Bromley Dental Practice

Do You Clench and Grind?

Lots of people do and they’re not even aware they have the habit as it can often occur during sleep. It’s not uncommon for people to be completely oblivious to the fact they clench and grind, unless they are told they are making a noise during the night by a sleeping partner, or if the problem is identified by their dentist in Bromley. The proper term for clenching and grinding is bruxism and it’s no joke. It can do a huge amount of damage to the teeth and also to the gums due to the pressures placed on these structures, and it can affect the jaw joints. The worst cases will do so much damage that teeth will need to be completely replaced and early treatment is essential to minimise the effects on the teeth and jaws.

Symptoms of Bruxism

There are lots of different symptoms of bruxism which include the following:

Feeling increased sensitivity towards hot and cold
Noticing your teeth look chipped or cracked
Your teeth could look shorter or worn down
You may wake up with a headache or aching jaw
It might be painful to open and close your mouth
Your gums might have begun to recede
Your teeth may have notches at the base

If you have any of these symptoms and haven’t been to the dentist for a while then it’s worth booking a check-up with Dr Zaki Bashir, to hopefully rule out bruxism. Your dentist will soon be able to identify whether or not you have this condition and can recommend treatment to prevent further damage to your teeth and gums.

Treatment usually focuses on preventing the teeth from coming into contact while you’re asleep, and this is done through providing you with a custom-made night guard. Most night guards are made from a thermoplastic material and fit comfortably over the teeth, holding your bite slightly open. It does take time to get accustomed to wearing a night guard, so you need to allow yourself a few weeks to get used to the feeling.

You’ll need to thoroughly clean your night guard after each use, using a soft toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste to scrub the inside. It’s also quite nice to freshen it up with a few drops of mouthwash every week. Make sure it is stored somewhere it can dry naturally, and that it’s kept out of the reach of dogs as it is not unknown for them to chew on their owners night guards.

What Causes Bruxism?

Bruxism is thought to be related to stress, and if you know you are under quite a lot of pressure at the moment then it could be worthwhile taking steps to reduce this. While it might not be possible to eliminate stress completely, there are various measures you can take to at least reduce the impact, for example taking up exercise or yoga, or trying meditation. If bruxism is causing quite a lot of pain around your jaw joints then it can be helpful to use heat pads to relax the facial muscles.

Hopefully, using a night guard will help reduce or eliminate bruxism. It might only be necessary to wear the night guard for a few months, although some people will need to wear it in the longer term.

Zaki graduated from University of Bristol 1999 and has practiced in Kent since then. He is passionate about dentistry and providing the highest standard of care for patients, at the same time, he keeps himself at the cutting edge of modern dental techniques.

Is it Necessary to Replace Back Teeth?

Many of us will lose one or more teeth during our lifetime. This might be due to advanced gum disease or tooth decay, while others will be unlucky enough to lose a tooth in an accident. If you lose a tooth that is right in front of the mouth then it is highly likely that you’ll want to replace it as soon as you can, both for aesthetic and functional reasons, but what if that tooth is right in the back of the mouth where it is less visible? Is it still necessary to replace the tooth or is it possible to leave an empty space?

Dentist Bromley It’s highly likely that Dr Zaki Bashir will recommend replacing any tooth, regardless of whether it can be seen while smiling and talking with others. The reason for this is that all your teeth are designed to work as one unit, and each tooth has an effect on its neighbours. If it is missing then it can impact the adjacent teeth as well as the opposing teeth.

Effects of the Missing Tooth on the Rest of Your Teeth

When a tooth is removed by your dentist in Bromley, the rest of the teeth in your mouth will begin to shift, especially the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. They will begin to move towards the empty space which has the effect of destabilising them and can lead to other gaps opening up in between other teeth. This also changes the way your teeth bite together. The teeth directly opposite the empty space will also begin to move towards the gap.

This is because the forces of biting and chewing against other teeth help to keep them in place. Once these forces are removed then the teeth begin to drift towards the empty space. If you lose quite a few back teeth then it can affect the dimensions of your face as there will be a loss of height between the upper and lower teeth which puts increasing pressure on the front teeth. As a result they could begin to splay outwards.

Different Choices for Replacing Missing Teeth

Your choices include partial dentures, bridges and dental implants. Partial dentures can be a temporary or permanent measure but are not ideal. They are held in place by metal clasps that fit around existing teeth, and sometimes it’s necessary to adapt these teeth so the clasps fit a little better. In spite of this partial dentures can often move and shift around and can rub on the gum tissues.

Dental bridges are permanently fixed in place and are very popular. They consist of crowns that fit over the adjacent teeth and which are attached to the replacement tooth, resulting in a strong restoration. This is a great solution if the teeth either side of the missing tooth would benefit from being crowned. Dental implants in Bromley offer the most permanent solution, artificially replacing the tooth root with a titanium post that supports the crown. It can take a few months to complete treatment so this solution is a little slower than the alternatives but it can give the best results.

Bromley Dental Practice

Common Questions About Professional Teeth Whitening in Bromley

A beautiful white smile can look gorgeous, and Bromley Dental Practice offers patients Zoom whitening, one of the best-known and most respected whitening systems on the market. You can choose to have your teeth whitened in one of two ways.

Dentist Bromley Our principal dentist, Dr Zaki Bashir, can either whiten your teeth chair side, or you can choose to whiten at home using custom-made bleaching trays. Combining both methods will give the brightest results. Whitening in our dental practice is the quickest method, but some people prefer to carry out the process more slowly and in the comfort of their own home. But what happens once you’ve whitened your teeth, and how long can you expect the results to reasonably last?

This is a tricky question to answer, as the results depend on your lifestyle habits, for example if you like to drink wine, tea or coffee, or if you’re a smoker then the effects will not last quite so long. Our cosmetic dentist in Bromley will advise you how often you’ll need to touch up the results, based on your lifestyle habits. This is very easy to do at home, using our custom-made whitening trays.

Another common question is whether or not tooth whitening causes any side effects. Zoom whitening contains special ingredients to help minimise any tooth sensitivity, and the bleaching gels are designed to help protect tooth enamel. If you do feel any slight sensitivity and then it should be minimal and purely temporary. If you already have particularly sensitive teeth then you may wish to use our custom-made bleaching trays at home as these use a lower strength whitening gel over a longer period of time.

Lots of people already have veneers and crowns, and will want to know whether or not bleaching will lift the colour of these porcelain restorations. The truth is it cannot change them, as the bleaching gel will only work on natural teeth. If you do want to whiten your teeth then you might need to be prepared to replace any crown and bridge work or dental veneers. If your teeth have become stained since having these restorations then it might be possible to carefully whiten your teeth to match reasonably well.

Some teeth will whiten more easily than others, as for example if you have teeth that have been stained by tetracycline then these may prove difficult to whiten. The results can vary and it can be difficult to predict the effects. Quite a few people have teeth that have signs of fluorosis which are white spots that are formed due to being exposed to excess fluoride as children. In this case bleaching can help make the white spots less visible by lifting the background shade, but once again, results can vary.

In general, teeth whitening in Bromley is very safe for anyone with a healthy mouth, and the results can look terrific. Studies have shown having a brighter smile can significantly boost self-esteem, and can make others perceive us as being younger than we really are; that’s a huge bonus for quite a few of us.

Bromley Dental Practice

Making Sure Your Dental Implant is a Success

Deciding to have a dental implant can often be a big step for many people, and as it does cost a little more than alternative treatments you’ll want to do everything possible to maximise the chances of treatment being successful. In fact dental implants have an extremely high success rate that is typically around 95%. Part of this does rely on the skill of your dentist, as accurate implant placement is critical to the finished look of your restoration, and to the way it functions. If you’re thinking about having dental implants in Bromley, then your first step is to book an appointment with Bromley Dental Practice.

Dentist Bromley Anyone considering dental implants will need a consultation before deciding to go ahead with the process. If you decide to take things further, then Dr Zaki Bashir will need to carry out various diagnostic tests to evaluate your suitability for treatment. These include dental x-rays and a CT scan which is used to help plan the implant placement. The CT scan is also essential for showing the available bone in your jaw, as each implant needs to be surrounded by a certain amount of strong and healthy bone to help ensure success.

Bromley Dental Practice uses Straumann dental implants, as these particular dental implants are very high quality and are used worldwide. Your dentist in Bromley will also want to know a bit about your medical history, such as whether you have any diseases or medical conditions that affect your immune system, and whether or not you smoke. These conditions could affect healing and may increase the chances of implant failure. If you do smoke then it’s best to give up completely or at least for the duration of treatment.

Our implant dentist is extremely experienced, and has placed more than 2,000 dental implants so you’ll be in very good hands. Once the procedure is completed you’ll be given instructions on how to care for the implant site as it’s important to keep it clean and free from infection. When the implant has fully integrated with your jawbone, it can be restored with a replacement tooth.

Up until this point your implant treatment should have been a success, but for this to continue your need to be prepared to look after your implant at home, and to visit us regularly for check-ups and professional dental cleanings. Even though the implant post is inert, it’s still surrounded by living bone and gum tissue. These tissues can become infected, and if this happens then it could potentially lead to the failure of your dental implants.

You can help ensure this doesn’t happen by making sure you brush around your implant very thoroughly, and that you floss every single day to remove plaque that might have built up around the implant. As long as you’re vigilant over its care then it’s unlikely that you’ll have any problems, but if you do suspect your implant has become infected at any stage, even years after treatment, then contact us as soon as possible as swift action could help save it.

Bromley Dental Practice

Preventative Dentistry Could Save You Money

Do you book preventative dental appointments at regular intervals, or do you tend to ignore polite reminders from your dentist in Bromley? Ignoring your dentist could cost you more money in the longer term, and could even lead to tooth loss. Preventative dentistry is the easiest way to help maintain your teeth and gums, and helps keep your smile looking its very best all the time. In spite of this too many people still neglect to attend regular check-ups and hygiene appointments, especially if they think their mouth is perfectly healthy.

Dentist Bromley One of the problems with this approach is that many dental diseases cannot be easily detected, and some do not create any symptoms until they are relatively well advanced. By this stage treatment is likely to be lengthier and costlier, and will probably mean you’ll need to spend more time than you’d like at Bromley Dental Practice. While we are always happy to see you, we’d rather it wasn’t for emergency dental care!

Regular Check-ups and Cleanings Only Take an Hour or so

In contrast, just spending an hour or so with us every six months could help ensure your teeth last for longer, and that your gums remain strong and healthy. During this appointment, Dr Zaki Bashir, or another of our dentists in Bromley, will be able to check your teeth and gums are free from disease. This is usually done by visually examining your teeth using high magnification, and through gently probing them for any soft areas that could indicate decay. It is necessary to have dental x-rays every so often, as these help show areas hidden from view, such as the contact points in between each tooth.

Dental x-rays can also show any fillings that might have begun to leak, and can be used to check the fit of existing restorations such as crowns and bridges. These problems are far easier and cheaper to treat when detected early, and this will hopefully lessen your chances of developing toothache or a dental abscess.

Dr Bashir will also check your mouth for any signs of oral cancer. Mouth cancer is very rare, but more people are being diagnosed with this condition, and rates are predicted to rise during the coming decade.

Dental hygiene is very important, and a regular scale and polish will help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy. This is because the procedure removes all the hardened calculus or tartar from your teeth. Tartar consists of plaque bacteria, and this can infect the gums so they become inflamed and diseased. Regular removal of tartar decreases your chances of developing gum disease, and is very important as gum disease is the main reason teeth are lost.

Bromley Dental Practice can also help you improve your hygiene routine, and you will always find any of our dental team are willing to demonstrate the best way to floss and brush, and can discuss different techniques for increasing the effectiveness of dental care at home.

Bromley Dental Practice

Invisible Aligners: Clearly a Better Way to Straighten Teeth

Would you love to have a straighter smile but don’t fancy the idea of wearing standard fixed braces for months or even years? The great news is that now you can straighten discreetly and nearly invisibly through the use of our Clear Braces invisible braces.

Dentist Bromley Lots of people didn’t have the opportunity to have orthodontic treatment as children, but more are choosing to do so as adults, especially as there is an increasing emphasis on having a nice smile. In the past the only option would’ve been to have fixed braces, and even though these still have their place, modern clear removable braces can often be used to correct most orthodontic problems.

Clear Braces are completely metal free, and consists of very thin but strong clear plastic aligners that are custom-made to fit tightly over the teeth, gradually moving them into the correct positions. The system consists of three different stages, and each stage uses a slightly different type of aligner, gradually moving the teeth towards their new straighter positions.

Can Clear Braces Help Me?
All you need to do to find out is to make an appointment to pop in to Bromley Dental Practice and see Dr Zaki Bashir. This particular braces system can be very good at helping to close up or minimise gaps in between teeth, or for correcting overcrowded or protrusive teeth. If Dr Bashir doesn’t think the system is quite right for you, then he’ll definitely recommend an alternative course of treatment. Treatment with Clear Braces can take anywhere between six and 24 months to complete, depending on the complexity of the issues that need correcting. The system is very easy to use, as Dr Bashir will take impressions of your teeth that are used to fabricate the clear plastic splints. All you have to do is to make sure you wear these each day, only taking them out when you brush or floss, or whenever you eat or drink something. However if you have a special event to attend, then you can probably risk leaving them out for a few hours.

The use of clear aligners does make it super easy to get that straight smile you’ve always wanted, and there’s no need to worry about flossing around tricky wires and elastics, or to spend extra time cleaning your teeth. It’s very simple to make sure your teeth and gums remain healthy during treatment. You’ll need to pop in to our dental practice every so often so your dentist in Bromley can check that treatment is proceeding as expected, and so any small adjustments can be made as necessary. Clear Braces are designed for adults use, but can be useful anyone over the age of 14.

If you’re still sitting on the fence about having orthodontic treatment, then it’s worth remembering that it can improve your dental health. Do you currently struggle to floss in between overcrowded or tightly packed in teeth? Perhaps there are certain areas of your mouth that you can’t even clean properly? Adult orthodontics in Bromley could help change this, reducing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Bromley Dental Practice

Are Dental Implants Easy to Care For?

Dental implants are easy to look after, but you do need to make sure you care for them properly. This means they must be thoroughly brushed and flossed to make sure plaque and tartar cannot build up around them, and it is important to visit Bromley Dental Practice for regular check-ups with Dr Zaki Bashir, and to book professional cleanings.

Getting Regular Check-ups for Your Dental Implants
Dr Bashir will examine the implants to make sure they are still fitting well, and are free from disease. Regular dental x-rays will show if the bone levels around the implant are being maintained, and this is essential as good strong bone surrounding the implants will help ensure they remain firmly anchored in the jaw.

Professional Dental Cleanings
Professional cleanings help remove any hardened tartar that might have built up around the implant and which could otherwise mean the gums will become inflamed. Tartar is hardened plaque bacteria, and it can build up if you don’t brush and floss properly. Our dentist in Bromley Dental Practice can give you advice on how to brush properly, and how to floss so you remove all the plaque from around your dental implant.

Even though a dental implant is completely inert it is surrounded with living tissue and this can still become infected at any stage, even years after the implant is being inserted. A lack of oral hygiene can mean a condition called peri-implantitis will develop. This is a condition similar to gum disease and it causes the gums to become infected, swollen and inflamed. If not promptly treated this condition could affect the bone levels around the implant, and could mean the implant eventually becomes loose and will fail.

Looking after Implant Supported Dentures
If your implants are being used to support a denture then it’s important to make sure you brush and floss around the implants in your mouth, and that you thoroughly clean the implant attachments in your denture. Make sure you bring the denture with you to each appointment so Dr Bashir can check the denture and implant attachments are still in good condition. It’s possible some of the implant attachment components will need replacing periodically, and most people need to replace their denture completely every 3 to 6 years.

It’s not difficult to look after dental implants in Bromley correctly, and to ensure they remain problem free. Many people have had dental implants in position for decades and they are still performing well. If you care for your dental implants properly then they could last your lifetime, and dental implant surgery has an extremely high success rate that is typically around 95%. In addition to good dental care, it’s important to make sure you maintain good general health, and habits such as smoking could affect the longevity of your implant.

Bromley Dental Practice

What Are Crowns and Bridges, and How Could They Help Your Smile?

Dental crowns and bridges are restorative dentistry techniques that are designed to repair damaged teeth, or to replace them entirely.

Dental Crowns
Dentist Bromley Dr Zaki Bashir might recommend you have a dental crown if you have a tooth that is damaged due to decay, or to trauma. It might also be necessary to crown a tooth if you have had root canal treatment, or if the tooth has an extremely large filling that has weakened the overall structure leaving it at risk of fracturing. Dental crowns are extremely good at protecting the remaining part of the tooth from any further damage as they completely cap or cover the tooth right down to the gum line.

Dental Bridges
If you have one or more missing teeth then one choice is to have a dental bridge. This consists of dental crowns on the teeth adjacent to the space, and these are attached to the replacement tooth which is called a pontic. The overall effect of a dental bridge can be extremely nice, and this is a good choice of tooth replacement if the teeth adjacent to the gap would benefit from being crowned. If these teeth are perfectly healthy and strong and are regularly shaped then a better option might be to consider dental implants, as a dental implant doesn’t need to be supported in this way so the adjacent teeth can remain intact.

Crowns and bridges can be made from a variety of different materials, as they can be made entirely from a gold alloy that is highly polished, or they can be made from porcelain fused to metal which is where the metal substructure is covered up with tooth coloured porcelain. If you are interested in gaining the very best aesthetic appearance then it’s worth asking Dr Bashir about all ceramic crowns.

All-Ceramic Crowns and Bridges
These are top quality crowns that don’t contain any metal, and in fact one option for dental crowns is to have a CEREC crown that can be made on site at the Bromley Dental Practice, and this costs a similar amount to a conventional crown that will be made in a dental laboratory. If you need a dental bridge in Bromley then this will have a very strong substructure made out of a very special type of porcelain called zirconia. This is capable of supporting very large bridges that can span an entire upper or lower arch of teeth and provides top-quality results.

If you had a crown or bridge made some years ago then you might be surprised at just how far dental technology has advanced, as today’s modern restorations can look beautifully natural, enhancing your smile and blending in with the rest of your natural teeth. It’s very easy to look after crowns and bridges; dental crowns can be brushed and flossed as normal, and your dentist in Bromley will show you how to clean around the pontics of a bridge to keep this area clean and hygienic.

Bromley Dental Practice

CEREC Can Restore Your Teeth in One Easy Visit

If you have ever had a conventional dental crown then you will know it requires at least two visits to your dentist, and involves the hassle of having a temporary crown in position for two weeks or more. There is a solution, as Bromley Dental Practice can make and fit CEREC crowns and porcelain fillings in just one quick visit. Dr Zaki Bashir has been providing patients with these crowns for many years, and they have several clear advantages over conventional crowns. CEREC crowns do not require any messy impressions, and the fit can be exceptional thanks to the use of CAD/CAM technology. There is no need to worry about temporary crowns becoming loose or falling out, or being swallowed.

What Could CEREC Do For You?
If you know you need a new crown, then opting for CEREC in Bromley could help save you time without the need to compromise on results. There is no difference in price, and our CEREC machine produces high quality restorations that work in harmony with your natural teeth. Once they are bonded in position then they are extremely strong, and can look quite beautiful.

CEREC is also ideal for repairing decay in back teeth and for replacing old amalgam fillings, especially if the area to be filled is pretty large. When the back teeth are substantially decayed then it is often not an option to repair the teeth with conventional composite resin, and this because it would not be strong enough to hold the tooth together. Instead, opting for a porcelain CEREC filling (called an inlay) can restore strength to the tooth, and is virtually invisible.

If you have a chipped front tooth then CEREC could be ideal for repairing the damage as it can be used to fabricate beautiful porcelain veneers. It is the ideal solution if you have a special event coming up, and have just lost a crown or damaged a tooth. There is no need to worry about having to go away on holiday or attending that family wedding with a temporary crown, and no need to avoid sticky foods that may dislodge a temporary filling.

What is the Procedure for Having a CEREC Restoration?
It is very straightforward, as your tooth will be prepared using a local anaesthetic to ensure you are comfortable. From then on it is a little different. Instead of taking an impression your tooth will be scanned using an infrared camera. The information is sent to a computer, and our dentist in Bromley will design your crown, veneer or inlay straightaway. Next, the design is sent to the CEREC milling machine so your restoration can be milled from a solid block of porcelain. We keep a large stock of porcelain blocks on site in many different shades and translucencies. Once the restoration has been milled, it is hand finished before being fitted and bonded into position. You’ll leave our surgery with your new crown, veneer or inlay completely finished.

Bromley Dental Practice

Broken or Chipped a Tooth? Learn Why You Should Not Ignore it

Have you broken or chipped a tooth recently? If so you might have been tempted to ignore it, but it’s important to get it treated as soon as you can, and to make an appointment with Dr Zaki Bashir to have it mended. This is because a chip in your tooth will have broken through the outer layer of tooth enamel.

Dentist Bromley Tooth enamel is the hard substance that normally protects the tooth. When it is damaged then bacteria in your mouth will be able to attack the much softer layer of dentine that is just underneath the tooth enamel. Eventually the bacteria will cause a cavity, and you may find you bite down one day only to feel the tooth crumble away. There is also a risk that the cavity might eventually reach the inner part of your tooth. The pulp lies right at the centre of the tooth and contains all the nerves and blood supply to the tooth. If the bacteria reaches the pulp then things can get pretty painful, and you will need to visit our dentist in Bromley Dental Practice for root canal treatment.

Mending Chipped or Cracked Teeth with Dental Bonding

It’s much easier to get that crack or chip mended. The process for mending chipped or cracked teeth can be pretty straightforward as it can often be done through bonding the tooth. This is where composite resin material is applied to the tooth to help repair any small areas of damage. The material is tooth coloured and bonds to the natural tooth extremely strongly, helping to restore the tooth to its full strength so you will be able to bite and chew normally without any fear of the tooth beginning to crumble away. Dental bonding can be completed in just one visit to the Bromley Dental Practice, and the results should last for several years before they need replacing.

Mending Teeth with Veneers and Crowns

If the damage is a bit more substantial then Dr Bashir might recommend a different treatment. It could be that the tooth would benefit more from being veneered, or it could need to be completely protected with a dental crown. Porcelain veneers in Bromley are good for treating chips in front teeth, and can help improve the overall appearance of the tooth. They will last longer than dental bonding, but do cost a little more.

Dental crowns cover up the whole of the tooth, right down to the gum line. They are good for mending larger chips or cracks, or for dealing with fractures in teeth. Dental crowns can completely replace the missing tooth structure so the tooth can be used normally. A dental crown can last ten years or more, provided they are looked after correctly.

Mending chips and cracks in teeth is much more cost effective than leaving the damage to progress and treatment can be far quicker.

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