Wimbledon Whites

It's that time of year again. Wimbledon fortnight is here & one way or another, we will be keeping track of the game, whether it be glued to the TV screen, rummaging through the papers, or if you’re lucky enough, be at the All England Club soaking up the amazing atmosphere.

All our eyes are on the players, and to go along with their smart 'Daz' white tennis kit, they need to be sporting a squeaky clean smile which they can show off to the world! Notice I used the phase, squeaky clean as apposed to perfect, straight or blinding white? I thought this was more appropriate & I’ll explain why. Recently someone asked why Andy Murray has 'all this money' & hasn't yet had his teeth 'done'? Due to having a career in the dental industry, teeth tend to be the first thing I look at, but if I'm honest, Andy Murray's didn't stand out to me. I decided to look at a photo of him and try and find out why people feel Andy Murray should revamp his smile. Whilst looking into it, I found an article about a patient speaking to their dentist about Andy Murray’s teeth & this is what it said:

"I saw my dentist today. He plays tennis and is a tennis fan. He says Andy Murray's teeth appear perfectly normal. He says Murray's "canine" teeth are longer than the neighbouring teeth, which is normal. Many people do not have this, because they grind their teeth in their sleep and the canines get worn down. He says Murray looks like he is not a grinder, which could mean despite his court demeanour, he could actually be a relaxed person."

I thought this was great! People, including myself have a perception of what a beautiful, perfect smile is, due to what the media etc. say it is. People often forget that every smile is unique and adds character. In my opinion, as a person is happy with their smile and it is dentally healthy & well looked after, It can be the most beautiful smile for the individual.

I hope you enjoy the tennis & Andy Murray's winning (fingers crossed!!) smile.

 

 

 

Amber

The best Fashion Accessory at Royal Ascot? A smile!

A highlight on the British calendar will be Royal Ascot

A day at Royal Ascot is about so much more than the exhilarating racing action. Featuring high fashion, sumptuous cuisine and pageantry, Royal Ascot promises an occasion that will last long in the memory. When you review the photographs and television coverage it continually proves that even the most beautiful outfit can be let down without a radiant smile.

Here are some of our favourite outfits from recent years - and some lovely radiant smiles, which I'm sure you will agree, is THE best accessory for EVERY occasion! 

 

Emma 

 

 

There is more Flossing than Football in Brazil at the moment, you know!

It's not all football, football, football in Brazil you know......
 
Did you know .....

Brazilians use more Dental Floss than any other nation?

And it's not just for this teeny tiny string bikinis!!

As well as aiming for that perfect body on Copacabana Beach it seems that many Brazilians also aim for perfect teeth. Many Brazilians adults as well as teenagers, have braces. Cashiers, parking attendants, waitresses and sales people not only smile often, they do so proudly sporting brackets and wires!

Brazilians are also brushing their teeth after lunch when they disappear to the cloakroom to gather together at the sink. There is a coming together and bonding over teeth rather than on the post work Caiperhena Cocktail. On visiting your dentist or Hygienist in Rio  they may want to know that you are flossing threes times a day ....

Check this out some fab Brazilian (smiles!)

 

 

Footballer Ronaldinho

 

Who has had dental treatment to improve his smile





 

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen

Who incidentally has had adult orthodontic treatment !

 

 

If you would like to know more about adult orthodontics (or flossing!!) please contact us on 01548 852165

 

By Ruth (who likes teeth more than football)

 

Save your child’s teeth from sports injuries - with help from Absolute Dental

If, like me, you are the parent of sporty children, you will have found yourselves worrying about protecting their bodies whilst playing their favourite sports: from helmets to shin pads, life jackets to body armours, I have purchased them all.

But have you considered the necessity of protecting your child’s teeth as they play?

At Absolute Dental we recommend the use of a mouth guard to all children who are active in sports.

If your little one plays rugby, football, hockey or any contact sport, ask your dentist about a custom made mouth guard.

 

 

They are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably over the upper teeth protecting not only your child’s teeth but also their cheeks and lips.

In order for a reputable dental laboratory to produce a custom made guard, your dentist will need to take an impression of your child’s upper teeth in a soft squeegee material which sets very quickly.

The mouth guard will usually be ready to fit and wear within a few days, ready to guard your little one from rogue balls, bats and elbows.

Some mouth guards are widely available from sports shops and online, they all require “moulding” on the teeth after a few seconds in boiling water, from experience they are almost always ill-fitting, uncomfortable and will ultimately rub a sore spot somewhere on the gum.

As my eldest son said: “I would rather break my teeth than wear that thing!” (he is such an angel!).

This is why we recommend a guard that is made just for him or her, that will be comfortable and effective.

The mouth guard is easy to care for, only needs to be cleaned after use and kept away from heat sources to retain its shape.

Your dentist can also check the mouth guard at your child’s regular visits.

According to Colgate, thousands of children are treated for preventable injuries every year in the UK, most of these involved front teeth. Also over 150.000 injuries to teeth and mouths are prevented every year by the use of a mouth guard.

Of course mouth guards are not just for children, we also recommend them for adults. We recently made a guard for a lady hockey player who had never worn one before but was horrified to see one of her team mates injured on the pitch.

This is a very worthwhile small investment to make which will keep you and your little one having fun out there!

Please ask the Team if you have any more questions or would like to make an appointment.

Melanie

 

 

13 signs that your dentist is "for keeps" - via Absolute Dental

Get to love your dentist or get the dentist you love: thirteen signs your dentist is ‘for keeps’

With thanks to Maria Nevada  from Money Principle 

MARIA says: 

There are two things I’m certain off:

a)      we all need to go to the dentist; 

b)     I’ve never met anyone who looks forward to visiting their dentist 

 

This made me think: is there anything I could do that will make my visits to the dentist less traumatic? In fact, I decided to try and come up with a mind trick that will make me more accepting of what cannot be avoided: my twice yearly visits to the dentist.

Then it was rather obvious: one thing that will make me more accepting of my visits is to get to love my dentist.

Not the kind of love that breaks couples but the grateful love we share with a brother/sister or a close friend; the love that thrives on trust, care, honour and civility.

These are the thirteen signs that will help you spot a dentist you could love that I could think about; these are also the signs that you’ve found a great one.

1. The receptionist knows your name. This may not seem important at first but I find that it make me feel good to be seen as a person and treated with respect, sympathy and human warmth.

2. The dentist knows your name. Here you can see my previous point. Except that the effect is magnified by the fact that this is the person who’ll be drilling in your month. Human warmth and sympathy can offset the annoyance of the dental drill nicely.

3. The dentist knows the name of your kid(s). This is about maintaining your humanity. You may think it is not very important but I used to go to a dentist who didn’t know my name and had absolutely no idea whether I have children or not. I am not even sure whether he knew that I am a bit more that the teeth he checked and cleaned. Call me weird but I didn’t like this much.

4. You can afford to see your dentist regularly. In the UK we have a mixed system: there are dentists who work with the NHS and there are private dentists. Good dentists will have an affordable Dental Plan (such as Practice Plan) 

5. You really want your dentist to stop working so you could talk to them. Sound ridiculous, I know. Still I love talking to my dentist – we discuss anything from current politics and the state of the NHS to the latest changes in British higher education. Thing is, he talks much more; for obvious reasons.

6. Your teeth look and feel good. This is kind of important. I did go for a while to a dentist who didn’t have a hygienist and didn’t clean my teeth himself. This was bad and didn’t last long.

7. Your dentist passed ‘the wisdom test’. Your dentist helps you make wise decisions about your teeth and dental health so that you have the healthy mouth you deserve 

8. You get a reminder to go for a check-up. It is really important to have regular check-ups. Because I’m not too keen on going to the dentist I tend to forget when my next appointment is due; if I didn’t book immediately that is. If I have not been for six months, I get a letter reminding it is time again. This is important (see point 10).

9. You get a reminder of your appointment. Yep, even when I’ve had the foresight to book an appointment I have been known to forget about it. Which is not good for my dentist (waste of time), not good for the surgery (loss of income) and not good for me (charged or missing the appointment). This is why I welcome the text message I receive couple of days before.

10. Your dentist does more prevention than correction. Yep, it is true about teeth – prevention is better than correction. This mainly means oral hygiene and this goes beyond brushing your teeth regularly. So if the Hygienist cleans and polishes your teeth and insists on creating good hygiene habits, keep him/her. It is less painful and certainly cheaper than correction.

11. You have not needed a filling in years. I remember my shock about twenty five years ago when my dentist at the time told me that there is no reason for humans to lose their teeth – it is a matter of good dental care. It is true though and if your dentist is ‘for keeps’ you are likely to need a filling very, very occasionally (I haven’t had one for about five years now).

12. Your dentist works with the same nurse for years. Apart from the comfort of knowing the whole team, this also tells you about the kind of person your dentist is. After all, happy and respected employees don’t leave their jobs.

13. Your dentist saves you the pain and discomfort they could do. I left this one for last but it is not trivial – dental work can be painful in very acute ways. At the same time anaesthetic doesn’t always help. If your dentist saves you the pain when this is possible, keep him/her.

Finally…

Looking after your teeth is important. What I’ve noticed is that every financial and economic crisis I’ve lived through (and I’ve lived through at least three of those) shows very quickly as deteriorating dental health. And I’m not talking about ‘movie star smile’ here, or diamond encrusted teeth. I am talking about people in pain who lose their teeth un-necessary.

Don’t be like that and find a dentist you can love visiting and can afford. Oh, and make sure that this is high on your spending priorities.

With many thanks to Maria Nevada of the website The Money Principle  http://www.themoneyprinciple.co.uk

Another Great Six Month Smile case at Absolute Dental - and in just 4 months!

This lovely young lady, who is a patient of Rhods' wanted to have the Six Month Smile treatment as she was unhappy with the appearance of her overlapped upper front teeth.

She was perfect for the treatment and in just 4 months the appearance of these upper front teeth changed dramatically:

If you would like a straighter, brighter smile, call in for more details of the Six Month Smile treatment or book a complimentary initial consultation with one of the team today 01548 852165

Oral Health Month at Absolute Dental

May is Oral Health Month and I always think that every month should be Oral Health Month! So what can it mean?

  

O   Oral cavity! covers everything from apices of teeth to zygomatic arch.

R    Research - the team are always reviewing the latest news about oral health, new techniques, procedures and materials so you may find some new ideas about how you look after your mouth when you come to see us.

A    Ask about your general health. This is something we do each time we see you as we know there are many links between your general and dental health.

L    Lesions - If you have any sore areas or something doesn't feel or look right in your mouth and lasts for more than three weeks, please come in and allow us to check it for you.

  

H    Hygienists! responsible for helping you to get the most out of your dental health, supporting you and your dentist!

E     Every surface of every tooth every day - this is where you need to remove plaque from.

A    Alternatives - There are many alternatives to treatments e.g. Implants to replace or help retain dentures, or even replace bridges.  Ask at Absolute for Alternatives.

L    Leave 40 minutes after eating before you brush. This allows the tooth to repair from acids or sugars in your diet.

T   Twelve checks at your Dental Health Assessment including health of existing fillings and crowns and an oral cancer check.

H   Hold on to your toothpaste- spit it out after brushing instead of rinsing it out. Hang on to the good stuff!

  

M   Mouthwash particularly helpful after mealtimes as this increases the uptake of fluoride and the minerals in your saliva back into the tooth.

O    Orthodontics helps move teeth into a better position and we do this at Absolute with Six months smiles and Inman Aligners!

N    Nuts and cheese are fabulous snacks for in between meals and cheese can also help to repair the tooth surface after acids - great for the end of a meal!

T    Toothbrushes- whichever you use make sure you change the heads at least 3 monthly. Remember that if you are a Practice Plan patient you get a 10% discount on sundries!

H   Help yourself to great dental health. 

  

Easy steps to achieve this are:

• Brush twice daily for two minutes  with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Cut down on sugary snacks and drinks between meals.
• Visit your dentist as often as they recommend.

Maureen