Category: Blog

We understand that for many patients visiting that dentist can be a nerve wracking and stressful experience. Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, the team will always try to make your dental visit as stress free as possible and ensure that you feel totally involved in your dental treatment starting with your initial consultation right through until the work is completed.

We set aside 30 minutes for each new patient consultation to allow us to fully examine your teeth and discuss any concerns you have with regard to your teeth.

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to fill in a medical history form. By being aware of any pre-existing health conditions the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre can ensure that you are always provided with the most suitable treatment and will also ensure that we are suitably prepared to manage any medical emergency that may occur appropriately and safely.

The dental nurse will come and collect you from our waiting room.

Once you are comfortably seated in the dental chair you will be given the opportunity to explain your reasons for seeking dental help. Whatever the reason the dentist will be able to take this into account when designing your ideal treatment plan.

Assess your teeth and gums

The dentist will then inspect your teeth, gums, and soft tissues. This will also include an oral cancer assessment. The teeth and the gums will be visually inspected with special dental instruments that might cause some discomfort but usually lasts for a very short time. An intra-oral camera will also be used to aid the discussion of the state of your oral health.

X-rays

X-rays will also normally be taken to assess for any decay present underneath the surfaces or between teeth. Any problems picked up on the x-rays can be shown to you on our digital monitor whilst you are in the dental chair.

All details will be recorded onto our computer system and will provide the basis for your ongoing treatment. By completing a detailed patient assessment, we are able to track your dental health between visits and over time.

We would typically advise you to attend for a routine examination every 6 months, as here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre our focus is on preventive dentistry and being proactive with regard to improving oral health. By identifying any problems early, we can reduce the risk of painful toothaches and the amount of treatment needed.

Oral Hygiene Routine

The dentist will discuss your oral hygiene routine and recommend oral care products which will best ensure that you remove all the plaque from your teeth. This will normally be a combination of using a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and interdental cleaning aids, floss, or interdental brushes to clean the areas between your teeth at least once a day. They will also talk to you about your diet and how sugar and acid present in fruit juice and fizzy drinks can affect your dental health. A diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and minerals can help to prevent gum disease and protect against mouth cancer.

Following your appointment, we will, if necessary, provide you with a full and detailed written treatment plan, detailing the various costs of options available to you.

Call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 and book a new patient consultation to find out how we can help you get you smile ready!

A broken tooth can affect your ability to smile and reduce confidence. Common causes of tooth breakage include eating hard food such as hard boiled sweets or ice cubes, accidents, tooth injury, or cavities.

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

In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look at some of the dental treatment options for broken teeth are:

A 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.

Veneers

Veneers are a common cosmetic, restorative solution for improving the appearance of teeth. Porcelain veneers are crafted pieces of porcelain that fit over a tooth similarly to how a false nail fits over a fingernail. They can be used to address various issues such as chipped, damaged, crooked, gapped, or discoloured teeth.

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.

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.

Root canal

Broken or cracked teeth can cause infections in the tooth roots. Your dentist may recommend root canal treatment to address this, followed by placing a crown to protect and strengthen the tooth.

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.

Root canal treatment is one of the most feared dental treatments. Many people will often choose to have their teeth extracted rather than undergoing the procedure.

Due to the modern techniques used in root canal treatment it is possible to restore and save a tooth that is decayed or infected. During the procedure, the tooth’s nerve and the pulp inside the tooth is removed, the tooth is then cleaned, and a filling is placed to seal the tooth and remove the risk of the tooth becoming reinfected.

The team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre believe knowing the benefits of undergoing root canal treatment may help to persuade you that there is nothing to fear from the procedure.

Alleviates pain

Far from causing pain, root canal treatment is designed to help alleviate pain. Root canal treatment itself is virtually painless. Thanks to modern techniques and effective anaesthesia, patients who experience root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have a tooth extracted.

Preserves the tooth

If a tooth is infected, the options are either root canal treatment or tooth extraction. Tooth extraction creates a gap which can be restored with a bridge, dentures, or a dental implant. Root canal treatment preserves the tooth’s natural structure and allows you to keep the tooth for many years.

Stops the spread of infection

Root canal treatment removes bacteria from an infected tooth, stopping the spread of infection to other teeth and gums.

Improves the appearance of the tooth

Decay, fracture, or infection can affect your tooth’s appearance. But, with root canal treatment, the affected tooth can be preserved and fixed with the help of a dental crown, allowing you to have a natural-looking tooth that functions like the natural teeth.

Cost Effective

Tooth extraction can take longer than root canal treatment due to follow-up appointments required for a bridge, dentures, or a dental implant; plus the cost may be higher.

Enhances your overall health

If an infected tooth is left untreated, it may cause additional harm to your oral and general health. Root canal treatment aims to safeguard and preserve your health.

Want to discuss root canal treatment? The team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre are ready and waiting to help. Do not hesitate, call today on 01622 682 029 and book an appointment.

Did you miss out on braces when you were a teenager? Did you have braces but didn’t wear your retainer, so your teeth have moved?

Are you considering teeth straightening? If so, you are not alone, adult braces are one of the fastest growing dental treatments in the UK.

There are however plenty of myths around teeth straightening and Invisalign.  In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look to give you some of the facts instead!

I am too old for teeth straightening or Invisalign.

There is no age limit on having a smile you can be proud of. The process of moving teeth through teeth straightening is the same whether you are 16 or 50. Teeth straightening can be used to improve problems caused by of crowded teeth, crooked teeth, spacing or gaps, a relapse after past teeth straightening treatment, overbites, buck teeth and deep bites.

Teeth straightening treatment will take years.

Teeth straightening treatment is regularly adapting and evolving, making it possible to enhance the appearance of teeth more quickly and with reduced discomfort. For minor cases, results can be seen in as little as a few months, with most treatments being completed within 6-12 months.

Adult teeth straightening treatment is inconvenient.

When using the latest teeth straightening treatments, there will be fewer appointments and these will be shorter in duration, minimizing time away from work and leisure. The team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre will arrange appointments to fit your schedule when possible, reducing any disruption.

Teeth straightening is purely cosmetic and not worth the investment.

Yes, teeth straightening will help to improve your appearance, increasing your confidence and self-esteem. There are however a number of other ways that teeth straightening can help to improve the health of your teeth and gums;

• straight teeth are easier to keep clean; this means you will reduce your risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and in the long-term tooth loss.
• straight teeth will help to spread the biting pressure across your teeth, reducing the risk of wear and damage and helping to improve TMJ symptoms.
• straight teeth can help you to speak more clearly.

Teeth straightening is very expensive.

Teeth straightening is one of the most expensive treatments we offer at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre. However, we are making it our mission to ensure that monetary concerns should not prevent you from achieving the smile of your dreams. That is why we are pleased to be able to offer 0% finance, allowing you to spread the cost of your teeth straightening into manageable monthly amounts.

Want to discuss rejuvenating your smile with teeth straightening? The team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre are ready and waiting to help you start your journey to a straighter smile. Do not hesitate, call today on 01622 682 029 and book an appointment.

In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look at the four biggest threats to your mouth and how you can safeguard your smile for the future.

Plaque

Until it’s brushed and flossed away, plaque builds up on your teeth leading to tooth decay and gum disease.

Plaque is a film that covers all surfaces of the teeth, including areas below the gum line. It is a microbial biofilm that contains various bacteria capable of surviving in the crevices of the mouth.

Schedule a hygienist appointment to remove any plaque build-up and keep your teeth sparkling clean.

Bruxism

You may be coping with side effects of bruxism like tooth sensitivity, headaches, and jaw pain without understanding the root cause at all.

Night-time tooth grinding is tricky to identify because it occurs when you’re completely unaware of the behaviour. Since chronic clenching and grinding places so much pressure on the muscles, tis-sues, teeth, and other structures around the jaw, symptoms can be felt long after the grinding stops and the sun rises.

A few of the most common bruxism symptoms include the following:

• Jaw pain and stiffness
• Sore gums
• Sensitive or broken teeth
• Clicking jaw joints
• Chronic dull headaches
• Earaches
• Flat, short, or blunt teeth surfaces

Left untreated, nighttime tooth grinding can wear down your teeth and leave you in chronic pain. If you have been experiencing frequent jaw discomfort, daytime fatigue, or dull headaches, ask your dentist to examine your mouth for signs of bruxism and they will be able to advise on the best course of treatment to keep your teeth looking their best.

Misalignment

Most people want to straighten their teeth for the aesthetic benefits, but there are many important dental health benefits to fixing crooked teeth.

Common misalignment issues such as crowding, spacing, and improper bite can make plaque removal challenging in specific areas. If plaque is not adequately brushed and flossed away, it can spread and cause gum inflammation and tooth decay. This can eventually lead to gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease.

In other words, crooked teeth put your smile at a higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay. This can be addressed by a course of teeth straightening which will not only improve the appearance of your teeth but will allow you to keep them healthier for longer.

Gum Disease

There are many different reasons that the dangerous bacteria in your mouth might gain too much power: smoking, poor brushing, and a high-sugar diet are just a few common causes. Eventually, bacteria, sugars, and acids blend to create plaque and tartar that brushing alone can’t remove.

Subtle side effects like tender gums can develop into the stages of gum disease known as gingivitis and periodontitis. Recognizing these issues early is important to prevent future dental health complications.

If you’re currently experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to ask your dentist for help treating gum disease:

• Bad breath that doesn’t fade even after brushing or drinking water
• Bleeding gums
• Pain when chewing food
• Loose or wiggling teeth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Receding gums
• Unexpected tooth loss
• Multiple cavities and infections

Unfortunately, the damage caused by gum disease isn’t limited to your mouth. It also has serious implications on the rest of your body as well.

Researchers have been studying the link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease for decades. Statistics indicate that people with gum disease are two to three times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular problems.

Stop The Threats to Your Dental Health Now

You don’t need to accept these threats to your dental health as a fact of life. By contacting your dentist, keeping your appointments every six months, and receiving any treatments or procedures your dentist suggests, you can restore health and balance to your smile.

Contact Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01622 682 029 to schedule your appointment and put yourself on the path to better oral health.

Are you missing a large number of teeth? Missing a lot of teeth can not only affect your confidence but 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.

In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look at this solution which is known as All-on-4 dentures.

All-on-4 dentures 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 your dental implants as 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 dentures prevents bone loss – All-on-4 dentures are 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 dentures give greater self-confidence –All-on-4 dentures 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 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.

In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look at the main dental effects of drinking fizzy drinks: acid erosion and cavities.

Acid Erosion

Acid erosion begins when the acids present in carbonated beverages come into contact with the tooth enamel, the outermost protective layer of teeth. These acids contribute to a reduction in the surface hardness of the enamel.

Although sports drinks and fruit juices also have the potential to harm enamel, their impact is limited to only this layer of the tooth.

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 cause 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.

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. If stopping fizzy drinks is too much of a stretch, 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.
• 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 fizzy drinks, 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 recently lost a tooth? Are you struggling to eat? Do you hide when anyone has a camera?

Dental implants offer a number of benefits that other tooth replacement options, such as dentures and bridges, just cannot offer.

In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look at the main benefits of using dental implants to replace your missing tooth.

Prevents bone loss.

When you lose teeth, you also lose bone mass in your jaw. Your jawbone needs the simulation it gets when your teeth connect to maintain its mass. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that replaces the jawbone stimulation, helping to prevent bone loss.

Blends with your natural teeth

Dental implants can be closely matched to the colour of your surrounding teeth and will perfectly fit the gap where the tooth once was. No one will know which teeth are dental implants except you and the dentist.

Restores bite force.

Dental implants are anchored into your jaw, and they allow you to bite with more or less the same amount of force you could use with your natural teeth.

Maintains your face shape.

Your teeth support your facial structure. Dental implants provide similar support for your face as your natural teeth, preventing it from changing shape.

Enables clearer speech.

Dental implants feel and function just like natural teeth, enabling you to speak easily and naturally.

No more cavities

Dental implants need to be cared for to prevent bacteria from building up in your mouth and causing infections, but the material dental implants are made of can’t decay. You will never have to worry about cavities again!

Easy to care for

Taking care of dental implants is easy! Just brush and floss like you normally would.

No Slippage

Dental implants are firmly anchored in place and will never embarrass you.

A permanent solution

Dental implants are designed to last for at least 10 years and can last a lifetime.

If you’re in need of a tooth replacement option, you should definitely consider dental implants. To find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, schedule a consultation. Here at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre, we have over 30 years’ experience in providing top quality cosmetic dentistry and the very best in dental care. To find out how we can help you restore your smile now, give our friendly team a call on 01622 682 029.

As we eat and drink, we collect debris between our teeth, causing staining and eventually potential plaque build-up which can lead to damage. Whether it is crisps, biscuits, chocolates, fruit, meats, or any corrosive foods, you will naturally gather debris and even more so if you have gaps between teeth. This is where interdental cleaning will help.

Did you know that brushing alone only reaches 60% of the tooth surface? Dental plaque builds up between your teeth where a toothbrush does not reach. Plaque usually hardens on the teeth with-in 24 to 36 hours, this is why it is so important to ensure that you use interdental cleaning aids daily.

In this month’s blog the team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre look at the benefits of interdental cleaning

Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Regular use of interdental cleaners removes plaque, which if left can lead to tartar build up. Inter-dental cleaning helps to prevent tooth decay and can reduce your risk of developing gum disease.

Many people who suffer with sensitive or bleeding gums may be tempted to avoid interdental cleaning for fear of making their bleeding gums worse. But in fact, interdental cleaning can improve the health of your gums, thereby helping to prevent them from bleeding. The fact that your gums are bleeding makes it even more important that you continue with your interdental cleaning.

Reduces Bad Breath

Bad breath (halitosis) is a common problem. But interdental cleaning can help to keep bad breath away. When food gets trapped between your teeth, it slowly starts to decay. If you do not remove the food particles, it can cause you to have foul-smelling breath.

Also, if plaque builds up around or between your teeth and starts eroding your tooth enamel, it can cause cavities and gum disease, which contribute to bad breath.

Health Benefits of Interdental Cleaning

Daily flossing does not just keep your teeth healthy – practicing good oral hygiene contributes to your health in other ways, too. In fact, there is an increasing amount of evidence linking periodontal disease to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, strokes, poor pregnancy outcomes and even dementia. Looking after the health of your gums through a good oral hygiene routine is even more important than ever.

Using interdental cleaning aids daily combined with brushing using a fluoride toothpaste can help to protect against gum disease by removing plaque and food particles, keeping your teeth and gums healthy, while giving you a beautiful smile. Interdental cleaning is essential to your smile’s health, no matter what your age.

If you would like more help or advice on improving your oral health, call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today, on 01622 682 029, and book an appointment with one of our hygienists.