Snoring is sometimes seen as a bit of an amusing joke, something people complain of their partners and discuss light heartedly. Many of us snore from time to time and this is usually harmless. Statistics from the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association show that 41.5 per cent of the UK’s adult population snores. Snoring can sometimes however be a symptom of a more serious sleeping disorder called sleep apnoea. This is a relatively common condition which affects around 4 in 100 middle aged men and 2 in 100 middle aged women. The onset of the condition is most common in people aged 35 to 54, although those over 50 are more at risk. It is estimated that 60% of people over the age of 65 have
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). According to Dr Tom Mackay of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, an expert in sleep disorders, there has been a “tidal wave” of cases. Over the last three years, the number of cases of sleep apnoea being diagnosed is more than those of lung cancer and emphysema combined.
Sleep apnoea causes disrupted breathing during sleep. It occurs when the soft tissue and muscles in the throat relax and collapse to such an extent that they totally block the airway, meaning the person is unable to breathe for 10 seconds or more. In order to restore airflow and breathe normally, the sleeper has to momentarily wake up, resulting in a large or ‘heroic snore’. Symptoms of sleep apnoea include extreme tiredness, poor memory or concentration and headaches. A lack of refreshing sleep may also mean sufferers are at increased risk of being involved in accidents when driving or in work related incidents. Worryingly, research has shown that a person sleep deprived due to OSA has the same impaired judgements as someone who is over the drink drive limit.
In July, Labour Leader Ed Miliband underwent surgery for his sleep apnoea. Whilst surgery is an option, many cases can be successfully treated with an anti-snoring appliance called the ‘Zx’ which comes from America. This appliance is similar to a gum shield and is worn over your upper teeth whilst sleeping. It pushes the jaw forward in order to prevent the airway from becoming blocked. The fitted anti-snoring dental appliance is not painful or uncomfortable but it may take some time to get used to it. It can be easily cleaned by soaking it in fresh water for a period of time every few days. This device is proven to reduce the symptoms of snoring and will allow you to breathe more easily. World renowned sleep expert Professor Jim Horne of Loughborough University states that in many cases a professionally fitted dental appliance is an effective treatment for sleep apnoea.
Many people are concerned about their teeth and their appearance prevents them from smiling properly. A smile can play a huge role in expressing self confidence and that is why it should be natural. But people with tooth decay are not likely to smile broadly if it shows off bad teeth.
One of the dental treatments your dentist may recommend as a result may be root canal treatment.
What is a root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is a part of dentistry which deals with diseases that affect the pulp of the tooth. The tooth’s pulp contains connective tissues, nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth healthy. This pulp is situated in the core of the tooth and also in the canals in the root of each tooth.
The root canal treatment or endodontic treatment is the process of removing the pulp in order to restore the affected tooth to good health. It is a frequently undertaken dental treatment by many dental patients.
How root canal treatment can help
It is important for anyone who suffers from pulp damage or pulp infection to undergo root canal treatment. This is because it gets rid of bacterial infection and decay that can wear out tooth enamel and dentin. The pulp sometimes also gets damaged so badly that it cannot be repaired.
Once you know that you need root canal treatment, getting it done as soon as possible by a reliable dentist is important to prevent further damage.
With celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Gwen Stefani and Nicholas Cage spotted sporting braces; we’re asking whether attitudes towards dental braces are changing. Nowadays, wearing braces no longer carries the stigma it used to and orthodontic idols such as pop singer Estelle show us that braces can be cool at any age. With even the coolest of celebrities, including Radio 1 DJ’s Tim Westwood and Nick Grimshaw discussing wearing braces, ‘putting your teeth in prison’ or ‘grills’ is now more than ever seen as a fashion accessory.
Once seen as the geekiest of accessories, large, unattractive braces were often referred to as ‘train tracks’, with many a wearer cruelly taunted as a ‘metal mouth’. Nowadays braces are no longer worn solely by children and teenagers as more and more adults are choosing to achieve the smile of their dreams using new teeth straightening and aligning technology.
The availability of white and invisible braces has transformed perceptions and attitudes. Invisalign are clear braces used to treat a number of dental problems, including misaligned or crooked teeth, overcrowding and gaps between teeth. Invisalign treatment employs custom made invisible braces alongside advanced computerised technology to straighten and realign your teeth without the need to wear a metal or fixed brace. The ‘aligners’ or straighteners are comfortable, painless to wear and virtually invisible. They gradually move your teeth into the required position in order to achieve a straight and beautiful smile
Invisalign has many benefits compared with Metal Braces. They are:
- Custom manufactured using computer technology allowing for the best fit and a more predictable result in achieving straighter teeth
- Lack of metal and the smooth material they are made from means more comfort and no rubbing or pain on the gums and teeth
- Invisalign aligners can be removed when you eat or drink which means you aren’t restricted to ceratin foods
- Invisalign aligners can be removed when you brush or floss your teeth-this means food doesn’t get trapped in your braces (as it sometimes can in metal ones) leading to less likelihood of dental decay and poor oral health
- Treatment time is reduced with Invisalign compared with conventional metal braces
Cosmetic White Smiles in Derby are pleased to present a special offer on Invisalign treatment which includes free consultation and free tray whitening. Finance options, including interest free credit, are also available.
Cosmetic White Smiles patient Melissa Reid, 24, was one of 12 winning smiles that could be seen all round on Sunday afternoon when Europe’s Solheim Cup Team claimed victory over the USA. Underdogs Europe have not won the biennial golf tournament since 2003 but came from behind to claim victory over the USA, winning 15 – 13.
The prestigious event, often described as the ladies Ryder Cup, took place over three days at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Killeen Castle course in Dunsany, County Meath. Despite the cold and windy weather in Ireland and a number of enforced rain delays, the competition on the golf course was red hot. More than 80,000 golf fans attended the tournament, named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim.
The event has really put ladies’ golf in the spotlight and one of Europe’s 12 player strong team of professional female golfers in particular has been attracting attention. This was the first Solheim Cup experience for rising young golf star Melissa. The Derby born golfer has been playing the sport since the age of 11. She lives in Breadsall Village and is attached to Chevin Golf Club.
Melissa had more reason than most to be showing off her new winning smile following the team’s historic victory. The golf star has undergone a cosmetic dentistry treatment to produce a natural-looking, attractive and confident smile. Her personalised treatment plan was carried out by Derby cosmetic dentist, Dr Aneu Sood and included veneers, thin individual hand-crafted wafers of porcelain, bonded to teeth to create a new front surface and laser teeth whitening.
Congratulations to Melissa and the European Cup team on their epic win from Cosmetic White Smiles and all at Oakwood Dental Centre.
Follow Melissa on Twitter @melreidgolf
Cosmetic Dentist Aneu Sood and his team at the Derby dental clinic Oakwood Dental Centre and Cosmetic White Smiles are pleased to be able to offer specialist dentistry services to their clients and patients in Derby, Nottingham, Leicester,Stafford and the East Midlands as a new team member, Consultant Dental Specialist in Restorative Dentistry, Richard Milner joins the dental practice.
Richard Milner is a Hospital Consultant and Registered Specialist Dentist in Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry. He is also a Clinical Teaching Fellow at The University of Manchester, teaching on postgraduate courses in Periodontics and Endodontics.
A Prosthodontist is a dental specialist trained and qualified in the diagnosis, treatment planning and ongoing maintenance of missing teeth and oral function as well as treating deformities of the face.Some of the more widely undertaken dental treatments in the speciality of prosthodontics include functional and aesthetic restoration and replacement of teeth as well as the restoration of dental implants and the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder(TMJ syndrome)
Periodontics is the dental speciality involving treatment and surgery of gums which may often be the result of gum disease.
Endodontics is the dental speciality which involves treatment of the dental pulp in order to save damaged or affested teeth and root canal therapy is one of the more commonly performed dental treatments under this speciality.
Endodontic specialists have undergone extensive and advanced dental training to address and be able to treat the more difficult and complex cases requiring root canal treatment and related endodontic treatments.
Richard is a recognised specialist in his various fields of expertise as a result of many years of advanced dental practice and training .He holds a Fellowship in Dental Surgery (Restorative Dentistry) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow and is a Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons ,Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
‘Richard brings with him a vast wealth of knowledge, experience and dental expertise allowing us to build on our commitment to deliver excellence in clinical dental care,’ says Aneu Sood.’We are priveleged to have him join our dental team at Cosmetic White Smiles and I very much look forward to working with him.’
Lady Gaga is well known for her outrageous fashion statements, from wearing a telephone on her head to THAT meat dress, Gaga has certainly made an impression on the fashion world. Her latest crazy idea comes in the form of teeth jewellery. The outlandish singer, who recently collaborated with veteran Tony Bennett on ‘The Lady is a Tramp’, reportedly had diamond implants fitted onto her teeth. Dutch designer Otazu confirmed that Lady Gaga was fitted with marquise diamonds for her appearance in Paris Fashion Week where she is collaborating with French fashion house, Thierry Mugler
This is not the first time that Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, has had cosmetic dentistry. Back in 2009 the pop star caused a stir by wearing vampire fangs. Diamond implants may prove trickier to live with however. It is reported that rapper Lil Wayne who has similar dental jewellery cannot eat anything solid!
The cost of the diamond tooth implants is not known, although sources close to the star have suggested that her jewellery bill was likely to have been as much as her dental one. The expense is unlikely to have been a concern to Gaga however, who according to Forbes, earned $US 91.7 million in the last year alone.
So what do you think? Diamond implants – hot or not?
Follow Lady Gaga on Twitter @ladygaga
With so many cosmetic dentistry treatments available to hold back the years these days, considering your teeth and smile is crucial and could help you look years younger. Tooth whitening is an increasingly popular choice in achieving a healthier looking and whiter smile which in turn, make an individual look younger.
There are many teeth whitening treatments and products available on the market these days; From tooth whitening pastes, strips and pens to tray whitening whilst you’re out shopping to the array of choices your cosmetic dentist may have on offer in the dental surgery.Many of the cheap, easy and quick fix treatments offered can be superficial in the results they achieve and at worst, they may even damage your teeth and gums.
For the safest and most effective tooth whitening results, nothing beats professional laser tooth whitening supplied by a good cosmetic dentist.
Teeth can get discoloured for varying reasons such as food consumption, smoking, drinking red wine or coffee or simply just ageing. Stubborn stains can become difficult to remove over time and may even intensify, leaving you with a lack of confidence and a non-existent smile.
Professional laser tooth whitening is a procedure that can lighten your teeth several shades in a matter of an hour in the dental surgery. This is an effective treatment but afterwards the teeth have to be maintained in order to keep them looking white.
Here are some aftercare tips on maintaing your white smile following laser teeth whitening:
- Stop Smoking
- Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth after meals.
- Reduce your consumption of caffeine, red wine or other dark coloured foods and drinks.
These steps are very effective in keeping teeth white and should ensure that you retain that brighter smile and look younger than you did before.
Here are some of the choices and cosmetic dentistry treatments on offer for straightening your teeth:
- Invisalign
Invisalign Treatment uses a tray system, also known as clear aligners which are fitted to your teeth.Because the trays are almost invisible, Invisalign is an increasingly popular choice, not only for younsters and teenagers, but also for the older generation who may not have considered or want to be seen wearing a brace on their teeth.
The Invisalign Trays are worn during the day and slowly and gradually, these are changed over a period of time. Each new tray is different and the process works by slowly moving your teeth into a starighter and more aligned look.
- Ceramic Brackets
Traditionally known as train tracks, these are the original form of orthodontics which have been used for many years to straighten teeth. Today, they can either be the traditional metal braces we are all familiar with or more recently and in keeping with developing aesthetic advances in cosmetic dentistry, they are now available as white, ceramic brackets.
Whichever type of ‘brackets’ are used, they work by gradually being tightened and adjusted by your orthodontist to move and adjust the teeth into a straighter position.The clear or ceramic brackets have the advantage of blending and merging with your teeth and are popular because they less conspicuous and virtually invisible.
- Lingual Orthodontics
In this treatment,braces are fited behind the teeth so nobody even knows you are wearing a ‘brace’.Again, the movement of the teeth relies on the adjustment from the braces to the required place and alignment.These braces can come as standard or can also be made to measure to fit you.
Costs for these treatments vary depending on the sysytem selected and the amount of work involved.Most cosmetic dentists and orthodontists offer interest free payment plans and financing these days which helps spread the cost of payment and allow you to manage the cost of orthodontic treatment.
Dust off your sparkly jacket and polish your dancing shoes because it’s that time of year again – Strictly is back! The ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing officially began on 30th September. The nation’s favourite Saturday night entertainment programme has aired its launch show and introduced us to the new (and undoubtedly best yet) celebrity line up. The celebrities this year include Lulu, the gorgeous Alex Jones and local East Midlands celebrity Robbie Savage.
Whilst many of his rivals are worried about their dancing skills and whether they will make a fool of themselves on the dance floor, Robbie has admitted to worrying about wearing outrageous outfits and being spray tanned. Describing himself as ‘hopeless’ and stating ‘I’ve got a chance of winning. About as much chance as I have of coming out of retirement and signing for Barcelona’ at least Robbie looks, in his own words, ‘fabulous’.
Amongst his preparations for the show, Derby legend Robbie has undergone cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening treatment to dazzle us on the dance floor with his smile. He has confessed that his hair and teeth are two of the most important things in his life. Whilst many have mocked Robbie Savage’s flamboyant approach to his appearance, there’s no doubting that taking care of your teeth is hugely important and a celebrity smile is now more achievable than ever.
Research has proved that professional laser teeth whitening from a cosmetic dentist is safe, effective and accessible to the majority of people. There are various teeth whitening options available but the most popular and effective are laser teeth whitening and professional tray whitening.
Laser teeth whitening is a one hour, in surgery procedure carried out by a cosmetic dentist. Using a professional dental laser whitening system,this employs a whitening gel usually containing high concentration carbamide which should be administered under a dentist’s supervision. The gel is activated by a laser,and the teeth are safely and effectiveley whitened by an oxidation process , resulting in almost instantly whiter teeth and a younger looking smile.
An alternative to laser teeth whitening is the dental tray-based tooth whitening procedure.This is a safe and gentle way to achieve a whiter smile in the comfort of your own home. Much like laser whitening, teeth are whitened by an oxidation process using a similar professional dental teeth whitening gel,However, instead of a laser activated process, this procedure employs custom made mouth trays resembling a mouthguard.The clear and almost invisible trays containing the whitening gel are worn on the teeth for a few hours each day over a period of 10-14 consecutive days to achieve whiter and brighter teeth.
So will Robbie’s dazzling white smile be a winning one? Tune in on Saturday nights to find out.
A good cosmetic dentist should be able to provide you with a range of choices when you are considering the replacement of a missing tooth or several missing teeth.
Below are some of the choices you may want to consider:
Dental Implants are ‘rods’ of metal,usually made
from titanium, which are set or placed into the jawbone where the tooth is
missing.They do not require adjacent teeth for support as they are held in
place by the bone in the jaw.Although dental implants are not a cheap cosmetic
dentistry options, they are long lasting , hard wearing and permanent.They also
most closely resemble real teeth and are therefore a popular choice for
replacing a missing tooth or teeth.
A good cosmetic dentist will have various types of
cosmetic bridges which he should be able to offer. Some of the choices you may
be offered include a Porcelain Bridge, Metal Bridge or a Maryland Bridge. Bridges fill gaps or replace
missing teeth by being attached utilising adjacent teeth which should be
healthy and strong enough to provide support.A Porcelain Dental Bridge is a
good example of an aesthetically acceptable option for replacing unattractive
gaps where one or more teeth are missing.
Dentures(or False Teeth):
This is the process whereby a false tooth or set of
false teeth are manufactured and placed into a plate which is the denture.The advantages
of a denture is they are relatvely cheap.The disadvantage is that
discomfort,pain or soreness of gums due to ill-fitting dentures can occur.This
may be due to gum recession as gums shrink with age and over time
