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Many adults who suffer with headaches may never realize, however, that their dental health may cause or worsen their headache symptoms.

If you find yourself struggling with unexplained headaches, you may need to evaluate your teeth or jaw for any underlying conditions that might factor into your pain. Discover three such issues that can play a role in acute or chronic headaches.

Tooth Damage

Any tooth damage that exposes sensitive nerve tissue can cause pain. However, this pain may not limit itself to the affected tooth. Pain in the tooth’s nerve pulp can travel along the trigeminal nerve to other parts of the head, resulting in what feels like a classic tension headache or light or sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.

A cracked, broken, or severely worn tooth should receive prompt professional care, not only to guard against infection and improve function but also to prevent or relieve pain. Permanent crowns can cover and protect damaged enamel, safeguarding the nerve tissue against unwelcome stimuli and preventing additional damage.

Infections and Abscesses

In addition to triggering nerve pain, a fractured or decayed tooth can also develop a painful bacterial infection. The bacteria destroy the sensitive pulp chamber of the tooth, causing symptoms such as pain, fever, and swelling. It can also invade the jaw, resulting in an abscess.

Diseased nerve tissue can transfer pain to the face or head just as easily as acute damage to the tooth enamel. An abscess in the upper jaw can also produce an acute sinus infection, causing debilitating sinus or migraine headaches.

Fortunately, you can avoid the worst of these complications by treating that nagging toothache as quickly as possible. Root canal treatment can often save even a seriously infected tooth, while antibiotics can clear up any infection in surrounding tissues. As the infection recedes, so will your headaches.

Bruxism

The unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth can produce chronic headaches. This problem, known as bruxism, typically occurs during sleep. Emotional stress and alignment problems between the top and bottom teeth can fatigue the jaw muscles, wear down the enamel, or even lead to tooth fractures.

The tooth damage from bruxism can transfer nerve pain from the teeth into the face and head. Meanwhile, strain on the jaw muscles can cause pain that spreads from these muscles to your head, resulting in a TMJ-related tension headache.

Your dentist can help you ward off bruxism-related headaches. You may need to have a custom night guard fitted to reduce overnight jaw tension and enamel wear.

If you suspect that your headache problem might actually stem from a dental problem, start your search for solutions at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01296 712264to schedule an evaluation and learn more about dental treatment for headaches.

5 Oral health tips to keep your whites pearly.

It seems that if you have missing teeth,your dentist will be singing the praises of what dental implants have to offer.

But with that said, dental implants do have some down-sides to consider. Fortunately, many of those supposed disadvantages have very beneficial advantages that outweigh them.

In this month’s blog we look at the pros and cons of dental implants

Pro: A Dental Implant Can Last a Lifetime

Studies have shown that well-cared for dental implants can last decades, suggesting they’ll be a lifelong part of your smile. The failure rate of dental implants is extremely low. With a 98% success rate, dental implants are the most proven and effective treatment offered in modern dentistry.

Con: The Restoration on Top Can Wear Out

Your implant is only the part of the tooth that supports a fixed restoration on top of it. If you get a crown or a bridge, the porcelain can still wear out and need to be replaced every decade.

Pro: Dental Implants Mimic Natural Teeth

Dental implants’ design is based on the natural size and shape of the tooth they’re replacing. This feature allows them to support your bone and facial tissues for a healthy and youthful appearance.

Con: You’ll Need Enough Bone to Support Them

As with natural teeth, you’ll need enough bone to hold dental implantsin place. Going quite some time with a missing tooth allows for the bone to shrink. Fortunately, a bone graft can help with this dilemma.

Pro: They’re the Most Cost-Effective Missing Tooth Treatment

Compared to other types of restorations that need to be routinely replaced every several years, the price of dental implants is relatively less.

Con: Initial Investments Cost More Than Other Options

Your upfront treatment expenses will be slightly more if you get dental implants, compared to choosing something like dentures. However, it’s the long-term numbers that prove this investment is worth it!

Pro: You Can Replace as Many Teeth as You Need To

With dental implantsit is possible to use one, two, or as few as four to support anything from a single crown to a full arch denture. You do not necessarily need an individual implant for each tooth that is missing. They are extremely durable and support more weight than a natural tooth.

Con: The Process Can Seem Time Consuming

Planning your dental implant surgery requires several phases of treatment. From the consultation and exam to the surgical placement, followed by the healing phase and restorative visits, you may wind up requiring multiple appointments over the course of around six months.

If you are considering getting dental implants, schedule a consultation at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01296 712264 and see what our highly trained team of dentists can suggest to restore your smile to its former glory.

A broken tooth stops you from smiling and shatters your confidence. Some of the common causes of the tooth breaking are eating hard food like hard boiled sweets or an ice cube, falling accidents, tooth injury or cavities.

However, the good news is that modern dentistry has the solutions to most dental problems.

Some of the dental treatment options for broken tooth are:

1. Dental Crown
Dental crowns can be useful in covering the entire affected portion of tooth and restore the tooth’s shape and appearance. Typically, crowns are made of metal, porcelain, and ceramic. Dentists consider it one of the safest options to fix or restore decayed or broken teeth.

2. Veneers
Veneers are the most popular cosmetic, restorative solution for improving your smile. Porcelain veneers are hand crafted, fine pieces of porcelain that fit over your tooth in the same way a false nail fits over your fingernail. They can be used to correct a variety of different flaws including chipped, damaged, crooked, gapped, or discoloured teeth

3. Dental implants
If your tooth is broken beyond repair and needs to be extracted. Dental implants provide a safe, reliable, and established cosmetic treatment to replace missing teeth. It is a safe titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone to replace the missing root. Once the screw has settled in the jawbone the tooth-coloured crown is then placed on it.

4. Bonding
Many dentists consider dental bonding one of the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedures, providing a strong, durable and long-lasting finish for the damaged tooth.

5. Root canal
Both broken and cracked teeth can lead to infections in the tooth roots. Your dentist may suggest root canal treatment to treat the broken teeth in such a situation.  They remove the infection first and then place a crown to strengthen and protect the tooth.

6. Filling
With improvements in filling materials in recent years, white fillings can now be used to repair most teeth successfully and your dentist will be able to advise you on the life expectancy of any restoration. White fillings blend with your natural teeth ensuring that they will not be visible when you laugh or smile.

Do not hesitate to call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 if you damage a tooth. Our highly experienced dentists can then help you find the most suitable option to repair your tooth.

Mouth cancer can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat and can affect anyone, whether they have their own teeth or not. In the last year 8.700 people have been diagnosed with disease in the UK.

Sadly, more than 2,000 people die from the die every year with many of these deaths being preventable. If the cancer is caught early there is a 90% chance of survival, this however drops to as little as 50% when the cancer is found at a late stage.

Risk Factors
Currently, 91% of mouth cancer diagnoses are linked to lifestyle factors, therefore it is possible to reduce the risks of developing mouth cancer by amending some of our lifestyle choices.

1. Tobacco
The majority of mouth cancer cases continue to be caused by smoking and tobacco use. Smoking accounts for two in three of all mouth cancer cases. The chemicals in the cigarette all enter the body through the mouth, where they transform the saliva which then damages the cells in the mouth and overtime can turn them cancerous. Research has shown that by quitting you can reduce your risk of mouth cancer by a third. So why not use this Mouth Cancer Action Month as the time to stop!

2. Alcohol
Drinking over your recommended alcohol units on a regular basis is another major risk factor linked with the development of mouth cancer. The occasional glass of wine is not an issue, but a bottle in a night could be. Moderation really is the key!

Smoking and drinking together trebles the risk of developing mouth cancer.

3. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer and affects the skin that lines the moist areas of the body. HPV can be spread through oral sex, and research suggests that it could soon rival smoking and drinking as one of the main causes of mouth cancer.

Practicing safe sex and limiting the number of partners you have may help reduce your chances of contracting HPV.

4. Chewing and smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco is any tobacco product that is placed in the mouth or nose and not burned.Chewing and smokeless tobacco is extremely harmful and can significantly increase a person’s risk of being diagnosed with mouth cancer.

5. Diet
Poor diet has been linked to 30% of all mouth cancer cases. It is important to have a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, this will not only help to reduce the risk of developing mouth cancer, it will also help to keep your body fit and healthy. Mouth cancer risk is lowest in people with diets high in fibre and Omega 3.

6. Family history, genetics, and the immune system
Although we do not know why, there is a slight increase in risk of mouth cancer if you have a close relative diagnosed with the disease.

Mouth cancer can also be more likely for those who carry certain inherited genes. Links have been found for those with genetic conditions affecting the bone marrow, skin, or fingernails.

Signs and Symptoms</strong
There are three main symptoms that should not be ignored:

• Ulcers which do not heal in three weeks
• Red or white patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps of swellings in the mouth, head, or neck area

 

It is important if you notice any of these that you get them checked out by your dentist as soon as possible. Call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029and book an appointment today. If in doubt get it checked out!

Dentists are a very friendly bunch, so it is surprising to learn that around half of the UK population has a dental phobia according to statistics from the Oral Health Foundation.

Even more surprising is that dental phobia beats fear of heights, snakes, and the zombie apocalypse to take number-one spot on the nation’s list of fears.

Around 12% of cases of dental phobia are acute enough to prevent dentist visits altogether, and that’s a real problem when it comes to maintaining good oral health and avoiding unnecessary aches and pains.

The team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre have come up with a few simple steps to help banish dental anxiety for good.

Find the Right Dentist

If your dentist strokes a long-haired white cat and laughs maniacally during treatment, it’s time to find a dentist who’s willing to use their powers for good. Ask around with family and friends to get a recommendation from someone you trust.

Know Your Enemy

Try to find out what exactly scares you. It could be that you are afraid of the drill, or the needle used to administer anaesthetic. Would it put your mind at rest to learn neither of these will be used during your upcoming dental examination? Knowing the source of fears can also help you to start a conversation about how your dentist can help make treatment more pleasant.

Easy Does it

If it’s been a while since you last had treatment, start off slowly with a dental examination or hygiene visit. This approach will help you build a rapport with your dentist.

Ditch Needless Needles

Fear of needles? In many cases, injected anaesthetics can be substituted for a topical gel. Once again, talking to your dentist to let them know your concerns is critical here.

You Were Saying?

When it comes to taking your mind off treatment, distraction is your friend. Some people like to solve puzzles, while others listen to music on headphones. Do not worry – your dentist will not think it is rude. Stress balls, fidget spinners, magazines and other distractions are all fair game.

I Want to be Sedated

Yes, it is perfectly fine to ask. Many dentists, especially those who specialise in dealing with phobic or anxious patients, now offer gentle sedation for the simplest procedures.

Open Wide, Say OM!

Meditation, mindfulness, and calming breathing exercises can work wonders in the battle against everyday anxiety, and the same is true for dental angst. A quick five-minute exercise is often all it takes to dispel dental dread.

Talk to a Professional

If dental phobia continues even after following the steps in our guide, it could be time to talk to an anxiety specialist. Counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy could arm you with the coping mechanism needed to get past your fear once and for all, as well as getting to the root cause of anxiety.

Reward Yourself

If you have followed the advice so far, you should be well on your way to repairing dental relations. There is still something you can do after treatment to make the experience more palatable. Treating yourself to a reward can help rebuild positive associations and help make each visit feel like less of a chore. And besides, do you really need an excuse to finally take that long, lazy lunch hour.

Looking for dentists highly trained in treating anxious patients, call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 and book an appointment today.  

Over the years, cosmetic dentistry procedures have transformed countless lives by improving smiles, as well as dental health. From teeth whitening to dental veneers and dental implants, there are many procedures and techniques available today to help you restore your confidence in your teeth and smile.

Read on to take a closer look at some of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures that can improve your smile and overall dental health.

Teeth Whitening

If you are searching for an easy way to improve your smile, teeth whitening may be just the procedure for you. This is, without question, one of the fastest and most convenient ways for you to improve your smile appearance. In addition, teeth whitening is also much more affordable than other cosmetic dental procedures, making this an extremely appealing option for those who want to brighten their smile.

Dental Veneers

Some people are lucky to be born with perfect smiles. However, there is a good chance that many of those flawless grins you encounter have been cosmetically enhanced. Thin, porcelain shells, known as dental veneers, are used to cover up existing teeth and imperfections. This technique is regarded as one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures among patients. Since no two smiles are the same, dental veneers can also be customized to look and feel like your natural teeth, while providing just the right fit.

Dental Crowns

Although dental crowns are mainly considered as a way to preserve a natural tooth by making it stronger while sealing it, this procedure also has an aesthetic component. Porcelain crowns are not only affordable and durable, but they also offer the most natural appearance and blend seamlessly with your own teeth. In fact, their appearance is so natural that no one besides you and your dentist will know that you’re sporting dental crowns.

Dental Implants

Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way in recent years and one of the ways to improve your smile is through dental implants. Thanks to the visibly impressive benefits, dental implants have been increasing in popularity and make a suitable choice for anyone who has one or more missing teeth. They provide the right combination of functionality and aesthetics, to ensure you have nothing but confidence in the long-term health and appearance of your smile.

Teeth Straightening Treatments

There is more to a beautiful smile than just white teeth. A beautiful, healthy, confident smile also has to do with teeth alignment. Teeth straightening procedures can be used to improve the appearance of crowded, gapped, crooked teeth or a misaligned bite. No matter what your age, it is possible to have straight teeth and a smile you can be confident in.

There are a wide range of teeth straightening procedures and your experienced dentist at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre will be able to advise you on the best one to meet your needs.

Facial Aesthetics

Facial aesthetics can be used to give you a more youthful and confident appearance easily and painlessly. At your consultation we will discuss your concerns in order that we can provide the right solution to meet your needs. With the careful use of wrinkle relaxation injections and/or injectable fillers it is possible to enhance your natural beauty and rejuvenate your skin.

At Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, we provide a range of cosmetic dentistry solutions. From simple teeth whitening procedures to more involved restorations, our experienced team of dentists can help you improve your smile.

If you wish to learn more about our cosmetic dentistry procedures, please feel free to contact Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 to book an appointment.

Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre is an experienced and multidisciplinary practice that caters to both NHS and private patients from our beautiful practice in Maidstone. Our mission is to provide exemplary dental care to adults and children by treating patients in the same way we would treat our own families.

Or vision is to offer high quality general and cosmetic dentistry. Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, our highly trained team aim to provide you with the highest standard of treatment each time you visit the surgery.

A visit to the dentist can involve a lot of different members of staff, from the dentist, to the dental nurse and the hygienist. Each member of the team is integral to the smooth running of the practice, ensuring you receive the high quality of care you have come to expect from Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre.

Dental Receptionist

The dental receptionist is the first person you will meet as you walk through the door and the person you will speak to when you call the surgery. They will welcome you to the surgery and may give you a medical history form to update to ensure that all your details are correct prior to any treatment. They oversee the appointment book, so are responsible for booking appointments and will also take payment when you finish a course of treatment. The receptionist strives to ensure you feel welcome and relaxed prior to seeing the dentist or other members of the dental team.

Dental nurse

The dental nurse assists the dentist in the surgery and also performs all the processes in the decontamination room. This includes preparing the surgery at the start of the day, sorting out work to go to the laboratory, sterilising instruments, mixing materials, taking notes, and ensuring that patients are put at ease. They work closely with the dentist to ensure that you have the best possible experience when you are in the dental surgery.

Hygienist

Our hygienist is passionate about oral health and will help you to achieve a clean, healthy mouth with minimal discomfort. The hygienist specialises in preventative oral health, focusing on techniques in oral hygiene to prevent gum disease. They will provide thorough scaling of your teeth to remove plaque and calculus and will advise on the best oral hygiene routine to use in between appointments to ensure that your teeth remain in the best possible condition. Finally, the hygienist will also advise on lifestyle factors that can affect your teeth and gums.

Dentist

It is normally advised that you attend for routine appointments every 6-12 months, as this allows any problems to be identified early reducing the need for extensive treatment.

At your routine appointment, the dentist will:

• Perform a thorough check of your mouth and gums
• Check for the presence of any plaque
• Perform an oral cancer screening
• Check the health of your jaw joints
• Check you bite for health and comfort
• Take x-rays when required to look at the bone levels and health of your teeth
• Discuss your lifestyle and how this can affect your oral health

 

We are very lucky at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre to have a highly skilled team of specialists who are able to offer a wide range of cosmetic dental treatments.

The entire dental team are here to ensure that you receive the highest possible level of care each time you attend the surgery. If you have any questions or would like any more information about the treatment you receive in practice, do not hesitate to ask a member of the team who will do their best to assist you.

Call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01622 682 029 to book your consultation.

A missing tooth can certainly change the appearance of your smile. Regardless of the way a tooth is lost, it can negatively impact the alignment of your teeth over time and cause a number of problems down the road if it isn’t replaced. Sometimes the value of your teeth isn’t realized until they are lost, and unfortunately, teeth do not last forever. Even the loss of a single tooth can have a negative impact on your oral health and confidence. A missing tooth or teeth can also affect your speech, ability to chew your food, the integrity of your jawbone, and cause the slow shifting of your teeth into some of the empty spaces.

Luckily, there are a number of excellent options available to replace your missing tooth or teeth to help restore your beautiful smile, including:

Removable partial dentures

Compared to a complete set of dentures, removable partial dentures are suggested for individuals with a few missing teeth. Removable partial dentures are clasped into their correct place, which ensures that the false teeth are held in the appropriate spots.

Advantages

Additional teeth can be added directly to the partial denture if any teeth are lost in the future, which can help you save time and money. Removable partial dentures are one of the cheapest options for tooth replacement. Partial dentures are easy to repair and replace if needed.

Disadvantages

Partial dentures can be uncomfortable. The dentures must be removed and cleaned on a daily basis and removed before sleeping. Partial dentures do not blend in or appear as natural as dental implants because the metal clasps are visible.

Tooth-supported bridge

A tooth-supported bridge uses your existing teeth to support the placement of a bridge. A crown is placed on the teeth, which are next to the missing ones and cemented into place. The procedure is completed over a few visits.

Advantages

A tooth-supported bridge looks and feels realistic without the need for any invasive procedures. It is also a more economical option compared to dental implants.

Disadvantages

The adjacent teeth receiving the crowns will need to be filed to the appropriate size for the crown to fit which increases chances of infection down the road. Food particles can slip underneath the bridge and become harder to clean, so if you aren’t careful with your cleaning, there is a greater risk of infection and bone loss.

Dental implants

Dental implants are now one of the most common methods of tooth replacement. Dental implants are a very reliable type of tooth replacement that both looks and feels like a real tooth.

Advantages

Dental implants provide a permanent solution if you need to replace a single tooth, or multiple teeth, in different areas. There is no involvement of your neighbouring teeth, so adjacent teeth remain intact. If taken care of, dental implants can last you for at least 10 years.

Disadvantages

The process of placing your dental implant can be somewhat lengthy. It begins with the replacement of your tooth’s root with metal screws, which will be used as an anchor for the false tooth placed on top. Once the screws have been put into place, you will need to allow the dental implant to heal for a few months, during which time, the dental implant becomes securely fused to your jawbone. Once the dental implant has healed completely, a dental crown will be placed on top and secured.

The dental implant is screwed into the jawbone, which requires invasive surgical procedures, a significant healing time, and the possibility for infection. Dental implants are one of the most expensive tooth replacement options initially but can be the most cost effective over their lifespan.

Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre’s comprehensive dental services can help to replace your missing teeth. Call today on 01622 682 029 and book a consultation.

Cosmetic dentistry enables you to have a smile you can be confident in.

Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, our highly trained team of dentists are able to offer a wide range of aesthetic treatments to improve the appearance of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can give you a smile you can truly be proud of, allowing you to achieve things you never thought possible.

This is achieved by altering the colour, position, shape, size, alignment, and overall smile appearance. Cosmetic treatments can include veneers, crowns, bridges, white fillings, dental implants, teeth straightening and teeth whitening.

At Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre we want you to do everything we can to help you achieve your desired smile. To make this goal achievable for everyone, we are pleased to offer dental financing options including a 0% finance facility. This makes large treatments more affordable by allowing you to pay for it over an appropriate period, ensuring that you can get the treatment you need to make you look and feel amazing.

Representative example

A loan of £1,000.00 over 12 months would cost you £83.33 per month at a representative 0% APR. The total amount of credit would be £1,000.00, to which we would add £0.00 (0% p.a.). This means the total cost of your treatment after 12 months would be £1,000.00. If you were taking out the loan today, you would pay the first £83.37 upfront, and then eleven payments of £83.33 each month, starting 18 May, and ending in Mar 2023.

Terms and Conditions

To apply for finance, you must:

• • Be over the age of eighteen and employed or on a retired income.
  • Have been a UK resident for a minimum of three years.
  • Earn £7,200.00 per annum or be retired and in receipt of a pension.
  • You could borrow between £500.00 to £25,000.00 over your preferred term from 1 to 6 years. These payments are collected by Direct Debit.

• You can complete your application online. Should you wish to apply please call reception and they will be able to provide you with the web address for accessing the application form.
• You will pay the amount that you borrow (typically your treatment amount), plus any interest as detailed by the lender.
• There are multiple lenders on the panel, many of whom can provide loans for applicants with poor and/or adverse credit profiles.

If you would like find out more about how our 0% finance options can help you achieve the smile of your dreams, call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 and book a consultation with one of our friendly team, who will be happy to help you.