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Your Teeth Will Thank You For Seeing One Of Our Hygienists Near Leopardstown

Prevention is better than cure in all walks of medicine and oral hygiene is the front line of defence against plaque, decay and infection regarding your pearly whites. Many people ask what the difference between a dentist and a dental hygienist is and, hopefully, the little introduction here has given you some idea; dentists cover everything, including the messy recover work, whereas dental hygienists work hard to make sure you never require messy recovery work. ‘But surely brushing twice a day takes care of that?’ Perhaps, but perhaps not; there could be a multitude of variable you are ignoring: Do you floss? Are brushing those newly protruding wisdom teeth? Are you teeth just starting to look bad even though you are brushing? If you’ve even hesitated at any of those questions, perhaps consider seeing a hygienist…

The cleaning itself

When you visit one of our hygienists near Foxrock, you will receive a special type of tooth cleaning called ‘scaling and polishing’. Even if you brush thoroughly twice a day for two minutes, there will still be areas that a conventional tooth brush cannot reach. Hygienists, however, are equipped with both the specialist knowledge and equipment to tackle and clean these common problem areas. They will even polish your teeth, thus removing any surface blemishes. Regular appointments are also advised as the trained eye of the hygienist can spot any potential problems that a layman might miss.

A little advice

Knowledge is power (or something like that) and perhaps the greatest gift the hygienist can offer is that of knowledge. They will be delighted to instruct you on the best homecare tooth cleaning products on the market and guide you through the best techniques that can be used to ensure a thorough cleaning. They can also offer dietary advice (as food obviously affects the teeth) as well as other general oral healthcare advice (such as how to give up smoking). You are in charge of your own oral health but, armed with the hygienists help, hopefully you’ll never have to visit us for more than a check-up. Even if all you need is confirmation that you’re doing everything right, a trip to the hygienist can be indispensable.

Which Patients Near Dun Laoghaire May Need A Bonded Retainer?

Who needs a bonded retainer? You need a bonded retainer! That is… if you’ve just finished orthodontic treatment. Braces have an unfair cultural stigma attached to them which most people are quite eager to leave behind. The problem is that following brace treatment some people are a little too eager and inadvertently end up causing a relapse which, as you can probably guess, tends to lead to further brace work. Want to avoid this? Then you want a bonded retainer.

What is a retainer?

Well, it is a small removable device (usually consisting of wire and plastic) which retains the position of your teeth. Think of it as a brace-lite. There are three main types of retainer: Hawley, Essix and Bonded. Hawley is the most well-known of these three varieties and incorporates a metal wire which surrounds and keeps your teeth in position. They are also adjustable, which is handy. Essix retainers consist of clear PVC and similar in appearance to the positioners used in ‘invisible’ brace treatments. Bonded retainers, however, are made out of wire and are attached to your teeth via dental glue.

The advantages of a bonded retainer

Bonded retainers are able to hold even amongst the relapse prone teeth in place. They are glued into place, meaning there is no chance of you forgetting to put them back in. Bonded retainers are also mostly invisible as they are attached to the inside of your mouth!

The specifics of a retainer

Teeth are especially likely to relapse during your first month without braces, so make sure to have a retainer of some sort during this period! If your retainer is removable, it should only be taken out for cleaning your teeth and eating. Your dentist will most likely let you know how long to keep this up for. Obviously, if you are wearing a bonded retainer this isn’t an issue. This period can last between two months and a year, sometimes even longer. Following this period it is recommended you still wear a retainer occasionally, especially if you are prone to tongue thrusting!

Listen to your dentist

Remember to attend regular check-ups at Dublin18 Dental Care near Dun Laoghaire and take your dentist’s advice seriously!

The Different Fillings Available At Dublin18 Dental Care Near Deansgrange

Much like with the innards of a sandwich, a different variety of fillings are available. We are, of course, talking about dental fillings.After all, you are on a dental blog!

A recap of what a filling is

Before we start talking about variations, let’s make sure we’re on the same page regarding the basic theme: The purpose of a filling is to protect and restore the functionality of a tooth. The most common way they operate is to fill holes in a tooth which have been caused by decay. Fillings also help to prevent further infection by blocking off the entrances by which bacteria would enter.

So why are there so many types of filling?

Amalgam fillings

These are the grey ones. In fact, if you had a filling done quite some time ago, it is probably an amalgam filling. They are formed from a combination of metals, are incredibly durable, perfectly functional and quite cheap to boot! The main problem with them is that they stick out like a sore thumb.

Composite fillings

These little guys, unlike their Amalgam brethren, are pretty much indistinguishable from your real teeth. They can even be matched to the colour of your teeth for maximum camouflage! They are not, however, ideal for big cavities as, over a prolonged period of time, they can chip and wear down. They stain quite easily and tend to have a lifespan of three years but, despite this, they remain popular as a result of their aesthetic advantages.

CEREC Onlays

Onlays are similar to crowns in how they are fitted, but they operate just like dental fillings. They, like composite fillings, can be coloured to match your teeth and can produced in house. This means that you can leave with perfect fillings after a single visit!

Fissure sealants

These are not so much fillings as they are ways to prevent needing fillings. The surface of your tooth consists of various pits and fissures where plaque, hidden from the reach of your tooth brush, can lurk and cause trouble. Fissure sealants create a barrier over these areas and stop plaque from building!For more information on the different fillings available please contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near Deansgrange.

How Does Root Canal Treatment Work For Patients Near Carrickmines?

‘What is a root canal exactly?’ This is the question you might well be asking yourself right now. Well friend, firstly well have to explain a little bit about the make-up of the tooth itself: A tooth can be divided in to the ‘outer crown’ and the ‘inner root’ which tethers your tooth to your jawbone. These two parts themselves contain the more intricate make-up of the tooth, with the crown featuring the visibly exposed enamel and your tooth’s innards containing the soft living tissue that is dental pulp. The root canal system extends all the way from the outer enamel, through the pulp and right down to the root of your tooth.

So why would I need root canal treatment?

Well… Bacteria is always present in the mouth. Should this bacteria ever make its way past your enamel and into the tooth’s pulp, then your tooth has become infected. This is not only excruciating, but can also lead to losing the tooth in question. Root canal treatment is essentially an attempt to clean out the bacteria from your tooth and save it.

How does a tooth become infected?

For bacteria to reach the tooth’s pulp, the outer crown has to be broken through. This is often the result of tooth decay or a leaked filling.

So what happens during root canal treatment?

Well, firstly you will be given a local anaesthetic and then a rubber dam will be placed around the site of infection. Your infected pulp will be then be removed and any abscesses will be drained. Your root canal system itself will also be given a thorough cleaning and will then be closed up. A provisional filling will then be fitted over your tooth. It will be necessary for you to return for a second appointment so that we can ensure your infection has not come back. If everything is fine, then you will be fitted with permanent filling.

Will it hurt?

The anaesthetic will mean you won’t feel anything during the actual procedure. Your tooth might be a little tender or uncomfortable post-treatment, but this should quickly die down. A temporary ache is also preferable to the agony an infected tooth will wreak! Contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near Carrickmines for more information on root canal treatment.

Little Patients Near Foxrock Learn The Importance Of Looking After Their Teeth

Baby teeth are not, as often thought, a chance for your child to ‘test the water’ with their oral health. Losing a baby tooth early can have a drastic impact on the formation and development of a child’s face. Letting a child skimp on their oral healthcare at young age can also lead to bad habits developing, which might end up being responsible for losing teeth that don’t come back in later life! To be blunt: Children’s dentistry is quite important.

Let’s begin at the beginning

A child’s teeth start emerging in the womb. Once their teeth become visible (which will be sometime after they are out of the womb!) it is important that you start to core for them immediately! You are going to be the one cleaning your child’s teeth for quite some time. This period is crucial, however, as it can help develop a child’s attitude to oral health. Try brushing their teeth at regular times: After breakfast and before bed are popular times! Make sure you don’t skimp on your own oral health either! Set a good example and, hopefully, your children will follow.

The practicalities of cleaning a baby’s teeth

Firstly, get hold of a child’s toothbrush as these have smaller heads and more gentle brushes. Put a dollop of toothpaste on the brush and sit the child down on your knee with their head placed against your chest. Then simply brush their teeth, gently, in little circles for about two minutes. Note that two minutes is the recommended brushing time of all ages! Once your child’s teeth start emerging, we thoroughly recommend you get them checked by a dentist.

Dietary advice

Kids love sweets. Sadly, it can be what we love that hurts us most. It isn’t just those infamous bonbons that rot milk teeth however, starchy foods such as bread and pasta can be just as damaging! Bacteria is always present in the mouth and it feeds on sugar and starch, producing plaque from them and wreaking havoc on those pearly whites. Teaching kids to enjoy healthy snacks such as low fat yoghurt, hard fruits and vegetables can help prevent plaque from forming in the first place! For more information on children’s dentistry please contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock.

What Are The Different Types Of Bridges Available For Patients Near Dundrum?

A lot of people don’t like puns; one possible reason for this being that they expose the instability of language, how we aren’t quite as in control of communication as we might think. When writing an article on bridges, the temptation to pun to is almost irresistible. Given how stable dental bridges are, however, I feel exploiting the unstable nature of speech may be a little inappropriate…

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is essentially a way of replacing a missing tooth; they consist of a false tooth which is anchored on to the surrounding teeth. It is called a bridge as, much like a transportational bridge will cross a gap in land, it crosses over and covers the gap in your teeth!

Why would I want to replace a tooth?

Your appearance might be one reason. It isn’t however, the only reason: Tooth loss can affect the way you talk, eat and even the way your face is shaped! It can also increase the risk of you getting gum disease.

Types of bridges

At Dublin18 Dental Care near Dundrum, we specialise in two types of dental bridge: The conventional fixed bridge and the Maryland bridge. Which bridge is best suited for you is mostly determined by the size of your gap and the condition of your surrounding teeth.

The conventional fixed bridge

The conventional fixed bridge is the most common of the bridges and its popularity is mostly the result of its versatility. They are custom made to fit your mouth and teeth, so will blend in perfectly. They are, however, attached to the surrounding teeth by two crowns, which will require the surrounding healthy teeth to shaved slightly.

The Maryland bridge

Maryland bridges operate in a similar way to fixed bridges; they key difference being that these bridges do not use crowns to attach to the teeth adjacent to your gap. This means that no healthy teeth need be affected! The main drawback, however, is that these bridges can, subsequently, only be used in areas of low pressure in the mouth.

Want to talk bridges?

Then call us at Dublin18 Dental Care.

The Advantages Of Clearstep Braces For Patients Near Stillorgan

The 18th century German writer and philosopher Novalis once wrote that: “We are more closely connected to the invisible than to the visible.” Little did he know that this concept would be most clearly executed in the Clearstep brace!

What is Clearstep and why would I use it?

Perhaps referencing old poets doesn’t quite provided the clarity we hoped for! Treatment with Clearstep involves a series of clear plastic positioners which gradually move your teeth into your desired position for them! The reason people might choose over other forms of treatment is that they are practically invisible! Sadly, traditional metal braces carry with them an unfortunate stigma; perhaps it comes from adolescence, or maybe all those teen comedies in the 80’s, but the rolling pin that is ‘contemporary culture’ has deemed traditional braces ‘not all that attractive’. You could spend months debating how unfair this is. This does not mean, however, that you necessarily want to wear them yourself and, sadly, by the time cultural conceptions of beauty change, it might be a little too late to correct your bite! If you want discreet brace treatment, Clearstep is here for you.

Advantages go beyond aesthetics

Positioners, invisible or otherwise, do have quite a few advantages over their wired counterparts. Most of these stem from their ability to be removed. The difficulty of maintaining oral a high standard of oral hygiene whilst using traditional braces is well documented. Thankfully, with Clearstep, you can briefly remove your aligner whilst your brush and floss! You can also take them out when eating to help keep your aligner clean and prevent them being damaged. Clearstep positioners are not weak though! In fact, if you grind your teeth at night, Clearstep even offers you the same protection that a mouth guard will! You simply need to wear it whilst you sleep. You also avoid the ulcers that can come as result of traditional braces.

Typical treatment

Following a few examinations, your positioners will be produced in a lab. Once they arrive, you will wear a positioner for about two weeks. Each new positioner you wear will move your teeth closer to your desired tooth position. Treatment often lasts between 9 and 18 months, a similar time normal brace treatment. Contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near Stillorgan for more information and to arrange a consultation.

Inman Aligner Braces For Patients Near Monkstown

Sometimes excitement gets the best of us. Following years of orthodontic treatment, it is quite understandable that you might be a little loath to wear that recommended retainer. Embracing the new found freedom of your teeth, however, can bring consequences and it should be no surprise that dental relapses are fairly common. Thankfully, that is where the Inman Aligner comes in. Equally, for those who are lucky enough to have only minor orthodontic problems to begin with, the Inman Aligner can be a quick way to get rid of a few niggling details.

The Inman Aligner

It is a removable device used to align one’s teeth. It is particularly good aligner your front teeth.

Advantages of the Inman Aligner

Aldous Huxley once quipped that ‘speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure,’ and the Inman Aligner is a modern brace that certainly provides speed. Want your teeth straight in six to eighteen weeks? Then the Inman Aligner is your ticket. Aside from speed, the Inman Aligner also has all the advantages that come with being removable: It is easy to clean, can be taken out for eating and won’t cause uncomfortable ulcers! The device is also quite affordable!

How it works

The Inman Aligner contains two Nickel Titanium coil springs within its workings which power two aligner bows. The bows then lightly oppose each other and subsequently steer your teeth into position you desire. The aligner is capable of getting speed results as the gentle force that is produced works over an incredibly large range of movement.

Will the Inman Aligner work for everybody?

The Inman Aligner is best suited for people who have suffered a dental relapse or who are suffering from a minor misalignment in their front teeth.

Stages of treatment

Firstly, you have the all-important consultation. A few photos of your teeth will be taken here; this is we can see if the Inman Aligner is right for you and so we can recommend alternative treatments if it isn’t. If it seems appropriate, a detailed examination of your mouth and desired smile will occur. Impressions of your teeth will be taken and, from these, your aligner will then be produced. Then you simply have to wear it! For more information on the Inman Aligner please contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near Monkstown.

Dental Crowns To Protect Weaker Teeth For Patients Near Foxrock

A dental crown may not be as decorative as the crown jewels, but it will certainly get more of an airing! Besides, subtlety is often more desirable than ornamentation when your protecting a weak or damaged tooth.

What is a dental crown?

Crowns are also known as caps, but essentially any form of hat or headgear will hint at what they do: A dental crown sits on top of a tooth, like a cap or crown, and helps to both strengthen it and maintain the tooth’s functionality. Crowns are commonly used to protect teeth after root canal surgery.

When would I need a crown?

If a tooth is fractured beyond repair, decayed beyond the point of a filling being viable or if it simply looks bad, then a crown might be a viable option.

The advantages of a crown

Crowns a very durable and, with a little care, can last for up to ten years. They will blend in seamlessly with your other teeth and will make a once useless tooth useful once more.

What materials can a crown be constructed from?

Crowns can be made from porcelain, ceramic and (wonderfully) even gold materials. A crown made from a combination of metal and porcelain is also available. Gold crowns actually offer several advantages: Very little of one’s natural tooth structure needs to be altered to accommodate a gold crown, meaning most of your tooth can remain intact! As a material, gold is also less likely to wear down adjacent teeth than other materials. Obviously gold crowns aren’t all that subtle, but if you want to make a statement then a gold crown may be for you! Porcelain and ceramic materials will blend in with surrounding teeth very well, but the thickness of the material will require more of your tooth to be shaved. Crowns made from both porcelain and metal are highly functional, but dark lines will become visible through the crown over time

Caught your fancy?

If you are interested in exploring the world of dental crowns, why not call us at Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock?

Need Gift Ideas? Gift Vouchers At Dublin18 Dental Care Near Stillorgan Have A Full Selection Of Treatments

Christmas is a time for giving, but if you’re running short on time or you have relative or friend who has everything and is impossible to buy for, Dublin18 Dental Care may have the perfect solution. Our gift vouchers are available on a wide range of treatments, giving the recipient flexibility and choice.

We offer a full range of dental services, as well as facial treatments, so you can rest assured that your loved one will be spoiled for choice. We know how hectic it can be trying to dash around the shops and also how hard to can be to try and buy unique, special gifts. Our gift vouchers will make a lovely change to the usual run of the mill festive gifts and the recipient can choose how to spend them.

Some suggestions

At Dublin18 Dental Care near Stillorgan we know how important it is to feel confident and happy when you look in the mirror; if you’re constantly drawn to your flaws or you’re in need of a confidence boost, we have an array of treatments that can help to make you look and feel great.

Tooth whitening is one of our most popular cosmetic dental treatments; it is affordable and always effective, no matter how discoloured your teeth were to begin with. We provide at-home and in-chair professional whitening treatments and we can transform your smile in less than an hour. A gorgeous, white smile is the perfect Christmas gift and the best thing is it will last for years to come.

Fillers and anti-wrinkle injections

Fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are a perfect gift for anyone who is worried that they are starting to display signs of ageing. Fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are designed to smooth the skin, ironing out lines and wrinkles and adding volume to give the complexion a beautiful, natural lift. The procedure is simple and quick and the results last around 6-9 months.