your teeth will not end up brown per se, but the acidity of coffee paired with its chromogens will cause your teeth to become more yellow over time.

Evening

Wine is also an acidic drink though this time it boasts a large amount of tannins, or compounds that make your teeth more vulnerable to stains. This is the case for white wine, and other clear/sparkling alcoholic beverages. Red wine is even more dentally harmful, since it contains chromogens on top of the tannins.

Times in Between

Yes, tea does stain teeth. More than coffee and wine, actually. It is full of tannins and is highly acidic. These drinks can cause discoloured teeth when drank on a regular basis, so looking at tea consumption in this case is almost a non-factor.

We are in no way discouraging you from drinking these beverages, but as dentists, we feel that it is important for people to know how much damage our common thirst quenchers can really bring. Fizzy drinks are an obvious culprit, but since the idea stained teeth rarely stops us from consuming the food and drinks we love, it is better to know and balance out the damage with responsible dental practices.

Contact Harley Street Dental Clinic for more information.

Reliving the Horror of the Old Gum Lift Procedure (Before Burying It)

Teeth are not the only things that make a smile great.

Gums can be a factor in a person’s smile, depending on how visible they are. Dentists can lighten gums to the liking of their patients, or cut away gummy smiles altogether. It is as scary as it sounds; or at least it used to be.

Seeing Gums

hsdcProminent gums when smiling is a cause of embarrassment to the people who have these ‘horsy’ grins. Thankfully, gum lifts can provide troubled individuals a chance to correct their smile—but it does come with a bloody, painful price.

Let us calm you down first. Modern gum lifts are far safer, cleaner and faster than the scary whittling procedure first conducted during the late 1980s. We use accurate lasers to shape the gums of our patients seamlessly and with minimal bleeding, so there is no need to be afraid anymore. But, enough of our procedure; let us delve into the 1980s horror show you came here to read about.

Seeing Red

Gum lifts, or crown lengthening, was one of those dental procedures that fuelled the 20th century fear of going to the dentist. It was a very disconcerting procedure, yet the science behind it is solid and its effectiveness was undeniable to anyone willing to engage in a short-term relationship with oral painkillers.

We admit, taking a scalpel to a patient’s gum line sounds, medieval, to say the least. The invasiveness of the procedure would depend on the size of your teeth. Dentists would chip away at the bone beneath the cut gums in order to keep large teeth from appearing even larger. A level of stitching is required to prevent the gums from growing back, and yes—a lot of blood is involved. Not to mention some swelling and post-surgery bleeding episodes.

So, should you get a gum lift? Today, there is no excuse not to. Gum lifts are now more advanced and clinical. Just like how the white fillings replaced the silver ones, this is one very graphic instance of how dental practice continues to improve. If you have a gummy smile that you want to correct, thank your lucky stars that the laser is now here, and you can flash your pearly whites without having to stain them crimson first.

For all your non-scary dental needs, just contact Harley Street Dental Clinic.

Can a dentist cure snoring?

Your dentist may be the last person you think can help if you suffer from chronic snoring. However, at Harley Street Dental Clinic, our team of dental professionals have helped many patients who regularly snore to overcome the problem.

snoringSnoring is a common problem that can turn into a nightmare – not just for the snorer, but also for those who share a bedroom with them. It is caused by a narrowing of the airways, which happens when they relax as you sleep. This affects the air pressure within your airways, causing the soft tissues in your head and neck (such as the tonsils, soft palate and nasal passages) to vibrate and produce a sound.

Everyone snores sometimes, and partial blockage of the airways thanks to colds, flu, or seasonal conditions such as hay fever can all lead to temporary snoring. However, when it becomes chronic, it can become a serious issue, affecting your sleep (as well as the sleep of your loved ones) and sometimes indicating an underlying condition.

Common causes of snoring include:

  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Some medications

In these cases, changes to your lifestyle can help resolve your snoring. As mentioned, chronic snoring may be a symptom of a more serious condition called sleep apnoea, which sees suffers stop breathing entirely several times a night. This should always be investigated by a sleep clinic in the first instance. However, in many cases your dentist can help with both snoring and sleep apnoea.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic your dentist can create a custom-made oral device or mouthpiece that will prevent your lower jaw from dropping back whilst you are sleeping, so preventing your airways from closing.

You will be invited into our Harley Street clinic for a consultation, where your dentist will take impressions of your mouth for your mouthpiece to be made, helping you to breathe better and sleep better.

Find the perfect dentist for all the family

Finding a new dentist involves developing a relationship of trust. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we have an unrivalled staff of dental specialists who provide professional, patient-focussed, bespoke care for every patient at every appointment. Our entire team takes the time to get to know our patients as individuals, so that we can provide you with the very best treatment whatever you come to see us for.

perfect-dentistOur practice, located at 139 Harley Street, London, is a beautiful, five-storey converted Georgian town house, designed with patient comfort in mind. We have a highly-experienced team of dental experts under one roof, including cosmetic dentists, endodontists, prosthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and children’s dentists.

Your first contact will be with a member of our friendly and helpful reception team, who will ascertain what has brought you to our Harley Street practice and will match you with the best dentist or treatment co-ordinator to suit your needs.

Because we know that patient comfort and relaxation is key to developing a good relationship between dental team and patient, we have a comfortable reception area, where you can relax and help yourself to tea or coffee, watch television and generally make yourself at home. We also have a dedicated prayer room, which all faiths are welcome to use.

Harley Street Dental Clinic is a proudly multi-cultural practice, and we understand different faiths and cultures. We can also offer fluent in-house translation services for Arabic, French, Italian and Japanese-speaking clients, as well as having a dedicated children’s dental team, who take the time to build strong relationships of trust with their young patients.

For patients who are nervous or phobic about visiting the dentist, we have a number of options available, including treatment under hypnosis or sedation. The team at Harley Street Dental Clinic understand fear of the dentist, and will treat all patients with care, respect, and compassion at all times.

What an emergency dentist can do for you

If you need to see an emergency dentist, you will be well aware that time is of the essence. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we provide an on-call emergency dental service until 10pm and then from 7am until the practice opens at 8.30am, six days a week.

emergency dentistMany situations constitute a dental emergency, and we understand that the experience can be painful and frightening, which is why we always endeavour to see emergency dental patients as soon as possible. We will see both registered and new patients who need an emergency dentist at our Harley Street clinic.

Here are some of the scenarios that constitute a dental emergency, along with what action your dentist may take:

Lost tooth

Teeth are often knocked out through accidents and injuries. If your tooth has been knocked out, contact our Harley Street team as soon as possible. If you still have your tooth and it isn’t broken, it is very important to keep it clean. You should only pick it up by the crown (the portion that’s visible in the mouth) and avoid touching the root. If you need to clean it, rinse it under cold water, then put it in a clean container covered either by your own saliva or some milk.

In some cases your dentist will be able to reimplant your tooth in the socket. We also offer a range of tooth replacement options at our Harley Street centre if this is not possible.

Broken tooth

Even if your tooth is only slightly chipped, you should book a dental appointment as soon as possible. Your dentist may be able to rebuild it with tooth-coloured filling material or a crown.

Toothache and dental abscess

A sudden, painful toothache, with or without a dental abscess, can be unbearable. Your dentist will get you out of pain, although you may require follow-up appointments at Harley Street to fully restore your oral health.

How a cosmetic dentist can boost your smile with veneers

Veneers are one of the most common treatments cosmetic dentists are asked to perform. They are an excellent way of rejuvenating a smile, with results that are both aesthetically-pleasing and durable. At Harley Street Dental Clinic our team has helped many patients to boost the appearance of their smile quickly and painlessly with the help of veneers.

How it works

veneersVeneers are micro-thin shells of material that are bonded over the front surfaces of the teeth by a cosmetic dentist to improve their appearance. They can be made from composite bonding material, porcelain, or ceramic – porcelain is the most popular choice.

They were first invented by a Hollywood cosmetic dentist to enable actors to change the appearance of their smiles quickly and easily. These early veneers were not designed to be a long-term solution and usually fell off quickly, because they were secured with denture adhesive. Thanks to modern advances in the field of cosmetic dentistry, and special, stronger dental bonding agents, veneers can now provide a natural-looking, beautiful, long-term way to make over a smile.

If you are interested in treatment with veneers, you should book a consultation with a cosmetic dentist at our Harley Street clinic. Veneers can be used to disguise permanently discoloured teeth, cover and add extra strength to teeth with small chips and cracks, and generally improve a smile’s appearance by closing small gaps or correcting minor alignment issues when orthodontic treatment is not appropriate.

You will need at least two appointments to have veneers fitted at our Harley Street clinic. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and will prepare them to have your veneers attached. They will carefully match the colour of your veneers to the natural colour of your teeth, and when they are ready you will be called back to have them fitted.

How your dentist can provide perfect dentures

As a dentist, it is common to see patients of all ages who are distressed because they have lost one or more of their natural teeth. At Harley Street Dental Clinic, our expert team of dental professionals – including dentists and prosthodontists – have helped many patients to restore their smiles and their confidence with the help of dentures.

perfect denturesDentures are not a new concept – even the ancient Egyptians fashioned crude replacement teeth. However, there have been massive advances in the field of prosthodontics (the dental specialism that deals with the restoration and replacement of teeth). At Harley Street Dental Clinic, our prosthodontics team offer a number of denture options for patients who need to replace several or all of their natural teeth.

In some cases, it is possible for your dentist to fit your dentures at the same time as removing failing natural teeth. This is known as “immediate dentures” and means that you won’t be left with gaps in your mouth or no teeth.

If you are interested in immediate dentures, speak to your dentist at your initial consultation. They will carefully examine you and assess if this is the best treatment option in your case.

Dentures can be full – replacing an entire arch of teeth – or partial – replacing some teeth in one arch of the mouth. They can be made from a range of materials, from plastic to porcelain. Your dentist will discuss all your denture options at your initial consultation here in our Harley Street clinic.

As dental professionals we would always recommend replacing your teeth, and dentures are an excellent way to do this. At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we recognise the value of your smile and your oral health, and our team of cosmetic dentists and prosthodontists have many years of training and experience, enabling them to create the perfect dentures for every patient.

Ask a cosmetic dentist about smile makeovers

As a cosmetic dentist, there is no greater pleasure than seeing the difference a smile makeover can have on a patient’s self-esteem. At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we know the value of a beautiful smile, and our skilled dental team have helped scores of patients to achieve the smile they have always dreamt of thanks to our wide range of cosmetic dental options.

smile makeoversA smile makeover starts with a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist here at our Harley Street clinic. Smile makeovers can have functional as well as aesthetic benefits, and we believe that an investment in your smile is one of the wisest you can make.

At your initial consultation, your cosmetic dentist will carefully examine your teeth, gums, surrounding structures, and your overall facial appearance. They will find out what you like and dislike about your current smile, and what you would like to achieve. X-rays, scans and photographs will be taken as necessary to aid with diagnosis and treatment planning.

Your dentist will then recommend all the available treatments to meet your needs. This may be one treatment or a combination of two or more, and could include porcelain veneers, orthodontics, teeth whitening, dental implants, and crowns, among other treatment options.

By using the latest 3D imaging technology, your cosmetic dentist will be able to show you what results you can expect from various treatment options, so you can make an educated choice about how to move forward with treatment.

At our Harley Street clinic we have an unrivalled team of dental specialists under one roof, so whatever treatment you require it can all be provided here in the comfort of our modern Harley Street practice.

Once you have decided on the best treatment, your dentist will draw up a treatment plan detailing future appointments and projected costs.