Free Consultation 0151 236 8280
Free consultation Contact Us

Posts Tagged ‘dentist’

Did you Know Dentists Can Help With Headaches?

Wednesday, February 1st, 2017

If you suffer from headaches, you’ve probably tried taking painkillers, and you may have been to see your doctor, but did you know that dentists can also help with headaches? If you have headaches on a regular basis, they can make your life a misery. We may have the solution you’ve been looking for, and hopefully, we can make your pain a thing of the past.

How can a dentist help with headaches?

There are lots of different causes of headaches. In many cases, headaches are linked to dehydration, and they can also occur after an injury or accident. It is also possible for headaches and migraines to be associated with TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder is a group of symptoms that affects the TMJ or the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that joins your skull to your lower jaw. When you open and close your mouth or move your jaw from side to side, you can feel the joint moving. Symptoms of TMJ disorder include clicking and popping noises in the jaw, head, shoulder and neck pain, stiffness in the jaw and a limited range of movement in the joint.

If you have signs of TMJ disorder, we may be able to help. One of the most common causes of TMJ disorder is bruxism, or grinding the teeth. Bruxism can damage the teeth, but it can also increase tension in the muscles surrounding the jaw.

Treating bruxism

Bruxism can be difficult to diagnose because most people grind their teeth subconsciously during the night. When you’re asleep, you’re not aware of what’s happening, and you don’t know that your clenching your teeth. When you see your dentist with symptoms related to TMJ disorder, they may be able to spot the sighs of bruxism; if you share your room with a partner, they may also tell you that you’ve been grinding your teeth in your sleep.

Bruxism can be linked to dental issues like broken crowns, but it’s often caused by anxiety or stress. If you have signs of TMJ disorder linked to bruxism, we can help by providing you with a custom-designed bite guard. This is a device, which you wear while you sleep. It helps to prevent the top and bottom arches of teeth coming into contact when you sleep.

If you’re sick of headaches, give us a call today. Hopefully, we’ll have you fighting fit in no time.

Look at them move! An update about my ‘Invisaligned’ teeth

Monday, November 26th, 2012

 

I sometimes find it hard to believe that I started Invisalign treatment nearly a month ago! The aligners have been really comfortable to wear and I must admit, some days I even forget that I’m wearing them. I really can’t thank my dentist enough for all of his help and advice about this treatment.

There have been occasions when I’ve had to stop myself from sipping on a really hot drink as I’ve had to remind myself that my Invisalign aligners are in. It’s so easily done! I’ve been wearing this second set for roughly 11 days now and whilst I haven’t noticed any changes from last week, I have noticed that the overall alignment of my teeth is looking a little straighter. When I go to close my mouth for example, my top teeth seem to be more in line with the bottom set.

Let’s compare from before I started: It’s probably quite difficult to tell any changes from the two pictures, but that is the kind of progress I am seeing so far.

Another thing I have noticed is that when I took them off at lunch one day this week, my jaw felt rather odd. I’ve had problems in the past with a clicking jaw, but this time it felt like my jaw was slightly at an angle and I wondered if the Invisalign had caused this or was repositioning the jaw in some way.

I have heard stories of Invisalign repositioning people’s jaw and that this can happen due to the aligners not allowing teeth to touch, as teeth naturally guide the jaw into position. So perhaps this is what I was experiencing. If I notice any further signs of this, I will be sure to inform my dentist.

I’ve had no problems with asking for any dental advice. I go to the Liverpool Dental Spa for my Invisalign treatment and their expertise truly marks them out as forerunners in the field of cosmetic dentistry. If I have any questions or problems Marius and the rest of the LDS team are always there to provide thorough answers and talk me through a number of possible solutions.

I’m so excited, soon I start on my third set of trays, so I’ll be sure to keep you posted!

~Anna

I can’t even feel them!

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

Hi everyone, it’s Anna and I wanted to share with you how I’m doing on my third week of treatment. Some days I even forget they’re in there as they’re feeling really comfortable now. If you look at my picture you can ‘see’ just how invisible my aligners are! I love them!

I started on my second set of Invisalign trays on Tuesday, making sure to put them on the night before and take two paracetamol before I went to bed. This is a technique which the dental nurse at the Liverpool Dental Spa advised me to do as she herself has been through Invisalign treatment and told me that the initial first couple of days are the worst when it comes to putting on a new tray as they feel very tight.

All of the dental team have been very helpful and as some of them have undergone the same treatments which they offer to patients, it means they can provide recommendations based on personal experience.

Progress with the second set of trays

I’ve now had the second set of Invisalign trays on for around 3 days and I can say they are no longer feeling so tight, which again, can only be a good sign. The good news is that the second set – even in the initial first few days, were nowhere near as tight as the first set. They are easy to take on and off and wearing them for 22 hours a day no longer feels so daunting.

Admittedly, it can be hard to make sure to put it back on straight away after eating and I’m finding that I’m eating and drinking everything I want during this time, so I can avoid having to remove the aligners later on, only to have to brush my teeth.

This has meant that my snacking time has been greatly reduced, though I will admit on Valentine’s Day I did take them off for a bit longer than I was supposed to – (the chocolates were just too tempting!)

Drinking with aligners on

I also learnt last weekend not to drink anything but water with the aligners on. I went to the pub on Friday night and drank lemonade through a straw with my aligners in, which I thought would be ok, as I was reluctant to drink alcohol, in case of staining.

However after a few minutes I could feel the sugar from the lemonade under my aligners and my teeth just didn’t feel all that clean after that! I therefore think it might be safer to take them out if you’re planning on drinking on a night out. I know this can seem like a lot of wasted treatment time, but I think so long as you brush your teeth and put them back on before bed, you should be ok. However this might mean extending your treatment time of each tray by a day or two.

Overall, I’d say my progress has been good although it’s hard to tell if there’s been that much of a difference at this early stage. I will keep you posted by getting some pictures taken which can demonstrate the differences in my teeth (no matter how small).

My Invisalign Journey – Week 2

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Hi everyone, I’ve noticed quite a few changes with my teeth over this past week since wearing the Invisalign aligners and the good news is they no longer feel as tight. In fact the top set are feeling fairly loose now, which is a good sign and means my teeth have moved. It’s only a few days now until I move on to tray two which is pretty exciting!

Yesterday, I went back into the Liverpool Dental Spa practice for a check-up and to get my next few trays. I have four sets now and the idea is you are given a few so you don’t have to keep coming into the practice all the time.

I can’t rave enough about how fantastic their dental practice looks. The stylish décor definitely makes you think you’re at a spa or a beauty parlour rather than at a dentist. The tropical fish tank and clean open space of the waiting area make it look really peaceful and put your mind at rest.

Take a look for yourself: http://pinterest.com/liverpooldental/welcome-to-our-practice/

Invisalign check-up

I was given a thorough check up by Marius who noticed that I have some swelling around the bottom set and he asked me if I had any experience of bleeding gums. I mentioned that I had noticed some bleeding when I had brushed my teeth, but it didn’t seem like anything major. I was given some special toothpaste, mouthwash and gel to help treat the areas, which hopefully will help.

Personal cleaning

You have to be quite careful when cleaning with braces and Invisalign is no different in this respect. Plaque can build up on the gum line if you’re not careful to brush or floss properly – especially after eating. Which is why you’re encouraged to clean your teeth before putting the Invisalign aligners back onto your teeth.

Progress

Which reminds me, I can now floss inbetween my teeth properly! This might not sound like much but just last week my teeth were crowded and I couldn’t get the floss to reach properly to clean the areas. To my mind, just to be able to reach around the back of some of the teeth shows there has been a vast improvement already.

That’s it for now. For my next appointment I will hopefully get a look on the software as to what my teeth should look like after I’ve completed the treatment, which I will keep you all informed about.

In the next update I’ll talk about the second trays and any progress I’m having.

 

Keeping my teeth in place after treatment

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Hi everyone, it’s Anna here with another update about my progress with Invisalign.

This week I started on aligner number four. It’s been pinching a little, especially on the lower set where most of the pain is when I take off the aligners.  But overall it’s been an easy transition. After last week’s visit to the dentist to check on my teeth, I’ve just been settling myself into the routine of replacing my trays every other week or so. I’ve been finding it really easy to take them in and out to eat, brush my teeth and then clean the aligners before putting them back on. It really is just second nature to me now!

I can’t help but think about how great my teeth will look at the end of treatment and I’ve been doing some research about ways to retain my teeth in order to keep their final position.

One way this can be done is to have a metal wire discreetly bonded onto the back of my teeth.  This is a more permanent solution and is ideal for those who don’t want the inconvenience of forgetting their clear retainer. Some of these wires are specially shaped to make flossing easier, which is another benefit.

Here is what the metal wire looks like:

The other option is a plastic retainer similar to that worn during treatment. However, instead of trying to move the teeth, this final clear retainer is designed to keep the teeth in the final position. This has to be worn daily for a year or two, eventually reducing to one or two days a week – some people even choose just to wear it at night over one or two days a week eventually.

Here is what the clear Invisalign retainer looks like:

It could be more a more convenient option to have the metal wire bonded onto the back of the teeth, so you can’t forgot to wear the retainer or have to replace it if lost.

It’s completely up to the individual which they choose. I know before I started I was adamant that I wouldn’t be able to carry an aligner around, in case I lost them, but I’ve learnt since starting this whole experience that  wearing and carrying your Invisalign aligners around is pretty easy. I think wearing the retainers is a small inconvenience to bear for having a dazzling smile!

What option would you go for?

Until next time,

~ Anna

Smiling after seeing my future teeth!

Friday, March 9th, 2012

 

Hi everyone, its Anna here and I’m about to start with week 4 of my Invisalign treatment – time is flying! This week I popped into the Liverpool Dental Spa for a check-up and to get sets 5-8 of my aligners. My dentist showed me a CT scan (a digital x-ray) of how my teeth will look after treatment – to see everything laid out clearly on a computer screen was fantastic.

The scan allowed me to see how my teeth will look at every stage of the treatment.  It was quite surprising to see how different my teeth will look once this treatment is over!

The main difference I’ve been told will be with my top teeth. One of my front teeth is at an angle and once I’m done, this will come down and be in a straight position like my other teeth.  However the scan shows no significant progress will be made here until around tray 15.  This is because the space has to be created first for the tooth to move into.

Here is a front and side view of what my teeth looked like to begin with:

As you can see the side teeth are the problem here as one tooth is sticking out and the others are angled. My two front teeth are fine, but I had more of an overbite when I smiled.  The red marks on the teeth are my attachments or ‘buttons’ which will help to rotate the teeth into the final desired position.

…and here is how my teeth will look afterwards:

When you look closely, you can see a big difference between the two. The teeth are much straighter on this picture and more on show. When I look at the change between the before and after pictures the difference is quite astounding and a vast improvement.

My dentist also showed me where most of the changes with my teeth will happen. The CT scan below highlights in blue where most of the movements are being made:

As you can see, most of the changes are with that tooth on my upper set of teeth. It has to go through quite a lot of rotation in order to get it into the correct position. The rest of the blue is on the front half of my lower teeth. The bottom set here have to go through a lot of movement back and forth to accommodate for the side teeth which have to be brought further back into my jaw.

This picture shows in blue where most of the change is happening on my upper set of teeth.  This highlights where the pressure is happening.

Now I understand from a clinical point of view how my teeth are going to change and move. It was also reassuring to see the science behind my treatment and what to expect at each stage of the treatment.

I feel inspired now that I have seen the end goal of my treatment and I’m already looking forward to having a dazzling new smile!

Until next time,

~ Anna

Another update from Anna on her invisalign journey

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Hi everyone, it’s Anna here with another update about my progress with Invisalign.

So far I’m on tray three of Invisalign which I must admit, have been hurting a lot more than the previous two sets!

I decided to put them in on Monday evening, so they had time to settle in whilst I went to sleep and so that I wouldn’t feel any pain.  I couldn’t believe it, after brushing my teeth and getting out the new trays, I couldn’t even get them on as they were so tight! I thought I would have to go back to the dentist and tell them something was wrong, but luckily,  with a bit of persistence I managed to get them on..

I noticed a remarkable difference straight away and with these new set of aligners I could feel them fitting snugly against my teeth, in comparison to the previous set which by now had become rather slack.

Overall I’ve found that this set have been a lot more difficult to take off as well. This suggests to me that my teeth will be shifting quite a bit during this set. The good news is that they aren’t hurting as much as they did on the first day of putting them in, so they are moving!

Next week I’m going back to my dentist for another check-up appointment and to pick up my next set of aligners. I believe at some point soon I will be seeing a preview of how my teeth look I’m so excited to see my progress!

Until next time, with tender teeth

~ Anna

Anna’s Invisalign Journey Week 4

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Hi everyone, it’s Anna here with another update about my progress with Invisalign.

So far I’ve been finding tray two really comfortable and some days, I even forget that I’m wearing them. It’s hard to believe I started my Invisalign treatment nearly a month ago!

Occasionally I’ve had to stop myself when I’ve gone to make a hot drink because I’ve thought about taking a sip and then suddenly realised that my trays are in. It’s so easily done as they’re just really comfortable!

I’ve been wearing this second set for roughly 11 days now and whilst I haven’t noticed anything too different from last week, I have noticed that the overall alignment of my teeth is looking a little straighter. When I go to close my mouth for example, my top teeth seem to be more in line with the bottom set.

Let’s compare from before I started:

Before



During Tray 2

It’s probably quite difficult to tell any changes from the two pictures, but that is the kind of progress I am seeing so far.

Another thing I did notice on Wednesday this week was that when I went to take them off at lunch, that my jaw felt rather odd. I’ve had problems in the past with a clicking jaw, but this time it felt like my jaw was slightly at an angle and I wondered if the Invisalign had caused this or was repositioning the jaw in some way.

I have heard stories of Invisalign repositioning people’s jaw and this can happen due to the aligners not allowing teeth to touch, as teeth naturally guide the jaw into position. So perhaps this is what I was experiencing this week. If I notice any further signs of this, I will be sure to inform my dentist.

I’m so excited – next week I start on my third set of trays!

Until next time,

~ Anna

Anna’s Invisalign Journey Week 2

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Hi everyone,

it’s Anna from Apex Hub here with another update about my progress with Invisalign.

I’ve noticed quite a few changes with my teeth over this past week since wearing the Invisalign aligners and the good news is they no longer feel as tight. Infact the top set are feeling fairly loose now, which is a good sign and means my teeth have moved. It’s only a few days now until I move on to tray two which is pretty exciting!

Yesterday, I went back into the Liverpool Dental Spa practice for a check-up and to get my next few trays. I have four sets now and the idea is you are given a few so you don’t have to keep coming into the practice all the time.

I can’t rave enough about how fantastic their dental practice looks. When I first came in it definitely had the feel of a spa or a beauty parlour rather than what you’d traditionally associate with a dentist. The tropical fish tank and clean open space of the waiting area make it look really peaceful and really puts your mind at rest.

Invisalign check-up

I was given a thorough check up by Marius who noticed that I have some swelling around the bottom set and he asked me if I had any experience of bleeding gums. I mentioned that I had noticed some bleeding when I had brushed my teeth, but it didn’t seem like anything major. I was given some special toothpaste, mouthwash and gel to help treat the areas, which hopefully will help.

Personal cleaning

You have to be quite careful when cleaning with braces and Invisalign is no different in this respect. Plaque can build up on the gum line if you’re not careful to brush or floss properly – especially after eating. Which is why you’re encouraged to clean your teeth before putting the Invisalign aligners back onto your teeth.

Progress

Which reminds me, I can now floss inbetween my teeth properly! This might not sound like much but just last week my teeth were crowded and I couldn’t get the floss to reach properly to clean the areas. To my mind, just to be able to reach around the back of some of the teeth shows there has been a vast improvement already.

That’s it for now. For my next appointment I will hopefully get a look on the software as to what my teeth should look like after I’ve completed the treatment, which I will keep you all informed about.

In the next update I’ll talk about the second trays and my experience and progress so far with these.

Until next week.

Anna

Five ways to improve your smile: Tips from the Liverpool Dental Spa

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

1, Book regular appointments with your general dentist – you’ll be surprised how many people in Liverpool do not have regular dental checkups. In fact nearly 50% of people in Liverpool do not go to the dentist the recommended twice per year.

2, Dental Hygiene – Brushing your teeth twice a day using mouthwash and floss and booking in to see the dental hygienist will help maintain your sparkling smile.

3, Quit smoking – Asides from the health benefits and financial benefits, quitting smoking can do wonders for your smile. If you have recently quit smoking why not try are smoker make over experience!

Call now on 0151 236 8280 to find out more

4, Cosmetic Dentistry – There are many different cosmetic dental treatments on offer to increase your confidence and to correct many dental problems. For crooked teeth we offer various systems of invisible braces. For missing teeth we offer implants and bridges. For discoloured or yellow teeth we offer many whitening systems.

5, Improve your Diet – Many foods can stain and damage your teeth, such as; coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and red wine. Cutting these out of your diet isn’t necessary however curving how much of these you consume will increase your dental health and keep your smile whiter, brighter and beautiful.

If you would like any further information then please give us a call on

0151 236 8280

To see how we can help you.

...

6 Dentistry Awards!

Winners for National UK Award

  • > 2009 Best Dental Team

Winners for North West Awards

  • > 2009 Best Dental Team
  • > 2008 Best Dental Practice

Finalists for North West Awards

  • > 2009 Best Practice
  • > 2008 Best Dental Team

Finalist & Highly Commended for

  • > 2007 Best Young Dentist Dr Marius McGovern