How to Choose A Dentist in Preston " 10 Point Check List "

I am often asked by patients who are moving to another area, what they should look for when choosing a new dental practice; after all in these times of austerity you don’t want to be charged an extortionate amount of money for your dental treatment but at the same time most people are aware that in dentistry, like everything else in life, ‘you get what you pay for’.

So my answer is always the same, use my 10 point check list to assess if your dental practice is offering you great value for money and the high standard of care you deserve.

1. Qualifications and accreditations

Many dentists give the impression that they are ‘specialists’ in specific areas of dentistry, you can check a dentists qualifications at the General Dental Council’s website, (www.gdc-uk.org) Any dentist should be happy to show you membership certificates to associations they are in, ensure that they are registered as ‘accredited members ‘which requires evidence of excellence in dentistry to be submitted.

2. Experience

Look for a dentist who has long term experience in the treatment you need. They should be able to show you many historical cases they have completed with before and after clinical photographs. Ask if you are able to speak with patients who have undergone similar treatments to yours. A dentist should hold a list of patients who have agreed to talk to new patients should they wish to.

3. No financial surprises

A dentist is required to inform you of any proposed treatment and the financial investment involved BEFORE beginning treatment, whenever possible. Many practices employ treatment coordinators who will present you with a fully itemised treatment plan and discuss any treatment options with you. NEVER have any dental treatment without knowing the full amount of your investment first. Check if there is a range of good finance options available to help with more expensive treatment costs. Also, does the practice run a membership scheme with an easy pre-payment membership plan to cover your routine dental needs and include emergency dental insurance even when you’re on holiday abroad?

Preston Dentist Aids to Overcome Dental Anxiety and Fear

Fear is an immediate response to a perceived threat. The overwhelming fear of dental appointments can be a common cause of our anxiety.  Many patients picture a drill-wielding man in a white coat just waiting to cause pain and remove teeth.  The reality, however, is very different.  The comfort, relaxation and happiness of the patient are embedded deep at the heart of any good dental practice.  The entire dental team have understanding and empathy to each and every patient, they will do whatever they can to reduce anxiety, allay fears and provide painless, quick treatments.

Recent technological advancements have meant that dentists are able to replace noisy drills with painless laser beams.  There are also a wide variety of gentle and pain free anaesthetics available to eliminate anxiety during treatments.

Beneath that anxiety there’s often a fear factor. Fear of pain is a big one. Fear of needles. Fear of confined spaces. Fear of losing control. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of the unknown. All that gets wrapped up in so-called fear of the dentist.

How can you overcome this overpowering fear?

Talk to your Preston Dentist – The dentist is not a mind reader.  Though it can be hard to talk about irrational fears with a stranger, your treating dentist can take extra precautions during visits if fears concerns are communicated. Unless you let your dentist know what it is you fear, he or she won’t be able to help you. You do not need to explain why you are fearful, if you feel uncomfortable with that. But it really helps if you can say what you are afraid of, or even make suggestions as to what your dentist might be able to do to help you with your fears.

Avoiding the situation is not an option. "If you are phobic, unfortunately you need to see the dentist more than anyone, because if you go for regular check-ups you'll need less dentistry,". "If you stay away until it's painful, you're probably going to be looking at some serious dental work. Prevention is always less unpleasant than cure."

Bring your IPod music player – Music acts as a relaxant and also drowns out any fear-producing noises.  Listening to calming music throughout the appointment will help to reduce nervousness.

Decide and agree on a signal – Many patients are afraid that the dentist will not know if they are in pain during treatment, and will carry on the procedure regardless.  The best way to solve this problem is to agree on a “stop” hand signal with the dentist. 

Use a throat spray as it can control the gag reflex.  Two or three sprays will usually keep the reflex under control for about an hour.

Ask about alternative treatment options – Advances in technology mean that dental microsurgery is now an option. Lasers can be used to prepare teeth for fillings, whiten teeth and remove staining. New non-invasive and minimal prep dentistry such as dental bonding or same day veneers are simple straight forward procedures for any skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist. Always discuss all the options with your dedicated Preston the dentist and decide on one that is effective and produces minimal anxiety.

If you suffer from fear of the dentist, dental phobia, or dental anxiety, there is something you can do about it. You really don't need to be a victim. Advanced dental technology can effectively alleviate and permanently remove dental phobia and fear of dentists.

Holistic Dentist in Preston : Beyond regular Dental Health

More and more, health conscious people are turning to natural medicine and holistic dentistry for their dental health care needs. In general, holistic dentists try to treat the underlying cause of disease by using the safest and least toxic forms of dental care possible

Holistic Dentistry is essentially an approach to dental treatment, primarily caring for patient's health and safety from both a conventional as well as an "alternative dental care" point of view. In holistic dentistry, the aim is to find bio-compatible materials to use, in order to reduce the toxicity for everyone, especially the chemically sensitive. For instance Amalgam fillings (mercury Fillings) are avoided in holistic dentistry because of concern about possible toxicity problems.

A holistic dental practice is constructed upon few basic principles;

Never treat when you can prevent or heal instead 
To Place safeguards to protect against exposure to known toxins like mercury
Use non-invasive dental treatments that stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal.

The mouth is the primary connection of the "outside" environment with the "inside" environment, and this makes the mouth a unique and very important place regarding general health and should be viewed and approached in this manner.

Preventative Dentistry, The Cornerstone of Progressive Dentistry in Preston

With almost 90% of the population suffering from bleeding gums at some point of their lives, gum disease is today a real threat; sore gums that bleed with the slightest contact of a toothbrush or dental floss are a sign of a problem which requires careful attention and a professional dentist’s diagnosis. The accumulation of dental plaque where the teeth meet the gums is the main cause of gingivitis, the inflammation of gum tissues because of the bacteria contained in dental plaque.

Long term gingivitis indicates plaque has been accumulating over time. It can lead to the formation of “pockets”, a separation between gum and teeth, where the process continues even if the bleeding stops. 10% of the patients who suffer from bleeding gums and develop “pockets” end up having periodontal disease, which is an inflammation around the teeth that usually leads to the loss of bone supporting teeth and, eventually, to tooth loss.

Prevention and early recognition is the key to avoiding tooth decay and gum disease. A good home routine, as well as regular cleanings and exams can prevent many expensive dental treatments. Prevention starts with controlling plaque, colourless bacteria that sticks to the surface of your teeth, and calculus, a harder mineral deposit. These are the main sources of decay and periodontal disease. By maintaining a proper routine of daily hygiene, you can prevent most oral disease.

Preventive dental care is the cornerstone of modern dentistry. It is the key for everyone, young and old - including people with false teeth who can benefit through the early identification of conditions like mouth cancer and denture stomatitis.

Porcelain Veneers or Lumineers, Which one To Choose?

Don’t like what you see when you smile? Change it! There's no reason to put up with imperfections that detract from your smile. While it's common to be told not to judge a book by its cover, unfortunately, it's human nature to make impulsive judgements.

Your smile is one of the first things people will notice, If you have not so perfect teeth and are constantly worried about your smile, then dental veneers are the ultimate answer to all your worries.  These are useful tools that can easily restore your imperfect teeth and give you the beautiful smile that you have always dreamed of. Tooth Veneers can mask stained, oddly shaped, or crooked teeth and create a smile that would make Oprah sit up and take notice!

Porcelain dental veneers are also called dental veneers, porcelain veneers, porcelain laminates or just veneers. They are made from a very thin layer of porcelain (a glass or ceramic type of material) about the thickness of your finger nail or a contact lens. As porcelain veneers are so thin very little of your tooth needs to be removed as compared with that of a crown.  Porcelain Veneers are so thin (0.3mm to 0.5 mm) light is transmitted through them easily giving your teeth a very beautiful and natural appearance. You will never see a dark line with porcelain veneers like you can with some types of crowns.

Lumineers are a brand name of porcelain veneers made from patented porcelain called Cerinate.

Lumineers comprise of a new type of veneer that has been introduced and is much improved in terms of performance and appearance.  Lumineers are much thinner and stronger than the original veneers so they will not add any bulk to your teeth.  Furthermore, the fact that they are lightweight and thin makes sure that they don’t cause any discomfort, tickle your teeth or even your mouth for that matter. 

While having the same benefits as normal veneers, lumineers also do not require teeth to be reshaped.  As a result, they provide an effective covering for the tooth’s structure without chopping or chipping it. Not only will they remain intact but they also do not suffer from any permanent damage – this is not the case with traditional veneers.

Lumineers are an excellent choice when your teeth are slightly set back or need very minor changes. Lumineers are not for everyone. If you require more extensive changes (extreme makeovers etc.) traditional veneers might be the better choice. Each person needs to be evaluated individually to see which type of veneer is best for them. It might even be a combination of both.

Another exciting advantage of lumineers is that they can be easily and reliably bonded to the tooth perfectly without having to drill.  Since there is no drilling involved, you do not have to worry about your phobia for anaesthetic shots, and what’s more, the process itself is absolutely painless!

Ceramic or Porcelain Veneers on the whole can help you attain the perfect teeth that you long for with little or no pain, as long as you make the right choice regarding your Cosmetic dentist.

A skilled cosmetic dentist can help you choose the shape, shade, and style of your veneers to match your unique features, then sculpt them with exacting detail to enhance your smile, and your look.