Home › Are Modern Dentures a Good Alternative to Dental Implants?

Are Modern Dentures a Good Alternative to Dental Implants?

Posted on by admin Posted in Implants

Our Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham Dentist looks at the choices available.

There was a time, not so long ago, when losing a tooth meant that there were two options available to address it; either leaving a gap in the teeth or having a partial denture to replace it.

Dentures then were generally bulky and often uncomfortable. It usually wasn’t too difficult to spot them too as they could appear obvious even to the casual observer.

With the advent and more common use of dental implants though, do dentures still have a role to play in replacing missing teeth?

Dental implants

At Arthur House Dental Care, we are clear; dental implants are an excellent choice for replacing a missing tooth.

Implants offer a number of benefits which are well worth the short period of inconvenience whilst the implant integrates with the bone.

●     Comfort – Once the implant has integrated with the bone and the crown attached, dental implants feel very natural and you are likely to forget that it is not a natural tooth.

●     Appearance – Again, dental implants look entirely natural and the shape and colour of the attached crown will be made to fit in with your natural teeth

●     Strength – Implants offer a strength equal to or greater than your own natural teeth. Never again will you have to carefully check a menu to see what you might struggle to bite into

●     Longevity – Dental implants give many years of life, providing the correct care is taken. They have been known to last for as long as thirty five years.

Some people though, are simply unable to overcome the fear of this procedure, and, whilst it should cause no more discomfort than any other invasive procedure, the thought of holes being drilled in the jawbone is a step too far for some of our more nervous dental patients.

For those who have a high level of dental anxiety, there are two options available.

Read more ›

Initial Consultations

Posted on by admin Posted in Family Dentistry

Patients – the importance of listening.

If you read dental blogs and articles, perhaps unsurprisingly, most discuss dental procedures ranging from the simple filling to more complicated procedures like a dental implant placement.

Rarely are consultations discussed, yet, this is a very important part of the process and plays a major role in the patient receiving the best treatment possible.

Friendly service

The initial consultation helps to establish a rapport between the dentist and the patient. For many patients, it is this first meeting which will help to put them at ease, or otherwise.

At Arthur House Dental Care, we do all that we can to help our patients feel relaxed and confident in our abilities. From the subtle decor of the building to the professionalism of the staff, we hope that our dental patients from Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham feel both welcome and at ease.

Diagnosis

In these internet days, many patients that come to us have already decided what the problem is. Whilst doing a little research yourself is not necessarily a bad thing; it is only when examined by an experienced dentist that a correct diagnosis can be made.

In fact, you may have read recently about people doing DIY dentistry on themselves or friends. Apart from the obvious of what could go wrong, it is not uncommon for a patient to feel pain in one tooth that actually emanates from another and could lead to the wrong tooth being ‘meddled with’ if you don’t have the correct training and equipment.

Cosmetic Consultations

Read more ›

Common Dental Problems in Children

Posted on by admin Posted in Childrens Dentistry

Our Sutton Coldfield family dentist discusses childhood oral health issues.

As adults, we know, sometimes a little too late, how important it is to keep our teeth healthy and to give them the care and attention that they deserve.

To young children though, the necessary steps of brushing your teeth, and perhaps flossing, are little more than an inconvenience and one of those annoying things that parents make them do.

It can be hard being a parent, especially when you remember your own attitude at that age; but, despite this, it is the adult’s responsibility to ensure that their child benefits from their wisdom and takes good care of their teeth.

When parents give in and perhaps neglect to supervise their child’s brushing, the risk of childhood dental problems increases. Some of these we see on a regular basis at Arthur House Dental Care, but, hopefully, this blog will help to reduce those numbers a little.

Tooth decay

Read more ›

Taking a closer look at the modern dental surgery

Posted on by admin Posted in Advice

More about the state-of-the-art equipment used at Arthur House Dental Care in Sutton Coldfield.

If you could go back in time and walk into a dental practice, say fifty years ago, you would notice a significant difference to those of today; with modern dental practices presenting a much more welcoming and better equipped environment.

Whilst our patients from Sutton Coldfield and the Birmingham area appreciate the warm decor of our waiting room and surgery, their main concern is that we are equipped with modern dental equipment and, of course, the skill of our staff. With this in mind, this blog takes a closer look at some of the equipment we use every day at our local dental practice.

The dental chair

These have been around for years of course, but modern dental chairs are not only designed to provide the patient with a better level of comfort, and hopefully help them relax, but also to be easily manipulated to allow the dentist the best access to the patient’s mouth.

This enables even complex dental procedures such as the placing of dental implants, to be carried out more efficiently and safely and with ergonomics in mind.

X-rays and scanning equipment

Read more ›

Are You Looking for a Gentle Dentist?

Posted on by admin Posted in Family Dentistry

If so, Arthur House Dental Care in Sutton Coldfield could be right for you.

In some ways, the term ‘gentle dentist’ perhaps portrays an image of a totally stress free, and even fun experience. However, we understand that for many people who visit the dentist, this is unlikely to be the case, with a few experiencing high levels of fear and anxiety. So even though we believe we are gentler than most in our approach, this fact is inescapable.

Even factoring in anxiety levels though, regular dental visits are essential to maintain your oral health and help you to keep strong and healthy teeth for as long as possible. It may even, according to some recent studies, also improve your chances of maintaining a healthy heart.

Helping patients

The good news is that most patients who experience anxiety do so at a relatively low level but we still do our utmost to make their experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

At our Sutton Coldfield family dental practice, we greet all of our patients, both young and old, with a friendly smile. We feel that this helps a patient to relax a little from the moment that they walk through our front door.

This courtesy is extended by our dental team who take great care to talk to their patients in a warm and friendly manner, taking the time to listen to any concerns and answering any questions that a patient may have.

For most patients, this is all that is needed to help them feel more confident about any treatment that they may need.

Dental treatments

Read more ›

Considering a Smile Makeover?

Posted on by admin Posted in cosmetic-dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry options for patients from Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham.

There comes a time when most of us, perhaps, glance in the mirror and realise that time is moving on and that we are suffering some of its effects.

We realise that our skin is no longer as elastic as it used to be and that our teeth are now a light shade of yellow rather than the pearly white colour that they once were.

Whilst the appearance our skin can often be improved with the aid of a moisturiser or perhaps facial aesthetics, the same cannot be said about our teeth.

Thankfully, at Arthur House Dental Care, we are able to provide you with cosmetic dental treatments that can help to restore your smile.

Whiter Teeth

Read more ›

Finding the Right Dentist for Dental Veneers in Sutton Coldfield

Posted on by admin Posted in cosmetic-dentistry

Some things to consider before making your final decision.

Whilst dental veneers are often thought of as false fingernails for the teeth, this can tend to undermine the fact that this is a dental procedure that needs to be done professionally. Unlike false fingernails, dental veneers are not just “stuck” on top of existing teeth. Before they can be attached, a layer of enamel, equivalent to the thickness of the veneer, first needs to be removed. Because this is a protective layer, removal of too much enamel could result in sensitive teeth and ones that may be more prone to decay in the future; so it is a precise technique which must be performed very carefully.

Cheaper veneers

Whilst it may be tempting to go abroad for dental veneers perhaps due to an attractive price; like other procedures, this can be something of a gamble and one that we would not suggest you take. Remember that if the procedure is not done carefully, there is no going back and you will be stuck with the results forever.

With the experience of our cosmetic dentists at Arthur House Dental Care, and the sophisticated equipment that we use in our Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham practice, this problem simply should not arise.

Professional advice

Read more ›

Is Having a Dry Mouth a Problem?

Posted on by admin Posted in Advice

Causes and effects of dry mouth and how your Sutton Coldfield dentist can help.

Many of us have probably experienced a dry mouth at some point in our life and dismissed it as ‘just one of those things’.

In most cases, the occasional dry mouth should cause few problems but, for those who suffer from this regularly, it can be potentially harmful to your oral health.

What causes a dry mouth?

There can be a number of possible causes for having a dry mouth. The most obvious of these, of course, is a lack of hydration. This should not really be a problem these days as bottled water is both convenient and widely available. The trick, of course, is to drink before you are thirsty to avoid its onset.

Alcohol and smoking too are common causes of a dry mouth as anyone who has woken up after an overindulgent night out can attest. Mouth breathing too is likely to increase it happening.

Some medications and medical conditions may also lead to a lack of saliva too.

Problems arising

Read more ›

Customised Dental Braces in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Posted on by admin Posted in orthodontics

How Insignia orthodontics are designed to work especially for you.

Having dental braces fitted isn’t a decision that most of us would probably take lightly. After all, even with the most modern discreet braces available, some people still feel a certain stigma associated with wearing them. With this in mind, it is important to get things right from the start.

Insignia

This is where Insignia braces come into their own. Unlike some other forms of orthodontics, Insignia are fully customised for each individual patient of Arthur House Dental Care.

This is done using 3D software which is used to design individual brackets for each patient. Factors such as the extent of the teeth straightening which needs doing along with the shape of a patient’s teeth are taken into account to give the perfect result.

Not only will this result in the most effective brackets and wiring being used for each patient, but also helps towards the overall comfort of these braces.

Another bonus of using the 3D software is that the patient will be able to see a representation of how their teeth will look once the treatment is completed.

Cleaning

Read more ›

Headaches and Jaw Pain – Potential Causes

Posted on by admin Posted in Jaw problems

Treating jaw and headache problems at Arthur House Dental Care.

Headaches are not uncommon, but, in most instances, they are temporary; perhaps caused by stress, a noisy environment or even self inflicted!

Some headaches though simply refuse to go away and, just when we think we are free of them, they come back with a vengeance.

This can be very frustrating as well as painful, and getting to the root of the cause can be difficult.

Jaw Problems

In fact, many headaches can be caused by jaw problems. When the jaws become misaligned this can cause the surrounding muscles to spasm and send messages to the brain. This in turn can result in headaches and migraines as well as a number of other problems such as bruxism.

In fact, at our Sutton Coldfield dentist, we have seen a number of patients who have suffered with bruxism that has been caused as a direct result of jaw problems. The long term effects of this can even result in broken and worn teeth as they grind together.

Although some people with misaligned jaw problems will suffer few if any symptoms, others will do; often painfully. This is often exasperated by high levels of stress which causes tension in the jaw area which is likely to lead to more painful headaches. In many ways, a vicious circle of events.

Prevention and treatment

Read more ›