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- Even Pop Stars Have Wisdom Teeth Woes
Miley Cyrus is always finding new ways to expose bits of herself on the internet. But the explicit pics she posted on her Instagram account recently featured not yet another revealing outfit, but rather, the results of a rather painful trip to the dentist.
It seems poor old Miley is feeling a little sorry for herself after having her wisdom teeth removed. Ouch. You can see more here, but be warned – the graphic image of her pulled wisdom teeth is not for the faint-hearted!
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- How Long do Dental Implants Last and how do you Maintain Them?
Implantology has been around since the 1960s. The first ever patient to have dental implants was Gösta Larsson in 1965. He died in 2006 with his implants still going strong 40 years later.
Dental implants can last a lifetime. The crown that goes on top may need replacing after 10 to 15 years through wear and tear. But proper care can make even crowns last longer.
Yes. But failure does not happen very often. A review in 2007* of single implants after five years reported a 96.8% survival rate. Implantology is now so advanced that failures owing to rejection or functional problems are rare. Perfect Pearls have a success rate of 98%.
The overwhelming majority of dental implants are successful. But factors that can cause failure are:
Think of implants like your natural teeth: you need to healthy gums to support them. Brushing and flossing thoroughly every day is essential for your teeth and your implants.
Smoking inhibits blood flow, which affects the healing process after implant surgery. Even after the implant has successfully bonded with the bone, smoking can cause inflammation, infection and ultimately, failure.
Certain medical conditions can cause implant problems. Please call Perfect Pearls on 01902 500 823 for advice.
Implant aftercare is the key to implants that last a lifetime. Thankfully, caring for your implants is not difficult. In fact, it’s virtually the same as caring for your own teeth.
Staying healthy is good for your mind, body – and implants:
- Avoid sugar, junk food and fizzy drinks
- Keep your alcohol intake low
- Eat plenty of vegetables and some fruit
If you’ve invested in dental implants, you also need to invest time and effort in keeping your mouth healthy. Implants may not be “real” teeth. But if neglected, they develop a coating of bacterial plaque just like natural teeth. Eventually, without treatment, you could end up with peri-implant mucositis: an inflammation of the gums around the implant.
The basic advice for keeping your teeth and gums healthy is straightforward (and you may be following it already). It’s simply a case of making oral care part of your daily routine:
- Brush your teeth and gum line gently with a soft toothbrush twice a day
- Floss once a day with floss, tape or interdental brushes
Your implant dentist at Perfect Pearls will give you specific advice on how to care for your implants.
Regular dentist checkups are vital to the longevity of dental implants. Your dentist will spot issues early and treat them. And hygiene appointments will complete the oral health routine you maintain at home. Check-ups are recommended every 6 months and we ask that any dental implant patient visits us at Perfect Pearls at least once a year so we can check their oral status and keep the lifetime guarantee valid.
So ultimately, your implants will last a long, long time if you care for them well. To find out more about having dental implants, visit a Perfect Pearls clinic in Wolverhampton for your free initial consultation. Call us on 01902 500 823
or book online.
* Jung, R. E.; Pjetursson, B. E.; Glauser, R.; Zembic, A.; Zwahlen, M.; Lang, N. P. (2008). “A systematic review of the 5-year survival and complication rates of implant-supported single crowns”. Clinical Oral Implants Research 19 (2): 119–130. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0501.2007.01453.x
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- Shape Up For Summer: Healthy Teeth Bikini Diet
Summer holidays and lazy days on the beach are what many of us dream about at this time of year. Though for some, the idea of clambering into an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny 2-piece is enough to make us feel like booking a skiing trip instead. Summertime beauty often revolves around the concept of ‘less is more’ too. And, the best accessory when going au naturel is a healthy smile.
What if you could make sure your smile and body are beach-ready at the same time? Here’s how:
Constant grazing is bad for our teeth. Plaque forms on our teeth and produces enamel-attacking acid when we eat or drink things that contain sugar. Acid can hang around for up to 20 minutes after eating. So, the more we snack, the more chances acid has to damage our teeth.
When we feel peckish between meals, it’s easy to reach for calorie-laden treats in a moment of weakness. A biscuit here, a handful of crisps there – and before we know it, we’re pounds heavier. Planning limited snacks, rather than giving in to unbridled snack attacks, is the way to lose weight and protect our teeth.
Action plan: Limit snacks to 2 each day and plan snack times in advance.
Raw crudités or fruit is a great alternative to raiding the biscuit barrel. Vitamins and minerals in fruit and veg nourish our bodies in a way junk foods can’t. So if you’re looking for a snack, avoid “empty calories” and choose these are low calorie, natural options such as:
- Carrots
- Apples
- Cucumbers
- Pears
- Celery
Chomping an apple or crunching celery is not only a great hunger buster, it’s good for teeth too. Chewing fibrous foods disturbs plaque and acts like a natural toothbrush to clear away bacteria. And, chewing makes our mouths produce saliva that washes away food particles and minimises acid.
Action plan: Eat natural, unprocessed foods and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Protein is essential for our health. Increasing the amount of protein we eat can help weight loss too. Our bodies use up more calories to digest protein. And protein rich food stays in the stomach longer, so we feel more satisfied and less likely to snack.
Protein foods such as dairy, meat, eggs and fish contain phosphorous, which can help keep tooth enamel strong. Cheese, yoghurt and milk also contain casein, a protein that helps put minerals back into tooth enamel.
Action plan: Make protein part of every meal
Our bodies rely on water to function. Apparently 37% of people mistake thirst for hunger, so drinking enough water (around 8 glasses each day) will ensure we’re not eating when we don’t need to. Drinking water isn’t enough to keep hunger at bay. But studies have shown that when we eat food that has a high water content, we consume fewer calories.
Staying hydrated is vital for our teeth too because water helps our mouths produce saliva. While it’s not the nicest thing to think about, saliva is a magic potion that protects our teeth.
Action plan: Drink plenty of water and eat water-packed foods like soup.
The idea that eating late at night makes us fat is a myth. But it is easy to overeat in the evening. It’s a time of day when we like to chill out and watch our favourite programmes or surf the net. But these sedentary activities often go hand in hand with grazing.
Imposing a food curfew can be good for our teeth and waistlines. Brushing our teeth half an hour or so after an evening meal can be a little routine to tell ourselves that we’ve finished eating for the night. And it means our teeth have a break from plaque and acid.
Action plan: Brush teeth half an hour after dinner and don’t eat anything else before bedtime.
Follow these 5 simple steps and you’ll feel and look better. Plus, you’ll be looking after your smile as well. If you need extra help to get your smile in shape, Perfect Pearls can help. Book a free consultation today.
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- New ITV Programme Lifts The Lid On “The Dentists”
A new ITV documentary, The Dentists, is going behind the scenes at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester. The programme tells the extraordinary stories of some of the 90,000 people who visit the hospital every year.
Every week, The Dentists deal with a wide range of oral health problems. Some are dental emergencies such as a broken tooth. While other patients need advanced facial reconstruction plastic surgery.
One of the most devastating problems The Dentists face is tooth decay, often caused by sugary foods and drinks. Over 90% of British adults suffer from decayed or missing teeth. And children in the north-west have the worst teeth in England.
The programme follows newly qualified, Kirsty Woodmason as she carries out her first multiple-extractions of the day. After removing 9 teeth from a young patient, Kirsty says: “If I was a parent, I don’t think I’d like to admit that the reason my child was going under general anaesthetic to have teeth taken out is the foods and the drinks I’d been giving them.”
Kirsty confesses her own fears about visiting the dentist, saying: “I myself am absolutely terrified when I go to the dentist. I sit in the waiting room with my fists clenched, sweating.”
For University Dental Hospital, fighting this fear – labelled dentophobia – is a priority. Oral surgeon, Erik Andreson, has spent years finding ways to reassure nervous patients.
Erik says: “Back when I was training, the emphasis was far more on the practical nature of what we do. But as you go on through your professional career, you pick up the best psychological tricks. I envy Derren Brown.”
He continues: “If people say to me they don’t like injections, I’m very honest with them, neither do I. I’m very biblical when it comes to injections. It’s better to give than to receive.”
The programme meets Danielle, a 25 year-old patient whose fear of the dentist means a lifetime of neglected teeth. Danielle undergoes sedation so the dentist can extract her bad teeth. Whilst she regrets now having dentures on her wedding day, Danielle says: “When we do get married, I want dentures in. I want to be able to smile and have teeth.”
A year ago, patient James had some devastating news. He says: “When you’re told you need your nose removed because you have a pretty aggressive cancer, and it’s a life-saving operation, would you say no?”
The programme follows James as he undergoes the latest of a series of operations to reconstruct his face and give him back his front teeth.
His dentist, Craig, graduated at just 21. He now specialises in restoring faces that have been damaged by cancer. Craig says: “I have the best job in the world, because I have the great chance of doing things that make a vast difference to people.”
The Dentists, ITV, Monday 16 June, 9pm.
If you’d like to improve the appearance of your smile, get in touch with our friendly team at Perfect Pearls.
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- Beach Holidays and Oral Health
If you are planning on getting away for some sun in the final few months of the year, you may be interested to learn more about some of the facts surrounding holidays and how particular types of holiday can have implications on your oral health.
Beach holidays and trips to hot countries are understandably a very common choice of holiday for British people. These types of holidays are not quite as popular with dentists, however, as the warmer climates often encourage a short but intensive change in dietary habits for the duration of the holiday.
Spending time on such holidays more often than not leads to an increased intake in food and drink products that have a high sugar content and/or are highly acidic. Such products include ice cream, candies, carbonated soft drinks, ciders, red wines, olives and vinaigrettes.
Maintaining a conscious effort to eat healthily whilst on holiday and with the recommended eating routine of three square meals a day will limit the vulnerability of your teeth to attack from sugary and acidic products.
If you would like an assessment of your oral health, or further advice on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy, please do not hesitate to contact us via our website or directly by telephone at the practice.
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- Ten Interesting Facts About Teeth
- Milk teeth begin to develop before birth, but do not appear until 6-12 months after a child is born.
Most people will have lost their milk teeth by the time they get to age fourteen.
- A full adult set consists of thirty-two teeth, the last four of which may appear later than the others. The final teeth to come through are referred to as wisdom teeth.
- A set of teeth consists of four different types; incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
- Incisors are the two front teeth on the top jaw, and the two front teeth on the bottom jaw.
- There are also four canine teeth – one on either side of your two sets of incisors. These teeth are very sharp, and used to tear foods.
- There are eight premolars in total, and they are located next to the canine teeth, with four on the upper jaw and four on the lower jaw. They are much larger and wider than the teeth at the front on your jaw.
- The molars are the eight teeth at the back of your jaw, again with four on top and four on the bottom. Located towards the rear of your mouth, these teeth play the biggest part in breaking down food.
- The outer coating of the tooth is a substance called enamel, and is the hardest substance present in the entire body.
- Inside the enamel and dentine shell is the area that controls the blood supply and nerve endings of the tooth. This highly-protected area is known as the pulp.
The nerve endings within the pulp communicate with the brain.
- A substance called cementum is what secures the root of the tooth to the gum.
The tooth is connected to the jawbone by periodontal fibres.
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- Our Response to Daily Mail Article
PERFECT PROFILES Response to:
Why teeth implants may be the most painful (And costly) mistake of your life
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2561578/Why-teeth-implants-painful-costly-mistake-life.html
Firstly the Daily Mail’s article revolves around a patient (Trevor Peak) who was seemingly given bad or lack of, advice. This is reflected in the fact that he was awarded damages (But this wouldn’t have been due to the implants themselves). He was a smoker and this can have very adverse effects on the success (Or otherwise) of an implant bonding with bone in the jaw. The patient says he was neither asked nor had any advice that smoking would/could have a negative effect on any implant and this was a big mistake from the clinic. Any patient considering dental treatment should have lifestyle questions asked in order to assess the success of any new treatment, but also to see why the natural tooth/teeth have been affected up to that point. All Perfect Pearls patients are asked questions such as if they smoke, so that the dentist/implantologist can make the best suggestions and recommendations for treatment- and the subsequent success of this.
The patient in question also highlights that he was recommended to have extra bone added at the time of his implant. This was to come from his thigh. Bone grafting is not uncommon but in most cases artificial bone is used to supplement existing bone in the jaw- it is only extreme cases that bone is taken from other parts of the body! When the patient refused this, this obviously meant that the implant’s chances of success go down. Perfect Pearls offer a lifetime guarantee on their implants and will only place implants where we feel there is a high chance of success. If a patient refused any bone grafting and we felt this meant the implant would not be successful, we wouldn’t proceed with implant treatment.
What’s more, Perfect Pearls give every patient full aftercare instructions- both verbally and written. We go through patients’ treatment plans with them from their very first consultation, making sure they understand each step of treatment recommended, the timelines and costs- Which are up to 70% lower than many practices within the UK and comparable to those found in Europe!
We place over 150 implants every month and have a 98% success rate (2%-5% is the normal acceptance for failure rates clinically).
The article also highlights a major success with Alun Banner now enjoying the increased range of food he can eat (Which has made him healthier from having more options). There are far more success stories than horror and one thing the article does show, is the saving that patients can make with Perfect Pearls – Implants are listed as being from £2000-£4000 each, Perfect Pearls offer these at £680 with a Lifetime guarantee!!!
It’s also important to be aware that whilst good oral hygiene is essential (Brushing twice a day, using a mouthwash) there is no need for ‘Obsessive oral hygiene’ i.e. brushing fours time a day. In natural teeth this amount of brushing could actually wear down enamel on the tooth, the same could be said for porcelain crowns/bridges thus decreasing their lifespan.
Perfect Pearls offer a complimentary consultation ahead of committing to any treatment so that we can assess and then explain the recommended treatments for any patient. We take each patient into a separate room after their initial time in the dentists’ chair and step by step explain the treatment plan with them, answering any questions they may have as we go. There’s no obligation to book with us and we hold any prices quoted for a full 28 days to let the patient make up their own mind as to when and if they would like to start treatment. To compliment this, any questions the patient has after treatment is responded to by one of our medical professionals, within 60 minutes of any call or email.
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- Beautiful Flowers from a very happy patient
We are blown away after receiving this beautiful bouquet of flowers from a patient who is over the moon with the treatment that we have provided for them.
It was such a lovely gesture and we are proud of all the work that we complete for each and every patient.
If you are interested in the results that we could achieve for you please contact us on 01582 518100 or 01902 500823.
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- Your Lifestyle And Your Teeth
By brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and following the advice of your dentist and hygienist, your chances of maintaining healthy teeth and gums will be very good.
However, taking care of your overall health through your lifestyle is another major contributor to keeping your teeth and gums in great condition.
Drinking alcohol and smoking are two lifestyle habits that can be very detrimental to your oral health.
Drinking alcohol is known to be a major cause of tooth decay. Drinking on a regular basis has also been linked to mouth cancer, as a high percentage of those diagnosed cite frequent alcohol intake as a part of their lifestyle and diet.
Smoking is another habit that can cause major complications for your oral health, as well as your health in general. Smoking can cause discolouration of your teeth, bad breath, and gum disease. Just like drinking alcohol regularly, frequent smoking is another mouth cancer risk.
The benefits of cutting down on drinking alcohol and quitting smoking are great not only for your teeth and gums, but for your overall health as well.
If you think you need dental implants and want to take up on the savings that we offer, please contact us on 01582 51800 or through our website to arrange an appointment for an assessment on your oral health and the treatment options available.
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- Life after a Dental Implant
For those who may be asking, “Am I a good candidate for a dental implant?” you may be wondering what life will be like after the procedure.
And the answer is: significantly better.
Chances are, if you are considering implants, it’s because of a missing tooth or poorly fitting dentures, and dental implants can solve the problems that come with these impediments.
What’s vital for living with dental implants is good oral hygiene. A lack of dental hygiene is often the reason for implant failure and can be avoided by brushing and flossing your teeth daily. If the reason you need dental implants in the first place is as a result of poor dental maintenance, it’s imperative that this is improved to make the treatment worth doing.
To keep this up, it’s important to note that you can expect to pay a visit to your dentist at least every six months. Generally speaking dental implants are used and cared for in the same manner as your normal teeth – but a check with your dentist can help spot any problems early on.
In the first few days following the treatment, you may be given specific instructions to ensure that everything heals properly. It could take a few days for the implants to anchor into your jawbone, and for this reason it’s usually recommended that softer foods, cold food and warm soups are eaten whilst the adjustment is taking place. However, don’t let this put you off. In the long term, dental implants are strong and you can go back to eating your normal diet after a matter of days.
For life immediately after dental implants, it’s worth making a few preparations. If you are sedated, you will be unable to drive for the 24 hours afterwards so it’s worth having a friend or family member with you to take you home. Similarly, you may need to take a few days off work and informing your employer to this possibility is a wise move.
Having dental implants will make no difference to your day-to-day life, but if you previously struggled with chewing, eating or talking due to missing or loose teeth, then they can offer a significant improvement.
If you’d like more information about dental implants, visit our dental implant page or feel free to get in touch.
Here at Perfect Pearls, we have extensive experience in this treatment and are happy to answer any questions,please do not hesitate to contact us either by telephone or through the website.
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- Dental Implants – Your Questions Answered
What are Dental Implants?
Dental Implants replace the root of the natural tooth allowing a crown to be fitted into an empty space. The implant and the crown are connected by means of an abutment. Together the implant, abutment and crown produce a replica of your tooth that looks and functions like a natural tooth. For multiple spaces, a bridge or dentures can be used instead of single crowns.
Who are they suitable for?
Dental Implants are suitable for any patients that have the right amount of bone in the area where the implant will be placed a well as patients who take certain steroids e.g. for arthritis. The risk of the implant not integrating with the bone is higher for certain patients such as people who smoke or who are diabetic, but there other factors that go with these so it is best to come along to a consultation so that the oral surgeon can assess each patient individually.
How long does the treatment take?
It varies between patients but generally it takes 3-4 months on the lower and approximately 6-7 months for the upper jaw.
How long is the recovery process?
After the implant has been placed, there is a waiting period of approximately 3 months for the lower jaw and approximately 6 months for the upper jaw for the implant to integrate with the bone before the crown/bridge/denture are fitted on top.
What are the benefits of Dental Implants?
You can regain your smile. They can keep you youthful looking as they can prevent bone loss from occurring. You can also have your confidence back with dental implants as you will no longer have the woes/disadvantages associated with dentures.
Can I still have Dental Implants if I’ve lost some of my jawbone in the area in question?
Yes you can. Our expert oral surgeons can do procedures such as Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts. They can determine whether you need these treatments at your free consultation.
Are there any disadvantages or side effects associated with the Dental Implants?
The procedure is an oral surgery procedure and therefore, like all surgery, there are some risks. However, these are minor and rare and the oral surgeon will be able to explain them at your consultation.
Are the materials used in the Treatments safe?
Of course! The metal used is Titanium, which is also used in operations in hospitals.
I’m interested in Dental Implants but I still have some questions, who can I contact?
One of our friendly advisors can help arrange a free consultation with one of our oral surgeons for you please contact us via our website or call us directly on 01582 518 100.
