Author Archives: Smilecraft Dental Care

When do you need to see the dentist in Stevenage?

There are a number of reasons to see the dentist in Stevenage at Smilecraft. We create a welcoming environment that encourages you to visit whenever you need to. Even if you have anxiety around visiting the dentist, our team is here to help you overcome your worries and take good care of your teeth.

Dentist-in-StevenageRegularly

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to your oral health. If you see your dentist in Stevenage regularly, you increase your chances of avoiding extensive dental work in the future. You may feel like your teeth are fine, but there may be underlying issues that you cannot detect yet that your dental practitioner can spot and treat before they become anything more serious.

Booking regular appointments also helps to avoid large gaps in your oral healthcare routine because you simply don’t get round to it. Life is busy and some people do not find time to fit in their dental visits even if they do suspect that there is something wrong. It can be easier to keep an appointment that is already made than it is to prioritise making a new one.

When you have a problem

If you do begin to experience any issues, you can make an appointment to see the dentist in Stevenage at Smilecraft as soon as possible. We can often address issues with a simple treatment, clean and polish, advice or repair. Common dental issues include:

  • Sores
  • Toothache
  • Bad breath
  • Gum disease
  • Bleeding

You may also have emergency dental needs in the event of an accident, acute health condition or bleeding. In an emergency, we aim to see you on the same day that you call us at Smilecraft.

When you want to

Not all visits to the dentist are driven by necessity. There are some treatments that you can elect to have to improve the appearance of your teeth. At Smilecraft we have an extensive range of cosmetic procedures for you to browse. We have confidence in our ability to create such a comfortable environment for you at our practice that you will be happy to visit for a treat as well as to look after your teeth.

Three reasons to choose Smilecraft

At Smilecraft, we want to be a dentist in Stevenage that offers patients a different experience of oral healthcare. We are constantly working to improve your perception of visiting our practice so that you feel comfortable and relaxed. We know that the kind of environment that we strive to create is conducive to encouraging patients to visit us when they need to and therefore improving their chances of enjoying high standards of oral health.

Dentist in StevenageWe are hygiene champions

At Smilecraft, we know that hygiene is one of the top patient concerns when they visit the dentist in Stevenage. We all like to know that our health is being taken care of by the medical professionals we place our trust in. Many patients feel like they are in a vulnerable position when they visit the dentist. In Stevenage, we do everything we can to mitigate this feeling and make our patients feel safe. One of the ways that we do this is to offer a transparent and stringent hygiene process that includes rigorous sterilisation procedures.

We offer The Wand for pain-free dentistry

If you experience anxiety around visiting the dentist in Stevenage, that’s understandable. For many people, the source of this concern is pain that they have experienced at their dentist in the past. This can lead to avoidance behaviour that can have a serious impact on your oral health.

At Smilecraft, we are committed to changing the patient experience of the dentist. One of the ways that we do this is to deliver pain-free injections through The Wand system. This is a computer-controlled anaesthetic delivery method that eliminates the usual stinging sensations associated with needles at the dentist.

We walk the walk

As well as looking out for signs of oral cancer in clinic and taking care of your personal health, we also support charities like the Mouth Cancer Foundation. Many of our staff undertook a sponsored walk to raise funds for the foundation in 2014.

Our passion for oral health and our commitment to your health shows in the way that we work. Our staff are dedicated and well-trained as well as being enthusiastic about supporting causes like Mouth Cancer Foundation.

Direct Access and why you should see a dental hygienist in Stevenage

Hygiene visits are an important part of the maintenance of our teeth and gums. While only a dentist can spot the early signs of gum disease and tooth decay, a dental hygienist is perfectly qualified to remove the plaque and tartar build-up that leads to decay and disease.

Here at Smilecraft in Stevenage, patients can make hygiene appointments without a referral from a dentist. This is known as direct access. This service was created in 2013, though even now, five years later, we find many of our patients still don’t know they can book a hygiene appointment whenever they want.

Dental Hygienist in StevenageWhy see a dental hygienist?

There are many benefits from having regular hygiene appointments. At your six-monthly check-up, your dentist will recommend that you also have a scale and polish – which means removing plaque and tartar build-up. This is because no matter how diligently we brush, floss and mouth wash, unseen plaque builds up, hardening into tartar over time, which can then lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Only dental equipment can remove this build up, so it is vital to have this preventive work done regularly.

Hygienists can also advise on brushing techniques and the use of interdental brushes, so you can have the most effective oral healthcare routine possible.

They can also offer advice on nutrition for oral health, ways to combat bad breath and sensitive teeth and information on how to stop smoking.

And if you have a dental structure such as a dental implant, bridge, denture or crown, our hygienist can give you special tips on how to keep it, and the surrounding teeth, clean and healthy.

Keep your smile shining

So, as well as coming in for a hygiene appointment when recommended by your dentist, you can book in for a scale and polish without a referral, great for shining up your pearly whites before a special occasion, or simply keeping them in tip top condition.

Particular patient groups such as those with diabetes or heart disease and pregnant women may need to see a hygienist more often than every six months. Check in with your dentist for more information.

Protecting the teeth of your baby

Tooth decay is a problem that affects children and adults alike but can also be an issue for toddlers. Bacteria can get into the mouth through a number of ways, most commonly by sharing spoons and by testing food before feeding. These practices can cause tooth decay, even if your baby hasn’t had their first teeth yet.

At Smilecraft, we strongly believe that prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to tooth decay. For this reason, we urge our patients to bring their toddler to the practice, even before the emergence of their first teeth. Our dentist in Stevenage will be able to detect any signs of tooth decay from an early stage and ensure that the teeth of your little one come out strong and healthy.

Dentist in StevenageCause of tooth decay among toddlers

As with adults, tooth decay in toddlers starts as soon as bacteria in the mouth start eating away their tooth enamel. This can be harmful to toddlers or young children whose primary teeth have not fully appeared yet. A common cause of this type of decay is milk bottles. A surprising number of children go to bed with a bottle of milk or juice and can sit around sipping it for a prolonged period of time.

This can lead to the accumulation of sugar on the teeth and gums over the night and creates an ideal ground for bacteria to grow and flourish. Unhealthy eating habits can also cause tooth decay. Toddlers that consume a lot of sugary foods are more likely to develop tooth decay in their primary teeth, compared to toddlers who have a balanced diet enriched with fruit and vegetables.

Prevention and treatment

Visiting the dentist in Stevenage is the best preventive method against tooth decay. Only a dentist can safely clean your toddler’s teeth and gums from bacteria and plaque and ensure that their teeth remain clean and healthy. Our dentist in Stevenage will also provide helpful cleaning and dieting tips.

As a parent, your role is to protect your baby’s teeth and gums and introduce them to a lifetime of good oral hygiene habits.

The importance of proper dental care

Many people fail to understand that regular visits to the dentist are as important as regular visits to the doctor. Oral health can be indicative of our general health and a good dentist can diagnose and prevent serious oral conditions such as cavities and gum disease.

At Smilecraft, we believe that dental hygiene should be a priority and we urge our patients to visit the dentist in Stevenage at least twice a year. Depending on the state of your teeth and your individual situation, you may need to visit more frequently. Even if you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly on a daily basis, chances are that you will still develop plaque, which can lead to gum disease and other oral health complications if left untreated.

Dentist in StevenageSaving time and money

Proper oral hygiene has many benefits and the most important is that it saves you time and money. If you neglect to brush, floss and rinse your teeth with a mouthwash daily, you will eventually suffer from cavities or gum disease. Moreover, only a dentist in Stevenage can remove all plaque from your teeth effectively and examine for signs of oral disease. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings prevent problems from happening and will save you from extensive and expensive treatments in the future.

It’s not only about your teeth

Many people fail to understand that when they are neglecting their teeth and oral health, they are actually neglecting their general health. Many studies have shown a correlation between bad oral health and conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease. By having your teeth and gums checked and cleaned at least twice a year, you can dramatically improve your quality of life and overall wellness.

Make your oral health a priority

Brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis is the first step to improving your oral health and preventing oral disease. The second step is visiting the dentist every six months for regular examinations and cleanings. If you stick to this plan, you will spend less time in the dentist’s chair and more time enjoying your life. If you are interested in booking a consultation appointment with a dentist in Stevenage, contact us today.

What to expect at your first appointment to the dentist in Stevenage

Visiting a new dentist for the first time can be a stressful experience. Not everyone finds change easy and having to visit a new dentist can be quite challenging. But it doesn’t have to be.

At Smilecraft, we welcome all new patients to our practice and we hope that you will have a friendly and relaxed dental experience. Our dentist in Stevenage is here to answer your questions and give you more information on our practice and our treatments. Every age has its own challenges and requires a different approach, but we are here to accommodate children, teens and adults alike.

Dentist in StevenagePlanning your visit

For us, it is really important to have enough time to understand and process your individual requirements. For this reason, appointments for new patients are an hour long. If you are interested in booking an appointment with one of our dentists, either visit our website or give us a call. We will get back to you promptly with a date and time. If we are unable to accommodate your availability, we will suggest alternative openings in our schedule.

The dental examination

Once you arrive at our practice, our dentist in Stevenage will make you feel at home. Before examining your mouth and teeth thoroughly, we will ask questions about your medical history to identify oral or other health issues that we should be aware of. This is an important step for your healthcare and all prospective patients should complete a medical history form prior to their first consultation.

After that, our dentist in Stevenage will examine your teeth and gums thoroughly. This examination also includes an inspection of your throat and soft tissues as well an oral screening test.

We may also take x-rays to monitor your jawbone health. Once the examination is completed, we will discuss our findings with you and suggest possible treatments. We will also offer advice on proper brushing and flossing techniques, so you can do your part to keep your teeth healthy in between check-ups.

Even if your teeth and gums are in great health, we recommend visiting the dentist in Stevenage for dental check-ups and cleanings at least twice a year.

Pain-free dentistry in Stevenage

For those who suffer from dental phobia, they are unlikely to visit the dentist unless it is absolutely necessary. Patients who are afraid of the dentist may be afraid of the pain, the drill, the injections or may have had bad experiences in the past. Luckily, modern dentistry has evolved considerably over the years and pain is no longer inevitable when visiting the dentist.

At Smilecraft, we are proud to offer The Wand in Stevenage, a painless injection system, which was developed to replace the traditional needles in dentistry. This innovative computer-controlled anaesthetic delivery system is ideal for patients who have associated the dentist with pain and discomfort.

The Wand in StevenageHow does it work?

What many patients who are afraid of needles fail to realise, is that the pain does not usually come from the needle. Needles can cause discomfort, but they cannot cause pain.

In reality, the pain caused by injections is created by the anaesthetic being delivered too quickly or with uncontrolled force. The software that operates The Wand controls the flow of the anaesthetic, while the hand piece with the needle is held in place. Working together, these two components make painful injections a thing of the past.

Are there still needles and injections?

The Wand incorporates a needle, however it is not as visible as regular needles. Its innovative and patient-friendly design is ideal for children or patients who are afraid of injections, since The Wand looks more like a pen rather than a syringe. Compared to regular syringes, the needle of The Wand is very small and discrete. For patients who panic at the mere sight of a needle and the thought of what is about to happen, The Wand can help them to relax.

Is it as effective as regular needles?

The Wand is even better than regular needles because it is entirely controlled by computer software. Regardless of what type of injection is required and in which area of the patient’s mouth it should be done, our dentist is able to reach comfortably and apply the anaesthetic accurately and painlessly. The technology behind The Wand eliminates the margin for human mistakes and offers a more relaxed experience to patients of all ages.

Maintaining a healthy smile

Here at at Smilecraft we know that the health of your mouth is the most important aspect of your smile. There’s simply no point having a beautiful set of teeth if your gums and jawbone are not healthy. The teeth won’t last long if the whole package is not in a good, healthy condition.

That doesn’t mean beauty is not important to us too of course. Both of these are considered when you visit us at our dentist in Stevenage.

Dentist in StevenageIf you are healthy, your teeth can last you a lifetime. When we talk about health, we consider many aspects, for example, your bite. Having an uneven bite can cause problems throughout your head, neck and even your back. Symptoms can include jaw ache, headaches, neck and back pain. It’s not good for the wear of your teeth either. A misaligned bite can lead to premature aging of the teeth and cavities. Excess pressure can lead teeth to crumble and be lost all together. From there problems can go as far as losing neighbouring teeth, soon you are on the slippery road to dentures. Not much fun, right?

If you notice yourself grinding your teeth, your Stevenage dentist will likely recommend you invest in a mouth guard. This is a device you can use at night time to cushion your teeth from the grinding. You will find that your muscles are more relaxed. Treatments range from this level, right up to maxillofacial surgery, braces or dental implants.

Smilecraft recommend visiting your dentist in Stevenage regularly, twice-yearly works for most patients. We want to make sure that your teeth are in great health. X-rays do wonders for preventive care. They allow us to see beneath the tooth enamel to check for infections, cracks or impacted wisdom teeth. These regular visits can help prevent many unwanted dental emergencies such as tooth abscesses, advanced tooth decay, root canals and tooth extraction. Keeping on top of your oral health is key to preserving your teeth for as long as possible. However, rest assured, if your teeth have not managed to last the distance, we can help you on your journey to fully functioning replacement teeth.

Why dental sealants are so great for kids

We love our kids and our kids love sugar. Unfortunately, so do the bacteria in dental plaque. It thrives on it, and then releases acids that cause tooth decay. Kids get just as much tooth decay as ever, and that’s why we offer a way to protect their teeth, with the application of dental sealants.

This is a relatively new dental procedure, and as such, you may be unaware of the benefits it can offer to your children.

Dentist in StevenageOur dental team at Smilecraft dentist in Stevenage is committed offering preventive oral care to children and adults. Children’s love affair with sweets and sugary drinks mean they are more prone to tooth decay. With fluoride treatment and dental sealants, we can help prevent tooth decay and stop decay that has not yet reached the centre of the tooth. Our experienced dentist can show you how dental sealants work and answer questions you may have about them. However, let’s get a basic understanding of them here so that you can see what they can do to protect your children’s teeth.

How do dental sealants work?

At your dentist in Stevenage, we paint tooth-coloured dental sealants (also called fissure sealants) directly onto the ridges of the back teeth. These molars are harder to keep clean than teeth nearer the front of the jaw. The sealants act as a protective barrier between tooth enamel and cavity-causing mouth bacteria. When sealants are combined with fluoride treatment and diligent brushing and flossing, your kids teeth stand a much better chance of staying whole and healthy.

Brushing and flossing are still vitally important in preventing tooth decay.  Sealants provide extra protection for those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and teeth. How many teeth you decide to get sealed will be influenced by your child’s lifestyle and their history of tooth decay. For effective protection, we recommend applying dental sealants as soon as your children’s permanent teeth come through.

At this dentist in Stevenage, we can apply dental sealants in just one visit. Once we have thoroughly examined your children’s teeth, we will give them a really good clean before applying the sealant. Then we harden it with a special light.

The importance of taking children to the dentist

You’d think that in this day and age that dental decay in kids but would something you only read about in history lessons, but the truth is that even now children in the UK are having to have teeth removed before they are even one year old. The problem is that there’s more sugar than ever before in the food our kids eat, and not everyone is taking their children to the dentist.

Dentist in StevenageAt Smilecraft, we recommend that you bring in your children to see us from an early age. Make that first appointment for soon after their teeth start to appear. When you bring your children in this young, it helps to familiarise your child with the dentist in Stevenage environment and what goes on here. You can even bring them along to your own appointment, or that of a sibling. That way they get to see that having a dental check-up is normal and they will soon cotton on as, young kids love watching and copying what they see.

These early visits to the dentist in Stevenage help your child to see the staff here as friendly faces and they will look forward to seeing us and we will look forward to seeing how good they are at brushing their teeth. These little interchanges will build up trust, so that when we need to step in and deal with a problem, your child won’t be scared. Fluoride varnish and fissure sealant will help to strengthen children’s teeth and protect them from tooth decay.

Of course, catching problems early also takes a lot of the stress out of the experience for you and your child. You don’t like to see your child scared or in pain, any more than they like being scared or in pain, and these situations can be easily avoided with regular check-ups.

When your child sees our hygienist, they can learn about a healthy diet, tooth brushing, and looking after their smile, all delivered in an age-appropriate, fun, and engaging manner.

Establishing good oral health habits, including regular visits to the dentist in Stevenage, at an early stage, will help to set your child up with good dental health for life.