Author: Jemma Robertson

Porcelain Veneers at Avondale Dental Practice

Porcelain Veneers are a great option for people who are self-conscious or unhappy about the shape, colour and appearance of their teeth.

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are placed on top of your natural teeth to enhance the appearance of your smile.

The key difference between porcelain veneers and composite veneers is that porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years before needing to be changed, whereas composite veneers may only last up to 7 or 8 years.

Porcelain veneers may not be suitable for everyone, and in some cases, a variety of treatments may be needed to achieve your desired results, but there are a lot of advantages:

A natural looking smile
Long lasting results (up to 15 years)
They are more resistant to stains than natural teeth
Give crooked teeth the illusion of being straight

Something to consider however when getting porcelain veneers is that prior to the treatment, a thin layer of enamel must be shaved off your teeth so that the veneer can be attached to your tooth seamlessly. This shouldn’t cause you any pain however a local anesthetic may be given as a precaution.

Another aspect to consider is if a porcelain veneer is chipped, the whole veneer will probably need to be replaced whereas if a composite veneer is chipped, it can be ‘filled in’ and further sculpted by your dentist.

If you are considering porcelain veneers at Avondale Dental Practice then please get in touch to book a no-obligation consultations with one of our expert dentists who can talking you through the process and answer any other questions that you may have about potential treatments.

Teeth Whitening in East Kilbride- FAQ’s

Teeth Whitening is a common treatment at Avondale Dental Practice to remove staining and yellowing on your teeth and leave them looking whiter and brighter.

We understand that you may have a couple of questions if you are considering undergoing teeth whitening treatment, so we have written these below to help you make up your mind.

Q: Why have my teeth become stained in the first place?

A: Over time, drinks such as red wine, tea and coffee can stain your teeth and leave them looking dull and yellow. Lifestyle choices, such as smoking can also cause this.

Q: Do I whiten my teeth myself at home or is it done in the practice?

A: At Avondale Dental Practice, we offer an at home teeth whitening treatment, so you do this yourself.

Q: How long does the treatment take?

A: The length of treatment is dependent on how stained your teeth area. On average, its between 2 and 6 weeks.

Q: How does it work?

A: Our professional teeth whitening treatment uses a bleaching process to safely remove the stains that have built up over time. The bleaching treatment is then transferred into trays (fitted to your mouth) that you wear for a set number of hours a day (or at night).

Q: How long will the results last for?

A: On average, the results can last up to a year, however this is dependent on your lifestyle. Teeth whitening can be maintained by regular top up applications.

If you still have any questions about teeth whitening treatments at Avondale Dental Practice, then please get in touch with us on 01355 234 919 or via our website. We would be delighted to chat with you further.

Electric Toothbrushes Vs Manual Toothbrushes

We know that this has been a disputed question for years now…what’s better, a manual toothbrush or an electric? So, we’ve put together a few pros and cons of each, to help reach a verdict!

Electric Toothbrush Pros

They have a built in timer
- To help you know exactly how long to use it for.
More effective at removing plaque
- An electric toothbrush can rotate over 3,000 times per minute so you can cover a lot of surface area in 2 minutes.
More fun for kids
- Most kids aren’t interested in brushing their teeth so an electric toothbrush can make it a bit more fun.

Electric Toothbrush Cons

They’re expensive
- Most electric toothbrushes can range from £60- £250 whereas a manual one can be purchased for just £2.
They need to be charged
- You need to remember to put your toothbrush on charge or else it won’t be anymore beneficial than a manual.

Manual Toothbrush Pros

Accessible
- You can pick up a manual toothbrush almost anywhere so you will never be without one.

Manual Toothbrush Cons

You can damage your gums
- If you brush your teeth quite hard, you can be at risk of damaging your gums.

If this has resonated with you and you would like to seek advice from a professional dentist in East Kilbride, then contact Avondale Dental Practice via our website.

5 reasons to see a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are specially trained to work as part of the dental team and play an important role in preventing gum disease and therefore tooth loss. So we’ve given you 5 reasons that you should visit your dental hygienist regularly:

Preventative reasons

Our philosophy at Avondale Dental Practice is to use preventative measures whenever we can to avoid unnecessary drilling and uncomfortable procedures for our patients.

2. To keep your teeth looking white

Overtime, tobacco, red wine and other food and drink can stain your teeth and leave them looking yellow. Your hygienist will be able to remove these stains properly which can make your teeth appear even whiter than they were before.

3. For a deep clean

Even if you have excellent oral hygiene, food particles can get stuck in hard-to-reach areas, like under your gunline. A specially trained hygienist will remove these particles along with any build-up of tartar and plaque on the tooth surface.

4. To check on overall health

Apart from cleaning your teeth and gums, your hygienist also checks for early decay, faulty fillings, infections and any signs of oral cancer. If something more serious is spotted early, then it can be dealt with and hopefully cured.

5. Advice on maintaining your dental hygiene

A dental hygienist can provide advice on flossing and maintaining good oral hygiene. They may also advise you to use small, interdental brushes to clean those hard-to-reach areas in your mouth and show you how to use these properly without causing any damage to your mouth or gums.

We recommend that you should see a dental hygienist at least twice a year, so if you’d like to book an appointment, then please give us a call on 01355 234 919 or contact us via our website- we’d love to hear from you.

Dermal Fillers in East Kilbride

Dermal fillers are a great way to replum skin and lips by smoothing out lines and deep wrinkles caused by aging. The two most common substances used by dentists and cosmetic professionals are Restylane and Juverderm- these both contain hyaluronic acid which is used to plump up the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Although both substances are similar, there are few differences between them. For example, the results from Restylane tend to show up after a few days whereas Juverderm will be instant. Another difference is that Restylane tends to only last for 10 months whereas Juverderm will last longer- possibly up to 12 months.

At Avondale Dental Practice, we are able to administer ‘Heart Lips’ which is a specific technique used for the creation of heart-shaped lips. By using precision placed fillers, the lips are naturally shaped, beautifully balanced and proportioned with your face. This particular technique can only be carried out by a medical professional that has been specifically trained by Dr Bob Khanna, and hold a valid licence.

We are pleased to announce that Avondale have been verified and hold this licence. If you’re considering having dermal fillers, it’s important to be aware of the risks and the possible side effects. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Redness, swelling or bruising

• Bleeding from the site of the injection

• Tenderness

More serious side effects are rare, however if you experience anything that indicates you may have an infection then it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you want to hear more about dermal fillers or botox at Avondale Dental Practice, then please book in for a no-obligation consultation where one of our qualified dentists will discuss the range of options available costs associated with the treatment.

Implant Secured Dentures

If you are missing more than one tooth- possibly several teeth in a row, then you may be aware of, or wear dentures. These are removeable false teeth that are normally made of plastic, nylon or metal and can often be uncomfortable and irritating.

With advances in implant dentistry, we now have many innovative techniques for denture stabilisation such as securing them with an implant.

The implants are titanium screws placed into the jaw, to replace original roots. Depending on the treatment, you may need between 4 and 8 implants to secure each denture in place. It’s a straightforward process which can be completed under local anaesthetic. The implants will need three to six months to heal and bond with your jawbone to provide a solid support for your replacement teeth.

There are many advantages to this sort of procedure, these include:

• Stability As the implants are secured into the jaw, you don’t run the risk of them feeling shaky or unstable- like you may have felt with dental adhesive.

• Functionality Once the implant secured dentures are in place, you will be able to speak, chew and bite much more easily than previously.

• Looking completely natural As the implant secured dentures are secured into the gum, they look far more natural than traditional dentures would and can’t be distinguished from any remaining teeth.

If you think you could benefit from implant secured dentures and want to discuss this more with a professional dentist then please give Avondale Dental Practice a call on 01355 234919 or contact us via our website.

Are you looking for Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

Overtime lines may develop on your face because of many factors, such as ageing, sun exposure, dehydration, smoking, gravity and poor nutrition. They are even created by your own facial expressions due to laughing and smiling. The purpose of anti-wrinkle injections or ‘Botox’ is to offer you non-surgical and minimally invasive solutions to help you improve and maintain the appearance of your skin.

At Avondale Dental Practice, we use Botulinum Toxin (Botox) which is injected into the skin to relax the muscles in your face and to smooth out lines and wrinkles. These are most common around the eyes (crow’s feet) and on the forehead where you frown. It’s important to bear in mind that the results are not permanent and will probably last 3-4 months.

If you have decided that Botox is a procedure that you would like to go ahead with, then you will be asked to come to the surgery and your face will be cleaned. The Botulinum Toxin will then be injected into the muscles in your face using a very fine needle. You may need injections in different places, depending on the area being treated and how large it is. This procedure only takes about 10 minutes and shouldn’t be too uncomfortable. You won’t see a change straight away and it may take 2-3 weeks to see the full effect. One of our Dentists will advise you not to rub your face for 3 days and to avoid vigorous exercise, sunbathing and the sauna for 2 days after the procedure.

If you are interested in finding out more about Anti-Wrinkle Injections or Fillers, then please get in touch with one of our experienced Dentists at Avondale Dental Practice who can talk you through the procedure.

Implants in East Kilbride

Dental implants are metal cylinders made of titanium and are surgically placed in the jawbone where teeth are missing. Implants replace the roots of missing teeth and support single crowns, large bridges, and dentures.

You might need a dental implant if you suffer with:

• a missing tooth

• a loose tooth

• a decayed tooth

• a broken tooth

• a cracked tooth

• a tooth with a failed root canal

• a tooth damaged as a result of an injury – contact sports, rugby and hockey are common.

Although the idea of getting a dental implant might be scary, there is nothing to worry about. We usually require you to come in for two separate procedures, but sometimes this only requires one. The first appointment is to fit the implant itself into your jawbone- at that point, depending on the condition of your mouth, we may fit the crown or bridge then. If not, we would require you to come back. Either way, there will be some healing time to allow the screw to mesh with the bone. Once the implant has fully healed, it will look and feel like a normal tooth so no one should ever be able to tell the difference.

If you are feeling particularly anxious about the procedure, then please make one of our dentists at Avondale aware of this and we will do our very best to reassure you and make you feel as comfortable as possible. All our dentists are passionate about preventative dentistry and will do their upmost to limit any invasive procedures if possible.

If you think you are in need of a single dental implant then please get in touch via our website or over the phone to discuss this more. We would love to hear from you!

Avondale’s Orthodontic Treatments

If you have squint or crooked teeth, then you may be interested in hearing more about Avondale’s range of orthodontic treatment.

We offer our patients Invisalign, 6 Months Smiles and Quick Straight Teeth at our practice and have summarised each of the treatments below to help you choose the right option for you.

Invisalign

Invisalign aligners move the teeth slowly, using custom-made plastic trays. Every two weeks the trays are changed to a different size, and over time the teeth eventually straighten.

Aligners must always be worn and should only be removed when you eat or brush your teeth. These aligners are manufactured with a transparent plastic material tailored to you, so they fit perfectly to your teeth. Hence, when you choose to have Invisalign, complex 3D images of your teeth will be taken which are used to create your trays for the duration of the treatment.

You should expect to have a check-up every two to four weeks to make sure the treatment is progressing properly and to change the aligners.

6 Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles is a clear brace that’s designed to straighten your front teeth in around six months. It achieves speedy results because it’s focused on tackling cosmetic problems and straightening the front teeth.

This is a different sort of treatment from Invisalign as it uses clear braces rather than invisible aligners so may not be suitable for those individuals who are self-conscious about wearing brackets and wires.

Quick Straight Teeth (QST)

Quick Straight Teeth make clear braces and aligners that are designed to straighten your teeth in around six months or less. If you’re looking for an affordable way to straighten your teeth, and you don’t need significant adjustments, this could be the solution.

The company offers two types of teeth straightening. One system uses clear ceramic braces- like 6 Month Smiles and the other uses invisible aligners- like Invisalign.

If you are interested in hearing more about Avondale’s range of orthodontic treatments, then give us a call on 01355 234 919 or contact us via our website to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced dentists.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Do you have chipped, missing or stained teeth? If the answer is yes, then you could benefit from speaking to one of our experienced, trustworthy dentists at Avondale Dental Practice in East Kilbride.

You will most likely be offered Porcelain Veneers– these are very thin tooth-shaped pieces of porcelain, which are placed over the top of the natural teeth, enhancing them to create a more natural looking smile. Some benefits of these are:

They create a very natural looking smile by colour matching the veneers to your natural teeth
A long lasting, durable alternative compared to composite bonding
Very little alteration needed to the tooth’s shape to fit the veneer e.g., limited drilling
Stain resistant so you do not need to worry about the effects of coffee or red wine

The treatment for Porcelain Veneers is a simple and straight forward and usually includes just 5 short appointments from start to finish- these are broken down as follows:

Appointment 1: An initial consultation where the dentist will take impressions of your mouth and discuss with you how the veneers will fix to your teeth.

Appointment 2: This will be a chance for your dentist to explain to you what will be involved in the treatment and to ensure you are happy to go ahead.

Appointment 3: This is a 90-minute appointment which will involve removing a small piece of enamel from your original teeth to make room for the Porcelain Veneer. At this point, your impressions will be sent off to our lab and your veneers will be custom made for you.

Appointment 4: After 5-7 days, your veneers should be back from our lab and ready to fix to your teeth. The veneers are cemented in position with light-sensitive resin between your original tooth and the porcelain veneer using a special curing light.

Appointment 5: After the veneers have been fitted to your teeth, you’ll be asked to come into the practice for a follow up treatment to make sure that everything is as it should be. Although unlikely,

if you’re having any issues with your new veneers, we will make sure to do what we can to make them as comfortable as possible for you.

If Porcelain Veneers sound like something you’re interesting in, then please contact one of our dentists at Avondale Dental Practice in East Kilbride to book an appointment for your initial consultation.