Dental Implants in Richmond - Dental Blog

The importance of regular visits to a hygienist

We all know that keeping our teeth clean is important, but you might not be aware that just cleaning and even flossing at home isn’t enough to keep your teeth and gums truly clean and healthy. Regular visits with our hygienist in Richmond can keep your teeth and gums clean and prevent bad breath and gum disease.

Periodontal disease and how to avoid it

One role of our hygienist in Richmond is to make sure our patients don’t contract gingivitis and periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. Periodontal disease can be hard to detect, as it often doesn’t have any obvious symptoms such as pain. Over time though, this disease can lead to problems including bad breath, staining and early loss of teeth. Regular visits with our hygienist can prevent periodontal disease and the associated problems.

Gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, usually precedes periodontal disease and can be an early warning sign. It is caused by bacteria, which is in turn caused by plaque build-up. Our hygienist in Richmond will give your teeth a thorough clean, using special tools that are more advanced than your home toothbrush, and getting to the hard to reach areas that often get missed, leading to a build-up of plaque and calculus.

Follow your hygienist’s advice for healthy teeth and gums

Our hygienist in Richmond will also give you advice on implementing a good oral hygiene routine at home, as well as lifestyle changing such as stopping smoking and altering your diet. The things you eat and drink can have a big impact on your oral health, and our hygienist can talk you through small changes that can help keep your teeth healthier.

Hygienists can help patients of all ages

We recommend that both children and adults keep up regular visits with our hygienist in Richmond. It is important to get in the habit of looking after your teeth early, as the techniques and habits we learn as children will stay with us through adult life. The hygienist can give advice on brushing and flossing techniques, and they can use a special dye that highlights plaque build-up, so you can see areas that are being missed in day to day brushing.

Choosing a family dentist

When you move to a new area, there are so many things to sort out. People sometimes overlook one of the important ones – finding a new family dentist. It is essential to find a dentist in Richmond that you feel comfortable with, especially if you have children who will need treatment. At Sheen Dental, we’ve been treating generations of local families for over 100 years and you can trust us to look after your family.

Why choose Sheen Dental

If you are looking for a family dentist in Richmond, here at Sheen Dental we have a tradition of caring for the teeth of many local families. We are well established in the local community, and our patients enjoy a caring and relaxing atmosphere. Our staff have a wealth of experience and are committed to treating every patient with courtesy and integrity. Patients can relax in our waiting room with a hot or cold drink, and read a newspaper or magazine while they wait.

Advanced technology helps us care for your teeth

We may have been here for a long time, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t kept up with the latest developments in dental technology and techniques. Our staff are continually updating their knowledge and training, and we use state of the art technology such as a CT scanner and digital x-rays. You can feel reassured when you visit our dentist in Richmond, that you are getting the best care possible.

New patients are given a comprehensive check-up

If you register with us as a new patient, you will see our dentist in Richmond for a full oral examination. This includes going over your medical history, taking intra-oral photographs, mouth cancer screening, as well as a detailed examination. The dentist will check not only your teeth, but the health of your gums, as well as checking for any jaw problems and to see if your bite is well aligned.

Let us know if you are disabled or have any special needs

We are well-equipped to see disabled patients at our dentist in Richmond, with 2 of our examination rooms on the ground floor. For patients who cannot get to the practice, we can arrange a home visit.

Your allies in the fight against plaque

Plaque. The very word should strike terror into your teeth. It’s at the root of nearly all your dental woes. You can’t ever stop it accumulating in your mouth. It could make you lose all your teeth and you can never, ever stop fighting against it, twice a day, every day from now until the end of time. But, never fear, because in this never-ending battle against the destroyer of your pearly whites you have an important ally, your hygienist in Richmond.

Your hygienist in Richmond cannot be with you all the time as you fight the good fight against the acids from plaque, but you can rely on them at least twice a year for back-up in the endless clean-up operation.

Here at Sheen Dental, we have 3 great hygienists who are standing by, equipped and ready to get in there between your teeth and around your gumlines and get rid of any plaque that your twice daily brushing and flossing regime has missed. It’s impossible to get all the plaque off as it loves to accumulate in hard-to-reach places like the crevices between your teeth. If you have wonky teeth, there are more crevices and hiding places for plaque to build up, so you will be in even more need of help.

What is plaque and why is it the enemy?

In itself, bacterial plaque is harmless. The bacteria don’t cause infection, they just live in your mouth and feed on any sugars knocking around in your saliva. When sugar levels go up, the bacteria proliferate. You will feel them on your teeth with your tongue.

The problem is that these bacteria give off acids and it’s the acids that attack your teeth and gums, eroding the enamel and inflaming the gums, and then getting underneath them to attack the tooth roots and bone that holds your teeth in place.

The other problem is that if plaque is left in place for more than 3 days, it hardens and then the only way to get rid of it is to scrape it off. Meanwhile, it still gives off acids, and you can’t get rid of it. Only the hygienist in Richmond can, with her trusty set of scrapers.

Teamwork for teeth for life

If you could choose between having your own teeth for your entire life, or having them for a bit but slowly having to replace them with fixed bridgework, then a partial denture, then either full dentures or dental implants, which would you choose? Seems like a no-brainer doesn’t it? Of course, you want your own teeth for as long as possible. And you can have them if you are willing to put in the disciplined effort to take care of them and to work in a team to do so with our dentist in Richmond.

It takes 2, maybe 3 people, to care for your teeth. It takes you, your hygienist and your dentist in Richmond at Sheen Dental. We all play a different part in taking care of your teeth. What do we each do?

Your part of the teamwork

You do the bulk of the work because the teeth are in your mouth. Your job is to remove trapped food and the daily build-up of plaque from your teeth. You need to brush your teeth twice a day with a soft bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. You also need to floss or use interdental brushes once a day to get in between your teeth and up around the gum line. It’s a good idea to clean your tongue as well as your gums with your brush too.

Your other job is to make sure you come along for your bi-annual check-ups with us at Sheen Dental, your dentist in Richmond. You need to make the appointments and to turn up for them too. If you get worried about something that’s going on in your mouth between check-ups, make an appointment and let us take a look. Everything is much easier to treat if we catch it early.

The dentist’s part

We have 4 dentists here at Sheen Dental. Their first job is to examine your teeth twice a year, and then treat any decay or other issues they come across.

The hygienist

We have 3 hygienists here at Sheen Dental. Their job is to remove any hidden plaque or hardened tartar from your teeth and give you hints and advice on how to clean them more effectively.

The never-ending battle against plaque

There are jobs in life that you only ever have to do once. Once you’ve learned to drive a car and passed your test, you’re set for life. Others you may have to repeat every now and then, like painting the outside of your house every decade. Others are a regular daily discipline, and if you don’t keep up the routine, you can end up in big trouble. That’s what the battle against plaque is like, you have to keep at it, day in, day out. It never ends. But you are not alone in your efforts to keep plaque from destroying your teeth with gum disease and tooth decay. By your side, twice a year, you can steal a march on plaque with back up from your hygienist in SW14.

What is plaque?

Plaque is the name we give to that sticky film that builds up on your teeth during the day. It is made up of millions of bacteria. They themselves are harmless. They won’t give you diseases or infections. They live harmlessly in your mouth, mopping up sugars in your saliva. If you have a particularly sugary snack or drink, they can go a bit crazy on the plentiful sugars, gorge themselves and proliferate. That’s why after a sugar-fest, your teeth can feel furry. The plaque bacteria are reproducing. And after they eat, they give off acids.

What about the acids?

Remember back at school and science lessons when you learned about how acids can corrode metals? That’s what plaque acids do to your teeth. They eat away at your tooth enamel, creating holes through which infection can sneak in and attack your teeth from the inside. The plaque that builds up along your gumline will irritate and inflame your gums. They will bleed more easily and pull away from your teeth.

Twice yearly visits to the hygienist in SW14 can stop all this by removing plaque that has been missed and hardened into tartar. You can’t remove this with brushing. You need the SW14 hygienist to scrape it away with special tools. Do that and brush well every day, and your natural teeth could last a lifetime.

We’ve been here since almost forever

If you have just moved to the Richmond/Sheen area and are looking for an awesome dentist in SW14, then you will probably hear our name mentioned by lots of people. Sheen Dental has been on the Upper Richmond Road West for more than 100 years. We are woven into the fabric of the area.

Of course, just being a very well-established dentist in SW14 is only part of the story. Dental practices change hands, so it is also the experience of the dental staff that is important.

An experienced director

Take our clinical director, Dr Harmit Kalsi. In the 30 years that he has been practising as a dentist, he has treated more than 15,000 people. He’s not just a dentist in SW14, since 2004 he has also been an examiner with the Royal College of Surgeons England. He is one of only a handful of dentists to have a diploma in implantology from them. He has been placing dental implants for more than 20 years, way before they really took off in the UK. If you want dental implants, you won’t find many dentists more experienced than Dr Kalsi, who has placed more than 1,000 implants.

Our braces dentist

The 21^st century has seen amazing advances in the branch of dentistry concerned with straightening teeth. So many dentists offer braces these days that it’s easy to forget that to do a really good job of moving teeth requires deep knowledge and experience. Our braces dentist, Dr Fotis Stavaras, combines his postgraduate knowledge and extensive experience with use of all the latest devices to create beautiful smiles that harmonise with the faces they are in.

For children and nervous patients

Creating a good experience is as important as the success of a treatment, and at Sheen Dental, we have Dr Thomas Crawford-Clarke’s knowledge of patient psychology to help make positive dental experiences for children and nervous patients. He’s a great dentist and also very interested in restorative dentistry.

Dr Pooja Patel, our other associate dentist, is also wonderful with anxious patients.

Along with our dentists, we have a great team of experienced nurses, hygienists and reception staff. Why not come in and meet us?

Smile impact is your best accessory

In a style conscious world, it’s important to get your accessories perfect. A well-tailored suit, great shirt and silk tie or nail varnish that matches your lipstick, sharp fitted dress and perfect black handbag. You’ve got the style to hit the West End and make a great impression. However, just as you are about to leave you look in the mirror, you see yellow stained teeth, with the chip you never corrected and the mercury fillings that stand out like a sore thumb. With that smile, no matter how stylish your wardrobe, you’re never going to pull of your look.

Time to find a dentist in SW14

Dentistry can offer you a great deal in terms of fixing cosmetic issues with smiles. At Sheen Dental, we have ensured we have the latest technology at our hands and a range of treatments we can offer to give you a complete smile makeover.

Yellow to white in just an hour

With Zoom! teeth whitening system, we can wipe away stains from red wine to smoking. A whitening gel is applied to your teeth and gums, a light is positioned over your mouth area. It activates the gel, dissolving stubborn stains from your teeth. Some stains can’t be wiped away, so what can you dentist in SW14 do for these issues?

Veneers giving your teeth a total facelift

Veneers are great if you have chips, cracks or deep stains on your teeth. We gently remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of your tooth, placing a fine sheath of porcelain over the tooth, bonding it in place for a long-lasting finish. We will colour match your veneer to match your natural teeth, so nobody can tell the difference.

And finally…

Those mercury eyesores can be changed to white filings, making them not only healthier for you but almost invisible when you’re smiling.

We have a range of treatments we can offer you that can alter your smile and enhance that first impression. If you want to find out more give us Sheen Dental, your dentist in SW14, a ring and let us make that perfect outfit match from feet to dazzling smile.

Don’t worry about the postcode lottery

Hear the words postcode lottery in the news and it’s bound to be about a lack of access to healthcare services and the sometimes devastating consequences. Thankfully, when it comes to dental health, you aren’t bound by the whims of the postcode lottery. With no catchment areas to adhere to, you can take your pick of dental practices. And at Sheen Dental we think you should pick us, a SW14 dentist that provides all the dental services you need under one roof.

Preventive dentistry

We want you to hold onto your teeth for as long as possible, which is why we advocate prevention over cure. A leading cause of tooth loss is gum disease and there are several ways we can help you avoid this costly consequence.

Firstly, your dental check-up, a chance for us to make sure your teeth and gums are in good health. If they aren’t, we’ll provide you with prompt treatment. For gum disease in its early stages, that could be as simple as a good clean, scale and polish, accompanied by advice on how to improve your dental hygiene at home and your diet. We also provide advice and support on how to quit smoking, which is known to increase your chances of developing gum disease.

Restorative dentistry

When your teeth have taken a battering, whether from disease or injury, our dentist in SW14 can get them back to full health. We will do our best to ensure you keep your natural tooth roots and will set about repairing what you see above the gum line, with inlays, onlays or crowns. When it isn’t possible to save a tooth, we will provide reliable restorations with dental implants, dentures or bridges, depending on your circumstances.

Cosmetic dentistry

If your oral health is in good shape but you want to take the aesthetics of your smile to the next level, you’re in luck. Our SW14 dentist has a suite of cosmetic dental procedures to enhance the look of your teeth. Get rid of stains with teeth whitening, straighten out wonky teeth with invisible braces or cover over misshapen teeth with veneers. And there’s much more, so get in touch to find out how we can help.

Looking good in Richmond

The Americans get the Hollywood smile and we get the British stiff upper lip. Sometimes stereotypes are unfair. Especially in light of UK dentistry today, where giving patients healthy smiles is par for the course.

At Sheen Dental, your dentist in Richmond, we’re all about creating healthy smiles for life. This doesn’t just mean ensuring your teeth stay in tip-top condition, avoiding dental disease and their unsightly consequences. It also means providing you with cosmetic dental services to improve the appearance of your teeth.

Let’s take a closer look at just how we can help you keep that smile on your face.

The dental check-up

It may sound rather mundane but your regular dental check-up with your Richmond dentist is by far the best way to keep your teeth looking healthy, on top of your usual dental hygiene routine at home. We can check for the early signs of disease and get you prompt treatment before it advances. We’ll also let you know when it’s time for you to see the dental hygienist for a professional clean, scale and polish, removing all that plaque and/or tartar that your toothbrush can’t handle.

Natural restorations

If dental disease has already taken its toll on your teeth, your dentist in Richmond is on hand to help. We can repair decayed teeth with white fillings, which are as durable as amalgam fillings but far more discreet, or in more severe cases, we’ll apply inlays, onlays or crowns.

If you’ve lost teeth to disease or due to an accident or injury, we can offer you a range of restoration methods to suit your dental needs, budget and lifestyle. Bridges, dentures or dental implants are all available.

That extra something

With your teeth and gums in good health, you still may find they don’t quite live up to your expectations. That’s why we offer cosmetic dental treatments, from teeth whitening to gum contouring, to give your smile that extra something.

Hey good lookin’

The lyrics to that old classic Hey Good Lookin’ could very well become your personal theme tune when you take advantage of all the dental services on offer at Sheen Dental. Get in touch today to get the healthy smile you deserve.

Keeping teeth happy and healthy

Our teeth do a lot for us, day in, day out. That’s why it’s important to take good care of them. This involves brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly, and taking the time to go and visit your dentist in Richmond. We at Sheen Dental are here to help get your oral health on track, so you can reap the benefits of healthy, happy teeth.

At your check-up we will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums, tongue and cheeks to check everything is looking healthy. It is also a chance for you to tell us if you’ve experienced anything unusual or uncomfortable in your mouth since your last visit.

Dentist in Richmond We will also be able to check how efficiently you are brushing your teeth and give advice on how to maintain a good cleaning routine.

A window to your general wellbeing

Your teeth are not separate to the rest of your body. If you’ve had any other general health problems they may affect your oral health, and vice versa. Keeping your oral health in shape will help keep you healthy from your teeth to your toes.

At the dentist in Richmond, we will be able to spot early signs of gum disease which has been thought to be linked to conditions such as lung disease, diabetes, bowel cancer, oral cancer and cardiovascular problems.

Don’t fear the dentist

If you tend to miss your trips to the dentist in Richmond because of dental phobia, we are here to help you. We will hear your worries and do our best to help make you feel at ease. We have separate consultation rooms where we can discuss any worries you may have in a non-judgemental atmosphere.

When waiting for treatment, you can relax with a newspaper or magazine and a hot drink in our waiting room.

How often do you need to go?

The number of visits to the dentist in Richmond depends on your oral health and whether you’ve had, or have, any treatment that needs checking up on. The general rule of thumb is to visit the dentist every 6 months, however some patients can get by with visiting once a year.