Live, love and Laugh
I have been using this dental practice for many years and have found the dentist’s very efficient and caring towards my nervous disposition.
The dental staff are all very helpful and obliging, their friendliness puts you at ease and leaves you with a smile on your face.
Mrs H. LFE, Leicester
TMJ disorders occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are also referred to as TMJ syndrome, TMJ dysfunction or temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
What is the temporomandibular joint?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, which is immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. The joints are flexible, allowing the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side and enabling you to talk, chew and yawn. Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control the position and movement of the jaw.
What causes temporomandibular joint disorders?
The cause of TMJ disorders is not clear, but dentists believe it arises from problems with the muscles of the jaw or with the parts of the joint itself.
Injury to the jaw, temporomandibular joint or muscles of the head and neck – such as from a heavy blow or whiplash – can cause TMJ disorders. Other possible causes include:
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorders?
People with TMJ disorders can experience severe pain and discomfort that can be temporary or last for many years. More women than men experience TMJ disorders and it is seen most commonly in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Dr. Niket Patel of Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester has an interest in this area of dentistry. He has undergone advanced training on Occlusion from the world renowned DawsonAcademy. Here are some of the common symptoms of TMJ disorders:
Other common symptoms of TMJ disorders include toothaches, headaches/migraines, neckaches, dizziness,earaches, hearing problems, upper shoulder pain and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
It is best if you visit the dentist to diagnose a TMJ disorder as many other conditions can cause similar symptoms to TMJ disorders – including a toothache, sinus problems, arthritis or gum disease your dentist will conduct a careful patient history and clinical examination to determine the cause of your symptoms and discuss any necessary treatment options to alleviate any discomfort.
If you attend Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester for regular Dental Health Checks, then you may have noticed that we check the health of your TMJ before we even check your teeth! So we can diagnose any areas of concern quickly and promptly.
Tooth whitening or teeth bleaching is something that most of us think about at some point in our lives. Once upon a time pearly whites were regarded as a celebrity trait, nowadays though it seems even your nan is flashing a whiter and brighter smile.
So what are your options with tooth whitening and will it work for you?
More than a 100,000 people in Britain tried tooth whitening treatments last year and the market is chock-a-block with hundreds of different options to whiten your teeth.
Let’s start with the most affordable one and one you are most likely to try
Whitening toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes generally work by removing or lifting staining from surface (enamel) a bit like a good face scrub buffs away the dead skin this buffs away some of the staining but dentists often worry that they are eroding the tooth surface at the same time. The problem? Well unlike our skin always growing new layers our teeth don’t have the ability to repair themselves so when it’s gone it’s gone!
But don’t sweat it too much! Whitening toothpastes are safer than they used and whilst still abrasive they will move some surface staining so if staining is your problem then this might well do the trick in-between dental appointments
Over the counter whitening kits
Let us just say we have never ever, ever, ever, ever (get the picture) seen this work. Perhaps it has worked for someone, somewhere?
Over the internet bleaching kits
Heard the saying ‘ooh someone just walked over my grave’? Well over the internet teeth bleaching kits sends shudders like a harlem shake down most dentists spine!
These kits can have devastating consequences for people, but don’t take our word for it have a read of this news story in the mail: http://dailym.ai/1IHRcCP
There really are lots of options to whitening your teeth too many to go over in one session so keep posted for part two of ‘Be the know-it-all about tooth whitening…’
Can’t wait until then? Read about our professional, safe and guaranteed teeth whitening.
2014 was dubbed the year of the selfie and whilst you might expect hundreds of selfies from the likes of celebs in the pic, what about us mere mortals?
Selfies are a fun way of documenting a moment in time and nowadays with social media it’s great to share your everyday experiences and adventures with friends and family. A picture says a thousand words and all that…
If you’re new to taking selfies you might have realised it’s not as easy it looks, well actually we mean yeah it’s easy but it’s not so easy to do it and look good!
Even selfie goddesses like Kim Kardashian can reportedly take up to 300 selfies to find the perfect one, so have a read of our 5 do and don’t tips below to snap your perfect picture and avoid selfie disaster!
Do get the lighting right:
Lighting can be one of the best way to make your selfie look wow. Try and take your photo an hour either side of sunrise or sunset, these are called the magic hours and will help to show you in the right light.
Dont hold the camera too low:
Get yourself positioned and hold your camera up just above your head, it generally looks better if you are looking up at the camera. Holding it to low so the camera is looking up is rarely flattering and you can see right up your nose!
Do move about:
Looking dead on into the camera probably isn’t the most flattering shot for most of us. Hold the camera slightly to the side and move your arm or head around until your picture perfect!
Don’t take yourself too seriously:
The best selfies are always fun and lighthearted so pull a funny face or a big smile. Everyone loves to fool around, if a picture says a 1000 words then make sure those words are fun and loveable.
Do set the scene:
Remember to make sure your background is suitable for what you’re trying to portray or better still make it interesting, say hmmmm, like at a dental practice… #dentistselfie
After a little practice with the above dos and don’ts you’ll soon be happy snapping in no time.
I have been using this dental practice for many years and have found the dentist very effective and caring towards my nerves. The staff are all very helpful, and like a best friend this really helps to put you at ease and leaves you with a smile on your face
Mrs M.H, Leicester
Have a look over the details and see how you can easily afford the best care for your health: click here
Changing smiles can mean changing lives. At Smile Essential Dental Practice we probably have one of the best jobs in the world- creating smiles and changing lives!
If you hide your smile in photos or worse avoid photos because you’re not confident in your smile, then this could be affecting you everyday of your life!
We would love to help give you a solution so you can smile confidently and ultimately change your life.
Take the first step today by giving our friendly team a call and start your journey to a happy, smiley future- 0116 2891317 or drop us a message
It may surprise you to know that heart disease and the health of your mouth are possibly linked? It’s estimated that heart disease will claim a staggering 600,000 lives this year, making it a number one killer.
There are two different connections between heart disease and the health of your mouth:
1. Studies have shown that people with moderate or advanced gum (periodontal) disease are more likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums.
2. The health of your mouth can provide warning signs for other diseases or conditions, including heart disease.
Because the mouth is a pathway to the body, people who have chronic gum disease are at a higher risk of suffering from a heart attack. Gum disease affects around 80 percent adults so it’s important you keep a look out for these warning signs:
•Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
•Gums that seem to be pulling away from your teeth
•Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
•Teeth that are loose or are separating from each other
Although gum disease seems to be associated with heart disease, more studies are needed before we can say with certainty what the relationship is.
Regular dental health checks are important because during this you will receive a ‘Ten Point Healthy Mouth Check’, a mouth cancer check and the removal of harmful bacteria and plaque which cause gum disease.
To keep your mouth healthy:
•Brush for two to three minutes, twice a day, with fluoridated toothpaste. Be sure to brush along the gum line.
•Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. Use a mouthwash to reduce plaque by up to 20 percent.
•Eat a healthy diet to provide essential nutrients (vitamins A and C, in particular).
•Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
For a healthy mouth, make sure a trip to the dentist is your number 1 priority can play a major role in preventing gum disease.
Speak to our friendly team on 0116 2891317 to schedule yourself a dental health check
Dental phobia if you suffer from it can be terrifying, most of the time this has been caused by a real life experience most notably the visit to school dentist or perhaps a bad injection had you running away as fast as could from the ‘butcher’.
The experience we suffer stays with us and it different for all of us for some it could be the sound of the drill or the ching of the metal mouth mirror that sends terrified waves through our bodies.
There are lots of different fears that surround a trip to the dentist:
Fear of anaesthesia
Fear of choking
Fear of diagnosis
Fear of the drill
Fear of embarrassment
Fear of future dental work
Fear of needles
Fear of pain
Fear of feeling powerless
Fear of visiting the dentist
Dentistry like everything else in life is moving forward and we’re proud to be part of that change at Smile Essential. We are now a Dental Phobia certified dental practice and offer innovations in technology like ‘The Wand’ which makes dental injections practically pain free in fact it’s so easy most of our team members have tried it themselves during a team training event. They all found it to be completely painless!
At Smile Essential we treat you as an individual, we sit down with you and get to know your likes and dislikes, that way we can tailor everything around your specific needs. Sometimes being able to discuss why you’re so terrified with the dentist is the first building block in restoring your faith in dentistry.
I am writing this letter purely to thank you and your staff for the excellent treatment I received, also for the way you managed to make me relax and lose my fear of dentists. I think that happened because of my trust in your abilities. Once again many thanks and I look forward to seeing you all at my next appointment in 6 months time.
Yours Sincerely
JB
Wigston Magna
Leicester
Don’t delay joining the dentist for another day speak to a member of our friendly team on 0116 2891317.
