Author Archives: Smilecraft Dental Care

Why we love white fillings

The aim of modern dentistry is to allow you to hang on to your natural teeth for as long as possible. At Smilecraft in Stevenage, we count it as a success if you get to keep all your pearly whites for your entire life.

And one way you can do this is by having white fillings instead of amalgam. For decades, amalgam has been the preferred filling material because it is quick and easy and does a pretty good job. But the truth is that now white fillings do a much better job. There are three main reasons for this, besides the fact that white fillings look so much nicer and don’t announce your dental history to the world when you laugh.

White fillings make your teeth stronger

When we put in amalgam fillings, we have to take away more of the healthy tooth material. Amalgam cannot bond with the tooth, and so places stresses on the thinner tooth shell that can, over time, cause cracking. With white fillings, we just have to remove the decayed material. This, plus the fact that the filling is bonded to the tooth, means that there is much more of your own tooth left in place and this makes it stronger and more able to cope with the daily stresses and strains of chewing and biting.

White fillings resist decay better

Amalgam cannot bond with your own natural tooth material. This means that when we put in an amalgam filling, it sits in your tooth with no seal, so there is always going to be a miniscule gap between the filling and your tooth through which bacteria can sneak in to create more decay. White fillings actually bond with your teeth, and the resultant seal prevents bacteria getting in.

Better chewing

Amalgam fillings cannot be shaped. They lie flat within the tooth. White composite fillings are cured and then we shape them to resemble the natural contours of your own teeth, so that you get a far better chewing surface. This puts less strain on your teeth.

We can fill new cavities with white fillings, and we can also replace your old amalgam fillings.

An investment worth making

If you are unhappy with your smile, but are not sure you can justify the expense of having braces in Stevenage, then perhaps we can help you.

It may seem that having straight teeth is purely a vanity thing; after all, 40 years ago, very few people bothered with having their teeth straightened if they were only a bit crooked, not even movie stars. However, nowadays, it seems that having your teeth aligned is almost obligatory. It may have started with apparently self-obsessed celebs, but there are real emotional and physical benefits that come with the results of treatment with braces in Stevenage.

The physical side of things

Let’s look at your physical health. When your teeth line up along your jaws, they are better at biting and chewing. If you leave your teeth wonky, you will find that, over time, chewing can become painful, as some teeth take more of the brunt of the powerful forces we create when we eat. If only a few teeth are absorbing that force, they can crumble away over time. Not only that, but the uneven pressures can translate into pain in the jaw joint, neck and even manifest as headaches and migraines.

Besides the pressure issue, decay and gum disease can be more of a problem when your teeth are misaligned. This is because wonky teeth offer more nooks and crannies that are hard to keep clean, little havens for plaque to build up. The acid that bacterial plaque gives off is what erodes tooth enamel and irritates the gums, so if your teeth don’t crumble, they may just decay or fall out. Not a great prospect. Well-aligned teeth are far easier to keep clean and more likely to stay intact.

The emotional side of things

Emotionally speaking, having straighter teeth can contribute to your overall happiness levels. When you have a smile you like, you will smile more. Your smile activates the release of the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, such as serotonin. When you’ve got more of that floating round your body, you’re more likely to smile, creating an upward spiral of feeling better.

To find out more about how braces in Stevenage can benefit you, why not come in for a consultation with us at Smilecraft?

Get your smile back

When you start to notice a part of your appearance that you’re unhappy with, it’s hard not to fixate on it when you look in the mirror. Although others may not notice the same thing, it can drain your self-esteem when you feel dissatisfied with a problem that irritates you. If you’re unhappy with misaligned or crooked teeth, it might be that you want to stop smiling.

A future without smiles shouldn’t be an option, which is why we provide orthodontics in Stevenage. At Smilecraft, our welcoming and experienced dentists understand that not all patients are comfortable with traditional braces. In fact, some would rather avoid teeth straightening treatment than to go through a procedure that could disrupt their lifestyle. Fortunately, we provide a discreet alternative to traditional metal tracks that lets you carry on as normal.

Let’s be clear

At Smilecraft, we provide Six Month Smiles as one of several treatments included under orthodontics in Stevenage. This is a subtle yet precise treatment which works in a similar way to traditional braces, except the brackets and wires are tooth-coloured. This means they more easily blend into the background of your teeth for a discreet treatment.

Six Month Smiles is cost-effective because it takes less time to shift and straighten your teeth into their desired positions. Although the length of treatment differs from patient to patient, it can straighten your teeth in as little as six months.

Looking good, feeling healthy

While Six Month Smiles is designed to improve the appearance of your teeth to boost your confidence, it also encourages good oral health. If you have overcrowded, misaligned or gappy teeth, straightening your teeth means much less room for plaque to build up between them. In turn, you are more likely to avoid complications like tooth decay or gum disease.

It’s only a matter of time

In Stevenage, orthodontics is all about giving you confidence towards the smile you deserve. Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, you no longer have to be burdened with unsightly metal braces or lengthy treatments. If you’re considering orthodontics in Stevenage, then contact us today at Smilecraft to book your consultation.

Going places

When it comes to your teeth, you shouldn’t have to settle for imperfection. It is important that you feel comfortable to smile to your fullest. Perhaps you’re unhappy with having crowded, crooked, or gappy teeth but you want the perfect smile without having to go through all the trouble of traditional braces.

Many adults assume that they have passed the years of braces, which are so commonly associated with children. Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, this no longer has to be the case. At Smilecraft, we provide braces in Stevenage that serve as alternatives to traditional fixed metal braces. This is because we understand that adults might want to go through a discreet teeth straightening treatment while they work or socialise.

The clear alternative

You should never have to keep your smile on standby while you go through treatment, which is why Six Month Smiles lets you smile as you go. In Stevenage, braces have come a long way since the train track look.

Six Month Smiles uses tooth-coloured wires and brackets, making the braces hard to spot from afar while they straighten your teeth, as they more easily blend into the background. They work to shift your teeth over a time period of as little as six months, meaning the treatment is less intrusive on your lifestyle in both time and appearance. The reason this is possible is because Six Month Smiles focusses on straightening your front teeth – the ones that are most on show when you smile. This means gentler forces can be used while still ensuring a shorter treatment time

Braces to benefit your future

Although adult braces are often focussed on improving the appearance of your teeth and achieving your desired smile, they can also improve your oral health. Crooked or misaligned teeth are prone to dental problems like tooth decay or gum disease through a build-up of plaque. By straightening teeth and bringing them into proper alignment, there is less room for the plaque to accumulate and cause complications.

If you are considering braces in Stevenage, then contact us at Smilecraft today to book a consultation with one of our welcoming dentists. Get on track to your confident smile today.

On the lookout for mouth cancer

It is not just gum disease and tooth decay that can appear in your mouth when you least expect it. Mouth cancer can also show up, which is why at Smilecraft in Stevenage, mouth cancer screening comes as part of your regular twice-yearly check-up.

You may think you won’t get mouth cancer, but this is in fact the sixth most common cancer in the world. It used to be much less common in the UK, but now it is on the rise.

The numbers

Cancer Research UK has figures that show that over the last decade, the number of people dying from mouth cancer has risen by 21%, to about 2,700 deaths a year, with similar increases among both men and women. UK death rates are expected to rise by 38% between 2014-2035, to seven deaths per 100,000 people by 2035.

Why does mouth cancer occur?

It is not just smokers who get mouth cancer. It has also been linked to not eating enough fruit and veg and drinking alcohol, in that order. Experts predict that mouth cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) transmitted through oral sex will become the main cause of mouth cancer.

The good news is that, it is easy to detect early signs of mouth cancer, and, if it is caught early, it can often be cured with relatively minor surgery.

Picking up on the signs

We will carefully check the linings of your cheeks, the roof of your mouth (palate), the lips, and gums. We will also check your salivary glands, tonsils, and pharynx – the part of the throat that connects your mouth to your windpipe, although cancer here happens more rarely.

Mouth cancers show up as:

painful mouth ulcers that don’t heal;
strange and persistent lumps;
strange lumps in the neck;
loose teeth, or sockets that won’t heal after extractions;
lips or tongue that feels numb or odd;
red or white patches;
changes in speech, such as a lisp.

Mouth cancer is more likely to affect drinkers and smokers, and this may be why more men get it than women, and why it is more prevalent in people over 50 and younger than 74.

Orthodontics in Stevenage: improve your smile quickly and discreetly

Are you looking to straighten your smile, but don’t want to spend a year or more in metal brackets and wires? Then, Six Month Smiles may be the right treatment for you. Just half a year or less, and you can have a straighter, more attractive smile.

At Smilecraft, we offer fast-track orthodontics in Stevenage to patients who wish to straighten their front teeth in a short period of time, while preparing for a big occasion such as a wedding or a graduation. Six Month Smiles braces work just like regular braces, however they are much faster and less noticeable.

What is Six Month Smiles and how does it work?

Six Month Smiles braces are specifically designed to straighten your teeth much more quickly than is possible with standard braces. Unlike standard metal braces, these braces consist of clear ceramic brackets with tooth-coloured wires and, therefore, are barely visible when you smile.

The treatment is much quicker than with conventional braces, as it focuses on correcting only your front teeth – essentially the teeth that can be seen when you smile. Because standard braces correct every tooth position as well as your bite, the treatment can take many months. But with Six Month Smiles you can enjoy having straighter teeth, in six months, as the name of the treatment suggests.

Six Month Smiles puts its speed in its name, and for good reason. Your dental appointments will be shorter than those for traditional braces. That’s because no complex tooth movements are required, and we can quickly perform adjustments as necessary.

Treatment with Six Month Smiles braces is gentle and you shouldn’t experience any pain or discomfort. This is partly because these braces do not affect the roots of your teeth.

Moreover, the brackets are barely visible and nobody will know you are undergoing treatment, unless you tell them. Finally, since the treatment takes less time than traditional braces, the cost is usually a more affordable option.

To learn whether you are a candidate for Six Month Smiles orthodontics in Stevenage, please call us today for an appointment with our experienced dentists. We look forward to welcoming you at Smilecraft.

Enhance your smile with straighter teeth

Are crooked, crowded or poorly spaced teeth making you self-conscious about your appearance? If you do not like what you see in the mirror when you smile, you cannot express yourself properly and life can feel challenging. If you are unhappy about misaligned teeth, you might like to consider having braces in Stevenage. At Smilecraft in Stevenage, braces have been literally life-changing for people who were previously feeling awkward about their smiles, hiding their teeth and feeling ill at ease. Teeth that are out of place can also cause other difficulties.

What are the benefits of straighter teeth?

Apart from diminishing the beauty of your smile, crooked teeth can affect your oral health. Misaligned teeth are harder to clean, as there are more spaces for plaque to accumulate. Maintaining clean teeth avoids gum problems and keeps your teeth strong as well as preventing issues such as bad breath. Having braces at an early age, usually when there is a mixture of adult and baby teeth, ensures that the teeth and jaw develop normally. However, if you are an adult who has missed out on corrective procedures as a child, it is not too late to benefit from braces in Stevenage.

Options to suit modern living

For many of our patients in Stevenage, braces have been a great solution to crooked teeth. We know that you want results fast and that you do not want to worry about how you are looking during your treatment. We use modern procedures which work quickly and are very discreet. Tooth-coloured brackets and wires in the rapid Six Month Smiles technique reduce the visual impact of the braces and you really can achieve great results in just half a year. The exact treatment time depends on the individual but because it is less time consuming than other options, it can work out to be a very cost-effective option. You avoid the unsightliness of metal braces and so having your teeth straightened will fit into your lifestyle rather than being a cause for concern.

Join the hundreds of our patients who have benefitted from braces in Stevenage and get in touch with us today to see how we can help you.

Solutions for crooked teeth

Do you wish you had straighter teeth? You may be worrying about how you look, or experiencing pain or difficulties with eating and speaking. If this sounds like you and you see us at Smilecraft in Stevenage, orthodontics can help. Orthodontics focuses on how the teeth, jaws and face develop. Every year over 200,000 children and teenagers in England and Wales have orthodontic treatment and make a long-term investment in their health and wellbeing. Treatment is best carried out during childhood when there is a mixture of baby and adult teeth. However, if you are an adult who has missed out on corrective procedures as a child, it is not too late to have work done now.

What are the benefits of having orthodontics in Stevenage?

Straighter teeth look better, which enhances your self-esteem and improves your confidence. They are also healthier. Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to clean, as there are fewer gaps in which plaque can accumulate. Correctly positioned teeth are also more stable, as they are properly supported and are less likely to move around in the mouth, get damaged or become loose. For our patients in Stevenage, orthodontics has also helped with discomfort from poorly positioned teeth, as well as issues around using the mouth normally. You may associate orthodontics with metal braces but there are now modern techniques available to suit your needs.

Fitting in with your lifestyle

We offer orthodontics in Stevenage for a range of issues, from resolving crowded or poorly spaced teeth to aligning upper or lower dental arches and correcting the bite of the teeth. A good bite allows the upper and lower sets to meet and work together properly during eating. Advances in dental technology have allowed us to provide faster, more comfortable treatment that is much less obtrusive. Modern braces used in the Six Months Smiles technique make use of tooth-coloured wires and brackets. You can have the smile you want without the inconvenience, discomfort and unsightliness of traditional methods. The treatment time is shorter than before, so it can often save you money too.

Our experienced team looks forward to discussing how orthodontics in Stevenage can help you.

Fast, effective teeth straightening with Six Month Smiles in Stevenage

Have you thought about straightening your teeth but the mere idea of wearing metal braces puts you off? Crooked, crowded, gapped and misaligned teeth make many people feel self-conscious, reserved, or even embarrassed about their appearance. However, modern dentistry has come a long way and there are now various solutions to treat misaligned teeth. Unfortunately, most of them take several months to a few years and this can be discouraging for patients who wish to straighten their teeth quickly for a special occasion.

Six Month Smiles in Stevenage At Smilecraft, we offer Six Month Smiles braces, an innovative and discreet teeth straightening treatment that can give you the smile that you want in a fraction of the time taken with conventional treatments. Six Month Smiles braces focus only on the teeth that show when you smile and are able to straighten your teeth in only six months, on average.

Am I eligible for the treatment?

Six Month Smile braces are designed to achieve results quickly by focusing on the teeth at the front of the mouth. These braces are ideal for patients who want to improve their teeth but have been put off having treatment by the thought of wearing braces for several years. Six Month Smile braces can be used to treat a wide range of minor dental problems, including moderately crooked, misaligned and gapped teeth. Unlike metal braces, Six Month Smiles braces cannot help with bite problems. Our experienced dentists will help you determine whether you are a good candidate for Six Month Smiles in Stevenage.

What does the procedure involve?

Six Month Smiles braces are custom-made to fit your individual dental needs. The dentist will create an impression of your teeth and send them to a special laboratory, where the braces will be created. We will fit the clear brackets and wires according to the treatment plan and while initially it may take a little time getting used to wearing them, any discomfort should diminish very quickly. Treatment is usually complete within six months, but the exact treatment time will vary from individual to individual. Less complicated cases can normally be completed in 4-5 months, whereas more complex cases may require an extra few months.

Improved arrangements

With Smilecraft in Stevenage, braces are a relatively quick and comfortable way to improve your dental confidence, oral health, and facial appearance. Our method of realigning your teeth is modern, discreet and efficient. Its name is Six Month Smiles.

An up-to-date remedy

Braces in Stevenage Unlike the old metal braces that resemble train tracks and are embarrassingly noticeable for whoever’s wearing them, the Six Month Smiles system we offer involves a tooth-coloured wire-and-bracket appliance. Its special colouring makes it much less visible to the casual observer. And the average length of treatment time, as the name suggests, is 6 months, although your treatment time will vary depending on your dental situation. When opting for braces in Stevenage, Six Month Smiles give you a quicker and less visible solution than the traditional alternative.

A healthy investment

When you improve the alignment of your teeth, you improve your overall oral health as well as enhance your smile’s appearance. When your teeth function more efficiently, you put less strain on your jaw. And when there are fewer awkward areas for your toothbrush to visit, the potential for food debris and plaque build-up is reduced. So gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath are kept at bay, while your teeth end up looking smarter and feeling stronger.

These are all reasons why, for dental patients in Stevenage, braces are a short-term treatment that provides a long-term health benefit.

Who are braces for?

At Smilecraft, we use braces to improve a wide range of conditions. Sometimes it’s just a person’s front teeth that stick out too much, making eating more difficult than it ought to be. Or a person might have crowded teeth that seem to lean on each other at awkward angles, making good oral hygiene difficult to maintain at home. Then again, it could be a misaligned bite, causing jaw strain and chewing problems.

Whatever your reason, at the first stage of your treatment, our friendly team will talk to you and assess your oral health. In a sensitive and professional manner, using modern equipment and drawing on the latest dental knowledge, they will then work out a treatment plan that fits in with your lifestyle and budget, as well as your dental wishes.

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