Author: Clapham South Dental Centre

Restoring your confidence with dental implants in Clapham

Gaps in your smile or loose, ill-fitting dentures can do a lot of damage to your confidence, so much so that low self-esteem can even lead to depression, all because you are afraid to smile and laugh in public. For those with a normal and complete set of teeth this may seem silly, but at Clapham South Dental Care we understand how those of you with missing teeth must be feeling. However, this doesn’t have to be a life sentence, especially for those of you who have endured dentures for a long time. With dental implants in Clapham, we can restore your smile in order for you to lead a healthy and happy life to its fullest potential, never having to hide your laughter behind your hand but rather join in with all the joys your family and friends bring.dental-implants-in-clapham

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is implanted into the bone of the jaw. An abutment is connected to the implant and a false tooth or row of false teeth are connected to the abutment. Dental implants in Clapham serve two functions:

1 – Support false teeth.

2 – Support the bone structure of the jaw. Once a tooth or multiple teeth come out, the bone that they are anchored to no longer serves a purpose so the body begins to dissolve it. By securing a titanium implant in the tooth’s place we are able to ensure that the bone not only remains in place but is encouraged to grow back due to the nature of titanium, combined with the human bone matter.

What types of implants are there?

All dental implants in Clapham are more or less exactly the same, the difference is that they can serve a multitude of functions:

Single – A single dental implant can be used to support and replace a single missing tooth.

Multiple – Two dental implants can be used to support a bridge of teeth should a few teeth in a row be missing.

All on 4 – This is a procedure that is used to support an entire set of dentures on only 4 implants (2 at the top and 2 at the bottom) by fixing dentures into place. Those wearing them can be more confident about their life without having to worry about their teeth falling out at an embarrassing moment.

What is involved during surgery?

Once you have been cleared for dental implant surgery we will numb the areas of the face that need to be worked on. It is important to note for nervous patients that this surgery can be performed under sedation, so that you can get through it without any anxiety. Once the area is numb we will cut open the gum so that we can drill a hole into the bone big enough for the implant to be screwed in. Once the implant is in, we will close it up again and send you home for 6 months in order for the healing and fusing process to be complete, but don’t worry, you will be provided with a temporary crown or denture for that time.

After 6 months an abutment will be fitted to the dental implants in Clapham upon which a false tooth or set of false teeth can be fixed and then your treatment is complete.

Types of invisible braces in Clapham

It’s the 21st century which means people want options and they want it now! We understand this, which is why at Clapham South Dental Care we have a range of discrete orthodontics for you to choose from and a quick turn around when it comes to applying them to your teeth. With invisible braces in Clapham, you can have either a removable or fixed appliance which means that you can choose something that best suits your lifestyle and with 12 months zero-interest payment plans available this can suit your pocket as well, so don’t hold back on improving your smile because you are afraid of how you will look. Clear orthodontics has taken away the need for traditional metal braces thanks to new and improved technologies coming from all over the world.

Types of invisible braces

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Options for fixed invisible braces in Clapham have people seeing new straight smiles a lot sooner than with the old traditional braces. Having a fixed appliance means you don’t need to worry about remembering to keep them in or losing them.

Cfast – this is a system that focuses on the social six teeth, which means that the front top and bottom 6 teeth are the ones that get adjusted instead of all the teeth in the mouth, this system does not promise to correct major orthodontic problems but can quickly adjust the teeth that people see when you smile. By fixing tooth-coloured nickel brackets to these 12 teeth and feeding a wire through the special mounts, we are able to pull the teeth into position through the tension placed on the wire.

Damon – the Damon system is similar to Cfast in that it uses clear or tooth coloured brackets and wires to adjust teeth except that these brackets can be fitted to all the teeth if needs be to correct any orthodontic issue as well as malocclusions. This is the system that is closest to traditional braces but it is more discrete and works much faster.

Incognito – also known as lingual braces, this is a system similar to Damon but instead of being fitted to the front of the teeth, brackets are secured to the back of the teeth and still perform their job really well, this is the most ‘invisible’ system available to you as people will not see the braces at all.

While there may be many types of removable invisible braces in Clapham, none work as well or are more popular than the clear aligner system that Invisalign offers.

Invisalign uses the most advanced 3D imaging technology to create custom clear aligners that gently push your teeth into position in a matter of months. The clear aligners are completely removable which make them ideal to fit into even the most active of lifestyles. One of the major benefits of a clear aligner system is that you don’t have to make constant trips to the dentist to get them adjusted, you just pop in the next aligner in your series every 1-2 weeks and you’re ready to go.

More options with clear braces in Clapham

With technology at the forefront of human augmentation, why would any adult still be opting for traditional braces as a solution for their orthodontic issues? There are so many options available to you nowadays that you don’t need to endure years of unsightly treatments that scar your confidence rather than improve it, you could have straight beautiful teeth in a matter of months and this can greatly improve your self-esteem as there is so much in your life that could possibly be affected by your smile. At Clapham South Dental Centre we offer two types of clear braces in Clapham to suit your needs, wallet and self-esteem.clear-braces-in-clapham

The two types

Today, people from different walks of life come together in a multicultural hub of experiences, but one thing remains universal and that is a friendly and beautiful smile, but what are your options nowadays with regards to orthodontics and clear braces in Clapham?

Removable – We offer a system called Invisalign which has taken the orthodontic world by storm and transformed 8 million smiles around the world as of February 2020! A removable system is ideal for active people partaking in contact sports or professionals who do public speaking and give presentations, removable appliances like these clear aligners allow you to eat as you normally would and clean your teeth normally too, making it the most convenient appliance on the market.

Fixed – the Damon system that we used as a fixed appliance offers clear braces in Clapham which work under the same principle as traditional braces but much quicker and are far less noticeable as the brackets that are secured to the teeth are clear or tooth coloured.

Both systems can take less than a year to get the results you’re looking for with many being complete in 6 months depending on the severity of your orthodontic issues in the first place. By changing your smile you can change the opinions that people may have of you particularly with first impressions.

The psychology behind a stunning set of teeth

While your teeth may work just fine to bite into and chew food, logically there should be no reason for their crookedness to be worrying you, but there is, in fact, a psychological reason why they are and that is natural selection. It is ingrained in humans to choose a mate that is ‘of the best stock’ the most attractive and healthy that we can find in order to continue our genes and people in society are constantly making unconscious observations about those around them; observations based on our base instincts in finding partners, people with good teeth automatically outrank those with seemingly ‘bad teeth.’ These perceptions that society makes based on our smiles are not something we can avoid, which is why so many people like you are looking to improve their features starting with their teeth. This psychology extends further than romantic relationships, it could affect our work and who prefers to work with you, trust you with important decisions and in pretty much all cases where a first impression is paramount.

There is nothing to lose when investing in orthodontics, you only stand to gain more beautiful teeth and a smile that makes a stronger impression with the Invisalign and Damon systems.

Fixing crooked teeth with Invisalign in Clapham

Have you recently or ever covered your mouth with your hand when smiling? Do you feel a lack of confidence because your teeth are crooked and you don’t want to spend years having uncomfortable and unsightly metal braces in your mouth? At Clapham South Dental Centre, we want to change that and help give you the smile you deserve so that you can smile at the world with a new and transformed set of teeth with Invisalign in Clapham

Why choose Invisalign?invisalign-in-clapham

Invisalign is the most advanced system when it comes to orthodontics which has been giving more and more people straighter smiles in less time than it takes for traditional braces to work and with less discomfort. Traditional braces use metal brackets, which are glued to the front of the teeth, which often cause cuts and mild scarring on the inside of the cheeks. A metal wire is threaded through these brackets and is set at a different tension each month in order to pull the teeth into position. This treatment can take up to three years and for many adults that is three years too many to be looking like a middle school teen.

With Invisalign in Clapham, you get all of the benefits of braces with far fewer issues than you would experience with traditional metal braces. Results have been seen in as little as 4 months while the average case usually takes under 9 months and the best part is, the treatment is just about invisible. Clear aligners are used to gently push the teeth into position over time and no one will even be aware that you are undergoing treatment, the pushing of the teeth is said to be much more gentle than the pulling with wires under tension and the ease of comfort makes life under treatment more enjoyable.

Because the system is removable, Invisalign aligners can fit into any lifestyle, whether it be corporate and professional or active and sporty. This also means you can take them out to enjoy whichever foods you would normally eat and you can ensure that they and your teeth are properly cleaned.

What does it fix?

Not only does Invisalign in Clapham fix overcrowded teeth but it can also fix any gaps you may have as well as correct malocclusions (problems with the bite) like an overbite, underbite, and crossbite.

How it works

With new and advanced 3D imaging technology, we will take a scan of your mouth, this is completely painless and not nearly as uncomfortable as using a mould to cast the shape of your teeth. This digital scan is imported onto a computer which shows a 3D model of your teeth and jaw, the computer also analyses this model to create a simulation of how your teeth will move over time and calculate how long treatment can be expected to take. This information is then sent to a lab where a set of custom clear aligners are created for you. You will receive the full set of aligners for the course of the treatment which you can change yourself at home every 1-2 weeks so there will be no need to constantly visit your dentist for adjustments.

Bone Grafting for at dental implants in Clapham

In order to secure a set of dentures with dental implants in Clapham, we need to ensure that you have enough bone to do so from the get-go in order to have a successful surgery. However, if you have been wearing loose dentures for years, you may be at risk of having lost too much bone and will first require bone grafting before we can proceed with implants. At Clapham South Dental Centre, we want you to be able to enjoy everything that life has to offer, and we understand that a secure set of teeth will really help you with this which is why we will always ensure that you are a good candidate for implants before you undergo surgery.dental-implants-in-clapham

Assessment

At your consultation appointment, we will use a number of X-rays and scans to determine how much bone you have in your jaw and whether you are a good candidate to receive dental implants in Clapham immediately or not. However, if you are not a good candidate for the dental implant procedure right away it is not the end of the line but instead the very beginning; we can still help the process along with a bone grafting surgery that will help provide you with enough bone to stabilise implants.

Time consuming treatments

If you are willing to undergo a bone graft as well as dental implant surgery you need to first know and accept that it is going to be at least a year before you will be able to wear a securely fixed set of teeth. This is because each of these major surgeries has a long recovery period that needs to be adhered to if it is going to be successful.

The two surgeries

Bone graft – A bone graft surgery will be done in a hospital under general anaesthetic. We will first determine where the best area will be to implant new bone and then a piece of your own bone, that is either taken from the hip or chin, will be implanted into the upper jaw. When we use your own tissue to do this, your body is far less likely to reject it than some other foreign organic matter like an animal bone thus ensuring that the surgery is a success. In a case where we cannot take your own bone, we will use a synthetic substitute that is determined to work just as well. After the surgery, you will need to wait 6 months for your body to heal and regrow new bone.

Why is this surgery needed? The length of time you have gone without teeth has caused your jaw bone to dissolve substantially enough that it can no longer support the dental implants in Clapham implant.

Dental implants – after the 6 months is over, there will have been enough bone growth in your jaw so that we can perform the implant surgery; we insert titanium implants into the jaw which will support your dentures after they have had another 6 months to fuse with your new bone. We cannot secure a set of dentures to newly fitted implants as they are not stable enough to do so but we will let you use a temporary set of dentures during this waiting period. This way you can still eat and speak as usual until we are ready to fix them to the implants thus stabilizing them so they will not fall out.

Invisible braces in Clapham

If a crooked smile has been making you feel self-conscious for years you may think it unbelievable to be able to straighten it in just a few months but believe us when we say that invisible braces in Clapham can help you get there. We at Clapham South Dental Centre want to offer you and other adults like you who may have lost confidence over the years, due to crooked teeth, the opportunity to straighten any misalignments you may have with our revolutionary orthodontic systems so that you can get back to embracing life with confidence.invisible-braces-clapham

Two types of invisible braces

With new medical technologies offering people solutions to a host of medical issues, there is no reason to assume that orthodontics would be any different. In fact, the developments made in the industry in the last 2 decades or so has made it possible for more adults to fix their teeth discreetly with invisible braces in Clapham. With new technologies comes a wider range of options for people to chose from in order to get the most out of their orthodontics for their lifestyles.

Option 1 – Removable appliances

We offer a system called Invisalign which has taken the orthodontic world by storm and transformed 8 million smiles around the world as of February 2020! A removable system is ideal for active people partaking in contact sports or professionals who do public speaking and give presentations, removable appliances like these clear aligners allow you to eat as you normally would and clean your teeth normally too, making it the most convenient appliance on the market.

Main benefits: It’s invisible, as the name suggests Invisalign cannot be seen when worn which makes it the best option for those who are trying to maintain a professional appearance.

Drawbacks: it can be difficult to get into the habit of wearing a clear aligner and forgetting to put it back in after meals may be an issue for some, but with discipline, you can find a routine that works for you.

Option 2 – Fixed appliances

The Damon system is a fixed appliance which offers invisible braces in Clapham that work under the same principle as traditional braces but works much quicker and is far less noticeable as the brackets that are secured to the teeth are clear or tooth coloured.

Main benefits: Damon Clear braces are resistant to staining and do not use elastic ties, providing a superior aesthetic solution for you no matter your profession.

Drawbacks: It can be a little riskier to have braces when playing a full contacts sport, however, we can offer special mouth guards to protect both your mouth and the braces for these types of encounters.

Both systems can take less than a year to get the results you’re looking for with many being complete in 6 months depending on the severity of your orthodontic issues in the first place and neither of them leave any damage on your teeth so you can ensure that your investment is really worthwhile.

Have some questions about clear braces? 5 FAQs about the Inman Aligner answered

While traditional orthodontic braces have been used for over 100 years for treating more serious misalignments, the use of clear and invisible braces to correct dental issues is a recent phenomena. As these options have grown in popularity, so has their diversification; there are many different types of both invisible and clear aligners, each designed to help alleviate different dental problems. Many people have heard of the world-famous Invisalign, but this aligner is not suited for everyone and if you are one of the many people who want to correct a misalignment with your front teeth, there are ways to do so without wearing a fitted brace.clear-braces-in-clapham

At Clapham South Dental, we are proud to offer a wide range of both invisible and clear braces in Clapham. One of our most sought after braces, the Inman Aligner, offers patients a discreet orthodontic option, which is designed to realign your front teeth quickly and comfortably. So, if you need a more specific treatment than what Invisalign can offer, this may be the brace for you!

Have some questions about these clear braces in Clapham? Read on to learn more about the Inman Aligner.

Is it comfortable?

Every aligner that has been designed for adults to wear is comfortable and these clear braces in Clapham are no different. As it is made from clear plastic and is custom fitted to slot over your teeth, there will be no metal rubbing against your inner cheeks. Similarly, as there is no tightening involved with this brace, there is no need to worry about pressure or discomfort as your teeth are moved.

Will I be able to remove it?

Yes, you will! One of the key benefits of the Inman Aligner is that it is extremely lifestyle friendly. You can take it out to eat food, drink and even brush your teeth. However, you will have to be disciplined as many patients forget to put this brace back in, or to wear it for the correct time each day, which inevitably delays treatment.

Will I need to wear it all day?

This brace needs to be worn for 22 hours each day, but as many patients are able to eat and drink while wearing it, they only remove it when they need to brush their teeth. Based on the maloclusion that you have, our team may advise on a more personalised wearing time.

How long will the treatment take to complete?

The Inman Aligner is designed to straighten your teeth in as little as 6-18 weeks. Perfect!

Is it as effective as Invisalign?

The Inman Aligner is as fast, as discreet and as effective as Invisalign when it comes to correcting issues with the front teeth and, as it does it quickly, it costs less to undertake. Also, as it doesn’t require an orthodontist to fit or maintain, it requires less dental appointments, and has the added benefit of having a phone app for you to track the progress of your treatment. Now that’s handy!

Want to learn more about Invisalign? 5 need-to-know facts from Clapham South Dental

As odd as it may seem to combine an aesthetic benefit to a brace or aligner, in modern dentistry, this is now almost considered the gold standard.invisalign-in-clapham

Indeed, as cosmetic dental work and orthodontic treatments merge, more people than ever are asking their dentists about realigning their smiles with either a clear or invisible aligner. As the name suggests, both of these options are designed to look as discreet as possible, while also moving your teeth into a more desirable position. Perfect!

If you are one of the many people who feel that their smile could use a bit of a cosmetic makeover in relation to misalignment, you will be glad to learn that there are many braces which may help. As you may have guessed, each brand of clear or invisible aligner provides its own benefits and is more suited for correcting certain conditions.

Our team at Clapham South Dental have the knowledge and the experience to help you choose the brace that you are most likely to benefit from. One of our most popular aligners, Invisalign in Clapham, has helped many of our patients to get the smile that they have always wanted and so, in this article, we will be focusing on this particular invisible aligner.

But, while Invisalign in Clapham may sound like it is too good to be true, we have compiled the following facts about this brace, so you can assess its suitability to you and your lifestyle. Enjoy!

Adapting can be tough

Invisalign in Clapham is designed to slot over your teeth and is made from a clear, plastic tray.

Adapting to this foreign object in your mouth can be tough; you may experience soreness on your tongue and inner cheeks during those first few weeks. If you do, our team can offer you a dental wax to alleviate the friction.

There may be a lisp!

As is the way with having something in your mouth, you may notice that your speech patterns change temporarily. While many patients are able to go back to their original speech patterns quickly, there may be a period of lisping!

Removable braces are great and bad

This brace is removable and while this is great, it can also be bad. You have to be disciplined when weaning this brace, as failure to wear it for 22 hours each day can result in your progress slowing. If you are a bit unreliable, this brace may not be the right choice for you!

You will need a mini-toothbrush!

As you can remove this brace to eat, you will need to carry a mini-toothbrush with you to clean your teeth before putting it back in. If you don’t, you could increase the risk of decay and gum disease by pushing the unremoved bacteria against your teeth.

The results are worth it!

The results make all of this worth it! As this brace can straighten your teeth in 6 months, these potential downsides are short term and the results are striking!

Want to conceal gaps in your mouth? FAQs about dental implants answered by Clapham South Dental

Whether you are 17 or 70, having missing teeth can put a real dent in your confidence. While teeth are not only great for showing off when you meet new people or attend interviews, they are also essential for healthy digestion and consumption of food. In the past, many people have approached their dentists for dentures or bridges to cover both of these bases, only to find that fitted bridges can put additional pressure on the teeth that they are attached to and of course, no matter how well fitted dentures are, they can rub.dental-implants-in-clapham

The alternative is to leave these gaps in your smile as they are and to manage as best as you can. But, unfortunately, this can allow plaque and bacteria to accumulate, especially if there are natural teeth either side of the gap. Also, as the gum and jaw shrink due to the lost tooth, any nearby natural teeth may move and even fall out!

Luckily, there is a solution. When you come to our team at Clapham South Dental, we may be able to offer you dental implants in Clapham. Designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and more functional than dentures, these prosthetics are the perfect solution for missing teeth. Perfect! Want to know more about dental implants in Clapham? Read on!

Can anyone have them fitted?

Unfortunately, no. While many people are suited to having dental implants in Clapham, you have to have a good level of oral health and have enough jaw bone to make this option viable.

While our team at Clapham will always endeavour to meet your cosmetic requirements, if you are a smoker or consume alcohol regularly, then your implants are unlikely to last.

Are they uncomfortable?

Many patients worry that having implants fitted will be painful but, as many of our previous patients have told us, it is no more uncomfortable than having a tooth extracted. Also, our team will ensure that your mouth is sufficiently numbed before we begin this process and afterwards, the implant site may feel tender for a few days. If you find the discomfort is not controllable with over-the-counter pain relief, contact our team.

How long does the fitting take?

This depends on how many implants you are having fitted. For one implant, you can expect to be in the dental chair for up to or over an hour. However, once fitted, you will need to wait for 3-6 months for it to fuse to your jawbone so the crown (tooth) can be attached.

How long do they last?

With proper care and healthy lifestyle choices, a correctly fitted implant can last up to 40 years! Remember, smoking, alcohol consumption and poorly managed oral health will shorten this substantially.

Do they need special aftercare?

Not really. After fitting, be careful not to irritate the implant site and eat soft foods to enable faster healing. Apply minimal to no pressure, avoid mouthwash and use salt water to clean the implant site until the inflammation eases.

Want to know more about different invisible braces? 5 advantages of the Inman Aligner

If you are new to the world of adult based braces and aligners, you may feel as though each and every cosmetic aligner option is the same. However, this is not the case and with the advancements in orthodontic technologies, more misalignments, protrusions and malocclusions can now be treated with a visually discreet aligner.invisible-braces-in-clapham

Similarly, many cosmetic based aligners work in a different way from each other, allowing your dentist to personalise the movement of your teeth. While well-known aligner Invisalign uses custom fitting trays to move your teeth into the desired position, many other braces use options such as a sliding mechanism, which reduces both the pressure and discomfort that were once so common with braces.

When you come to us at Clapham South Dental, we will endeavour to get you the smile you deserve with one of our many orthodontic options. We are experienced in every type from clear to invisible braces in Clapham, so you won’t have to compromise on your appearance while straightening your teeth. Perfect!

In this article, we will explore the advantages of one of our most popular invisible braces in Clapham: the Inman Aligner. Enjoy!

Better oral health

Many people have concerns about wearing a brace as an adult and, while the Inman Aligner is a removable option, it offers an improvement to your oral health when compared to traditional metal braces. As this invisible brace in Clapham is designed to be physically clear, there are fewer places for bacteria and plaque to hide and, with its shorter treatment time, you are at a lower risk of suffering from decay or gum disease.

Removable

Of course, a key advantage of the Inman Aligner is that it is fully removable. This means you can take it out when you eat, drink or even to brush your teeth. Just make sure you put it back in otherwise the length of your treatment may be extended.

Accelerated treatment

Like many cosmetic braces, the Inman Aligner also offers you an accelerated treatment time.

Indeed, when compared to regular metal braces, patients were able to achieve their straighter smile in around 6-9 months, whereas traditional braces typically took 9-18 months to straighten similar malocclusions. It is a speedy brace!

Comfortable

Mentioned earlier, one key difference between the Inman Aligner and traditional braces is that while this is removable and realigns your teeth differently, it does not pull your teeth into position in the same way that traditional braces do. Due to its design, there is an inbuilt sliding system, to allow your teeth to move in both a controlled but also free way, reducing the pressure and discomfort. And, as it is a lot smaller than traditional braces, it will also not cause rubbing against your inner cheeks! Great stuff!

Exceptional results!

With its more targeted approach to realigning teeth and a wider range of issues that it can treat, the Inman Aligner offers a straighter smile in a faster time. What more could you want in a brace?