Author Archives: Smilecraft Dental Care

Want a brighter, whiter smile? Enlighten teeth whitening in Stevenage

With modern foods being either highly acidic or high in sugar, it comes as no surprise to dentists when patients tell us about stains or dulling of their teeth.

Enlighten Teeth Whitening in Stevenage

Teeth change colour with age and with lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking red wine and excess amounts of coffee, teeth can very quickly appear yellow or even grey.

Luckily, there is a simple solution that doesn’t involve heavy handed brushing. Dental surgeries across the UK offer cleaning services as part of a check-up and can offer tooth whitening services too, to keep your teeth gleaming.

What types of dental whitening may be offered?

When you visit your dentist for dental whitening, they will discuss with you which type of dental whitening is best suited to your teeth.

Enlighten teeth whitening in Stevenage is a common method used at our Smilecraft surgery and comes with several advantages over whitening services that involve regular trips to the dentist.

What is Enlighten?

Enlighten teeth whitening in Stevenage is a streamlined, effective whitening process that can be completed both at home and at your local dentist, causing minimal disruption to your life.

It is a combination treatment; 2 weeks of home-based treatment and then a 1-hour trip to your dentist for the final procedure- that’s it!

In essence, Enlighten is a clear, plastic, customised tray that fits over your teeth.

How does Enlighten work?

As an Enlighten tray is customised to fit your teeth, it is designed to be removable, but secure when it is in your mouth.

When you undertake this treatment, your dentist will provide you with a gel to place into your customised tray, that can then be worn overnight for two weeks. These trays are not bulky or thick, so they are extremely comfortable to sleep in and will not come loose in the night.

The active ingredient in the gel passes through your enamel and into your tooth, breaking down any stubborn or set stains in the process through chemical oxidation. This procedure is not painful but does take some time to complete, so you must follow any directions given by your dentist to fully benefit from this treatment.

On the last day of treatment, you will be called back to your dentist to undergo the final stage of the process. This involves a forty minute to one-hour deep bleaching, to really whiten your teeth and leave you with a gleaming smile.

The Benefits of Enlighten

One advantage of this treatment is that it can lighten your teeth up to 16 shades, meaning that people with the deepest set stains will benefit.

The outcome is predictable and even, reversing the visible effects of dental ageing and creating a mouth full of teeth that are the same shade.

Enlighten is a market leader in tooth whitening and is heralded by patients and dentists as being extremely quick and safe to use.

Contact us at Smilecraft to discuss the other benefits of Enlighten in Stevenage.

Dental care at the dentist in Stevenage

Deciding which dentist to go to when your mouth is in trouble is a big decision, especially because there are so many practices in the UK. Some might offer you outstanding service, and others could leave you with bad memories from a traumatic experience caused by substandard treatments.

Dentist in Stevenage

At 800 years old, Stevenage has stood the test of time and continues to thrive today with its old world charm. While a visit might take you back in time to another century, the town offers all the modern conveniences to its residents, including schools, stores, restaurants, and our reputable dental clinic, Smilecraft Dental Clinic, a practice which continues to put the smile back on the faces of the locals and many others in the surrounding area. 

We value your needs and do everything possible to restore your mouth to good health with our range of treatments and our friendly and professional service that is second to none at the dentist in Stevenage.

 Who are we?

We are a family dental clinic. From grandparents having problems with their dentures to sorting out the milk teeth of your little ones, we do not discriminate – we take care of everyone both young and old.

As we like to tell our patients ‘prevention is better than cure’, which is why we stress the importance of investing in a good toothbrush, paste and cleaning your teeth for the recommended amount of time. This should be twice a day every day for 2 to 3 minutes per session. To this day, many people do not see the importance of flossing, but it is a vital part of your cleaning regimen that minimises your risks of tooth decay and several mouth diseases.

People often moan to us because they do not see the point of regular check-ups every six months.The state of your mouth can change rapidly, and being able to detect and diagnose potentially harmful issues early on can spell the difference between correcting a problem easily and painlessly, or spending more time in the dentist’s chair with a more serious infection.

Problems we see everyday

From gum disease and tooth decay to missing teeth and misaligned pearly whites, our years of collective experience means we have seen the lot.

Many are afraid to see us because they do not like to be judged and put off going to see the dentist in Stevenage time and time again, resulting in the state of their teeth worsening. Remember that we have witnessed teeth and gums in various states of decay, and your issue is not unique.

Coming to see us early on could:

  • Cure and reverse the effects of gingivitis, a common and easily treatable disease that often shows up in adults. Get rid of those unsightly red gums that cause you so much embarrassment, for good.
  • Preserve your teeth. Remove cavities from your pearly whites, before the infection spreads throughout your tooth.
  • Save your life. For the most part, decreased oral health is not fatal, but the early signs of serious body diseases are often detected in your mouth. We do screenings for oral cancers, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
  • Transform your dull, yellow and ageing teeth to a sparkling and brilliant smile on par with a toothpaste advertisement.

Are you looking for a dentist in Stevenage? Come and have a chat with us.

Can my dentist in Stevenage perform cosmetic treatments?

There is a huge emphasis on facial appearance with the influx of social media platforms available, like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Everyone wants to flaunt a desirable smile and perfect teeth to their internet friends and followers.

Dentist in Stevenage

Even if you do not have much of an online presence, we are sure that the way your teeth look impacts your confidence. Maybe you hate smiling for photographs because of your less than perfect pearly whites?

Our cosmetic dentist in Stevenage will help you to achieve near-perfection with a range of treatments, namely tooth whitening, Six Months Smiles and porcelain veneers for unforeseen accidents.

Let us help you change your world by enhancing your natural beauty at the Smilecraft Dental Clinic.

The fastest way to a dazzling smile

Do you feel that your smile has lost its former sparkle? Get it back with teeth whitening! Teeth whitening is not only one of the safest treatments on the market, but is also the quickest way to transform your look for the better.

Lighten your teeth in one of two ways, with a DIY kit at home or with us in back-to-back whitening sessions. If this is your first time, we recommend you come to us for optimal results.

With us, you can choose from these options:

With the possibility of lightening your teeth by up to 16 shades, Enlighten Whitening is taking the world by storm. Achieve optimal whiteness for a lifetime! For the best possible results, Enlighten Whitening requires an in-surgery and at-home component. After your whitening session with the dentist in Stevenage, we will provide you with mouth trays and gels to keep your teeth in their perfect pearly state.

If you want white teeth that look natural, the Zoom whitening procedure might be more suitable for you. In a couple of sessions in the dentist’s chair, we will lighten your teeth by between four and six shades, depending on your preference. You are also required to use bleaching trays and whitening gels for six days after the treatments.

If you prefer the comfort of your home to our clinic, come to us so that we can custom make teeth whitening trays for you. Treatment time varies from patient to patient, according to the state of your teeth and the degree of whiteness you wish to achieve. Four to six weeks is the average time, so if you want immediate results, you might want to consider treatments in the clinic instead.

It can take only six months to boast straighter teeth

The duration of treatment time for conventional braces is off-putting for many, especially for those who do not have time on their side.

Consider our Six Months Smiles programme if you have an upcoming wedding and want to enhance your smile for your special day. This programme straightens your front teeth, the ones that are the most visible when you smile.

Please note that there are restrictions to Six Months Smiles, especially if you face more complicated issues. For example, if you have a bite issue, moving your front incisors might only make it worse, and require you to consider more intensive straightening methods in the future at the dentist in Stevenage.

Fix your chipped tooth

Have you chipped a tooth while taking a bite out of an apple? Porcelain veneers will cover up unsightly cracks and chips in your tooth that cause you shame.

Walk out of our offices with a repaired tooth on the same day the accident occurred.

Cosmetic treatments might not improve your oral health, but will increase your confidence and feelings of self-worth.

Why choose Enlighten Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a quick, safe and easy way to completely change your smile. You’ve probably seen the perfect, beaming set of white teeth we all desire across social media platforms – luckily, achieving your dream grin is more accessible and possible than ever before.

Enlighten Teeth Whitening in Stevenage

Enlighten Teeth Whitening in Stevenage provides a simple and secure dental cosmetic procedure which will lighten the colour of your teeth without removing any of the teeth’s surface.

Naturally, teeth can become darker due to lifestyle circumstances and age. Some reasons your teeth may experience discoloration include smoking, consuming food and drink that can stain teeth, taking certain medications, such as antibiotics, and experiencing trauma to a tooth

Since there are a variety of ways in which teeth whitening can be carried out, you will need to have a personal assessment to determine what is causing your discoloration and to find which unique procedure will work for you.

What is Enlighten Teeth Whitening?

The main and most popular procedure we offer at SmileCraft is Enlighten Teeth Whitening in Stevenage. This procedure, also known as Enlighten Evolution professional teeth whitening treatment, is currently the only system in the world which whitens teeth up to 16 shades brighter with correct safety measures.

The Enlighten procedure is an incredibly streamlined whitening process, where our experts use state-of-the-art materials and offer both home whitening and in surgery whitening.

What pre-procedure and aftercare will I need?

Before and during your Enlighten procedure, you will even be provided with a proprietary Tooth Serum desensitising toothpaste to be used two weeks prior and during the active whitening process. You will also be provided with Evo White toothpaste to be used after the procedure which will prolong the whitening treatment for even longer.

How long will my white teeth last?

The good news regarding your new white teeth is that they can indeed last forever. As long as you keep your home whitening kit well maintained and continue purchasing home whitening gel from your dentist. This will help you keep on top of your glistening grin well after your initial treatment.

To ensure you carry out the home whitening process correctly, you can view and download our instruction PDF here:

https://www.smilecraft.co.uk/pdf/enlighten-home-bleaching-instructions-2016.pdf

Enlighten Teeth Whitening appointments can be booked online or by calling the practice on 01438351151, where you can also inquire about our prices and offers.

Why is it so important to visit the dentist anyway?

You might have had a painful and mentally scarring ordeal at the dentist as a child, which has left you with a bad taste in your mouth about all branches of dentistry and dental practitioners. But to paint all dentists in Stevenage with the same brush and to refuse treatment when you most need it, is detrimental to your oral health.

Dentist in Stevenage

At Smilecraft Dental Care, we make your experience with us as pleasant as we can, tending to your issue with efficiency, compassion and care. Building relationships is important to us, entrust us with your teeth today and look forward to a healthy mouth in the future.

Let us help you, but look after yourself first

Every day, patients come to us with preventable issues caused by months, years or a lifetime of neglect. Some of the time, these problems are easily treatable, while other times the damage is severe enough for them to undergo costly and uncomfortable surgeries that require an extended recovery period.

We are firm believers in the old saying that “prevention is the best cure”. Save yourself money, time and unnecessary pain by adhering to a regimented cleaning routine, involving two to three minutes brushing and daily flossing, curbing bad lifestyle habits that contribute to tooth decay and sticking to a healthy diet with a moderate sugar intake.

Learn to brush your teeth better

While most people brush their teeth, the techniques they use are inadequate. An up-down motion fails to clean the whole surface of a tooth and leaves behind harmful bacteria. Position your toothbrush, topped with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, on the gum line at a 45-degree angle and brush in a circular motion. Most people forget to brush the roof of the mouth, as well as the tongue – which is where bacteria lie dormant, as they breed and multiply.

Cut sugar from your diet and other harmful food

Tea and coffee in their natural form are healthy, but adding sugar and milk makes them less so.  Sugar itself is not bad for your teeth, but the bacteria in your mouth use the particles that make up sugar to create acid that erodes the enamel on your teeth, and toxins that aggravate your gums.

Avoid sugary, fizzy sodas to prevent acid attacks, and if you do consume them occasionally, drink them in one sitting rather than over a prolonged period.

What we do

Your routine checkup at the dentist in Stevenage will include the following:

  • An oral examination of your teeth, mouth and gums. Soft enamel of your teeth indicates a cavity, while swollen and inflamed gums point to gingivitis.
  • Several x-rays are taken if necessary, to reveal suspected cavities and highlight your supporting bone height and density to establish the severity of a gum issue or periodontal disease.
  • Existing cavities are filled, plaque is scrapped from your teeth and gums, and marks on your teeth are removed with abrasives.
  • We will ask you about your current cleaning routine and eating habits, and advise ways in which they can be improved. 

You might not like going to the dentist, but it is a necessary part of life. Make the experience easier in the caring and professional hands of your dentist in Stevenage.

Common issues a dentist in Stevenage can help with

Few people are entirely happy with their teeth, but many spend months or years deliberating about whether or not they should do anything about it. Feeling nervous about getting treatment, worrying about the potential cost and believing that there is not a lot that can be done often stops people from visiting their dentist.  At Smilecraft in Stevenage, we understand these concerns all too well and we’re here to put you at ease.

Dentist in Stevenage

Regardless of the issue that is making you feel less confident about your smile, we can help. There are solutions for every possible area of concern that you can think of: including misshapen or misaligned teeth, teeth that appear very yellow or stained, and missing teeth to name just a few. Here, we explore the most common issues with the smile, and explore what can be done to fix them.

Misshapen teeth

The teeth can become misshapen for a variety of reasons. Trauma to the tooth or teeth can cause chips that make them less aesthetically appealing than they should be. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is also a common condition that can cause the teeth to become worn down and misshapen.

Fortunately, as your dentist in Stevenage we can offer a range of options to correct the issue. Firstly, if bruxism is the cause, you may be recommended to wear a mouthguard during sleep to prevent further damage. When it comes to fixing the teeth, you could opt for veneers or dental implants. The treatment that we recommend will be tailored to you as an individual, so it’s best to make an appointment to chat about the options available.

Misaligned teeth

Do you have teeth that are protruding or overcrowded? Orthodontic treatment could be the answer. Here, at Smilecraft, there is even the option of the 6 month smile. Depending on the condition of your teeth and gums, you could have the straight teeth you’ve always wanted in a matter of months. This is an especially appealing treatment for adult patients who may feel a little apprehensive about getting their teeth straightened later in life.

Stained or discoloured teeth

Many people find that their teeth become more yellow over time, and staining is very common too. This is a particular issue with people who have a history of smoking and consuming things like coffee and red wine on a regular basis. The tooth whitening industry is growing by the day, and there is now a huge choice of products available. However, the only proven, effective and safe way to whiten the teeth and remove stains is by getting treatment from the dentist in Stevenage.

Missing teeth

Don’t feel you have to put up with the discomfort and inconvenience of missing teeth – talk to us to find out how we can improve your smile with dental implants. They can transform your appearance and make you look and feel younger.

Whatever the issue, we can help to improve the health of your teeth and gums – and your smile.

How can the dentist in Stevenage help you to achieve minty fresh breath?

Knowing that you have fresh breath can instantly make you feel more confident and ready to take on whatever lies ahead, but what if you’re worried that you don’t smell as fresh as you should? Fortunately, there is a lot that can be done if you’re in any doubt about having bad breath; and we at Smilecraft in Stevenage are here to help you with that.

Dentist in Stevenage

Preventative dentistry

Preventative dentistry is all about looking after the teeth and gums before any issues occur. As your dentist in Stevenage, we can make regular checks to ensure that both are clean and free of any build up of plaque. If plaque has started to form on your teeth, we can usually remove it very quickly and easily. By doing this, we can make your teeth and gums much cleaner. The result of this will be that your breath is fresher, and it’s easier to maintain that freshness.

Establishing a routine

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to dental hygiene, we are happy to advise on all the things you can do to help keep your breath nice and fresh. We can give you information and practical help on the best brushing and flossing techniques, and how to use interdental brushes for the best possible effect. We can also recommend the best tools and products to use, depending on your age and the health of your teeth and gums.

It’s really important to establish a twice daily routine of brushing and flossing the teeth; and we are here to help make that as easy and straightforward as possible for you.

Are your teeth straight?

It’s a little known fact that teeth that are misaligned are also more likely to be unhealthy. This is because teeth that are crooked or overcrowded are often more difficult to keep clean and sometimes feature areas that the toothbrush, floss or an interdental brush isn’t able to reach. If this is the case for you, we may recommend that you consider some form of orthodontic treatment in order to help you get the fresh breath you’re looking for.

No longer the sole preserve of teenagers and young people, orthodontic treatment is now a popular option for many adult patients. As well as the fact that this kind of treatment can make your teeth look better, it can also help you to achieve better oral health and fresher breath. Who knew?!

If you have any concerns about establishing and maintaining fresh breath, we can help you. We can assess your teeth and gums to ascertain any potential causes of bad breath and recommend any treatments we think would be of benefit. We can also give you tailored advice on how best to keep your teeth and gums clean. Regular professional cleans from your dentist in Stevenage will make it much easier to keep breath smelling fresh in between appointments – so it’s well worth talking to us about these.

What happens in an e-consultation?

Sometimes you just don’t have time to get to the dentist, but you have something about your teeth that is beginning to worry you. Maybe it feels like a crown or a filling is coming loose. Or is that toothache a symptom of an infection? Or perhaps it feels like you’ve got a chip or a crack.

Dental E-Consultation

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to consult the dentist here at Smilecraft in Stevenage without having to take time off work? Well, there is with the e-consultation on our website.

The e-consultation is a quick way to find out if you need to come in for further investigation. All you have to do is fill in the form here, telling us your name and contact details. Then you upload a selfie of your mouth, making sure that the picture features a clear image of what’s wrong, and then fill in the box describing what the issue is.

Our principal dentist, Dr Bradley Abrahams can then take a look at the picture and your information and get back to you with a quick idea of what’s going on and whether you need treatment.

Who can use the e-consultation?

Any of our patients are welcome to use the e-consultation facility. We find it works really well for those who have a long way to travel to see us, as well as for those who are very busy.

It’s also a great way for nervous patients to make first contact with us. We will get back to you and let you know if you need to come in for treatment, and we can also talk to you about options to make sure that you are able to relax as much as possible when you do come in.

Want a smile upgrade?

E-consultations are also a great way to find out if you would benefit from cosmetic dental treatments. Just send us a selfie of your smile, tell us what you’re unhappy about it, and we’ll send back a few suggestions of ways to improve how your smile looks.

Don’t forget, an e-consultation does not replace the face-to-face consultation and you will have to have one before we move onto treatment.

Treatment for oral health

Looking after your oral health is an important part of life. While your tooth-brushing routine helps you to keep your teeth clean at home, visiting the dentist in Stevenage is an essential part of good all-round care. Here at Smilecraft, we provide a full range of contemporary treatments for all aspects of your oral health. Whatever your current dental concerns, we’re always able to offer something that will move you towards a better dental future.

Looking deeper

Dentist in Stevenage

You don’t have to feel like there’s something wrong with your teeth before you book an appointment with the dentist in Stevenage. Having regular check-ups gives us the chance to examine your mouth for signs of deterioration. With our professional experience and modern technology, we are able to notice indications of decay and disease well before you’d see them at home. Then we can tell you how to change your hygiene habits in order to avoid discomfort further down the line.

Of course, many patients do visit the dentist in Stevenage to address those dental issues that tend to arise sooner or later in one’s life. Advanced dental decay often results in the need for fillings. We can repair your decayed teeth using tooth-coloured material, so that you gain a functional improvement without any unwanted visual evidence.

As an experienced cosmetic dentist in Stevenage, we can improve those visual aspects of your teeth that may have taken a turn for the worse. Teeth whitening is a popular option in this area. You may notice your teeth have turned an unsightly colour over the years, as food and drink leave behind traces on the enamel surfaces of your teeth. These traces build up into stains that are difficult for you to remove by yourself. Visiting the Stevenage dentist for teeth whitening treatment means you can choose the precise level of brightness you’d like to apply to your smile. The procedure is speedy and comfortable, and can improve your feelings about your overall appearance.

Confidence

The dentist in Stevenage will care for your oral health in many different ways. Our experienced team will make the whole family feel welcome and relaxed, whatever their age.

Great teamwork for great teeth

Remember the days when the doctor and the dentist seemed almost godlike in their status? When you came for a check-up, you didn’t ask questions and the dentist in Stevenage didn’t tell you anymore than they thought you needed to know. The rest of the time, they just spoke to the dental nurse in a mixture of complex dental terminology and a strange code of numbers and letters.

Dentist in Stevenage

Thankfully, those days are long gone. Here at Smilecraft, we see our role as your dentist in Stevenage as being part of a team, one that you are in too. Together, we work to make sure that your teeth will last for as long as possible, in as good a condition as possible. Our mantra is teeth for life.

The check-up

This is the basis of our part of the teamwork. We need to check your teeth over twice a year to catch the early signs of problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Both of these can result in tooth loss. Another thing we are on the lookout for is any possible sign of oral cancer before it gets serious.

If we do find a problem, we like to treat it early, when treatment is less invasive and less expensive for you.

The hygiene session

Part of the check-up process is a scale and polish to remove any plaque or tartar (plaque that has hardened). Both give off acids that lead to decay and gum disease, so you need to get them removed to protect your teeth. Also, they feel great afterwards.

At home

Your part of the teamwork is to carry out your twice-daily hygiene routine. Brush for 2 minutes with a soft-bristled brush and a fluoride toothpaste. Floss once a day to remove plaque and trapped food from between your teeth. Some people also use interdental brushes and mouthwashes.

If we work together, every trip to the dentist in Stevenage can be just a quick check over and the all-clear until next time. That’ll leave us time for a chat and for us to answer questions. You know, like team mates do.