Author: superuser

At the start of a new year, we all look at ways of tightening our belts to recover from the excesses of Christmas. Want to find ways of maintaining a healthy smile without blowing your budget? Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre we have several ways to help you save money on your dental care.

Attend for regular, routine appointments

It may be easy to postpone your routine appointments if you do not feel you have any problems with your teeth, but it is much easier to fix any problems if they are identified and treated early. Just remember, the bill for a small filling will be much less than when you require an emergency appointment for a large cavity or abscess.

Set up a payment plan

At Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre we want you to achieve your desired smile. To make this goal achievable for everyone, we 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.

Maintain good oral hygiene at home

Routine dental appointments will help to cut down on your dental costs, but in order to ensure that you do not get a scare at your next visit, you need to ensure that you stay on top of the day-to-day care of your teeth as well.

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste
• Use interdental cleaning aids daily.
• Change your toothbrush every three months or more often if the bristles become worn
• Cut down on how often you consume sugary foods and drinks.

 

If you would like to find out more about cutting the cost of your dental treatment, do not hesitate to call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01622 682029.

A recent survey revealed that 3 in 4 UK adults don’t like smiling for the camera. A bright white smile can not only help you to appear younger and more attractive but can also help to improve your confidence and self-esteem. Smile makeovers are performed for many reasons and our dentists will ensure that your treatment plan is tailored to ensure that you achieve the results you are looking for.

Teeth Whitening

Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre we are able to offer two different whitening treatments.

At Home Teeth Whitening – Following your consultation the dentist will take impressions of your teeth, which will be used to create custom whitening trays. The treatment will be customized so that it can best fit around your daily routine.

In Surgery Teeth Whitening – You will need to attend the surgery for a 45-minute appointment during which a peroxide gel will be applied to your teeth. This is then activated using a blue light. This treatment will provide instant whitening results. The gel will be applied, activated, and then washed off at least three times during the session.

Veneers

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain which are attached to the front of your teeth to improve the appearance or color of your teeth. They can also be used to close small gaps where teeth straightening treatments would not be appropriate.

Cosmetic Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure where a tooth-coloured resin is applied to the teeth to improve the shape and close gaps between teeth. The resin is hardened with a special light, which will bond the material securely to the natural tooth.

By using cosmetic bonding it is possible to ensure that the minimum amount of tooth structure is removed. This helps to enhance the potential life of your teeth

Dental Implants

If you are missing some teeth, dental implants can provide the closest possible replacement to having your natural teeth back. Unlike bridges or dentures, dental implants are secured to the jaw using a titanium post, so they will not shift or move, allowing you to live life to the full, talking, eating and smiling with confidence.

Teeth Straightening

Over the past few years there has been an increase in the number of adults turning to teeth straightening procedures to help improve the appearance of their smile.

Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre are able to offer Invisalign, Six Month Braces, Quick Straight Teeth, Social Six, Damon Braces, Lingual Braces and Inman Aligner. The wide variety of different treatment options means that no matter what the problem we will have the teeth straightening procedure to help.

Facial Aesthetics

At Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre we are your local facial aesthetics specialists.

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.

All of our treatments are carried out by Dr. Gill, who has undergone extensive training to qualify in the latest facial aesthetics treatment, ensuring you will always receive the right treatments and products to meet your needs.

Call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01296 712264 and see what our highly trained team of dentists can suggest to help you achieve your perfect smile.

The Christmas holidays are one of the most joyful times of the year. Cue the parties, delicious foods, and drinks that hit the right spot- what’s not to enjoy? But while we’re having the time of our lives, our skin has other plans. The late nights and overindulgence begin to take a toll on our skin, so by the time the big day comes around, our skin isn’t feeling so merry and bright. Facial treatments can help you to stay festive and fabulous throughout the Christmas holidays. With many different types of facial treatments available, you can target just about any skin concern to look and feel your best on Christmas Day.

Lucious lips

The most popular beauty treatment all year long, it’s time to book your Christmas lip filler appointment. Boosting volume and definition as well as hydrating the lips, lip filler can be a major boost in confidence for many of us.

Slim the face

Many of us are self-conscious about our face looking too bulky. Anti-wrinkle injections can be injected into the masseter muscle. This works to relax the muscle, making the face appear slimmer.

Tackle a trio of wrinkles

Wrinkles and fine lines can become increasingly prevalent and pronounced on our faces during the colder months, making us look tired and older. For a quick refresh and rejuvenation, anti-wrinkle injections can be used to tackle the trio of most common wrinkles including forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet.

Skin Peels

Chemical peels have long been the best way to take your skin back to the drawing board, and our fabulous Skin Peels are certainly no exception! As the perfect treatment for those afflicted by seasonal acne, unsightly scarring or all manner of tonal inconsistencies, this powerful, three-step facial can be adapted to meet your skin concerns head-on, with your skin tone and type also playing a leading role in our approach to treatment.

As we’re sure you can imagine, the treatments listed above are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what we have to offer at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre. To find out more about how we can help you get your skin ready for Christmas, call us on 01622 682 029 today.

Are you struggling with your Christmas shopping this year? Although oral hygiene gifts may not be at the top of everyone’s wish list, they are essential to keep our pearly whites healthy and clean.

If you are fresh out of Christmas shopping ideas, you have come to the right place! Check out our list of 6 must-have items, from the dentists at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre.

6 Gift Ideas to Make Everyone on Your Christmas List Smile

1. Sugar-Free Chewing Gum: Not only is sugar-free gum a perfect stocking filling, but it is also great for your oral health. If you chew sugarless gum 20 minutes after you eat a meal, then you will be less likely to develop cavities. The gum helps wash away food particles by increasing saliva production. It also helps neutralize cavity-causing bacteria.

The acid in your mouth not only causes cavities, but it can also cause enamel erosion. Because chewing gum helps reduce acid, it can help protect your enamel. If you have a stronger enamel, then you will be less likely to develop cavities.

2. Toothbrush Timer: Most people know you’re supposed to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, but how many of us actually time it? A toothbrush timer makes it easy to keep track of how long you’re brushing, and it’s the perfect size for a stocking filler!

3. Professional Whitening Treatments: At Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, teeth whitening is one of our most popular dental treatments we offer. Teeth whitening is a safe, fast, effective and an affordable treatment that can drastically improve the appearance of teeth.

4. An Electric Toothbrush: It’s the gift that keeps on giving! Not only do electric toothbrushes make great gifts, but they can improve your loved ones brushing habits and oral hygiene.

5. Water Flossers: Water flossers are gentle and less likely to cause gum irritation, inflammation, and bleeding. They are also able to clean out the periodontal pockets in our mouths where both toothbrushes and traditional floss can’t reach and are an effective way for all individuals to keep their mouths clean and happy.

6. Sports Mouth guard: Does your child play contact sports such as rugby, hockey, or lacrosse? If you have a sporty child, consider getting them a mouth guard for Christmas. Custom-made mouth guards are safer, more comfortable, and more likely to be used. They can also be customised with team colours, logos, glitter, etc.

We hope our list of dental inspired gifts helped help diminish your shopping woes.

Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre your local dentist in Maidstone, Kent is a mixed NHS and Private Dental Practice. Our experienced dentists are highly trained to ensure that your needs are listened to and met. Our dentists will ensure all treatments are conducted in a calm and relaxing environment. Whether you are looking to maintain your healthy smile or craft the smile of your dreams, we can help.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our patients a Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you all again in 2023!

Our mouth is quite amazing. Where would you be without it? How could you eat without your teeth? Talk or kiss without your lips?

In this month’s blog we look at some things you probably do not know about your mouth, oral health, lips, teeth, and gums.

A smile is an asset

Ninety-six percent of adults believe that a beautiful smile makes you more attractive. If you improve your smile with crowns, veneers, dental implants or teeth straightening you will smile more often. Attractive teeth and good dental health translate into more self-confidence.

The more you smile the longer you will live

Smiling can help you to live longer. Every time you smile, your body produces greater amounts of antibodies giving your immunity a boost.

Your tongue is unique

Long or short your tongue is one of a kind. Your tongue’s imprint is as unique as your fingerprint, and it could be possible to identify someone from the imprint of their tongue. Another unique fact about your tongue is that it is the only muscle in your body to be attached on just one end.

You cannot smell your own breath

Bad breath is a real challenge because you cannot smell your own breath, even if you try by putting your hand over your mouth when you breath. When you talk, the air comes from the back of your mouth, where the stinky odour originates, but that is not so when you just breathe. If you really want to know whether you have bad breath, scrape your tongue, and then smell the scraper or ask someone you trust to tell you the truth

The mouth is a window to your health

Your oral health can signal the presence of a variety of conditions or diseases in other parts of your body, including heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. That is why it is important to have regular check-ups and take good care of your teeth and gums.

Want to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy for years to come, call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029and book an appointment today.  

Things you do every day without thinking could be having a harmful effect on your teeth. In this article we look at 5 habits which over time can cause damage to your oral health.

Fizzy drinks & acidic food

Always got a fizzy drink to hand and love citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons? The high level of acidity in these food and drink will wear away your tooth enamel over time. This is known as acid erosion. Acidic food and drinks should wherever possible be limited to mealtimes as this will prevent your teeth from having to deal with large numbers of acid attacks throughout the day.

Your teeth are not a tool

How many times have you used your teeth to tear Sellotape, open a packet or remove clothing tags when you could not find the scissors? Your teeth are designed to chew food, to help you talk and fill out your face and cheeks. Using your teeth as a tool over time can lead to your teeth chipping or breaking and can damage your existing dental work. Those extra few minutes needed to find the scissors, could save you from expensive restorative dental work.

Jaw clenching tooth grinding

Clenching and grinding of your teeth can often happen during times of stress, often unconsciously, and while you are asleep at night. At your regular check up your dentist will be able to assess your teeth and notice the early signs of grinding or clenching. Clenching and grinding puts a great deal of pressure on your teeth and over time you may notice that your teeth begin to fracture or chip as they are worn down. You may also notice that your teeth become more sensitive. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best course of treatment, this may involve wearing a bite guard at night, building up teeth using filling material to help strengthen them or in severe cases you may need referral to a specialist. Identifying the cause of any stress can also help to remove the cause of any clenching or grinding.

Brushing too hard

You should be brushing your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste as part of your oral hygiene routine. Ideally you should ensure that you wait at least an hour following eating as this helps to ensure that you do not brush away the enamel which softens when you eat and drink. It is also important to ensure that you are not brushing your teeth too vigorously as this could cause further damage to your teeth and gums. In the long term, brushing too hard can lead to sensitivity and even cavities. Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth using a soft bristled manual brush or an electric toothbrush to ensure that you do not cause wear to your teeth.

Nail biting

Nail biting can affect the appearance of your hands and in the long term can also damage your teeth. The regular biting of your nails can lead to teeth becoming cracked or splintered. Overtime biting your nails can also affect your bite as your teeth may shift or move.

All habits can take time and perseverance to quit but in the long-term quitting any one habit can help to improve your oral health dramatically and reduce the need for restorative dental treatment.

You dentist will be able to see the effects of these habits when you attend for your check up so if you have any concerns do not hesitate to speak to the dental team at your next appointment at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre. Call today on 01622 682 029 to book an appointment.

Are you missing a number of teeth? If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having several missing teeth, you may find that you are experiencing a great deal of frustration and loss of confidence as a result. Missing teeth can be a contributing factor to several other dental health problems and can also have significant effects on your overall well-being.

While dentures are a tried-and-true solution for many patients who are missing multiple teeth, they do not always deliver the level of comfort or confidence that leads to complete satisfaction with your treatment. Fortunately, advancements in dental science and technology have led to the development of a better solution for the replacement of multiple teeth that delivers far greater results and many advantages over other treatment options. This solution is known as All-on-4.

All-on-4 offers a more effective way to replace your missing teeth as fewer dental implants are required than traditional methods. This process can be planned intricately such that you walk out with temporary fixed dentures, made from a resin, which puts less pressure on yourdental implantsas they heal, on the same day. These will be replaced by a final set of dentures 6-9 months later.

All-on-4 dentures are fixed in place and should act just like natural teeth in terms of appearance, chewing and comfort. There is no risk of them slipping out of place when you are talking or eating. If looked after carefully, your dental implants should last for at least 10 years. You will need to return to the dentist for regular check-ups and maintenance.

Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre uses the best, tested and approved dental implants materials to ensure the best possible for your All-on-4 dentures.

There are a number of benefits of choosing All-on-4 dentures to restore your smile including:

• Treatment time is drastically reduced – All-on-4 dentures can be completed in one day, unlike traditional dental implants that can take 3-6 months.
• All-on-4 dentures are suitable for patients with jawbone loss – your dentist will perform a complete 3D scan prior to treatment to plan exactly where the dental implants should be placed.
• All-on-4 prevents bone loss – All-on-4 is effective in minimizing the effect of bone loss since the dental implants are affixed directly to the jawbone and act in a similar fashion to the roots of natural teeth.
• Cost effective – All-on-4 dentures are cheaper than traditional techniques that may require as many as 8-10 dental implants.
• All-on-4 gives greater self-confidence – All-on-4 gives a complete set of natural-looking teeth connected securely and comfortably, enabling you to enjoy all your favourite foods, and a great variety of food and drink, without worry.

If you would like to discuss our All-on-4 dentures treatment please get in touch today on 01622 682 029 to book a consultation and find out how our expert team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre can help you reclaim your smile.

Sweetened beverages have become a treat that many people have every day. Drinking high-sugar soft drinks is most commonly associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain, but these can also have an impact on our dental health and smiles.

When you drink fizzy drinks, the sugars contained interact with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. This acid attacks your teeth. Both regular and sugar-free fizzy drinks also contain their own acids, and these attack the teeth too. With each swig, you are starting a damaging reaction that lasts for about 20 minutes. If you sip all day, your teeth are under constant attack.

There are two main dental effects of drinking fizzy drinks: acid erosion and cavities.

• Acid Erosion

Acid erosion begins when the acids in fizzy drinks encounter the tooth enamel, which is the outermost protective layer on your teeth. Their effect is to reduce the surface hardness of the enamel.

While sports drinks and fruit juices can also damage enamel, they stop there.

• Cavities

Fizzy drinks, on the other hand, can also affect the next layer, dentin, and even composite fillings. This damage to your tooth enamel can invite cavities. Cavities, or caries, develop over time in people who drink fizzy drinks regularly. Add in poor oral hygiene, and a lot of damage can occur to the teeth.

How can I prevent damage to my teeth?

The obvious solution? Stop drinking fizzy drinks. But many of us just cannot seem to kick the habit. However, there are things you can do to lessen the risk of damaging your teeth.

Drink in moderation – Do not have more than one soft drink each day. Just one will do damage enough.

Drink, don’t sip – Sipping gives the bacteria more time to eat the sugar and to create cavities. Drink quickly to give your body time to wash away the bad stuff. Try to drink sweetened coffees, teas, or fizzy drinks in one sitting instead of sipping on them over a longer amount of time.

Rinse your mouth with water afterward – Flushing your mouth with some water after drinking fizzy drinks will help wash away any remaining sugars and acids and stop them from attacking your teeth.

Wait before you brush – Despite what you may think, brushing immediately after you have a fizzy drink is not a good idea. That is because the friction against the vulnerable and recently acid-attacked teeth can do more harm than good. Instead, wait 30 to 60 minutes.

Use a straw – This will help keep the damaging acids and sugars away from your teeth.

Get regular dental appointments – Regular check-ups will identify problems before they worsen.

Soft drinks are not a healthy choice, but they are a popular one. If you have to drink soda, do it in moderation and protect your dental health in the process.

If you would like to book a routine dental appointment, please contact Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 today!

Have you ever thought about what the fluoride in our toothpaste does?

Fluoride is a natural mineral that is found in many foods and in all drinking water. Most toothpastes also now contain fluoride, and it is the main way that most people get their fluoride.

Many reports have been published throughout the world about fluoride. After many years, the scientific conclusion is that fluoride toothpaste and correctly fluoridated water are of great benefit to dental health, help to reduce decay, and cause no harmful side effects to general health.

Tooth decay is a major health concern worldwide and is still a big problem in the UK. Despite being preventable, it is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission in children.

Brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste is one of the most effective ways of preventing tooth decay.

Fluoride Benefits

Fluoride is beneficial to teeth because it helps to:

• Rebuild weakened tooth enamel.
• Slow down the loss of minerals from tooth enamel.
• Reverse early signs of tooth decay
• Prevent the growth of certain harmful oral bacteria.

Fluoride Levels

A range of toothpastes are available containing different levels of fluoride.

• All children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million).
• After three years old they should use a toothpaste that contains more than 1,000ppm fluoride.
• Adults should use a toothpaste containing 1350ppm to 1500ppm fluoride.

Oral hygiene advice

It is important that although over the past year all our routines have changed, that we make sure not to forget our oral hygiene.

• Brush at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes.
• Use interdental cleaning aids to clean between teeth in those areas that brushing alone misses. There are a wide range of interdental products available so there is bound to be one for you: floss, tape, interdental brushes, floss picks or an air flosser.



• Parents should supervise their children’s brushing, starting brushing as soon as their first tooth appears and using only a pea-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste until they are about 7 years old.
• Spit your toothpaste out after brushing and do not rinse. This will help to ensure that the fluoride stays on your teeth longer.
• If you use a mouthwash use this at different times to brushing to ensure that you do not wash away the beneficial fluoride from your toothpaste.
• Aim to limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes to reduce the number of acid attacks your teeth must contend with each day.

If you would like more oral hygiene advice, call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 to book an appointment with our hygienist today.

Over the past few years there has been a large increase in the number of people looking to improve the appearance of their teeth with options such as clear braces and clear aligner therapy. DIY braces and at home teeth straightening options are popping up everywhere, promising dentist quality results at a fraction of the price. The convenience of mail order teeth straightening seems unbeatable, allowing you to straighten your teeth without the need for regular dental appointments. Unfortunately, things that sound too good to be true most often are!

With this in mind there are some things the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centrewant to make you aware of regarding your choice of teeth straightening.

What is mail order teeth straightening?

Companies have started to offer cheaper alternatives to attending the dentist for teeth straightening. These companies will send you an at home impression kit to take impressions of your teeth. Once these are sent back, they will be reviewed by one of their technicians, who determines if you are suitable for these aligners. If so, aligners are sent back to be worn for a prescribed period.

This may seem very similar to the process of teeth straightening through the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, but there are some very big differences.

Teeth straightening requires supervision.

Moving teeth is a medical procedure and needs personal supervision by a dentist. The dentist can monitor how your teeth are moving and if necessary, they will adjust your treatment plan to ensure your teeth move at the most safe and efficient rate.  Moving teeth without a thorough assessment of the overall health of the teeth and gums could result in the loss of teeth, which can cause expensive and lifelong dental problems.

Training

Dentists have years of training and they will identify and treat serious oral health concerns before they even consider offering their patients’ teeth straightening treatments. Serious oral health problems, like gum disease and cavities can be overlooked with home kits because there is not a lot that can be seen from photos or impressions. Mail order teeth straightening  do not use x-rays to see the structure below the gum line and with mail order teeth straightening there is no way of knowing what level of training the people assessing your photos and impressions have.

More expensive in the long run

Moving teeth too fast or with poorly fitting aligners can result in serious problems. A dentist adjusts treatment along the way to correct any orthodontic errors that crop up. Mail order aligners instead operate along the lines of wear it and hope for the best. This can mean that having paid for your mail order teeth straightening, you will then have to pay even more to see a dentist to repair the damage caused.

Teeth straightening is a medical treatment. Straightening your teeth and aligning your bite is a considerable commitment, that requires an experienced dentist. Why trust your smile to anyone else?

If you would like to find out more about teeth straightening, call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01622 682 029 and book a consultation.