At Progressive Dentistry, we believe that Dental Implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Much like natural teeth, if you care for them well, they will last a lifetime. Keeping your implants clean is crucial for long term success. It is recommended that your hygienist performs a professional, thorough clean at least twice a year, using specific implant friendly instruments and non abrasive polish. Home care is also very important, so here are some tips for day to day cleaning: 

- Use a rechargeable electric toothbrush and concentrate on brushing the gum line thoroughly 

- An alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash will help to keep your mouth fresh and the gums in good condition

- Ask your Hygienist to show you how to clean in between the spaces around the implant, using interdental brushes and/or floss. Make sure the interdental brush fits snugly into the space, so the sides are kept plaque free.

- A water pick is a great investment to help you remove trapped debris around the implants. Ask one of our team to help you pick the model best suited to you.

Article written by Jenny Wiggins, Hygienist and Therapist at Progressive Dentistry

Our case of the month for September is a classic cosmetic bonding case. For those of you that do not know about cosmetic bonding, it is a great technique to enhance a tooth with a completely NON-INVASIVE approach. Teeth can be lengthened, widened, repaired, made symmetrical and gaps closed with this wonderful technique. In virtually all cases, there is NO need for any drilling, any anaesthetic (no needles!) and no unnecessary removal of healthy tooth enamel. Our case shows a typical scenario where a tooth is worn and chipped. The procedure took just 45 minutes and just look at the difference.
 

Our dental tip of the week is related to tooth sensitivity. If you suffer from sensitive teeth due to gum recession, then place a pea sized amount of sensitive toothpaste such as Colgate Pro Relief or Sensodyne on to your finger tip and rub this into the sensitive areas. It is important not to wash or brush away the paste so ensure that this is the last thing you do at night after your usual oral health care regime. If the sensitivity does not ease after a few days, please visit your dentist as soon as possible.

If you live or work in Fulham, you may wonder how do you choose a dentist. Well, we believe that there are 5 key points why Progressive Dentistry is the premier dental practice in Fulham, SW6:

1. We are a truly progressive dental clinic with an emphasis on minimal intervention to produce stunning results. Our methods are unique and all of our treatments are kind to teeth and gums and biologically sound.

2. We have a team of experts led by renowned dentist Dr Nissit Patel, who is a clinical teacher at Guys Hospital London and has achieved the prestigious title of Master Of Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics by Kings College London.

3. We use state of the art technology including laser cavity detection, digital x rays, intra oral cameras and magnification.

4. We only use the finest dental materials and techniques available which are evidence based and proven effective.

5. We are the only practice in Fulham which provides regular case studies and case of the month series which highlight the pride we take in our work and the excellent results that have been achieved.

So if you are looking for a Fulham dentist, look no further. Our sole aim is to provide personal dentistry that is tailored to your needs. Please contact us to see how Progressive Dentistry can help.

As of this month, we are starting a series of dental tips which will provide simple information on how to look after your teeth and gums. This week, we go back to basics and emphasise what we should all be doing on a regular basis:

1. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. We generally advise using a good rechargeable toothbrush which has a two minute indicator. Studies have shown that our perception of two minutes is usually way off, with the average time of brushing of only 27 seconds! 

2. Floss or use another interdental aid once a day. Our recommended interdental aids are te pe brushes, wisdom sticks, piksters and Corsodyl brushes. Brushing alone with not remove all the plaque that builds up in between the teeth which is the main cause of gum inflammation and tooth decay. This is especially so when there are large fillings, crowns or other restorations such as dental implants. 

By following these tips, your oral health will improve dramatically.

In general, we adopt a metal free policy wherever possible. This is especially the case at the front of the mouth where aesthetics are highly important. We now routinely use all ceramic crowns for front teeth. The great advantage of these crowns is that with no metal, the aesthetics are excellent and there is no issue with the dreaded 'black' line visible at the gum level. The photograph below shows a super close up view of some front teeth. One of them has an all ceramic crown. Can you tell which one?
 

Our case study is one involving cosmetic bonding of the front teeth. Cosmetic bonding is the NON INVASIVE answer to repair worn, fractured or spaced teeth. The technique requires no drilling, no needles and no pain! Our patient was unhappy about her front teeth due to the severe wear present at the edges. This was due to night time grinding, which is a very common problem. Dr Nissit Patel strongly believes in minimally invasive dentistry and therefore ruled out porcelain veneers or similar techniques which remove healthy tooth enamel. Cosmetic bonding was prescribed and the results can be seen below: