TCI Weekly News

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
May 5th, 2013

Cosmetic Dentistry is a general phrase used to cover any dental procedures that are performed for aesthetic reasons- ie. to improve the appearance of teeth- rather than for clinical or medical purposes. In this article and the following one, I will discuss the various treatments that can be performed to cosmetically improve the appearance of your smile.

Tooth Coloured Fillings
Although I have not personally placed a metal, mercury based filling for well over 15 years, this material is still commonly used both in USA and UK. (Some European countries have now banned it due to its potential to break down and be harmful.) From a cosmetic perspective, metal fillings look ugly and unnatural and for some people can be clearly seen in the mouth when talking or smiling.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
April 4th, 2013

Many parents give their children fruit juice or smoothies to drink thinking that they are the healthy option over soda and other sugared drinks like Gatorade. Many of us have juicers or blenders at home and are able to make our own. However, whilst it is true these are generally more nutritionally beneficial and contain less artificial additives than soda, fruit juices and smoothies are still very high in sugar, a fact that is unknown or overlooked by many parents.

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April 6th, 2013

‘Gum Disease’ is a catch-all description for a range of conditions. In its mildest form it can be simple gum inflammation; in its most severe form- periodontal disease- it can result in loss of gum, bone and ultimately teeth.

Gum disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth. If these bacteria are not regularly removed from the mouth a film called plaque forms on the teeth. Hard deposits called calculus or tartar also forms on the teeth and gives a home for bacteria. Initially if plaque is left on the teeth unchecked the gums will become inflamed. This is gingivitis.

PRINTED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
March 23rd, 2013

Dental Issues in Older Patients

There are a number of specific dental issues that I see associated with my older patients. Some are of a cosmetic nature, so whilst not necessarily significant from a medical perspective might be a concern for the patient on an aesthetic level; others are more are related to increased difficulty in treating dental disease which has both aesthetic and medical implications.

Cosmetic
As teeth age, a number of things occur that make the teeth look duller and darker in colour than younger teeth. The nerve/pulp chamber in the center of the tooth naturally gets smaller so the tooth becomes more solid dentine, resulting in a darker colour.

PRINTED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
March 9th, 2013

Orthodontics is the area of dentistry that aims to improve the position, appearance and function of crooked or abnormally arranged teeth. This involves wearing appliances on the teeth which, over time, move the teeth into the desired position. Some appliances are fixed and only able to be removed by a dentist (sometimes called ‘braces’) some are able to be removed by the patient (eg. Invisalign).

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February 23rd, 2013

 You may have read recently in the press about a 25 year old man in Australia who has been fitted with dentures due to the fact that he drank so much soda that he lost all his teeth. According to the reports, the man refused to drink water and instead was drinking 6-8 litres of sugary coke per day. Although his dentist had warned him about the risks, he still refused to change his habits and ended up with such severe dental decay that it gave him blood poisoning. Ultimately he had all of his teeth removed and dentures fitted.

PRINTED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
February 9th, 2013

Crowns, Bridges & Veneers
When talking with patients about crowns, caps, post-crowns, bridges and veneers I find that there can sometimes be some confusion. In this article I want to explain the differences between them and when that particular course of treatment might be suitable.

Veneers
A veneer is a thin porcelain cover designed to go on the outside surface of a tooth. Veneers are only used on front teeth and are generally used for cosmetic purposes, for example to restore chipped or broken teeth, or to change the colour, size or shape of teeth.

PRINTED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
January 26th, 2013

Bad Breath

There are several reasons why you might experience bad breath, or halitosis, with the most common cause being poor oral hygiene. When teeth are not brushed and flossed regularly or well enough, food debris will remain in the mouth and plaque will accumulate which leads to calculus build up. Calculus is the hard, chalk-like material that cannot be removed by brushing alone. When this is allowed to build up, it can lead to gum disease and one of the symptoms of gum disease is bad breath.

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January 12th, 2013

With the start of January and the making of New Year’s resolutions it is a good time to have a think about our dental health and whether our current practices are ideal in ensuring that our teeth and gums are staying in great shape. Do we need to resolve that we won’t give our children candy just before going to bed? Or maybe promise that we will floss more?

PRINTED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
December 15th, 2012

In this final article looking on drugs used during dental procedures I want to look at the area of anti-anxiety medication and sedation. These drugs are not used routinely due to their serious nature, the potential risks and/ or side effects, and the potential for interaction with other prescribed medication. They should also only be used for long or complex dental surgery, not for simple cleanings or fillings.

The vast majority of my patients are happily treated with the use of a local anesthetic which is effective for even complex and lengthy surgery and if required can be ‘topped-up’ during the course of the procedure. However, some patients suffer with genuine anxiety and request help in order to be able to have treatment. This is where anti-anxiety drugs or a mild- moderate sedation might be helpful.