Do I need an emergency dentist?

Dental emergencies don’t keep regular office hours: they can happen at any time of the day or night, and you will want to see a dentist as soon as possible. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we appreciate the urgency of a dental emergency and understand how traumatic it can be. We are open six days a week, and have an emergency service line so that you can get in touch as soon as an emergency situation arises. We will do everything we can to accommodate you and see you as soon as possible.

What constitutes a dental emergency?

emergency dentistDental emergencies range from sudden, unbearable toothache to accidents and injuries resulting in lost or broken teeth. You should see a dentist as soon as possible if you experience any of the following conditions. Remember, at Harley Street Dental Clinic we always endeavour to see you as quickly as possible.

Knocked out tooth

Teeth can be knocked out by accidents including trips and falls, road traffic accidents and blows to the mouth and face, as well as injuries sustained playing sports (which is why at Harley Street Dental Clinic we always advise sportspeople to wear a mouth guard when playing or training – your dentist can make you a mouthguard that fits your teeth exactly for maximum comfort and safety).

If you do lose a tooth, your dentist may be able to reinsert it back into the socket, so long as it hasn’t been damaged. You should keep the knocked out tooth clean and should only pick it up by the crown (the part of the tooth that is visible in your mouth) – avoid handling the root.

Chipped or broken teeth

Teeth can also be chipped or broken by accidents and injuries, and again you should see your dentist as soon as possible, even for small chips.

At our Harley Street practice our dentists can restore broken teeth using composite bonding – rebuilding your tooth with tooth-coloured filling material – and can also restore mildly chipped front teeth using veneers, made from porcelain, ceramic or composite material.

Tooth ache and dental abscesses

Tooth ache can quickly become unbearable. At Harley Street Dental Clinic your dentist will never leave a patient in pain; at your emergency dental appointment your dentist’s primary concern will be to diagnose the cause of your tooth ache and get you out of pain. You may require further appointments to treat the underlying cause of your tooth ache.

How a cosmetic dentist can combine treatments to give you the perfect smile

If your smile is getting you down, you may be seeking a cosmetic dentist to help you boost its appearance. At Harley Street Dental Clinic our skilled team has helped many patients from all walks of life to get the smile of their dreams, often using a combination of cosmetic dental treatments to create the perfect smile.

cosmetic dentistSome patients come to our Harley Street practice with a clear idea of the exact treatment they want – teeth whitening or veneers, for example. A skilled cosmetic dentist will listen to each patient’s wants and needs as well as conducting a thorough clinical examination, taking into account all factors including hair colour, facial structure and the like, before confirming that their desired treatment is the best option, or recommending an alternative.

Many patients are unhappy with their smiles but are unsure which treatment option or options is best for them. In that case, we may recommend a smile makeover consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists here in our Harley Street clinic.

At a smile makeover consultation your cosmetic dentist will again listen to your wants and needs and carry out a complete clinical examination, before recommending a combination of treatments to achieve it.

We offer a huge selection of cosmetic dental procedures here at our Harley Street practice, and many of these can be combined to create the perfect celebrity smile. The perfect combination for you will depend on your individual needs, and will be discussed by your cosmetic dentist at your initial consultation.

Some of the cosmetic treatments we offer are:

  • Porcelain veneers
  • Gum lifts (to treat a gummy smile)
  • Teeth whitening
  • Dental implants
  • Cosmetic dentures
  • Invisible orthodontics
  • Crowns
  • Bridges

If you are interested in combining aesthetic dental treatments to attain the smile of your dreams, why not book a consultation at our Harley Street clinic?

Meet the cosmetic dentists at Harley Street Dental Clinic

If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist, you’ll want to know that you are working with someone you can trust. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we know that choosing to have a cosmetic dental procedure is a big decision – and we also believe it is a huge investment in your wellbeing and your future.

cosmetic dentistsOur skilled cosmetic dentists are among the best in the business, offering a huge range of treatments under one roof here at our Harley Street practice. Depending on your treatment needs you may work with one of our dentists or several members of our team. By working together and listening carefully to what you want to achieve, our specialist team can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.

We have many happy patients who will testify to the high standards of care and quality of work they received at our Harley Street clinic, and we invite all new patients to come in for a no-obligation consultation to find out more about what we can do for you. We will match you to the best cosmetic dentist or dentists to suit your needs.

Our cosmetic dental team includes principal dentist Dr Stanley Kay, whose main area of interest is restorative dental treatment. He has been principal here at Harley Street Dental Clinic for more than 35 years, and after graduating from Leeds undertook post-graduate studies at Pankey Institute, Florida, and at the world-renowned Eastman Dental Hospital.

Cosmetic dentist Dr Mary Shenouda believes that every smile should be uniquely designed for each individual patient, creating results that look natural and beautiful, while Dr Jean C Violides has speial interests in teeth whitening and restorative dentistry.

Dr Charlotte Stilwell specialises in prosthodontics, helping patients with missing or deficient teeth to restore their smiles with a range of treatments, including crowns, bridges and both fixed and removable dentures.

Missing teeth? Here’s what your dentist can do

At Harley Street Dental Clinic, our dentists have many options for patients with one or more missing teeth. There are many reasons patients lose teeth, from gum disease to accident or injury. Whatever the reason, we believe it is essential to replace missing teeth, first and foremost to ensure you have confidence in your smile, but also for the benefit of your general health.

dental implantsWhen teeth are lost, the bone and gums beneath any gaps slowly starts to recede, which can lead to a sagging appearance in the face. You may also struggle to eat a healthy, balanced diet, and any remaining teeth may become crooked and harder to clean by moving into the spaces left by missing teeth.

If you lose a tooth you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we are sometimes able to reinsert your tooth in the socket if it has been knocked out in an accident. Even if you have been missing teeth for some time, our experienced dental team will be able to replace them.

There are many options for tooth replacement and, after examining your mouth, your dentist will go through all the options with you. This may include bridges, dentures or dental implants.

Dental implants are the only permanent solution to missing teeth, and at our Harley Street practice our dentists are highly experienced in the latest implant techniques. Implants are small titanium screws placed directly in the jaw bone, where they integrate with the bone and act as replacement tooth roots, providing firm support for new teeth in the form of dentures, bridges or crowns.

Even if your dentist has told you that you are not suitable for dental implant treatment because you have suffered bone loss, our Harley Street dentists can help, using bone graft or sinus lift procedures to restore you bone.

What can a cosmetic dentist do for me?

A cosmetic dentist is a clinician who focuses on the aesthetic appearance of a patient’s smile. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we have an experienced team of dental professionals offering cosmetic dental treatments to suit all patients’ needs.

cosmetic dentistOften, patients will come to see us at our Harley Street clinic unhappy about the appearance of their smile, but unsure exactly what treatment they need to improve it. In this case, we recommend a smile makeover. This is a consultation with a skilled cosmetic dentist, who will assess your current smile, will listen to your concerns and what you would like to change, and will then recommend the best way to achieve the smile of your dreams.

Here’s how it works:

1. Smile Assessment. You’ll come into our Harley Street practice for a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. He or she will review the shape, colour, size and position of your teeth and will find out what you want to achieve. They will also check there are no dental health problems that need treating before your cosmetic work begins, and will take into account such factors as hair colour and the shape of your face before recommending treatment.

2. Treatment Recommendations. Your cosmetic dentist will recommend treatments and will use 3D-computer-aided smile design to show you what results you can expect from various treatments. Depending on your needs you may require just one treatment – veneers, for example – or a combination of two or more – orthodontics plus teeth whitening, perhaps. Once you have decided on treatment – with your dentist’s help – a treatment plan will be drawn up.

3. Appointment Setting. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we work hard to set appointment times that are convenient for you. Your cosmetic dentist will draw up an appointment schedule. The length of treatment will vary from patient to patient, depending on which treatment(s) you are having.

Afraid of the dentist? Here’s how we can help

Are you afraid of visiting the dentist? Then you are not alone. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we specialise in helping nervous and phobic patients to get the dental treatment they need. Regular dental appointments and good oral health aren’t just important for your teeth and gums; many studies have shown links between poor oral health and conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

nervous patientsFear is the single biggest reason patients in the UK give for putting off visiting the dentist. Dental fear can range from mild anxiety to full-blown phobia and has myriad causes. Whatever the reason and level of you fear, Harley Street Dental Clinic can help.

Causes of dental phobia

There are many reasons patients give for being afraid of the dentist. These include bad experiences in the past, exaggerated horror stories from friends and family, embarrassment about the state of their teeth, and specific triggers including a fear of needles or the sound of the dentist’s drill.

At our Harley Street clinic we will take time to find out what causes your fears and will talk through them in our relaxed, comfortable environment. Dental techniques have advanced greatly in recent years, and if you haven’t been to see the dentist for some time you may be pleasantly surprised.

We will explain any procedures and analgesia requirements in detail, and will ensure that you know the hand signals to give us should you need a break during treatment. Don’t worry about holding up the dentist – we know everybody needs a breather sometimes, and ample time for breaks will be built into your appointment.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we will never be judgemental; we empathise with nervous patients and if you have not seen a dentist in many years all we want is to restore your oral health and give you a smile to be proud of. We offer the option of listening to music or watching a film during treatment, and also have the option of treatment under hypnosis, which many patients find helps them to relax.

For those who need a little extra help to relax, we offer treatment under sedation. There are two options: relative analgesia, also known as inhalation sedation, which uses a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that you breathe in. You will be awake and able to cooperate with your dentist, but will remember little about treatment.

The second option is intravenous sedation, carried out by a consultant anaesthetist here at our Harley Street clinic.

How a cosmetic dentist can boost your confidence as well as your smile

Many people are unhappy with the way their smile looks, and are seeking help from a cosmetic dentist. At Harley Street Dental Clinic we have a skilled team of dentists, many of whom specialise in aesthetic treatments. By boosting the appearance of your smile, you can also raise your self-esteem and confidence, which can have a significant positive impact on many areas of your life.

cosmetic dentistWe see a lot of patients at our Harley Street practice whose smiles are getting them down. If this affects you, you may find yourself hiding your smile away behind your hands in public or even not smiling at all.

A skilled cosmetic dentist can offer a range of treatments to address the issues you have with your smile, improving any aspects you don’t like. Many of our patients have reported that this has seriously boosted their self-esteem, which has helped interactions in their personal and professional lives.

If you are interested in improving the aesthetics of your smile with the help of a cosmetic dentist, the first thing to do is to book a consultation at our Harley Street clinic.

Every patient’s needs will be different, but here are just some of the treatments we offer here at Harley Street Dental Clinic. . .

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a very popular cosmetic dental treatment. They offer a fast, safe and minimally-invasive way to brighten and boost your smile. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain placed over the front surfaces of the front teeth to improve their appearance and disguise minor imperfections such as chips or cracks.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening uses special bleaching gel to remove stains from your teeth. It can be carried out here in Harley Street or at home, and must only be performed on a dentist’s prescription.

Dental implants

Dental implants are the only permanent way to replace missing teeth. Contact us for more information.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear in our mouths, often not coming through until the late teenage years. Because of this, they can often fail to erupt properly, causing or potentially causing pain, discomfort and oral health problems. For that reason, wisdom tooth extraction is one of the most common oral surgery procedures.

wisdom tooth extractionNobody likes the idea of tooth extraction. However, in some cases it becomes necessary and if you need a wisdom tooth removed you can rest assured that at Harley Street Dental Clinic you will receive expert care from experienced oral surgeons.

But why do wisdom teeth need to be removed? Because they erupt late, wisdom teeth have a tendency to become impacted. They may prove hard to clean, increasing the chances of developing tooth decay or gum disease. Because they develop internally, cysts may form around wisdom teeth, potentially damaging the jawbone and surrounding teeth.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we have a fully-equipped theatre for tooth extractions and other maxillofacial surgical procedures, such as treating bone fractures, placing dental implants and carrying out certain orthodontic procedures. Wisdom tooth removal may be carried out under local anaesthetic or sedation, depending on each patient’s wants and needs.

It’s important to prepare for wisdom tooth extraction, and to talk to us if you experience dental anxiety, so that we can plan your treatment accordingly. You will also need to prepare for careful post-surgical care, following the advice your surgeon gives you.

Pain or discomfort after surgery can usually be managed by over-the-counter painkillers, although if you find these don’t help do not take more than the stated dose – instead, contact us so that we can help you. We recommend that you follow a liquid diet immediately after surgery, and use cold treats such as ice cream to help with gum swelling. Overconsumption may lead to sharp pains, however, so please take care.

General Treatments

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we offer a wide range of dental treatments for all the family, to patients from London and beyond.

restorative dentistryWhile we’re committed to preventative dentistry, aiming to stop dental health problems before they arise, should you find yourself in need of treatment we can offer a full and comprehensive selection of treatments, all under one roof. We have a dedicated and experienced team of specialists in a range of areas, including restorative dentistry, dental hygiene, children’s dentistry and orthodontics.

We are committed to practising pain-free dentistry and are equipped and experienced in treating nervous and phobic patients. If fear has put you off seeking dental treatment for many years, we are confident we can help you. We will never be judgemental, but will work with you to restore your dental health and keep it in good condition for the rest of your life. Options for nervous patients include relaxation and sedation, enabling you to have necessary treatment in a relaxed, calming environment.

Because we use only the latest techniques and materials, delivered by highly-skilled and experienced practitioners, we are able to provide pain-free dentistry to patients of all ages. We are always happy to welcome new patients to our practice.

In most cases, we recommend that you visit us for a general dental check-up at least every six months. That way, it’s easier for us to spot problems early and treat them before they become serious.

After your examination we will provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis, a treatment plan if any action is needed, plus advice on caring for your teeth and gums at home. If we find you need specialist treatment, for example for periodontics (gum disease), then you will be referred to one of our specialists. Your dentist will continue to oversee your treatment plan and will keep you informed at all stages of treatment.

The Unsettling Effect of Tooth Loss

Many patients underestimate the implications and consequences associated with missing teeth. Upon closer examination, you will find the effects to be far more serious than many are aware of.

dental implantsTooth loss is physical, emotional and psychosocial all at once. Patients undergo a change that leaves a holistic effect in their appearance, speech, functioning, comfort and health.

Find out how tooth loss can bring about these effects.

The Facial Collapse: effect of non-stimulation

Tooth loss is not about the tooth so much as it is about the bones.

The facial bones are important in the configuration of the face. They are responsible for supporting the nose, cheek, lips and skin, and require continuous stimulation to maintain their shape, volume and density.

This stimulation can be likened to how exercise keeps the bones in your body active and healthy.

The bone supporting the teeth (alveolar) requires this stimulation from the teeth themselves. The teeth make contact with these bones every day through the periodontal ligament, “exercising” the bone and stimulating it to reconstruct continually.

When a tooth is lost, these bones lose width over time, brought about by lack of stimulation.

Within the first year of tooth loss, the bone’s width decreases by 25% and up to 4 millimetres in height in the subsequent years, creating a domino effect. As it loses width, it loses height. As it reduces in height, it loses width as a result– and the cycle continues.

At some point, it will have an effect of the gum tissues, whose deterioration will cause a change in speech and everyday functioning, such as biting and chewing.

If not addressed on time, this can also cause the basal bone (bone at the base of the alveolar) to recede or resorb. The chin will tilt forwards and upwards, and the cheeks will hollow out.

Thus, the patient experiences what is called the facial collapse, which causes premature aging.

Dental implant: restoring bone vitality

Dental implants are innovative treatments that effectively counter the effects of tooth loss. Unlike other tooth replacement solutions, they promote healthy bone growth by stimulating bone remodelling and integrating with the bone. In effect, they restore the patient’s appearance, functioning and speech.

Find out if you qualify for this treatment and contact Harley Street Dental Clinic for an assessment today.