Author Archives: Smilecraft Dental Care

How can plaque affect your health?

If you run your tongue over your teeth before you brush them, chances are that you will feel a thin film attached on the surface of your teeth. This film is known as plaque and can cause many problems if it turns into tartar, a calciferous mineral that can lead to many oral health problems.

At Smilecraft, we advise our patients to book frequent visits to the dentist in Stevenage in order to have plaque and tartar professionally removed from the teeth. Even if someone brushes and flosses regularly, chances are that plaque deposits are still in-between their teeth and gums.

What is plaque?

Plaque consists of bacteria and food remains that form a film over the teeth after a meal. Over time, plaque hardens into a substance known as tartar and is gradually deposited in the teeth and gums. If you fail to remove plaque day by day with brushing and flossing, chances are that you will soon experience gum disease and/or tooth decay. However, brushing and flossing on their own are not enough – you should also visit the dentist in Stevenage. They have all the right tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth before it’s too late.

Removing plaque

Ideally, you want to have plaque removed from your teeth and gums, before it turns into a problem. Brushing and flossing your teeth daily will help keep plaque at bay to a certain extent and will prevent it from turning into tartar. However, some areas in the mouth are hard to reach and plaque likes to hide in these places. Your dentist in Stevenage has all the right tools to clean your teeth thoroughly and prevent plaque from creating problems.

Protection against plaque

Fortunately, there are ways to protect against plaque without having to visit the dentist in Stevenage all the time. Plaque is at its most vulnerable state a few hours after eating. Always brush and floss your teeth. Ideally, you should also use an antibacterial mouthwash. Even if you are a great brusher and flosser, you will still need to see your dentist from time to time. The standard number of cleanings is 2 per year, yet some people produce more plaque than others.

Prepare for the spring by visiting the dentist in Stevenage

Spring is here and you may be wondering if it’s time to see the dentist for your routine check-up and cleaning. If your last visit to the dentist was more than 6 months ago, or if you don’t remember when you last sat in the dentist’s chair, then it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Stevenage.

Dentist in Stevenage

At Smilecraft, we are excited to help you prepare your smile for the spring and give you more reasons to show your teeth proudly. Whether you are looking for a general check-up or cleaning, or you are wondering if it is time to explore your cosmetic dentistry options, we are here to help.

Advantages of visiting the dentist regularly

Studies have shown that people who visit the dentist at least twice a year, are less likely to develop gum disease or tooth decay. Similarly, patients who don’t avoid the dentist are less likely to suffer from general diseases linked to bad oral hygiene such as diabetes or heart disease. Patients with these conditions should visit the dentist in Stevenage more than twice a year, since symptoms of oral infection can be invisible.

Visiting your dentist in Stevenage at the beginning of the spring will take away your smile-related worries and help you remain in the path of great oral health.

What to expect during your check-up

At Smilecraft we prioritise prevention and for this reason, we examine our patients’ teeth, gums and mouth thoroughly during their check-up. In some cases, we may even take x-rays to determine the cause of an infection or see through the gums thoroughly. Moreover, we provide screenings for oral cancer, especially to patients who are at risk of developing it.

How to know when to visit the dentist in Stevenage

If you suffer from a toothache, see blood in the sink every time you brush your teeth, or your teeth have suddenly become sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages, then it’s time to arrange a dental appointment at our practice. If you are interested in greeting the springtime with a healthy and beautiful smile, contact us today.

Preventive dentistry for kids

When you think about what you want to put in place for your children, the various elements add up to making sure that they are happy and healthy. A good job, good health, somewhere nice to live, good friends and a happy family of their own. This is what most parents wish for their children to have a good life.

Preventative Dentistry for Kids

Teeth play a very important part in the good health aspect of a life. Without good teeth, it’s not possible to eat properly, to bite into and chew up the nutritious foods we need to sustain our bodies. Also, good teeth play a vital role in having a good smile. And a good smile is one of the most important tools we have in making that first contact with people, be they a prospective partner, a new social group or someone who can decide whether or not we get a good new job or a promotion.

Without those connections, it may not be possible to get the money to pay for the new house and so on.

So, having a good set of teeth is more important than it is sometimes given credit for.

What can you do to make sure that your children have good teeth while they are growing up at home, and continue to look after them once they have flown the nest?

Well, here at Smilecraft Dental Care, we believe that the first step is learning a good oral health routine that your child will keep to even after they have left home and there is no one to ask them, ‘Have you brushed your teeth?’.

We also believe in looking after baby teeth as well as possible, because decay can move from baby teeth through to the adult teeth behind them.

To that end, we offer preventive dentistry for kids. We can paint their back teeth with fissure sealants that form a protective barrier against decay causing acids and bacteria. We can also mineralise the teeth with fluoride treatments.

These are timely treatments for youngsters who have not yet mastered all the skills of toothbrushing and whose tooth enamel has not yet hardened.

Help your child beat decay. Book them in for preventive treatments today.

How we meet our patients where they are

In an ideal world, we’d all have time, energy and motivation to look after the various aspects of our health, including teeth. The reality is that dental care is just one on a long list of things that individuals and families need to attend to. At Smilecraft, we spend time thinking about how our services can support people with accessing dental care in a way that is easy for them. To that end, here are some of the things we have come up with to meet people where they are when it comes to visiting the dentist in Stevenage.

Dentist in Stevenage

Excellent administration

When you visit the dentist in Stevenage, you will meet our friendly administration staff. They are the ones who make sure it’s easy for you to sign in and make your next appointments. The whole process is designed to be streamlined so we don’t take up any more of your time than is necessary. You can also use our online booking time to make your next appointment at a time that is convenient for you.

Patient hygiene

We know that hygiene is one of the primary patient concerns. You want to know that you are having your treatment in an environment that is clean and safe. Wherever we can, we use disposable, individually wrapped instruments for each patient. When this isn’t possible, we follow a rigorous decontamination procedure. You can read about this on our website and ask a member of staff at any time if you want to know more. Each person that you work with is highly trained in hygiene procedures and can address any concerns.

Comfort

Of course, it’s much harder to make time to visit the dentist in Stevenage if you have anxiety around the process, or fear that you will be in pain during your appointment. When you visit Smilecraft, we can talk to you about all the sensation you might feel during treatment and give you the option to take a break or halt treatment at any time.

We also work with The Wand which is a pain-free injection system. Even if you need work that requires numbing, you won’t have to bear the pain of the injection to get the anaesthetic effects.

About our dentist

Based in the centre of Stevenage Old Town, Smilecraft is a private dentist that’s been treating patients for generations. As a dentist in Stevenage, Smilecraft is well-known as a professional and approachable clinic that aims to provide patients with a competent, safe and highly effective range of treatments. We’ve built great relations with our patients, many of whom have been with us for a long time. Our patients include adults and children.

Dentist in Stevenage

Putting your dental health first

It’s our aim to put your dental health at the heart of everything we do.

We believe in developing positive and trusting relationships with our patients so that they can come to us with questions or for guidance about effective ways of looking after their teeth and gums. It’s a combination of this with regular, routine check-ups that will go a long way to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Our professional and experienced dental team at the dentist in Stevenage is available to provide patients with quality care and the information needed to keep their teeth well-maintained at home with regular maintenance. This includes guidance on how to brush and floss your teeth, as well as information on what to include in your diet for optimum dental health.

What we offer

Whether you need a dentist to provide check-ups and general appointments or a more in-depth treatment, we can provide what you need. Our treatments cover preventive, cosmetic and general dentistry to suit all requirements and needs. Tooth extractions, fillings, root canal and teeth whitening are just some of the treatments available to our patients.

Our dentist in Stevenage can provide check-ups and dental care for adults and children of all ages.

Our facilities

The goal for our dentist in Stevenage is to use quality equipment and to be up-to-date with modern dentistry tools and resources. This ensures that we can consistently offer a competitive course of care to our patients.

A dentist you can rely on

Our team of dentists will be there when you need us and we’ll take the time to listen to any concerns you have. Please do get in touch with us today to find out more.

The importance of good dental health

Having healthy teeth and gums is good for overall health. This is because when you have an issue with a tooth, it can cause other bodily symptoms and make you feel unwell. As a dentist in Stevenage, we understand the importance of this and help our patients to give them a high standard of dental care when they need it, as well as general dental care, including regular check-ups. By having check-ups every 6 months, we can help our patients to prevent problems and treat issues before they become serious.

Dentist in Stevenage

About us

When you need a dentist in Stevenage, Smilecraft is a local clinic you can turn to. When new patients register with us, they tend to stick with us. Over time, our team has built solid and trusting relationships with many patients, who have grown to stay with us and have gone to register their children with us.

Our unique appointments system

If going into your dentist in Stevenage is something that’s just too nerve-wracking, you can start with our e-consultation. You simply complete an online form and include a photo of yourself. The form will give you a chance to let us know about any problems you’re having with your teeth and what you’d like to have done to improve your smile. With this first step, it may feel easier to come into our clinic to make a booking with one of our dentists.

If you’re comfortable to come and see us right away, we have an online booking system you can use. For new patients, we give an hour-long appointment. This is because you will need to complete a form about your full medical history and so that the dentist can complete a full examination and assessment of your teeth and gums. At the end of your appointment, we will talk with you about the results, letting you know about any issues that need to be treated and what the options for this are. To secure your appointment, there is a £15 booking fee, which will then be deducted from the cost of your treatment or check-up.

Start 2019 with a clean white smile

Houses get dirty over winter. All that electric light can make it harder to see the dust, and if you have a fire or a burner, you have added ash settling on stuff, not to mention muddy puddles being trailed in on trainers, wellies and dogs. No wonder then that when spring comes, and the increased day length shows up how dirty everything is, we go for a mad clean. So it is with our teeth.

Teeth Whitening in Stevenage

The things that stain teeth tend to get consumed more in winter. Tea and coffee to keep us warm during the day when in summer we’re more likely to drink water. Not to mention mulled red wine, or just red wine, or hot berry drinks and crumbles. All that comforting dark food, even dark chocolate, can leave stains on the surfaces of our teeth.

Come the spring, your teeth might need as much of a clean as your house. And if you want to be sure to get rid of all trains of staining, you will need to get your teeth whitened.

Teeth whitening lifts out surfaces, which are basically traces of foods and drinks that have settled into the pores of our tooth enamel. The ingredient in whitening gels that does this is hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is a simple chemical. It’s just water with an added oxygen molecule, so it’s very safe. It has been used as disinfectant and whitener for about 200 years. It comes in different strengths. The strongest whitening gels can only be used by the dentist, but there are less concentrated gels that you can use at home.

You can choose whether to come into the clinic for a power whitening session, which takes about an hour, or to do the whitening yourself at home. If you choose the latter, you are much better off with a kit from us than off-the-shelf. The gel is stronger and more effective and the trays are made especially for you so you get maximum contact and no spillage.

Come on in and find out more. We can help you choose which method to go for.

Thinking of joining us? If so, here’s why you should

Smilecraft has been an established dentist in Stevenage for 25 years, providing professional dental care services to the area. We believe in great customer care, always putting your needs at the centre of our business. Here’s how we do that:

Your first consultation

Your first consultation will be an in-depth assessment of your dental and oral health, including checking for any gum infections and a full oral cancer screening. We will take x-rays and look in detail at your dental health history. Once completed, we will then sit and discuss with you any issues you feel are important and look at any treatment plans that maybe

necessary. As your dentist in Stevenage, we understand that good customer care includes clear pricing and we offer payment plans to help spread the cost of any treatments you may require.

A dentist in Stevenage offering the full package

As a trusted dentist, we cover a range of general, restorative and cosmetic treatments including:

Preventive dentistry

Six-monthly check-ups are the corner stone of good dental health care. They ensure we resolve minor issues before they turn into major problems. Regular check-ups and hygienist sessions ensure we catch infections or signs of decay early so we can treat them efficiently. If we spot anything more serious in our examinations, swift diagnosis and treatment ensures best outcomes.

Routine dentistry

Everything from root canals to snoring issues can be resolved by your dentist. During our check-ups, if we find an issue or if you feel you have an issue arising, we can find a cost-effective solution to everyday dental and oral health issues.

Cosmetic dentistry

We offer a range of cosmetic dentistry treatments that can improve smiles. This includes treatments such as veneers, teeth whitening and the latest in fast-acting, cost-effective braces technology.

Missing teeth

As your dentist in Stevenage, we can stabilise your dentures and provide replacements for your missing teeth. Dental implants can offer incredible results and may be the correct treatment to fully replace a missing tooth or prevent denture slippage.

Call today to book your first consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Looking for a dentist in Stevenage?

When you move house, in among all the unpacking and setting up new utilities contracts, you also need to find new healthcare providers. Don’t leave getting on the lists of your local GP and your dentist in Stevenage until you have an emergency. Most of us need you to come in for an initial examination before we carry out any treatments. We need a baseline record of your health to start from.

Dentist in Stevenage

We are Smilecraft

Here at Smilecraft, we are a dentist in Stevenage that has been at the heart of the town’s dental health for more than 25 years. People come from in and around the town for our routine general dentistry as well as cosmetic dental treatments.

We provide treatments for the whole family, so you can bring yourself, your children, your young adults and your parents and we will be able to cater for all their dental needs. We put your comfort and needs at the top of the list of our priorities.

The Wand

That means we have invested in the Wand, a way of delivering anaesthetic injections that is painless. No one likes the sting that comes with an injection. It is caused by a sudden rush of a lot of fluid into the cells. With the Wand, a computer controls the amount of fluid that goes into your mouth, little by little, so there is no sting, just gradual numbing. Now it really is possible to have pain-free dentistry.

Your initial consultation

Arrive early, as the first part is filling in a medical history form. Your first consultation with us takes an hour. We need this time to get to know you, and find out about what you want from us as your new dentist in Stevenage. We also need to get detailed records of your teeth as they are now. Teeth tell us all about your dental history.

After we have thoroughly examined your teeth, taken x-rays and done a cancer check, we will go through what we have found with you. Then we can go on to draw up a treatment plan for you, if you need one. Hopefully, by the end of the appointment, you will feel part of Smilecraft.

Your dentist in Stevenage: one of the team

Have you noticed how much easier it is to get through life when you are part of a team? At home, your family is your team, pulling together to get everyone to where they need to be, get them fed and clean and sheltered so they can go far in life. There are also other team members that we call on from time to time as back-up for the more complex things the family can’t do. One member of that team is your dentist in Stevenage.

Dentist in Stevenage

Have some regular contact

Just like being in any team, the members need contact. You are with your immediate family nearly every day, and your friends very frequently too. You don’t need to come into Smilecraft anywhere near as often, but you do need regular contact with your dentist in Stevenage.

We usually recommend that patients come in for a check-up every 6 months, but if you are pregnant or have diabetes or another condition, we will probably want to see you more often.

Contact for us is not just about saying, ‘Hello, get in the chair and open your mouth’. We want to hear about you, what you’ve been up to and whether you have any niggles or questions about your oral health. After all, you spend all day, every day, with your teeth and gums, and will have important information to give us about them.

Our part is to do the bits you can’t, such as having a good look for the beginnings of problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. You won’t be able to feel them when they first appear, but we will be able to see them. Decay shows up first as white patches on the enamel as it starts to corrode. Gum disease might be too red gums at the back of your teeth, or places where the gum is coming away from the teeth.

If we can catch these problems early, we can work as a team to fix them before they become really serious. All it takes is a small filling, a good, deep clean and polish and you can get back to daily life and do more fun stuff with your team at home.