Patient Information

What is a Dental Crown?

Porcelain crowns are a very successful option for repairing cracked, broken, decayed or heavily filled teeth. Smile Essential dentist in Leicester offer a range of crowns including metal free crowns.

A crown completely covers the damaged tooth above the gum line and so protects it. The colour is matched to that of your own teeth and, as crowns are very strong, they can look and feel exactly like natural teeth.

A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth.

Sometimes known as a ‘cap’. Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. Your dentist can best decide on whether a crown would be suitable for you.

A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for instance:

you may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
you may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it
it may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

For further help, advice or information get in touch

So the Secret’s Out…

dentists in leicester

Sugar it’s everywhere at the minute and we aren’t just talking about the sprinkle on your breakfast cereal this morning or the hidden sugar in your salad dressing for lunch; no we are talking about the newspapers, social media, concerned parents’, the health conscious and the medical profession. It’s all everyone is talking about, long gone are the days where it was just your teeth’s nemesis.

Sugar is the hot health topic of the moment, there have been various health concerns around consuming too much sugar for years. Some are obvious like tooth decay and diabetes. But what about the growing evidence that sugar is a secret contributor to-

the obesity epidemic
heart disease
fatty liver disease
bad mood swings

There is now also suspicion that it can cause cancer, can suppress the immune system for 5 hours after consuming, could cause depression and it has been linked to increased candida albican bacteria, which can cause all manner of problems.

Sugar, how much is too much?

This is difficult to say but the recommendation is that you should only account for around 10% of your daily calories towards your sugar allowance. Looking over a few different articles and medical publications show that ideally 6-12 teaspoons daily. At the moment it is reported that on average a person currently consumes 22 teaspoons daily with some reports stating the average is up to 42 teaspoons daily!

Do you consider yourself to be living a healthy lifestyle?

The danger with our modern lifestyle is that even those that consider themselves health conscious are subjected not just to hidden sugars but there has been a general increase in sugar being bred into our fruit’s. Fruit’s sugar content has risen by up to 50 per cent over the last decade. New breeds of apple arriving on the shelves of British supermarkets which have been cross-bred to give a sweeter taste, mean that an apple can now contain around 4 teaspoons of sugar.

Here’s a list we found in a recent news article on added sugar in some everyday foods-

Innocent Pure Fruit Smoothie Strawberries & Bananas (250ml): 7tsp
Sharwood’s Sweet & Sour Chicken With Rice (375g): 6tsp
Innocent Caribbean Veg Pot (380g): 6tsp
Tesco Finest Moroccan Couscous (132g): 5tsp
YeoValley Farm 0% Fat Vanilla Yoghurt (150g): 5tsp
Sainsbury’s Chicken Tikka With Rice (500g): 5tsp
Tesco Rack Of Ribs (158g): 4tsp
Ski Smooth Strawberry & Raspberry Yogurt (120g): 4tsp
Lloyd Grossman’s Tikka Masala Curry Sauce (175g): 4tsp
Asda Hunters Chicken (190g): 4tsp
Glaceau Vitamin Water, Defence (500ml): 4tsp
Heinz Classic Tomato Soup (300g): 4tsp
Blue Dragon Hoi Sin & Garlic Sauce (60g): 4tsp
Ragu Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce (200g): 3tsp
Sainsbury’s Classic Beef Stew (400g): 3tsp
Burger King Steakhouse Burger: 3tsp
Tesco Spaghetti And Meatballs (450g): 3tsp
Tesco Ken Hom’s Aromatic Duck And Pancakes (115g): 3tsp
Prince’s Pineapple Chunks (100g): 3tsp
Branston’s Baked Beans (205g): 3tsp
Kellogg’s Special K (30g): 3tsp
Burger King Whopper: 3tsp
Sainsbury’s Be Good To Yourself Spinach And Ricotta Cannelloni (400g): 3tsp
Subway Meatball Marina Sub (300g): 3tsp
Muller Vitality Multifruit Low Fat Yogurt Drink (100g): 3tsp
Weight Watchers Sausages In Gravy (400g): 3tsp
Sainsbury’s Be Good To Yourself Chilli Con Carne (400g): 2tsp
Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Crunchy Oat Granola Cinnamon Bars (40g): 2tsp
Tesco Beef Lasagne (450g): 2tsp
All Bran Breakfast Biscuits (40g): 2tsp
Pret A Manger Deluxe Sushi (232g): 2tsp
Batchelors Tomato Cup A Soup (250g): 2tsp
New Covent Garden Skinny Goan Spiced Chicken and Lentil Soup (300g): 2tsp
Pret A Manger Teriyaki Salmon Salad (238g): 2tsp
Asda Chosen by Kids Chicken & Gravy Pie (300g): 2tsp
Dolmio Extra Spicy Bolognese Sauce (125g): 2tsp
Heinz Spaghetti Hoops (200g): 2tsp
Asda Chicken And Prawn Paella (400g): 2tsp
McDonald’s Big Mac 2tsp
Pot Noodle Curry King Pot (114g): 2tsp
Shredded Wheat (45g): 1.5tsp
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish: 1.5tsp
Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Coleslaw (100g): 1.5tsp
Pret A Manger Beech Smoked BLT Sandwich (229g): 1.5tsp
Tesco Finest Macaroni Cheese (400g): 1.5tsp
McDonald’s Grilled Chicken Salad: 1.5tsp
Fray Bentos Meatballs In Tomato Sauce (190g): 1tsp
Heinz Tomato Ketchup (15ml): 1tsp
Heinz Salad Cream (15ml): 0.7tsp

See how easy it could be to go over the daily guidelines.

Why do the manufacturers add all of this sugar?

Sugar contains no nutritional value but generally people prefer a sweeter taste. So it’s thought that if the product tastes sweeter then the consumer is more likely to like and choose that particular product. There is also the school of thought that sugar is addictive especially when different forms of sugar are mixed together, but this hasn’t been proved as yet.

What now?

The simplest thing we can do to take action on reducing the amount of sugar we consume is easy- read the label. Try to avoid any items that are over 10% of your RDA. When possible look at making your meal’s from scratch i.e. making a bolognese sauce from fresh tomatoes, herbs and spices and not just buying a jar of sauce. Avoid the obvious culprits such as sugary breakfast cereals, fruit juices, chocolate, cookies and doughnuts.

Keep a look out for the various names sugar can come under and avoid them-

Brown sugar
Cane crystals
Corn sweetener
Corn syrup
Crystalline fructose
Dextrose
Fructose
Glucose
High-fructose corn syrup
Invert sugar
Lactose
Maltose
Maltodextrin
Malt syrup
Molasses
Sucrose
Sugar
Syrup

If sugar must be used then instead try and opt for a sweetner such as xylitol or stevia.

There are numerous books on cutting down/quitting sugar aswell as a nunber of resources on line including NHS change for life website-

So look at reducing the amount sugar you consume if you want to be healthier and keep a look out for future blogs as we have more articles coming up related to sugar, sugar and your health and alternative snacks to sugary ones.

We also have a popular section on pinterest for healthier recipes and alternatives

Why do Teeth Stain and How the Experts Prevent it.

There are a number of reasons that teeth stain. Foods, beverages, and medications may discolor teeth. Smoking or forgetting to brush and floss on a regular basis may also lead to staining. Stained teeth can be caused by drinking cola, coffee, and tea; consuming other stain-producing foods such as betel nuts, blueberries, or red wine; or using tobacco. These stains are called surface stains.

Expert Tips from your dentist to stop staining your teeth-

• Limit the amount of coffee and tea in your daily diet.

• Avoid smoking.

• Make regular visits to your dentist for professional cleanings.

• Brush and floss regularly and properly. Some toothpastes have compounds that can help remove minor stains for a whitening effect.

In other cases, discoloration may be the result of genetics or disease. In most cases it is gradual staining that has taken place over time and has become ingrained staining called intrinsic staining. In these cases dental tooth whitening can work exceptionally well at lifting the deeper tooth stains to brighten the colour of your teeth.

Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester Wins Prestigious Customer Service Award

PRESS RELEASE

Monday 17th March 2014

Smile Essential Dentist was awarded a top industry customer service award this week, based on feedback from WhatClinic.com customers over a twelve month period. Only clinics that have an excellent record of service and superior satisfaction record meet the high standards set by WhatClinic.com. Customers rated clinics based on how well the clinic treated them, how quickly they were contacted and seen, and how happy they were with the treatment.

Dr Niket Patel today said; ‘We are delighted to be recognised for our commitment to customer service. We don’t want to be the scary dentist, we want to make you feel at ease from the moment you pick up the phone; that’s why this award means so much to us as.”

WhatClinic.com CEO Caelen King congratulated Smile Essential Dentist and said “These awards are based on real customer feedback, over many months. Last year, 15.2 million people from 237 countries and territories visited WhatClinic.com to help find the right clinic. We believe that empowering the patient with accurate information is the future of a successful healthcare market. With these awards we honour clinics that are fanatical about customer care and consistently put the patient first.”

About Smile Essential

Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester are setting a precedent for the future of Dentistry. They have won several awards over the past 5 years. Most notably achieving British Dental Association Gold Member status, which ensures patients can expect the highest level of customer and clinical care.

Smile Essential Dentist is at the heart of Leicester offering affordable private dentistry and delivering it with kindness and compassion. Based conveniently 2 minutes drive from Fosse Park, on the Narborough Road, Leicester.

About WhatClinic.com

WhatClinic.com helps patients find and compare private clinic and lists over 100,000 clinics from around the world. Over 1.2 million people use WhatClinic.com every month to help choose a clinic across a variety of elective healthcare services, including dental, medical, and cosmetic treatment.

www.smileessential.co.uk

TEL- 0116 2891317 EMAIL- info@smileessential.co.uk

Hello Spring!

Due to the growing amount of interest in affordable, anti-aging treatments offered by Dr Lina Kotecha at Smile Essential. We are hosting our second Hello Spring! event.

This is a free, ladies only event. Bring a friend, relax and chat while sipping on a springtime cocktail, enjoy delicious canapes, discover more about botox and dermal fillers and experience some of the latest anti-aging beauty treatments.

On the night Lina will be offering free facial consultations, special discounts on any treatments booked, a chance to look and chat to the women that have had treatment carried out previously, prize draws, a loaded beauty gift bag for all attendees.

Get ready to say goodbye winter and HELLO SPRING!

We anticipate this will be a popular evening, last year we were fully booked within the first week. Places are limited as we want to keep this an intimate and private event. You can email Gemma to reserve your place and any friend that you wish to bring along.

The first 10 people to register will automatically receive a deluxe gift bag on the night containing great samples of facial products such as L’Occitane and Dior.

VENUE- 434a Narborough Road, Leicester. LE3 2FS
DATE- Wednesday 26th March 2014
TIME- 7.00pm – 9.00pm
TEL- 0116 2891317
EMAIL- gemma@smileessential.co.uk

The Enemy That Lurks Within

Are you aware that your mouth is a breeding ground for a cunning predator? Not only that, it is also a barometer for other health issues too that you are probably blissfully unaware can be detected in this way.

Anything with the word ‘routine or review’ attached to it makes us want to avoid it at all costs as something deep inside us screams out ‘it’s not necessary, my teeth are fine and I only went 6 months ago’. So when we realise it’s time for a Dentist visit we often consider the delaying tactic first instead of the bonus ‘health check’ it really is!

Perhaps something on our self-help check list sounds familiar:

Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender
Gums that bleed during brushing
Teeth that look longer because your gums have receded
Gums that have separated, or pulled away, from your teeth, creating a pocket
Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
Pus coming from between your teeth and gums
Constant bad breath or bad taste in your mouth

The critical indicator
Bleeding gums happen for a reason and indicate the early stages of gingivitis or more serious periodontal disease. The first is easily treated but periodontal disease does require the intervention of a dental professional as the bacteria and plaque will have hardened and become too stubborn to remove just by brushing. Leaving the condition untreated can result in the loss of a tooth, as the gums are no longer healthy enough to hold the tooth or teeth in place.

Inflammation is considered to be a critical indicator of other health related issues too such as heart disease, respiratory disorders, diabetic complications and may even cause premature birth as it raises the levels of the chemicals that bring on labour! So going for a ‘routine’ dental visit isn’t quite as pointless as it may at first seem, apart from which, it is also the only place currently where a full oral cancer screening will take place. So if you said yes to anything on our Self- help check list – take action – by seeking help from a Dental professional who will take care of your issues giving you healthy, fresh breathe confidence.

Get Kissable at Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester

This February at Smile Essential dentist we have been celebrating the month of Valentines by offering you a 14% saving on two of our most popular cosmetic treatments.

Tooth whitening is a common cosmetic procedure used to dramatically improve the colour of your teeth to a lighter shade. We use Enlighten tooth whitening as it guarantees you will get great results. Tooth whitening is a relatively straight forward procedure and with the right care package you can have whiter teeth for life.

Dermal Fillers have been used for sometime to improve the appearance of lips. We use only the highest quality product to give you a more desirable look. Juvederm dermal filler contains hyaluronic acid which is found naturally in the skin but decreases with age. This is why lips can sometimes lose volume over time or you may start to notice you have lost definition around the lips and your lipstick starts to bleed. Dermal filler can be used in multiple ways to add volume or definition.

This offer is open to new and existing patients. Simply call 0116 2891317 to find out more or to schedule your free no-obligation consultation.

Offer ends Friday 28th February 2014

Dream Team

At Smile Essential dentist in Leicester we want you to have the very best dental care possible. While we offer a number of different services you would expect from a private dentist and some you wouldn’t! Sometimes it may be necessary to work with a specialist for a specific treatment. That’s why we work with a number of local specialists in Leicestershire, from orthodontics (braces) to implants we have many close connections to match your needs and wishes. Matching you with the right specialist really enables you to receive the very best in dental care according to your desires.

Dr. Niket Patel from Smile Essential has recently been working with Dr. Duncan Ralston. Dr. Ralston is a local specialist we refer to. He and Dr. Patel have been working closely together for a number of years.

Dr. Niket Patel says-

“It’s fantastic to be working together with Duncan to give my patient implants. I always want to give the very best treatment options so people can achieve their dental goals. I consider myself very fortunate being a dentist as we get to transform peoples lifes.”

“Working on this case has been brilliant, as I have actually been there every step of the way to ensure my patient is happy, before returning to me after her implants for the rest of her dental care.”

Is Tooth Whitening Safe?

When tooth whitening is carried out by a trained dental professional it is perfectly safe. Sometimes the public concern surrounding tooth whitening is because it is being carried out by beauticians, hairdressers, and salon staff; who do not have the sufficient knowledge or training and could cause irreversible damage to your teeth and gums.

Dr. Shrikesh Kotecha is the only dentist in Leicester to have Gold Membership accreditation to the British Dental Bleaching Society. He attended a two day training seminar and hands-on for Gold membership accreditation with the British Dental Bleaching Society. After completion of the course participants are eligible for Gold Membership of the British Dental Bleaching Society. The theoretical part of the course aims to teach about different Bleaching Techniques in general, discussing indications and contradictions for all types of bleaching, advantages, disadvantages, why do teeth discolour and types of tooth discoloration.

Dr. Shrikesh Kotecha of Smile Essential dentist in Leicester, knows all of the practical techniques in detail about home bleaching, power bleaching, internal bleaching, over the counter bleaching treatments, the current controversies in bleaching teeth, the current legal situation. One of the benefits of this type of treatment is bleaching treatments can be incorporated into simple aesthetic dentistry and advanced restorative dentistry.

Are Dental Veneers Just for Celebrities?

Dental veneers have become more popular in recent years due to celebrity trends, but many people still don’t know what they are or if they could help them.

Here at Smile Essential dentist in Leicester we have worked on a number of Veneer cases, sometimes people only require one veneer and sometimes people want to address their whole smile. This blog is dedicated to explaining what veneers are and the treatment involved in placing them.

Dental veneers are wafer thin, custom made shells of tooth-coloured material, designed to cover the front of your teeth to improve their appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth to change their size, length, width, cover up gaps or unsightly teeth.

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

Teeth that are discoloured
Teeth that are worn down
Teeth that are chipped or broken
Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

What is the procedure for getting veneers done?

Getting a dental veneer usually requires a few trips to see us at Smile Essential dentist – one for a consultation, one to review your veneers, one to make the veneers and one to apply the veneers. One tooth or many teeth can simultaneously undergo the veneering process described below.

Diagnosis and treatment planning. This first step involves active participation between you and your dentist. Explain to the dentist the result that you are trying to achieve. During this appointment your dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate and discuss what the procedure will involve and some of its limitations. We may take X-rays and take impressions of your mouth and teeth.
Try Before you Buy. We appreciate that committing to having cosmetic work carried out especially on your front teeth can be a daunting task. That’s why we work closely with our laboratory to create diagnostic wax up models of your teeth with the veneers in place. This way we can work together to see if there is anything that you would like to change before carrying out any work.
Preparation. To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist at Smile Essential will remove about half a millimetre of enamel from the tooth surface, which is roughly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added. Before trimming off the enamel. The treatment can be carried out comfortably while you lie back and watch a DVD from our DVD menu. Your dentist will then make a model or impression of your tooth. This model is sent out to a dental laboratory, which constructs your veneer. It usually takes 2 weeks for us to receive the veneers back from the laboratory. In which time we will make you some temporary dental veneers.
Bonding. Before the dental veneer is permanently cemented to your tooth, your dentist will temporarily place it on your tooth to examine its fit and colour. He or she will repeatedly remove and trim the veneer as needed to achieve the proper fit; the veneer colour can be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. Next, to prepare your tooth to receive the veneer, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched, which roughens it to allow for a strong bonding process. A glue cement is applied to the veneer, which is then placed on your tooth. Once properly positioned, your dentist will apply a special light beam to the veneer, which activates chemicals in the cement causing it to harden or cure very quickly. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, evaluating your bite and making final adjustments as necessary. Finally showing you, your fantastic new smile in the mirror!
The review appointment. The dentist here in Leicester will ask you to return for a follow-up visit in a couple of weeks to check how your gums are responding to the veneer and to once again examine its placement.

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