Capital Dental Cosmetic Dentistry | Dental Blog - Capital Dental Cosmetic Dentistry

No metal braces? No problem! Discreet teeth straightening options

In the modern world, metal braces are far from the only option when it comes to straightening your teeth. Capital Dental in Hampton offers a range of orthodontic treatments, including both fixed appliances and removable ones. If you would like to learn more about straightening your teeth, come in and join us for a consultation.

metal-braces-hampton There are many benefits to be gained from teeth straightening treatment, and not all of them are aesthetic. Of course, improving the alignment of your teeth can boost your confidence and improve your interactions with other people, but did you know there are health benefits to be had, too?

Straightening your teeth reduces the number of awkward to reach areas where plaque can build up. So long as you have a good home cleaning routine, and visit your dentist and hygienist on a regular basis, improving the alignment of your teeth can gut your risk of dental decay and gum disease.

Because gum disease has been linked to a range of general medical conditions, including strokes and heart disease, straightening your teeth with either braces or aligners can also be a boon to your overall health.

Aligners and braces in Hampton: your options

Come into Capital Dental in Hampton for a teeth straightening consultation and your dentist will perform a complete clinical examination. They will then talk you through all of the relevant treatment options to suit your needs. Individual systems of braces and aligners are all best suited to different conditions, and we are committed to find the perfect one for you.

Among the options at our Hampton clinic are:

FastBraces

These braces have a unique design that enables the movement of both the crowns and roots of teeth at the same time, cutting treatment length considerably. With tooth-coloured and clear components, they are very discreet.

Cfast Braces

Tooth-coloured braces that focus on the “social six” front teeth in the smile line, Cfast can gently move your teeth in a matter of months.

Invisalign

Clear, removable aligners, Invisalign offers an alternative to fixed braces. You will prescribed the required number of aligners, which you change every fortnight as your teeth move.

Why dental implants are often the best way to replace lost teeth

With dental implants, a dentist can permanently replace your missing teeth. The implantology team at Capital Dental in Twickenham can treat everything from a simple replacement of a single tooth with one implant and one crown to a complex full-mouth restoration, even when extensive work is needed to rebuild your bone density prior to implant placement.

How dental implants differ from other tooth replacement options

Dental implants are small titanium posts or screws that are placed in direct contact with your jaw bone. This requires minor oral surgery, which we offer under either local anaesthetic or sedation here at our Twickenham dental practice.

Thanks to the intensive planning and latest 3D computer technology that goes into the diagnosis, treatment planning, and design stages of implant treatment, the actual placement process is actually fairly simple from a patient’s perspective. A lot of people describe it as being more bearable than having a tooth extracted, and the majority of patients at our Twickenham clinic only need local anaesthetic.

Once in position, dental implants mesh with your jaw bone and create a foundation similar to that of natural tooth roots, on to which your dentist will attach your permanent new teeth. These teeth may be crowns, a bridge, or dentures.

Implants are the only way a dentist can replace tooth roots, and are the only permanent tooth replacement option. They are also the only treatment that helps to prevent loss of bone density and gum tissue, because they are made from titanium, which supports bone growth. This means implants eschew many of the common problems suffered by traditional denture wearers, including difficulty eating, speaking, and singing because of loose teeth.

Dental implants in Twickenham

Capital Dental in Twickenham offers several implant treatment options. For patients in need of a full arch (jaw) of new teeth, we can sometimes use a technique called “All-on-4”, in which four implants are precisely placed and your new teeth are attached on the same day.

In other cases it is best to leave the implants for a few months to fully mesh with your jaw bone prior to the attachment of permanent teeth.

More to orthodontics than metal braces: discreet teeth straightening

Metal braces were once the only way a dentist or orthodontist could straighten teeth, but things have changed. At Capital Dental in Hampton we offer a wide range of subtler teeth-straightening options, using both fixed and removable appliances.

teeth-straightening-hampton An increasing number of adults are taking an interested in teeth straightening. Whether they missed out on treatment as a child or they had treatment only to experience adult relapse, as more people start to appreciate the true value of an alluring smile, so the demand for teeth straightening has grown.

At our Hampton dental practice we understand that for many adults, the thought of traditional metal braces can be a barrier to treatment. However, we also know that straightening your teeth has numerous health as well as aesthetic benefits, so if you would like to improve the alignment of your teeth in a subtler manner, why not come into Capital Dental in Hampton for a consultation?

Hampton braces and aligners

The ideal treatment for you will depend on your clinical situation – the type and amount of correction needed. Your dentist will also take lifestyle factors and personal preference into account whenever possible.

Among the treatments we offer are:

FastBraces

FastBraces have a unique design that means, unlike other brace systems that move the roots and the crowns of teeth separately, with FastBraces the whole tooth is moved at the same time. This speeds up treatment and is suitable for a wide range of orthodontic situations. FastBraces are available as either traditional metal appliances, or subtler clear and tooth-coloured braces.

Cfast Braces

Designed for quick cosmetic correction of minor issues affecting the front teeth, these braces comprise clear brackets and tooth-coloured nickel-titanium wires for maximum discretion.

Smile Tru

Treatment involves using a system of clear, removable aligners to guide your teeth into a better position. Because they are removable, you need no special dental hygiene techniques during treatment. You change your aligner fortnightly.

Inman Aligner

This single aligner provides rapid correction for problems including adult relapse, protrusion, moderate crowding and tooth rotation problems. Average treatment times with the Inman Aligner are between eight and 16 weeks, thanks to its unique design.

Dental implants: the best solution to missing teeth

At Capital Dental in Hampton, we can use dental implants to replace one, some, or even all of your natural teeth. Implants are a thoroughly modern option to replace teeth, not just restoring your smile but also giving you back the full functionality of a healthy jaw of teeth.

Why you should replace missing teeth

Ask any dentist and they will stress to you the importance of replacing any lost teeth, sooner rather than later. Adult teeth are meant to last a lifetime, but lifestyle factors, diet, accidents and injuries, even fear of the dentist can cause us to lose our teeth before their time.

They ought to be replaced for a number of reasons. First and foremost, of course, missing teeth near the front of the mouth can make you self-conscious and reluctant to smile in public, which can lead to people making the wrong assumptions about you. Depending on how many teeth are missing you may also find your diet is affected, leaving you restricted to soft foods or liquids only, which makes it hard to maintain a balanced diet.

When teeth are missing for any length of time the jaw bone starts to resorb. This loss in bone density can cause a sagging and prematurely old appearance to the face, and can make the placement of dental implants more complex, although not impossible.

At Capital Dental in Hampton, we believe that dental implants are often the perfect choice for patients with missing teeth. Implants are permanent, and are also the only way to replace missing tooth roots, which helps to prevent bone resorbtion.

Dental implants give back the functionality of a healthy jaw of teeth, meaning you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence, and without the worry your teeth will fall out.

Dental implants in Hampton

Come into our Hampton practice for an implant consultation and your dentist will thoroughly examine you, including using scans to check your bone density.

The skilled implantology team at Capital Dental Hampton can use bone grafting procedures to rebuild bone density if it is lacking, before placing your dental implants under local anaesthetic or sedation.

Alternatives to metal braces for adult teeth straightening

Braces tend to conjure up the image of metal train-tracks, attached to the teeth of teenagers for lengthy periods of time. At Capital Dental in Hampton, we offer a number of more discreet orthodontic options – designed to straighten adults’ teeth without a glint of metal in sight.

Health benefits of teeth straightening

At our Hampton dental practice, we are keen to point out that whilst many modern orthodontic appliances are referred to as “cosmetic” orthodontics or “cosmetic” braces, there are always health benefits to be gained from straightening your teeth.

To an extent, these benefits will depend on the current state of your teeth, and on the type and amount of correction that’s required. They include:

Straighter teeth being easier to keep clean, with fewer awkward areas where plaque can build up
More even distribution of the forces generated by biting and chewing, so that no teeth are put under excessive strain;
Reduced risk of injury or loss of front teeth through accident and injury if protrusion is rectified
Improvement of bruxism and headaches caused by teeth grinding if the bite is better positioned.

At our Hampton dental practice, we routinely use both fixed appliances – braces – and removable appliances – aligners – to straighten adults’ teeth. The perfect appliance for you will depend on your clinical need, combined with an element of personal preference. This will be discussed at your initial orthodontic consultation.

When you come into Capital Dental in Hampton for an orthodontic consultation, your dentist will perform a clinical examination as well as listening to your concerns about your tooth alignment. They will then talk you through the pros and cons of each appropriate treatment option, before helping you to make an informed choice.

Among the options at Capital Dental Hampton are:

Tooth coloured braces

These may be fast-acting cosmetic braces such as Cfast, or more traditional appliances such as FastBraces. Comprising tooth-coloured wires and clear ceramic brackets, these braces use the traditional mechanics of orthodontics to move your teeth.

Clear aligners

Clear aligners are removable and fit comfortably over your teeth to guide them into a new position. We offer several brands at our Hampton clinic.

Dental implants can restore your smile, even if you’ve suffered bone loss

Dental implants are one of the most rapidly growing areas of modern dentistry. At Capital Dental in Twickenham our skilled implants team can replace one, some, or even all of your natural teeth using implants. Even if another dentist has told you that you are not a suitable candidate for implant treatment because you have suffered bone resorbtion (shrinkage) we urge you to get in touch with us, because we may well still be able to help you.

Dental implants and bone loss

As the only way a dentist can replace the root portion of one or more missing teeth, dental implants play a vital role in helping to stop bone loss, which is a common side-effect of losing teeth. Without the tooth roots in place, the jaw bone is prone to resorbtion, which means it shrinks back. This can make the placement of dental implants more difficult, but not impossible.

Dental implants are made out of titanium, which is osteoconductive – supportive of bone growth. They help to alleviate the problems associated with bone loss, which include premature sagging of the facial skin and problems with dentures that become increasingly loose.

When you come to Capital Dental in Twickenham for an implant assessment, your dentist will assess the current level of bone density. If it is found to be insufficient to support implants, we may be able to perform a bone graft or a sinus lift. Both of these procedures are designed to rebuild your bone (using your own or donor/synthetic bone material) prior to implant placement. Our modern Twickenham practice is fully equipped to provide these procedures, which are commonly carried out under sedation.

Bone grafts or sinus lifts will add, on average, six months to your total treatment time, but it will be worth it to maximise your implants’ chance of success.

Dental implants are fitted at our Twickenham practice under either local anaesthetic or sedation, depending on your preference. Dentures, a bridge, or a crown, will then be attached on top, restoring not just your smile but also the full functionality of a healthy jaw of teeth.

Subtle braces to straighten adults’ teeth

If you think that treatment with braces has to mean a metallic glint to your smile, we ask you to think again. At Capital Dental in Twickenham, we recognise that traditional metal train-track devices are not suitable for everyone, which is why we are proud to offer a number of subtler orthodontic treatment options.

The benefits of orthodontics for all ages

Orthodontic treatment is now seen as standard for children and teenagers in the UK, but what about the many adults who would like to straighten their teeth? It may be that you missed out on orthodontic treatment as a child, or you may have experienced adult relapse – which means your teeth have moved back to their original position.

At our Twickenham dental practice we welcome adult orthodontic patients. Whether your teeth are in need of mild cosmetic correction, or you have more extensive issues affecting your bite, our skilled team will work hard to find the perfect solution for your individual case.

Even cosmetic braces have health benefits. By straightening the teeth they become easier to clean, with fewer gaps for food particles to get trapped in. So long as you visit your dentist and hygienist regularly and have a good tooth cleaning routine at home, straightening your teeth can reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Twickenham discreet braces and aligners

If you are interested in straightening your teeth in a subtler way than with traditional metal braces, we invite you to join us at our Twickenham practice for an orthodontic consultation. Your dentist will undertake a thorough clinical examination before talking you through the pros and cons of all the relevant treatment options. We want you to be entirely happy with your decision and aware of any impact treatment could have on your daily life, so we will furnish you with all the information needed to make an informed choice.

We use both fixed appliances – braces – and removable appliances – aligners at our Twickenham dental practice. The best one for your case will depend on your clinical need and on lifestyle factors.

Our adult braces comprise clear and tooth-coloured parts.

Why dental implants are often the best option to replace missing teeth

With dental implants, your dentist has a permanent method by which they can replace your missing teeth. At Capital Dental in Hampton we are able to treat even complex implant cases, where additional treatments to rebuild your bone density – bone grafts or sinus lifts – are required prior to implant placement. Depending on your circumstances, it may be possible to fit your permanent new teeth.

Dental implants: the advantages

There are several advantages to be gained from using dental implants to replace your missing teeth. Obviously, their permanence is a key factor; indeed, they are the only permanent way a dentist can replace missing or failing teeth. They also restore full functionality to your jaw, meaning you will be able to eat a healthy and balanced diet without being restricted to soft foods, and will hold your new teeth firmly in place.

Dental implants help to prevent the problem of bone resorbtion, which commonly occurs when several teeth are missing. Because of their direct integration with the jaw bone, and the fact that they made from titanium – which is osteoconductive – they actively encourage bone growth.

Hampton dental implants: the process

Come into Capital Dental in Hampton for a consultation with an implant dentist, and they will assess whether you need any procedures to rebuild your bone density prior to implant surgery, as well as letting you know how many dental implants you will need.

We place implants under either local anaesthetic or sedation, depending on your preference. Sometimes, your dentist is able to attach your permanent new teeth at the same appointment, meaning that you will leave with new teeth that look and function just like natural ones. In other cases, a healing period is required to give your implants time to meld with your bone. Temporary teeth may be fitted in this latter scenario.

Alternatives to metal braces in Hampton

Metal braces are no longer the only option for patients who want straighter teeth. At Capital Dental in Hampton, we understand the dilemma faced by many adults who would like to straighten their teeth but balk at the thought of traditional metal appliances. That’s why we are proud to offer a number of subtler alternatives.

The benefits of straighter teeth

Many of these appliances are referred to as “cosmetic braces” but at our Hampton dental practice we are keen to point out that as well as the aesthetic benefits to be gained from straightening your teeth, there are health benefits to be had to. To put it simply, straighter teeth tend to be healthier teeth, because with fewer gaps and spaces in which food particles can get trapped and plaque bacteria can build up, good dental hygiene is easier to maintain. With regular visits to your dentist and a good home care regime, straightening your teeth can reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Teeth straightening in Hampton: your options

If you are interested in learning more about how discreet orthodontics could help you, we invite you to join us at Capital Dental Hampton for a consultation. A dentist will perform a complete clinical examination and diagnosis, then will take your preferences and lifestyle factors into consideration before devising a treatment plan.

Depending on your needs, we may recommend fixed braces or removable clear aligners. Among your treatment options at our Hampton dental centre are:

Cfast braces

Cfast are cosmetic braces that work in approximately six months, by focussing on the teeth in your smile line. Comprising clear and tooth-coloured components, Cfast blend in nicely with the natural colour of your teeth.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a popular system of clear aligners that offer an alternative to braces. They can correct a wide array of orthodontic concerns, and have the additional benefit of being removable, which is good for your oral hygiene.

Inman Aligner

The Inman Aligner is a single clear aligner designed to correct adult relapse and protrusion and crowding issues with the front teeth. Again, this aligner is removable.

Dental implants – an excellent way to restore your smile

Dental implants are an excellent option for people who have missing or failing teeth. At Capital Dental in Twickenham our skilled implant dentist is able to treat even complex cases where additional work is required to rebuild bone density prior to implant placement.

The many advantages of dental implants

There are a number of advantages to choosing dental implants over standard dentures and bridges. Not least is the fact that implants are the only permanent way a dentist can replace missing teeth – with proper care, your implants and the teeth attached to them will last you for many years, maybe even for life.

Dental implants are also the only way to replace the root portions of teeth. Placed in direct contact with your jaw bone, they provide a very stable base on to which your dentist can then attach crowns, a bridge, or dentures, depending on how many teeth have to be replaced. This direct interaction with the jaw bone also helps to prevent the problem of bone loss, which is common in patients with missing teeth.

Unlike standard dentures, which have a tendency to become loose over time, dental implants will stay firmly in place, enabling you to eat a healthy and balanced diet with no restrictions, and with no fear your teeth will fall out unexpectedly.

The implant process

At our Twickenham practice we place dental implants under either local anaesthetics or sedation, depending on your preference. Sometimes new teeth can be fitted straight away, but often a healing period of a few months is required to give your implants time to mesh with your bone.

For those who have already experienced bone loss, we are able to perform sinus lifts and bone grafts at our Twickenham clinic. These procedures rebuild your bone density to sufficient levels to support implants.